Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
There aren’t many places in the world Anthony Bourdain did not visit. In this wonderful series, the well-read Bourdain immerses himself not only in the local food culture, but delves into each destination’s history and politics, too. He is greatly missed. Happily, we present all 12 seasons of this show, which won 12 Emmys and a Peabody award.
Seasons 1–12 of Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown are now streaming . Travel to Myanmar for the first episode:
The Good Fight
Zimbabwean–Australian Charmaine Bingwa and Mandy Patinkin join the cast in season 5 of The Good Fight. When the firm loses two top lawyers (played by Cush Jumbo and Delroy Lindo, who will return to wrap up their characters’ storylines), Diane (Christine Baranski) questions whether it’s appropriate for her to help run a Black law firm with Liz (Audra McDonald). Meanwhile, Marissa (Sarah Steele) gets tangled up with Hal (Patinkin), who opens his own courtroom in the back of a copy shop, as you do.
Only 7 episodes were made in season 4 due to COVID-19 interrupting filming, but we’re back to the full slate of 10 episodes this season. Bring on the good fight.
The Good Fight season 5 is on SBS at 8.30pm weekly from Thursday 1 July. Episodes stream after broadcast, but will only be around for 90 days, so be quick to catch up.
Fear The Walking Dead
In season 3 of this popular companion series to The Walking Dead our families are brought together in the vibrant yet violent atmosphere of the USA–Mexico border. With international borders done away with following the world’s end, they’re faced with rebuilding not only society but family as well. Among the storylines this season, Madison (Kim Dickens) has reconnected with Travis (Cliff Curtis), but Alicia (Alycia Debnam-Carey) has been fractured by her murder of Andres. There is a lot going on in this thrilling sci-fi drama.
Season 3 of Fear The Walking Dead is now streaming . (Seasons 1 and 2 are also streaming for catch-up.)
This Life
This British drama from the 90s groups together five rookie lawyers in a share house, launching their careers while also enjoying their first taste of independence. Refreshingly, there is no moralising here. Drinking too much or having casual sex can happen without dire consequences. As one of its stars, , ‘it was real life. [I thought] “I have to be in this. I don’t care how. I just have to be in it.”’ Creator Amy Jenkins, herself a former lawyer, vowed not to enter a courtroom, but focus on the conversations and relationships, and it’s all the better for it. The soundtrack kills, too.
The Reluctant Landlord
British comedian Romesh Ranganathan and Sian Gibson star as husband and wife, Romesh and Natasha in this sitcom in which Romesh inherits his father’s pub, becoming the reluctant landlord of the title. While his exuberant father was well suited to life behind the bar, the sarcastic sardonic Romesh is not taking to it well. His mum is his workmate, and Natasha’s determined to make it work. Meanwhile Romesh clings to his dream of becoming a hip hop DJ – he has his work cut out for him. The writing team includes Will Smith of Veep and The Thick of It cred, as well as Ranganathan.
Good Grief
Staying on the theme of inheritance, sisters Ellie and Gwen (played by real-life sisters and writers of the show, Eve and Grace Palmer), end up with their grandfather’s funeral home after he dies, along with the three employees who are not keen on their new bosses. While Ellie is eager to uphold their grandfather’s legacy and spend more time with her sister, Gwen is busting to get out of New Zealand to go DJ in Bali. What will become of them all in the face of this unexpected turn of events? Eve and Grace Palmer ‘funny, feel-good, awkward, quirky, devastating, rewarding and human’, a story ‘about two women trying to get their shit together’. As lovers of New Zealand comedies, we’re keen beans for this one.
Good Grief premieres exclusively in Australia and is now streaming . Episodes will air on NITV later in the year.
Phantom
Supernatural crime drama, Phantom comes to us from Russia, adding to that country’s quality output already at SBS On Demand (e.g. ). Moscow detective Stas Khabarov is stunned to discover he’s become a ghost after being shot in the back while attempting an arrest. With the help of teenager Katya, who for some reason can see and hear him, Stas is on a mission to prevent a vision he had becoming reality: his beloved wife Vera being murdered on her birthday by the same person who shot him. With the show’s tagline being ‘Love will protect you forever’, this passionate drama series will reel you in.
The Bad Kids
When three kids accidentally film a murder, they decide to blackmail the killer. Two of the kids are runaways from a children’s home, and the other is a whizz kid who recognises the murderer as his teacher. A few more deaths follow, and the lives of the kids and those around them are flipped upside down. This 12-part Chinese web series is in Mandarin. The performances of the children are astonishing.
Hemingway
One of the 20th century’s most famous and influential authors, his myth was as legendary as his writing. But as this new documentary about Ernest Hemingway contends, ‘Hemingway the man was much more interesting than Hemingway the myth’. Examining the visionary work and turbulent, eventful life of Hemingway, acclaimed documentary filmmakers Ken Burns () and Lynn Novick reveal the brilliant, ambitious, charismatic and complicated man behind the myth.
Three-part documentary Hemingway premieres exclusively in Australia and is now streaming .
Darkness: Those Who Kill
This acclaimed Danish crime drama is back for season 2. Criminal profiler Louise Bergstein (Natalie Madueño) is this time delving into the psychology of the serial killer of three young men, quickly uncovering a distinct pattern of behaviour. But Louise realises she may have a personal connection with the suspect, who’s more intelligent than she initially anticipated. From the producers of The Investigation and Modus, this tense thriller provides gripping drama. The performances are as impressive as you’d expect.
Season 2 of Darkness: Those Who Kill premieres exclusively in Australia and is now streaming . ( is also streaming for catch-up.)
UFOs
‘This is 1978 France, a world of aviator glasses, patterned shirts and near fridge-sized computers.’
Welcome to UFOs, a light-hearted comedy drama centred on Didier Mathure, a brilliant space engineer who’s aspirations are shattered when the rocket he’s spent a decade building explodes on take-off. Transferred to the unit in charge of investigating UFOs, Didier is suddenly surrounded by teammates who themselves seem to be from another planet. A staunch rationalist, Didier wants out, but an extraordinary event rattles his convictions. About second chances and how ‘we’re all extraterrestrial to each other’, this show offers the escapist light relief you’re looking for.The King of Warsaw
1937 Warsaw, Poland. The Jewish mafia rules the city. Head honcho is gangster socialist, Buddy Kaplica. His right-hand man, boxer, Jakub Szapiro who dreams of taking over Buddy’s top spot as King of Warsaw. But Buddy takes on young Moyshe Bernsztajn, in whom he sees his successor. While rumblings of war are getting louder, Jakub will face tragic choices, torn between loyalty to Buddy and a chance to fulfil his own ambitions, succumbing to the temptations of sex and violence along the way. Stars Arkadiusz Jakubik as Buddy and Michal Zurawski as Jakub.
Sandhamn Murders
All seven seasons of this Swedish crime drama – set in the summer time, so a good one for winter watching – are now streaming at SBS On Demand. Based on Viveca Sten’s popular novels, a murder brings inspector Thomas Andreasson back to his home island. Along with colleague Carina Persson, they attempt to solve the growing number of murders on the archipelago.
Seasons 1–7 of Sandhamn Murders premiered exclusively in Australia and are now streaming .
Penoza
Penoza takes us to the Amsterdam underworld where we meet drug lord Frans and wife Carmen (Monic Hendrickx). After their son, at 10, threatens a child with a gun, Carmen presents Frans with an ultimatum: get out of the criminal life or lose your family. But they end up losing Frans, who’s shot dead, leaving Carmen to deal with the debts he leaves behind, not to mention other unfinished business. With a mobster father, Carmen isn’t inexperienced in this life, and proves rather adept at coping with the clean-up. Will she be able to walk away?
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