GKvtCiJVl2
Part one is arguably the best true crime documentary of all time; part two doesn’t quite make it out of the shadows but it’s a worthy follow-up nonetheless. No doubt you’re already familiar with the story but just in case – it centres on the life and deaths of Robert Durst, a New York real-estate heir and a convicted murderer. In part two, Andrew Jarecki and his team of filmmakers continue their investigation for the next eight years, uncovering hidden material, Durst’s prison calls and interviews with witnesses who had not previously come forward until now.
Kaos lost points for a number of reasons – the terrible chemistry between Orpheus and Euridice for one. As many critics pointed out, it’s a show that tried to be too many things at once. That said, it was still very entertaining, not least thanks to Jeff Goldblum’s brilliant portrayal of the neurotic Zeus. If you’re not au fait with Greek mythology, it can be a little hard to follow at times but a quick Google in between episodes should bring you up to date. Dark, funny and extremely clever, the series centres on three humans who discover their common connection to a prophecy and to each other. It’s fun and campy and never takes itself too seriously – a good family watch if you’re stuck for ideas this Christmas.
The new rom-com that’s reestablished Adam Brody as the internet’s sweetheart, Nobody Wants This was extremely easy, enjoyable viewing. In the series, Brody plays a rabbi, Kristen Bell a sex-positive podcast host with a history of dating the wrong men. They meet at a mutual friend’s dinner party, Brody escapes the friend zone and well, you’ll just have to watch the series to see how it plays out. Usually, I’m reluctant to watch something after hearing it hyped up too much – it makes me overly critical and though this series is not without its faults, it definitely lived up to expectations. Most rom-coms tend to follow the same well-worn path; you know how the story is going to pan out pretty much from the beginning. Nobody Wants This managed to give things a fresh, new take. It’s sweet but smart with grown-up protagonists (key in a world where we’re constantly being shown bikini-clad 21-year-olds who seemingly “can’t find love”). No, it’s not reinventing the wheel but it is light, funny and most importantly, the romantic leads actually have chemistry!
What happens when you pack a bunch of extremely attractive people into a lavish Nantucket beach house for a wedding that not everyone is totally on board with? Murder, that’s what. From mystery to betrayal to illicit love affairs, this series has a bit of everything in there and with an all-star cast (headed up by Nicole Kidman, Eve Hewson and Liev Schreiber), it’s not hard to see why audiences lapped this up in one. The story is a bit formulaic at times but if you’re looking for something to binge-watch during the seemingly endless period between Christmas and New Year’s, this will absolutely scratch that itch.
Anything with Sir David Attenborough at its helm usually gets a big yes from me and Asia, his latest documentary, is no exception. Filmed over the course of nearly four years, this seven-part series covers the length and breadth of our planet’s largest and richest continent, revealing its most remarkable landscapes, animals, and stories featuring dramatic, previously unseen behaviour. The first time that Asia has been the focus of a BBC wildlife series, it’s packed with spectacular visuals and behind-the-scenes footage and unlike some of his past work, is much less climate anxiety-inducing… that’s not to say that it ignores humans’ impact, but rather, chooses to focus on the mastery of nature and the potential solutions being championed by the region’s conservation heroes.
The series that took the internet by storm, Baby Reindeer was one of 2024’s biggest success stories picking up six Emmy wins and three Golden Globe nominations. Written by and starring Richard Gadd, who adapted his award-winning one-man play into a seven-episode limited series, it’s a hefty mix of black comedy and drama that shocks at every turn. The story centres on struggling comedian Donny Dunn and his strange relationship with a woman named Martha – played by the incredible Jessica Gunning – whose initially friendly demeanour unravels as she becomes fixated on Donny and begins to stalk him relentlessly. Unbelievable as the story might seem at times, it is, in fact, true (or true-ish at least) which only makes it all the more chilling. For those of you who haven’t seen it yet, proceed with caution – it’s a devastating look at the effect of trauma and abuse and will almost certainly leave you feeling uneasy, but it’s most definitely worth the watch.
This show is highly addictive – once you get into it, you’ll just keep hitting ‘play next’ so don’t be surprised if it’s 3am and you’re still staring at your computer screen, desperate to find out what happens next. Season one laid the groundwork for my addiction, and season two really delivered. A British reality TV series hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the premise is based on the Dutch series De Verraders and features a group of contestants participating in a game set on the grounds of a historic Scottish castle. A small group of contestants are given the role of “Traitors”, and must work together to eliminate the other contestants in order to win the prize money. The remaining contestants are “Faithful” and are tasked with discovering (and banishing) the Traitors by voting them out. Needless to say, it’s bloody good TV.
Based on one of the greatest video game series of all time, Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots… in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. Set 200 years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind — and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird and highly violent universe waiting for them. Ella Purnell leads the cast as Lucy, a young woman who leaves her home in Vault 33 to venture out into the dangerously unforgiving wasteland of a devastated Los Angeles to look for her father, who has been kidnapped by wasteland raiders. Along the way, she meets a Brotherhood of Steel squire and a legendary ghoul bounty hunter, each with their own vendettas to settle. Walton Goggins steals every scene he’s in, accompanied by a haunting melody that perfectly sets the tone.
Before this Disney series came out, I’m embarrassed to admit that I wasn’t familiar with the wonderful world of Dame Jilly Cooper – that has since been rectified and her Rutshire Chronicles series (the books on which Rivals is based) is top of my reading list this Christmas. Set in the Cotswolds and full of garish 80s charm, this eight-part series is a wild ride from start to finish… I only wish I could watch it again for the first time. Funny, entertaining and incredibly sexy – think Sex Education with a dash of The White Lotus – it’s packed full of drama and many a famous face too with the likes of David Tennant, Bella McLean, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner, Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson amongst its many stars. The story follows the lives of the dangerously charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black, a dashing ex-Olympian, Member of Parliament and incorrigible rake, and the unscrupulous television magnate Lord Tony Baddingham. When journalist and TV presenter Declan O’Hara moves to the area to head up his own show on Corinium (Baddingham’s independent television franchise), he and his family get caught in the crossfire of a long-simmering feud. I won’t say any more lest I inadvertently spoil things but trust me, it’s scandalous.
One of the best things I’ve seen all year, Shogun was an absolute feast for the senses. If you haven’t watched the series yet, I recommend spacing the episodes out to really relish them – each one is between 53 to 70 minutes long so they’re meaty and needn’t be rushed through. An original adaptation of James Clavell’s novel, the series is set in 1600 Japan at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Lord Yoshii Toranaga is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, John Blackthorne, comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. Toranaga’s and Blackthorne’s fates become inextricably tied to their translator, Toda Mariko, a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her and her duty to her late father. Everything from the casting to the costumes is exceptional and you’ll be left gasping for more at the end of the 10-part epic – thankfully seasons two and three are already in production.