Desperate Measures
From the UK comes this intense four-parter starring Amanda Abbington (Wolfe, Mr Selfridge) as Rowan, a diligent bank clerk who’s raising her teenage son Finn in a lawless estate. Rowan has enough on her plate, but when Finn is coerced into a botched drug deal, her son’s life is suddenly threatened, and the gang leader’s breathing down her neck for the money lost. Desperate, she agrees to take part in a dangerous heist in the bank where she works.
Jesse Cescatti-McFarlane stars as Finn in his first role while Warren Brown (The Responder) plays Patrick, Rowan’s ex and Sunetra Sarker (Casualty, Cold Feet) is Varisha, Rowan’s best friend and workmate.
Am I Being Unreasonable?
Nic, mum to the darling young Ollie (Lenny Rush), is harbouring a secret grief and is unhappy in her marriage. Jen, new in town, lights up Nic’s life with much-needed laughter and fun, extracting her dark secret, taking this comedy down a twisty path indeed. Written and created by friends Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli, who also star as Nic and Jen, this fun and frantic caper is executive produced by one of TV’s most exciting talents, Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials).
Am I Being Unreasonable? premiered exclusively in Australia on Thursday 12 January.
Enemy of the People
This thrilling Finnish drama sees journalist Katja Salonen (Kreeta Salminen) become enemy number 1 after her article about a local hero led to the revelation of some dark truths about the biggest powerbrokers in town. A modern-day witch-hunt ensues, her credibility dismantled then crushed at every turn, with the holders of power taking any means necessary to silence her. Katja continues her investigation, putting not just her reputation but her very life at risk, determined to unmask the true criminals. Mikko Kuparinen (Man in Room 301) also stars.
Sandhamn Murders – season 8
We welcome new episodes of this sun-drenched Swedish crime drama set in the stunning archipelago off the coast of Stockholm. It’s where lawyer Nora Linde (Alexandra Rapaport) owns a summer house and helps Detective Alexander Forsman (Nicolai Cleve Broch, who took over from Jakob Cedergren as Detective Thomas Andreasson in seasons 1–6) solve murders in and around the area. The pair don their lightest cotton shirts and get to work catching crims as well as rays.
Jonas Malmsjö (as Nora’s ex), Anki Lidén (as police chief) and Ping Mon H. Wallén (as Nora’s daughter Anna) also star in this adaptation of Viveca Sten’s popular novels.
Season 8 of Sandhamn Murders premiered exclusively in Australia on Thursday 12 January. (Seasons 1–7 are .) Dive into season 8:
Somewhere Boy
When Danny’s mother was killed, his father convinced the young boy the world was full of monsters, and confined him to life in their woodlands cabin. But at 18, Danny (Lewis Gribben, T2 Trainspotting) has cause to live with his Aunt Sue and withdrawn teenage cousin Aaron (Samuel Bottomley, Am I Being Unreasonable? which also premieres this month). Aaron challenges Danny’s beliefs about the world and the pair venture forth as bravely as they can; Danny has the added motivation of finding the real monster who killed his mum.
From the makers of The End of the F***ing World, Independent called Somewhere Boy a “charming paean to the indomitable human spirit, anchored by a star-making turn”.
Vienna Blood – season 3
This popular Austrian crime drama returns, transporting us to 1900s Vienna. Max Liebermann (Matthew Beard, The Imitation Game), as a student of one Sigmund Freud, helps Detective Oskar Rheinhardt (Juergen Maurer) investigate murders taking place in the opera and grand café district of the lavish city. As with the first two seasons, acclaimed screenwriter Steve Thompson (Sherlock, Doctor Who) gives the duo two episodes to solve one case.
Vienna Blood season 3 premiered exclusively in Australia on Thursday 5 January. and are also streaming.
L’Opéra – season 2
We fell in love with this French drama last year, as it took us behind the curtains of France’s prestigious Opéra Garnier and the ballet corps who train hard within her. Season 2 picks up where we left the impassioned ballerinas.
After fighting her way back against many odds, Zoé (Ariane Labed, Trigonometry) is in the corps once again, but her place is not a given; when a fresh obstacle presents itself, she’ll have to prove she can deliver. Flora (Suzy Bemba) officially joins the corps too, a dream come true for the youngster who’s shown she’s mature beyond her years. How will she cope with the new ultra-rigorous demands? Familiar faces return, including embattled young company director Sebastién (Raphaël Personnaz), and new ones arrive to stir the pot.
Season 2 of L’Opéra premiered exclusively in Australia on Thursday 29 December. is also streaming.
Letterkenny – brand new episodes
The Letterkenny universe just keeps expanding. Along with spin-off Shoresy (), new episodes join the first hilarious several seasons of the very original Letterkenny. The six-part instalment promises to deliver on all the laughs and oddness we’ve come to adore about these wonderful weirdos that’ve endeared themselves to our hearts.
Brand new episodes of Letterkenny premiered exclusively in Australia on Wednesday 28 December. Seasons 1–11 are now streaming.
The Curse of Oak Island – season 9
The search continues! Off the coast of Nova Scotia sits a small island that is a riddle wrapped in an enigma. Brothers Rick and Marty Lagina spare no expense in their attempt to find the fabled treasure buried under Oak Island. But can they avoid the deadly curse that has befallen several treasure hunters before them? Through the series local experts help them explore the history, mythology and geography of the island. Season 8 landed them a scoop, and they continue unpacking the treasure in season 9.
Vise Le Coeur
Julia Scola is a courageous and respected police captain. Novak Lisica is a criminal lawyer. The pair loved each other against all odds when they were teenagers, but haven’t spoken for 20 years. Why? What tragedy separated them? (The title translates to Aim for the Heart.) When Novak leaves his prestigious firm to become commissioner, he joins Julia’s team and fate takes over. Moving between past and present, Julia’s and Novak’s investigations explore childhood terrors and adult nightmares, and reveal that monsters are not always who you expect them to be, in this new French crime series.
