From coming-of-age tales and romance to comedy and thrillers, put your feet up and dive into one of these series this Twixmas …
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NETFLIX
Missing You January 1 2025
Harlen Coben is at it again – Fool Me Once was one of the most watched series of the year on Netflix, so we can only presume that Missing You will get the same reception. This mini-series follows a detective (played by Slow Horses actress Kat Donovan), whose fiancé disappeared years ago. Now, she suddenly sees him on a dating app and her world explodes all over again. His reappearance forces her to dive back into the mystery surrounding her father’s murder and uncover long-buried secrets from her past.
Fool Me Once
Michelle Keegan is stellar in this crime thriller drama with all the twists and turns you would expect. She plays an ex-army captain who is trying to come to terms with her husband’s murder. When she installs a nanny-cam to keep an eye on her daughter, she is shocked to see her husband return. The story takes you on a wild, action-packed ride with an incredible on-screen ensemble, including Joanna Lumley as her mother-in-law. Even if you don’t like crime series, watch it alone for Keegan’s all-encompassing selection of coats.
The Gentleman
Starring The White Lotus’ Theo James, Joely Richardson and other notable names, we’re not surprised that it made Ireland’s Top 10 Most Watched on Netflix for months. The series follows an aristocrat who suddenly becomes embroiled in a world of criminality and shows a new part of the world which Guy Ritchie created in his 2020 film starring Matthew McConaughey, with the same grit and great script – and of course some fresh stunts along the way. The Irish link? The show’s producer Stuart Carolan, who was also the creator of the much loved Love/Hate.
Ripley
Based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 crime novel The Talented Mr Ripley, and following on from the 1999 critically acclaimed film starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law, this stylish eight episode series gets a new lease of life with Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning and Johnny Flynn. Scott plays a grifter named Ripley who, while living in New York during the 1960s, is hired by a wealthy man to begin a complex life of deceit, fraud and murder. Most of us think we know what happens next, but the Netflix series gives a fresh take on the story.
Bodkin
Siobhán Cullen stars in this Obama-produced mini-series set in West Cork as a disgruntled detective sent back to Ireland with two true crime podcasters (Will Forte and Robyn Cara) to investigate the disappearance of three people during a Samhain festival years ago. They uncover more than they bargained for by revealing the secrets of the inhabitants of the idyllic town Bodkin, while also encountering the charm, curiosity and straight-forwardness of a small Irish town.
Billionaire Island
“Succession but with salmon” is what someone has conned it on their Rotten Tomatoes review. Billionaire Island follows the story of the ruthless owner of a Norwegian fish farming company who plans a hostile takeover of her local rival to become the world’s largest salmon producer. This limited-series stars Trine Wiggen, Ragne Grande, Hanne Skille Reitan and more. If you need a Succession fix, visit Norway with this series full of twists, turns and backhand deals.
Emily In Paris on Netflix
Watch season four of the hit Netflix show this Christmas for complete escapism. Important to note: even if you have been a dedicated viewer for the last three seasons, we advise that you watch the recap at the beginning – so much has happened. Spoiler alert: following her break-up with London boyfriend Alfie, Gabriel and Camille’s wedding outburst/ending, and also being aware of their pregnancy and Camille’s affair with Sofia, Emily has been busy. And that doesn’t even include her work dramas. This season, Emily finds herself with a hectic travel schedule and that means we get to experience these places through Emily: Rome and the French Alps are on the cards. Style-wise, a new element for this season is winter fashion, Stine Goya gilets, and new Parisian fashion codes. Heading to Paris? Gain some inspiration on where to stay and what to see from THE GLOSS Editors here.
The Perfect Couple
Starring Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Dakota Fanning – and the Irish contingent Eve Hewson and Jack Reynor of Midsommar and Sing Street – this six-part series follows a wealthy family led by matriarch (Kidman) in a glamorous setting where – as suspected – not everything is as it seems. On the eve of a big family wedding, a body is found on the beach and, suddenly, everyone in the wedding party goes from guest to suspect. Read more about it here.
Griselda
Inspired by true events, Griselda is a gripping mini-series starring Sofía Vegara as Griselda Blanco, a savvy and ambitious Colombian drug lord who operated during the 1970s through to the early 2000s. This series dramatically documents her journey from the Medellín to becoming “the Godmother” of Miami’s drug empire. The ’70s style, from costume to cinematography, is emulated fantastically in this series and with Sofía Vegara (in prosthetics) in charge, it’s a binge watch.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Mendenez Story
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true-crime anthology series is back again, following the success of Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Mendenez Story mini-series chronicles the lives of the real-life brothers who were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents. Although the prosecution argued that they were seeking to inherit their family fortune, the brothers claimed and remain steadfast to this day, as they serve their lifetime sentences, that their actions stemmed from a lifetime of fear and abuse at the hands of their parents. This story paved the way for modern-day audiences’ fascination with true-crime – and it still begs the question: who are the real monsters? Starring the hypnotising acting talents of Javier Bardem, Chloë Sevigny, Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch.
Martha
For more than five decades, Martha has shaped our culture, in both big and small ways, from teaching us all how to fold a fitted sheet to creating an empire. This documentary covers the breadth of her extraordinary life, through intimate and revealing interviews with the icon herself and her inner circle. R.J. Cutler (director of Elton John: Never Too Late, The September Issue), documents this rise to success. The documentary breaks down the stories and secrets of America’s most celebrated home-maker, the first-ever influencer and first female self-made billionaire. Martha herself brings us through her life, starting from her childhood in New Jersey to her time modelling, her run as a stockbroker, her catering business and her media empire. Martha also shares her perspective on her conviction and the opportunities she created from that time, her unlikely friendship with rapper Snoop Dogg and even the roast of Justin Bieber. A remarkably candid insight into her life, this is the ultimate tell-all of one of the most iconic and important cultural figures of the last half-century.
Berlin
Brush up on your Spanish with this stylish and eccentric limited series. It follows the character Berlin who brings together a gang of master thieves in Paris to plan one of his most ambitious robberies ever. The series serves as a prequel to Money Heist, so you know it will be slick in style, with comedy heaped in there too.
The Brothers Sun
Michelle Yeoh stars in this action comedy drama which is enough to get us hooked. When the head of a Taiwanese triad is shot by an assassin, his eldest son, Charles ‘Chairleg’ Sun, heads to Los Angeles to protect his mother (Yeoh) and brother, who has been completely sheltered from the truth of his family until now. Destined to be an “edge of your seat” watch.
Eric
Set in 1980s New York, Eric is an emotional thriller directed by Abi Morgan. It follows a desperate father, Vincent (Benedict Cumberbatch) who is in search of his nine-year-old son who disappears one morning on his way to school. Vincent, one of New York’s leading puppeteers and creator of the popular children’s television show ‘Good Day Sunshine’, struggles to cope with the loss of his son and becomes increasingly distressed and volatile. It is Eric, a drawing of a blue monster puppet that his son had done, who Vincent believes will have the power and influence to get his son home. These six episodes are completely captivating.
Heartstopper
If you are in the mood for an endearing, beautifully shot story, then Heartstopper is the series for you. Season 3 was released recently and the story continues for this gorgeous LGBTQIA+ friend group who go to school in Kent in the UK. Follow Charlie, the highly-strung openly gay overthinker and Nick, the goofy rugby lad, as their romance blossoms. Starring the amazing Kit Connor and Joe Locke – with Olivia Colman and others in there, too – you will be transported into their world as they face the pressures of coming out, school bullies, tough parents and the anxieties of being Gen Z. Also catch Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey in Season 3, who’s also starring in Wicked.
Nobody Wants This
One of the most talked about series this year, the ten-part series follows the story of the unexpected relationship between a rabbi (Adam Brody) and an outspoken, agnostic podcaster (Kristen Bell). After the two share an instant connection, the story develops into a romance that twists and turns – like all good romantic comedy storylines should – as the two navigate inter-faith dating; a topic not often explored in TV or film. It is complete easy-watching and the on-screen chemistry between the two transports you into their world. The series was created by Erin Foster, with some definite parallels between Foster’s real life and this world she has created.
Carry On
‘Rocketman’ and ‘Kingsman’ Taron Egerton stars in this new thriller as a TSA agent who is blackmailed by a mysterious traveller, played by Jason Bateman (who makes a surprisingly good villain!). A dangerous package is let slip through security and onto a Christmas Eve flight, so chaos ensues. Also starring Breaking Bad’s Dean Norris, this is Die Hard – which some still consider the best Christmas movie of all time – meets Hijack. Watch it this weekend and see if you agree.
No Good Deed
Lisa Kudrow and Ray Romano star as a married couple who decide to sell their empty nest to forge a new life. They list their 1920s Spanish-style villa in one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in Los Angeles, which results in a real estate frenzy. Families race to buy what they believe to be their dream house, convinced it will fix all of their various problems. As they struggle to hide the dark secrets that linger inside their longtime home, the couple realise they finally have to face their past. This comes from the Emmy-winning creator behind Dead To Me, so it’s equally as hilarious with some darkness thrown in for good measure. This is a series about the highs and lows of searching for a safe, happy home and to show the lengths we we’re willing to go to protect ourselves and our loved ones in the process. Also starring Linda Cardellini, Denis Leary and Luke Wilson. You can’t go wrong with that cast!
Black Doves
A six-part series set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, Black Doves is an action packed and heartfelt story of friendship and sacrifice. It stars Keira Knightly as a quick-witted, down to earth, dedicated wife and mother, and – spoiler alert – professional spy! For ten years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organisation she works for: the Black Doves. When her secret lover is assassinated, her spymaster calls in her old friend (Ben Whishaw) to keep her safe. Together, they uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy linking the murky London underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis.
One Day
A familiar story that was previously told in the 2011 film with Anne Hathaway, Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew meet for the first time on the night of their graduation. Both from very different backgrounds, the unlikely pair become best friends – after a failed attempt at romance. The series (and book) follows their story by checking in on them on the same day each year. Themes of love, loss, hurt, substance abuse, figuring-out-life-in-your-twenties and friendship umbrella the series, with a killer soundtrack to boot. Leo Woodall (The White Lotus) and a debuting Ambika Mod bring these characters to life in a beautifully sensitive way. The episodes are half an hour long so one episode a night will just not cut it – you’ll race through this in no time, and wish you could watch it for the first time all over again. Familiar faces such as Eleanor Tomlinson, Tim McInnerny and Essie Davis also grace the series.
Makayla’s: A Letter To The World
This new documentary explores the unique journey of a nonverbal teenager with autism. Makayla has spent her whole life grappling with a rare form of autism that renders her nonverbal. However, her parents, filled with unwavering belief in their daughter’s potential, embarked on a transformative journey to discover the true depth of Makayla’s inner world. This inspiring and insightful documentary is a must-watch.
3 Body Problem
One of Netflix’s biggest releases of the year based on the book trilogy Remembrance of Earth’s Past by Liu Cixin, the series has brought to life the story of how a fateful decision made in 1960s China reverberates in the present, where a group of scientists partner with a detective to confront an existential planetary threat. Produced by the creators of Game of Thrones with GOT actors John Bradley and Liam Cunningham, who luckily gets to keep his Irish accent.
A Man In Full
Jeff Daniels plays a real estate mogul facing bankruptcy. As his political and business interests collide, he does anything he can to defend his empire from those attempting to capitalize on his fall from grace. Also starring Diane Lane, Lucy Liu and an enraged Bill Camp. A nice hit of office tension, money, dirty dealings and egos to get you through the break.
Baby Reindeer
Written by and starring Scottish comedian Richard Gadd, this limited series defines the phrase “stranger than fiction” and was one of Netflix’s biggest hits this year. You will get completely lost in this uncomfortable watch that’s an incredible portrayal of Gadd’s personal experience of stalking, abuse, sexuality and self-actualisation, with seriously harrowing moments (trigger warnings included), with a strange while dark-comedic lightness. One to watch if you haven’t already.
Six Nations: Full Contact
In true Formula 1: Drive To Survive style, Netflix has done it again with the eight part series and what a perfect time to get stuck into it as the boys in green take to the pitch again this season. Get to know the players with unique behind-the-scenes footage as the best rugby teams in Europe battle it out to take home the trophy in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship. With candid stories, including from Irish prop Andrew Porter, the documentary opens your eyes to the tough but rewarding gig that is rugby – and the blood, sweat and tears that go into it.
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APPLE TV
Lady In The Lake
Based on The New York Times best-selling novel of the same name by Laura Lippman, Lady In The Lake not only marks Natalie Portman’s first foray into prestige television, it blends a scintillating murder-mystery with the glamour (or, perhaps, decaying) glamour of the 1960s. The story starts with the disappearance of a young girl and follows Maddie Schwartz (Portman), a middle-class Jewish housewife who strives to find her. It also follows the life of Cleo Johnson (played by Moses Ingram) an African-American mother struggling to make ends meet. While at first, the two women’s lives seem entirely disparate, as the story unfurls, you begin to see there is something sinister afoot. Read more here.
Slow Horses
This one was sitting secretly under our noses, with four seasons out now – this show is waiting to take over your Christmas break. The fantastic cast in this action/comedy/spy drama includes Golden Globe nominated Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, Rosalind Eleazar. Slow Horses follows a team of British intelligence agents who serve as a dumping ground department of MI5 due to their career-ending mistakes. They humorously navigate the espionage world’s smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.
Bad Sisters
Fans of the darkly comedic drama, executive-produced and starring BAFTA award-winning Sharon Horgan, will delight that season two is finally out. Released every Wednesday until December 25 (that’s our Christmas dinner viewing sorted!), the second season is as wonderfully twisted as the first, so we can’t wait to see how this turns out. The story picks up two years after the first with the sisters – played expertly by Horgan alongside Eve Hewson, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle and Sarah Greene – when past truths resurface and the ladies are thrust back into the spotlight. The new deadly focus? Duff’s new husband, played by Owen McDonnell, from hit show Killing Eve, and from where another new cast member joins, Fiona Shaw – who is ruthless.
Silo
Released weekly, the ten-part season 2 of Silo sees the talented Rebecca Ferguson return in this captivating rebel-uprising-science-fiction storyline. We are delighted she is getting the attention she deserves in this Dune-meets-Mission Impossible starring role. The story is set in a toxic future where thousands of people live in a giant silo deep underground. After its sheriff breaks a cardinal rule and residents die mysteriously, engineer Juliette (Ferguson) starts to uncover shocking secrets and the truth about the silo. Also starring Shawshank Redemption’s Tim Robbins, this is an action-packed, revelatory rollercoaster with all of the twists and turns we would expect from this hit show. Prepare to be transported to another world.
Disclaimer
This mini-series is not for the faint-hearted. Cate Blanchett plays a celebrated journalist whose work has been built on revealing the transgressions of long-respected institutions, until a mysterious delivery threatens to expose her past. A psychological thriller written by Alfonso Cuarón and also starring Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen.
Land of Women
This comedy/drama/thriller is something pretty and easy to watch on a cloudy day in July – plus you can brush up on your Spanish. Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria stars as Gala, a New York socialite who, as a result of her husband’s shady dealings, is forced to flee to a charming Spanish wine town with her mother and daughter. A complete change of pace, Gala has to adapt to this small-town’s quirks while also confronting her deepest family secrets. The story celebrates the strong bonds women share, their resilience when met with adversity and gorgeous Spanish scenery!
Presumed Innocent
If you are in need of a good courtroom drama with twists and turns then this limited series will scratch that itch. Presumed Innocent is based on the book by Scott Turow and was also the premise for the 1990 film adaptation starring Harrison Ford. The story takes place in Chicago, where a horrific murder upends the prosecuting attorney’s office as one of its own, Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal), is suspected of committing the crime. The series follows Sabich as he makes every effort to keep his family together. With Ruth Negga starring opposite Jake Gyllenhaal as Barbara Sabich, the strong cast includes Peter Sarsgaard, A Man In Full’s Bill Camp, The Watcher’s Noma Dumezweni and more. Next episode in 15 seconds …
Palm Royale
Palm Royale caught our hearts and Kristen Wiig dressed in her 60s garb in this High Society bubble will undoubetdly be your next TV obsession. Based on Juliet McDaniel’s novel Mr and Mrs American Pie, the hilarious Kristen Wiig plays an ambitious woman who schemes to secure her seat at America’s most exclusive table: Palm Beach High Society circa 1969. It is as if Barbie and the 60s James Bond came together to set the scene for this scandalous affair. Starring Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, with a cameo from Kaia Gerber, with Alison Janney and the legendary Laura Dern, we can’t wait to stick this on this week.
Loot
Actress Maya Rudolph is always on-hand to provide a laugh, so this series will offer some comic relief this weekend. Rudolph stars in Loot as Molly Novak, a recent divorcée, who after achieving her $87 billion settlement, must figure out what to do with it. We follow along as she decides to re-engage with her charitable foundation, reconnects with the real world and works on finding herself along the way. It’s bright, it’s punchy, it’s stylish.
Women In Blue
Based on real crimes and the women who solved them, Women in Blue follows four women who join Mexico’s first female police force in 1971. They defy the ultra-conservative norms of the time only to discover that their squad is a publicity stunt to distract the media from a brutal serial killer. This is gripping… Women In Blue ticks all our boxes for thriller-crime, 1970s style, and smart, strong women who take control. We don’t ask for much! Turn your subtitles on and watch the mini-series starring Bárbara Mori, Ximena Sariñana, Natalia Téllez and Amorita Rasgado.
The New Look
Released on Valentine’s Day this year, this ten-part historical series captures the tensions and rivalries within the world of haute couture and the life of Christian Dior. If you binged the Balenciaga biopic (below) and are in need for more true fashion stories – this one will pick up right where you need it to! The all-star cast includes Ben Mendelsohn, Maisie Williams, John Malkovich, Emily Mortimer, Claes Bang, Glenn Close and Juliette Binoche. Inspired by true events and filmed in Paris, the series centres on fashion designers Christian Dior, Coco Chanel and their contemporaries, including Pierre Balmain and Cristóbal Balenciaga and how they navigated the war, especially the Nazi occupation of Paris. Read more here.
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DISNEY+
Cristóbal Balenciaga
If you like fashion history, you will love this. This biopic not only has stylish interiors and costumes but it gives us a real insight into Balenciaga’s time in Paris during World War II, his interactions with his contemporaries including Coco Chanel, and his puritanical “perfectionism” which he was so well known for. Balenciaga was known for being a very private man and Spanish actor Alberto San Juan brings him to life. Read more about it here.
Feud: Capote vs The Swans
Ryan Murphy’s FX series has a stellar cast including Naomi Watts, Demi Moore and Chloë Sevigny – the perfect cocktail of style and spite. It tells the story of American novelist Truman Capote (Tom Hollander) and his high-profile fallout with his friends, whom he befriended in the ’50s to ’70s, and who he called his “swans” as they were all slim, impeccably dressed and, most importantly, they were infamous for their tangled love lives and affairs. Read more about it here.
Death and Other Deaths
For fans of the Knives Out films (a new one is due to be released in 2025!), here is a series to scratch that murder-mystery itch. Starring Violette Beane and Homeland’s Mandy Patinkin, plus a great ensemble cast for the polarising characters that often crop up in these murder mysteries, the series follows Imogene Scott (Beane) who finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time – on a Mediterranean cruise no less. A murder occurs, and Imogene must partner up with a man she despises; Rufus Cotesworth (Patinkin), the world’s greatest detective, to prove her innocence.
Shogun
Everybody was talking about Shogun this year, the mini-series that completely commands your attention. Set in Japan in the year 1600, 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. Starring Anna Sawai, Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis, this series is gorgeous to look at from costume to scenery and is so exciting to watch.
Sugar
Colin Farrell stars in this mini-series following the story of John Sugar, a private detective who is investigating the mysterious disappearance of a legendary Hollywood producer’s beloved granddaughter in modern-day LA. A slick new look for Farrell, the star-studded cast also includes Kirby, Amy Ryan, James Cromwell, Anna Gunn and Breaking Bad’s Anna Gunn.
Say Nothing
FX series Say Nothing on Disney+ is a gripping story set in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, spanning four decades. The limtied series is based on the book by Patrick Radden Keefe and starts with the shocking disappearance of Jean McConville, a single mother of ten who was abducted from her home in 1972 and never seen alive again. Following various IRA members, over nine episodes the story explores the extremes some people will go to in the name of their beliefs, the way a deeply divided society can suddenly tip over into armed conflict, and the emotional and psychological costs of a code of silence. Not for the faint-hearted, but an important part of our history that we shouldn’t ignore.
In Vogue: The 90s
A must-watch for fashion lovers, this series tells the definitive story of the fashion industry in the ’90s through the eyes of Vogue editors, Hamish Bowles, Edward Enninful, Tonne Goodman and Anna Wintour. Packed with some of the most influential names across fashion, film and politics, this thrilling journey takes you across continents and documents ten years that truly changed fashion forever. The six-part series also features insights from the most notable figures in the fashion world at the time and the legends who moulded the industry to be what it is today including Baz Luhrmann, Claudia Schiffer, Victoria Beckham, Kim Kardashian, Kate Moss, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell and many more.
Rivals
The long-awaited Rivals, based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s famous novel, is all anyone can talk about. Colourful and fun, it’s total ’80s escapism, with a nostalgic soundtrack to boot. Starring our very own Victoria Smurfit and Aidan Turner, this is definitely a SCANDALOUS series to binge this weekend. Not one for the whole family, but definitely juicy! Read our interview with Smurfit here.
The Bear
The Bear takes us right back to Chicago and straight into the kitchen with its recent release of the third season. Chef Carmen Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) and his crew (including Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach) return to our screens and as ever things are difficult. The Bear’s writers, directors and actors are masterful at representing the subtle quirks within all of the characters and how their relationships work. This show really is all about people – with cooking inspiration and exciting fast-paced kitchen work thrown in there too. With more celebrity guest appearances (no spoilers here), this season keeps you gripped and leaves you wondering about what is to come next.
We Were The Lucky Ones
Joey King and Logan Lerman star in this limited series based on the New York Times bestselling Novel by Georgia Hunter. It is inspired by the incredible true story of one Jewish family who were separated at the start of World War II and stayed determined to survive and be reunited. This is a truly inspiring and gripping tale of determination, endurance, hope, love and the remarkable resilience of the human spirit in times of unimaginable pain. King and Lerman glow.
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PRIME VIDEO
Cruel Intentions
Cruel Intentions is the TV series reboot of the 1999 cult classic film of the same name starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, Selma Blair and Joshua Jackson. The film, set in New York City among rich high schoolers, is a modern retelling of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses. The series takes place at Manchester College in Washington DC where the scheming Caroline Mertueil (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Lucien Belmont (Zac Burgess) will do anything to stay atop the social hierarchy. Following a hazing incident that threatens to bring down the fraternity system, the step-siblings will do whatever they can to preserve their influence, even seducing Annie Grover (Savannah Lee Smith), the daughter of the US Vice President.
Fellow Travellers
Golden Globe nominated for Best Miniseries, Best Actor and Actor in a Supporting Role, Fellow Travellers stars one of our favourite Bridgerton stars, Jonathan Bailey, and American Horror Story’s Matt Bomer in this gripping story of love and life. Based on the 2007 fictional novel of the same name by Thomas Mallon, Fellow Travelers follows the story of political staffers Hawkins Fuller and Tim Laughlin, whose paths converge at the height of the Lavender Scare of the 1950s. Despite the constant threat of getting caught, their searing love for each other only intensifies in the tumultuous decades that follow. Their volatile romance spans the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s, the drug-fueled disco hedonism of the 1970s and the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, as they face obstacles in the world and in themselves.
Joan
Sophie Turner, ’80s fashion, high stakes and a true story makes a gripping combination. Turner plays Joan Haddington in this six-part true crime series that follows the fiery and uncompromising Joan from her 20s, when she is a devoted mother to a six-year-old daughter, but is trapped in a marriage with a violent criminal. When he goes on the run, Joan seizes on the opportunity to escape, adopting new identities and finding success as a jewel thief. This stranger-than-fiction true story has us at the edge of our seat. Also starring Frank Dillane, Kirsty J.Curtis, Laura Aikman, Gershwyn Eustache Junior and more.
A Very Royal Scandal
You thought you had seen enough with Scoop last year, but this mini-series is coming soon and Micheal Sheen is having his turn in the role of Prince Andrew. He looks truly transformed. The series follows the events surrounding Prince Andrew’s 2019 interview with Emily Maitlis, which turned out to be…nothing short of disastrous. A shocking moment in the public eye, no doubt. The three-part drama offers a different take on the interview, compared to Scoop, taking a deep dive into the events leading up to the interview in the perspective of Emily Maitlis, who will be played by Ruth Wilson.
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SKY ATLANTIC
Sweetpea
Sweetpea is the ultimate gorey, graphic and gripping series to dive into this week. In this twisted ‘coming-of-rage’ thriller, Ella Purnell (Yellowjackets, Fallout) stars as a quiet wallflower who develops a taste for murder. Purness is masterful at acting deranged, while remaining likeable. Sweetpea‘s cast also includes Calam Lynch, Nicôle Lecky, Jeremy Swift and others – this dark comedy drama is the perfect combination to get us through the month.
The Day of The Jackal
Eddie Redmayne stars as an elusive assassin who meets his match in a British intelligence officer tracking him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe. The famous tale based on Frederick Forsyth’s novel is one of the most iconic political thrillers to grace the screen. The BAFTA-winning and Oscar nominated film was originally released in 1973, while this modern re-telling sees Lashana Lynch as the MI6 agent working tirelessly to track the Jackal down before he can eliminate his next target. It will have you glued to your seat all over again!
True Detective: Night Country
Starring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis, the latest series of True Detective (executively produced by Matthew McConaughy, Woody Harrelson and Jodie Foster – so you know it’s good!) is set in Alaska during the darkness of winter. As all gripping series start, the mystery begins with a disappearance, which Detective Danvers (Foster) has to investigate. We will say no more, so as not to spoil it – but keep an eye out for Irish actor Owen McDonnell (also in Bad Sisters season 2) whose character appears to be the most mysterious of them all!
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NOW TV
Curfew
Alexandra Burke stars in this murder-mystery and we are intrigued. Recently released, the mini-series starts when a woman’s body is discovered. She has been murdered and Veteran Police Officer Pamela (Sarah Parish) believes only one man could have done this. But in a world where men are bound by a curfew from 7pm to 7am, her theory is rejected. Interesting concept and one to curl up to this weekend. Also starring Mandip Gill, Mitchell Robertson, Slow Horses’ Aimee-Ffion Edwards and the fabulous Harriet Walter.
The Penguin
The Penguin is one of the most popular series out right now, starring the unrecognisable Colin Farrell, who is transformed into this villainous character that caught audience’s eyes in the 2022 The Batman film with Robert Pattinson. Whether you are a fan of DC comics or not, this Batman spin-off stands on its own. This limited series follows the transformation of Oswald Cobblepot (Farrell) from a disfigured nobody to a noted Gotham gangster. If you liked The Sopranos, you’re going to love this.
