Screen Queen TV Reviews: Stick, Brassic, Alone Australia finale, The Tylenol Murders and The Survivors

West Australian

31-05-2025

Not to sound like an insufferable Pollyanna, but I have a list of things that make me smile. And when life's grinding me down and I'm having a particularly crappy day, I'll read it, and try to do at least one thing off it that instantly makes me feel better.
I know — I annoy myself, too.
There are all sorts of random things on said list: drinking my first coffee of the day, getting into clean sheets at night, sniffing my dog's paws (they smell like CCs!), feeling a breeze on my face through an open window, watching funny Instagram memes with my kid — all are instant dopamine hits.
Over the years, various TV series have snuck their way on. And if I need a lift, I'll regularly rewatch old episodes of Escape To The Chateau, Schitt's Creek or Ted Lasso. If I REALLY want to feel all the happy feels, I'll pop on Bluey's Sleepytime episode and cry great, big cathartic tears into my cat's fur — highly recommend.
I can't help wondering if Owen Wilson's new feel-good golf comedy, Stick, might be about to join my happy list, and, indeed, become a whole generation of sports-comedy-loving viewers' serotonin hit of choice.
It tells the story of an over-the-hill golf pro called Pryce Cahill (Wilson), who discovers a 17-year-old golf prodigy named Santi (Peter Dager) and decides to mentor him on the competition circuit. It's got all the ingredients for an instant TV hit, and there are some incredible performances from the cast, which includes Marc Maron, Judy Greer, Mariana Trevino and Lilli Kay. And sure, it's about golf — not exactly my sport of choice — but, like soccer was to Ted Lasso, that's really just the kick-off point to tell some heartfelt stories about hope, resilience and the importance of picking yourself up.
Add it to your lists, people!
Looking for your next favourite under-the-radar Netflix show? This is it! Regular SBS watchers might have already caught this great British series, about a group of mates living in the 'grim North' of England. But Netflix is giving this fabulous black comedy a new life, streaming seasons one to five. It's already crept into their top 10 list this week, which brings me joy — I love that new fans are discovering how great This Is England's Joe Gilgun (the show's co-creator) and Bergerac's Damien Molony are as the two mismatched besties at the heart of the series.
The full cast will be coming together for a special reunion episode at the conclusion of the final two instalments of the season, to be hosted by Kumi Taguchi. Can't wait for the debrief.
If you took a drink every time someone said the word 'Tylenol' in this doco, you'd be absolutely hammered five minutes in. Talk about branding! Though probably not the kind the massive drug company was after. This doco has some genuinely surprising moments, but they weren't enough to sustain my interest past ep one.
This Aussie drama, based on Jane Harper's bestselling novel, stars The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power's Charlie Vickers and Yerin Ha, who'll soon be seen playing the romantic lead in the next instalment of Bridgerton. Talk about a stacked cast! Mark your diaries.