Screen Queen TV Reviews: Travels With Agatha Christie, Bay of Fires, The Surfer, America's Sweethearts, DWTS
I've spent the past weekend steaming through the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Empress of Australia, a passenger liner at the centre of WA author and actor Toby Schmitz's grizzly-but-great debut novel, The Empress Murders.
His book, which I inhaled over the course of a weekend, is set in 1925, and is a fantastically dark rumination on the end of the British Empire, the legacy of World War I and a close-up look at colonialism and the murky confusion the world found itself in at the start of last century — it's also a ripping murder mystery.
Having spent so much time in that world, I decided to stay in similar terrain and dive into this fabulous travel series, which sees Sir David Suchet, the man who inhabited Agatha Christie's best-known creation, Inspector Hercule Poirot, for 25 years on TV — as he follows her footsteps, retracing early trips the crime novelist took with her then-husband Archie before she became famous (and famously reclusive) in later life.
In 1922, Christie, along with her husband, found herself crossing the world on a passenger ship much like the one that's central to Schmitz's book, tasked with visiting various countries to help promote an upcoming British Empire exhibition.
Suchet's first stop is South Africa; in 1924, Christie published a detective novel set there, and in episode one Suchet, armed with his old Leica camera, is off to Cape Town. Later episodes see him travel to Australia, New Zealand and Canada — even Hawaii. It's a delight to traverse the globe in his gentle presence. And — praise be! — there are no murderers along for the ride, though there is plenty of discussion of the devastating violence wrought in the name of king and country.
Seek this series out, and give Schmitz's book a read, too. Though be warned: his is a much choppier crossing.
There's much to like about this Tasmanian crime series, which sees the always-watchable Marta Dusseldorp starring as Stella, a mum-on-the-run in witness protection — it's so delightfully odd!
Season two sees her still stranded in off-kilter Mystery Bay with her kids, making the best of things by running the town's criminal enterprises. Mystery Bay's wacky inhabitants have got used to the spoils of their ill-gotten gains, but their harmonious anonymity is about to be tested as Stella finds herself in the sights of an 'unhinged apiarist drug lord' and 'maniacal doomsday cult'. It can't end well. Worth a second look, and a satisfying continuation of the story.
Remember when Nicolas Cage spent a few weeks living down south, shopping at the Asian grocery store in Busselton? He was there shooting this psychedelic surf thriller for Stan. Worth a look for the curious.
Rebecca Gibney, Susie O'Neill, Felicity Ward, Osher Gunsberg and Shaun Micallef are just some of the stars making their dance floor debut this Sunday. You KNOW I'll be tuning in to see how they fare.
Sorry, not sorry, but I loved the first season of this doco. This one follows the 2024-25 cheerleading squad from auditions right through to the season, and it won't be smooth sailing. Cannot wait to feel woefully inadequate as I check back in with these impossibly glamorous gals.
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West Australian
16 hours ago
- West Australian
Screen Queen TV Reviews: Travels With Agatha Christie, Bay of Fires, The Surfer, America's Sweethearts, DWTS
I've spent the past weekend steaming through the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Empress of Australia, a passenger liner at the centre of WA author and actor Toby Schmitz's grizzly-but-great debut novel, The Empress Murders. His book, which I inhaled over the course of a weekend, is set in 1925, and is a fantastically dark rumination on the end of the British Empire, the legacy of World War I and a close-up look at colonialism and the murky confusion the world found itself in at the start of last century — it's also a ripping murder mystery. Having spent so much time in that world, I decided to stay in similar terrain and dive into this fabulous travel series, which sees Sir David Suchet, the man who inhabited Agatha Christie's best-known creation, Inspector Hercule Poirot, for 25 years on TV — as he follows her footsteps, retracing early trips the crime novelist took with her then-husband Archie before she became famous (and famously reclusive) in later life. In 1922, Christie, along with her husband, found herself crossing the world on a passenger ship much like the one that's central to Schmitz's book, tasked with visiting various countries to help promote an upcoming British Empire exhibition. Suchet's first stop is South Africa; in 1924, Christie published a detective novel set there, and in episode one Suchet, armed with his old Leica camera, is off to Cape Town. Later episodes see him travel to Australia, New Zealand and Canada — even Hawaii. It's a delight to traverse the globe in his gentle presence. And — praise be! — there are no murderers along for the ride, though there is plenty of discussion of the devastating violence wrought in the name of king and country. Seek this series out, and give Schmitz's book a read, too. Though be warned: his is a much choppier crossing. There's much to like about this Tasmanian crime series, which sees the always-watchable Marta Dusseldorp starring as Stella, a mum-on-the-run in witness protection — it's so delightfully odd! Season two sees her still stranded in off-kilter Mystery Bay with her kids, making the best of things by running the town's criminal enterprises. Mystery Bay's wacky inhabitants have got used to the spoils of their ill-gotten gains, but their harmonious anonymity is about to be tested as Stella finds herself in the sights of an 'unhinged apiarist drug lord' and 'maniacal doomsday cult'. It can't end well. Worth a second look, and a satisfying continuation of the story. Remember when Nicolas Cage spent a few weeks living down south, shopping at the Asian grocery store in Busselton? He was there shooting this psychedelic surf thriller for Stan. Worth a look for the curious. Rebecca Gibney, Susie O'Neill, Felicity Ward, Osher Gunsberg and Shaun Micallef are just some of the stars making their dance floor debut this Sunday. You KNOW I'll be tuning in to see how they fare. Sorry, not sorry, but I loved the first season of this doco. This one follows the 2024-25 cheerleading squad from auditions right through to the season, and it won't be smooth sailing. Cannot wait to feel woefully inadequate as I check back in with these impossibly glamorous gals.
Perth Now
16 hours ago
- Perth Now
New SBS series follows Agatha Christie's footsteps
I've spent the past weekend steaming through the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Empress of Australia, a passenger liner at the centre of WA author and actor Toby Schmitz's grizzly-but-great debut novel, The Empress Murders. His book, which I inhaled over the course of a weekend, is set in 1925, and is a fantastically dark rumination on the end of the British Empire, the legacy of World War I and a close-up look at colonialism and the murky confusion the world found itself in at the start of last century — it's also a ripping murder mystery. Having spent so much time in that world, I decided to stay in similar terrain and dive into this fabulous travel series, which sees Sir David Suchet, the man who inhabited Agatha Christie's best-known creation, Inspector Hercule Poirot, for 25 years on TV — as he follows her footsteps, retracing early trips the crime novelist took with her then-husband Archie before she became famous (and famously reclusive) in later life. In 1922, Christie, along with her husband, found herself crossing the world on a passenger ship much like the one that's central to Schmitz's book, tasked with visiting various countries to help promote an upcoming British Empire exhibition. The Empress Murders by Toby Schmitz. Credit: Supplied Suchet's first stop is South Africa; in 1924, Christie published a detective novel set there, and in episode one Suchet, armed with his old Leica camera, is off to Cape Town. Later episodes see him travel to Australia, New Zealand and Canada — even Hawaii. It's a delight to traverse the globe in his gentle presence. And — praise be! — there are no murderers along for the ride, though there is plenty of discussion of the devastating violence wrought in the name of king and country. Seek this series out, and give Schmitz's book a read, too. Though be warned: his is a much choppier crossing. Marta Dusseldorp is back for a second season of the delightfully oddball crime drama, Bay Of Fires. Credit: Supplied There's much to like about this Tasmanian crime series, which sees the always-watchable Marta Dusseldorp starring as Stella, a mum-on-the-run in witness protection — it's so delightfully odd! Season two sees her still stranded in off-kilter Mystery Bay with her kids, making the best of things by running the town's criminal enterprises. Mystery Bay's wacky inhabitants have got used to the spoils of their ill-gotten gains, but their harmonious anonymity is about to be tested as Stella finds herself in the sights of an 'unhinged apiarist drug lord' and 'maniacal doomsday cult'. It can't end well. Worth a second look, and a satisfying continuation of the story. Nicolas Cage in The Surfer. Credit: Supplied / RegionalHUB Remember when Nicolas Cage spent a few weeks living down south, shopping at the Asian grocery store in Busselton? He was there shooting this psychedelic surf thriller for Stan. Worth a look for the curious. This year's competitors on Dancing With The Stars. Credit: Nicholas Wilson Rebecca Gibney, Susie O'Neill, Felicity Ward, Osher Gunsberg and Shaun Micallef are just some of the stars making their dance floor debut this Sunday. You KNOW I'll be tuning in to see how they fare. America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders is back for a second series. Credit: Supplied Sorry, not sorry, but I loved the first season of this doco. This one follows the 2024-25 cheerleading squad from auditions right through to the season, and it won't be smooth sailing. Cannot wait to feel woefully inadequate as I check back in with these impossibly glamorous gals.
Man of Many
18 hours ago
- Man of Many
Man of Many's Staff Favourites—14 June, 2025
By Dean Blake - News Published: 14 June 2025 |Last Updated: 13 June 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 8 min The Lowdown: No-Tell Motel | Image: The Raconteur Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. We get the chance to test, review, and just toy around with a lot of cool stuff here at Man of Many, but not everything gets the full write-up treatment. Sometimes, we just find things we like and want to share with ya'll, and sometimes we get cool stuff recommended to us and want to talk about it somewhere. Here, in our weekly Staff Favourites, we get the chance to do just that. Put your feet up, preferably with a coffee or beer (depending on the weather), and check out the stuff we loved this week. No-Tell Motel | Image: The Raconteur No-Tell Motel by The Raconteur Nick Hall – Editor-in-Chief It isn't often that a fragrance really speaks to me. Like so many men, colognes, perfumes, and scents are often an afterthought, relegated to the same tier as the 'wallet, keys, phone pocket-pat'. Of course, I understand the necessity and intricacy involved in choosing the right scent, but I have never put too much thought into what that actually means. No-Tell Motel from Australian fine fragrance label The Raconteur may well have changed my view. A punchy scent that exudes a certain level of late-night sophistication, this fragrance embodies the kind of man I wish I was. Suave, elegant and charismatic by default, No-Tell Motel has a playful exuberance that bursts onto the senses. It hits like a counter-punch to the dull and dulcet tones of the established luxury houses, but with a subtle undertone that doesn't overstay its welcome. To me, this fragrance perfectly walks the powerful but not overpowering line, and it comes courtesy of one unique ingredient. As The Raconteur founder and perfumer Craig Andrade told me when we caught up last month, No-Tell Motel actually features an olive fruit absolute, which he described as a 'world-first'. 'It's an actual extract from olives, and I don't know of another scent in the world that's done this in fine fragrance, because you generally can't. No one has ever produced a scent note from actual olives,' Andrade told me. 'All of the olive notes you get in perfumery are always a construct or an accord created by perfumers to mimic the scent of an olive. This is extremely rare because it's got this insane olive fruit absolute, and I built the whole scent around that.' Adrade's new fragrance is an ode to urban nightlife, described as a 'Dirty Martini hooking up with a Spicy Margarita', and I couldn't agree more. There is an earthy undertone that flows through this fragrance, buoyed by the inclusion of Tasmanian mountain pepper, that I am entirely enamoured by. It's decadent, but not in an ostentacious way, but rather the allure of a well-kept secret. Mark my words, No-Tell Motel might just be the most remarkable fragrance I have come across in years. Favourite Article of the Week: Retro Revival: Why Longines is Banking on the Vintage Watch Trend Ultrahuman Ring Air Harry Parsons – Head of Branded Content I've uncovered a new obsession, and it's data. I never thought I would be saying that; however, when it relates to my health and wellbeing, it's a great way to uncover less-than-ideal habits that affect my day-to-day life, hiding behind the guise of unchecked routines. I have been trialling the Ultrahuman Ring Air for a couple of months now, and it has made a noticeable dent in my habits in the most positive way possible. Here are three things that have impressed me the most with this device: The design is fashion-forward. Gone are the days of tracking fitness and having to take it off for meetings, events, etc., to ensure you weren't looking like you were prepared to run a marathon. I've got the ring in Space Silver, and it looks like a completely normal ring, allowing me to wear it day in, day out: perfect for keeping all your health data tracked and not having gaps that affect your health insights. It's all about recovery. Many trackers I've worn in the past focus on the activity aspect as the core data points, burning calories, tracking fitness levels, etc. Whilst the Ring Air does all of this, its core data revolves around recovery, tracking my caffeine-permissible window to ensure I have substantial rest, advanced sleep data covering sleep cycles, HR drop, movement, body temperature, and even how groggy I felt waking up. All of these combine into a holistic view of how to better your rest and recovery, providing tips on how to improve aspects of your nightly routine across the board. What are Circadian Rhythms exactly? Prior to owning the Ring Air, I was not across the body's daily circ rhythms, so this has been an enjoyable learning curve. With each phase providing information on how my body responds to external factors such as exercise, food, and blue light/sunlight, I am able to structure my day to ensure that my rest does not suffer due to a late-night meal or scrolling on my phone too long. P.S. Ultrahuman also have blue-light glasses that block out 99 % of blue light and have a noticeable effect on setting up for sleep (wearing them for 30 min prior to sleep had me out like a light). Whilst the ring itself is a large component of the experience, the app and UX will sway a majority of buyers; after all, there is no screen, so you do find yourself checking the app's data regularly. It feels like every time I go to check my sleep or stress levels, there is a new feature being released. One in particular is tagging lifestyle factors, i.e., drinking coffee, and Ultrahuman's algorithm helps decipher how these affect you day and night. Overall, it's a wellbeing coach, guiding you in the right direction towards a well-rested and energetic self. Who wouldn't want that? If you would like to see more of the ring itself and app, check out our short review here: Favourite Article: 2026 Land Rover Defender Armed with New Tech and Revised Styling Uniqlo Men Ultra Light Padded Quilted Jacket John Guanzon – Head of Creative & Production Anyone else freezing in Sydney right now, or is it just me? No word of a lie, I've barely taken this jacket off. The quilted design makes it feel a little more elevated than your average puffer, but it's still super practical: lightweight, easy to throw on, and surprisingly super warm for something so minimal. I actually brought it with me to Geneva recently, and it got me through some properly cold days there. Since then, it's basically become part of my daily uniform. I wear it to the office, to the kids' soccer training, even just running around doing errands on weekends. It's one of those staple pieces you forget you're wearing until you realise you've been living in it. Favourite Article: Here's All the Best Stuff from Apple's 2025 WWDC Event Under Armour Unstoppable Utility Pants Alex Martinez – Media Sales and Brand Partnerships One of my friends recently described my fashion style as 'eshay grandpa', which was intended as criticism but received as a major compliment. I think the essence of his comment referred to me wearing comfortable and often loose-fitting streetwear. The Under Armour Utility Pant gives a toned back street-style I am going after and just in time for winter too. I'm pretty obsessed with them; they're super versatile (can wear to morning coffees, to work, nights out, and almost any occasion), and I'm all about anything with zippered pockets. Favourite Article: Nintendo Switch 2 Review: Fantastic, but Flawed Tony Touch DJ Set at 214 Mulberry Frank Arthur – Co-Founder Looking for music to play in the background? Hit play on Tony Touch's guest set for Aimé Leon Dore's 214 Mulberry series, for a soundtrack that keeps the energy high without hijacking your focus. Filmed in the label's secret New York Sound Room on Mulberry Street, the set sounds as good as it looks: with a backdrop themed to Aimé Leon Dore's iconic aesthetic, the dark timber panelling, shelves of wax and just-enough mood lighting make this video a visual treat. For an entire hour, the New York turntable icon glides from golden-era hip-hop to buttery soul, Latin and funk, all blended live on vinyl. It's familiar enough to nod along, eclectic enough to keep your ears pricked. Throw it on in the background and let Tony do what he does best.
