Television Critic: Too Much and Wednesday (Season Two)
Photo:
StillMoving.Net / Netflix
Let's talk about what's on the box and Philippa Rennie is here with her recommendations.
Philippa was the Executive Producer of TV show Escaping Utopia and producer on Fresh Eggs, as well as Heaven and Hell: The Centrepoint Story, so it's fair to say she knows a thing or two about good television.
She reviews Too Much (Netflix) and Wednesday - Season Two (Netflix)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
15 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Netflix downgrades deal with Harry and Meghan
However, rather than funding the couple's entire production output, the deal gives Netflix the first option on the Sussexes' film and television projects. A 'magical holiday' special Among their first offerings will be a short documentary called Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, based on a group of African orphans whose dance videos have become a YouTube sensation. The film is said to go 'beyond the viral videos to reveal a vibrant, one-of-a-kind community where orphaned children transform hardship into joy, dancing their way toward healing, belonging, and the promise of a brighter future'. Harry and Meghan are listed as co-producers. In December, the Duchess will also present a one-off 'magical holiday' special of With Love, Meghan, her cookery and lifestyle show, which promises to show viewers how to 'deck the halls, create holiday feasts, craft heartfelt gifts and share lots of laughs'. There is said to be 'active development' on other projects, which 'span a variety of content genres', including a feature adaptation of the bestselling romantic novel Meet Me at the Lake, by Carley Fortune. The announcement was made on Monday, just weeks before the expiration of the Sussexes' initial five-year Netflix deal, signed in September 2020. The Duchess, whose As Ever brand is now run in conjunction with Netflix, said: 'My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision.' Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria said: 'Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere'. A spokesman for the couple declined to comment on how much the new contract was worth but a source familiar with the deal told the New York Times the less lucrative deal was 'a sign that the high-profile 2020 deal may not have met expectations'. Netflix has also backed away from such all-encompassing deals. Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground production company, which signed a deal with Netflix in 2018 covering all overheads, salaries and a fund to develop new projects, last year transitioned to a similar first-look deal. But while Higher Ground won an Oscar in 2020 for its documentary American Factory, and was also behind 2023's Leave the World Behind, one of Netflix's biggest film hits, the Duke and Duchess have struggled to make their mark. Millions of views The couple have produced only a handful of shows in the last five years, the most successful being their six-part Harry & Meghan docuseries released in December 2022. The show generated 23.4 million views in its first four days, the most for a documentary on the service. Heart of Invictus, the Duke's behind-the-scenes documentary about the competitors preparing for the 2022 Games, was released in August 2023, followed by Polo, a documentary about his favourite sport, in December 2024, neither of which captured the public imagination. The Duke and Duchess also lent their voices to Live to Lead, a series featuring pre-recorded interviews with global leaders and activists. The first series of With Love, Meghan was broadcast in March to a series of negative reviews in the UK and the US. But the show has attracted 5.3 million views since its debut, making it Netflix's most watched cookery show since its release. The second series, filmed immediately after the first, will be released this month. By joining forces with Netflix to launch As Ever, the Duchess secured a long-term partnership with the streaming giant. The brand, which originally focused on jam and edible sprinkles, has recently launched two Californian rosé wines and is expected to branch into hospitality and entertaining. Meghan has developed a close working relationship with Bajaria, recently revealing that the TV executive came up with the idea for With Love, Meghan, after she sent her fruit baskets and jams. Bajaria said on Monday: 'The response to their work speaks for itself – Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series. 'More recently, fans have been inspired by With Love, Meghan, with products from the new As Ever line consistently selling out in record time. 'We're excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together.' The Sussexes launched Archewell Productions in 2020, stating that it would 'produce programming that informs, elevates, and inspires' for Netflix. The couple's other major media deal, with Spotify, ended in 2023 after one season of Meghan's podcast Archetypes, with one of the company's executives later branding them 'grifters'.
Otago Daily Times
19 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Getting socked by gang gear in the menswear department
"Good morning. Can I help you?" "Well, it's a long time since I bought any new clothes. I was actually thinking of buying something to get rid what my wife calls my fuddy duddy image. 'Loosen up, or I'll leave you,' was what she said." "You've come just at the right time. Here's our new range. It's called Gang Gear. Just over here." "Gang Gear? Sounds odd." "It's all the rage but it's all perfectly legal, apparently. So, no trouble with the constabulary. Blazers are back. Are you a golfer?" "Yeah, it's all that keeps me sane." "Well. I know golfers wear blazers sometimes. So, what about this one? Traditional black, of course, and look at the badge on the pocket. What a dog! The opposition won't want to meddle with you. That's the MMGC crest, the Mongrel Mob Golf Club." "Looks a bit violent for the golf course." "Fair enough. Here's the King Cobra model. Just a mildly unfriendly-looking snake. Of course, every blazer needs badges on the lapel and we stock plenty. Iron Crosses, swastikas, skull and crossbones, daggers, clenched fists, the lot! Your lapels will have more holes than a pincushion." "OK. Maybe the King Cobra and a fist badge will do just for now, but I'm not sure about the overall image. I'm regarded as a pretty mature, respectable sort of joker." "No worries. Wear a tie. It bugs me that we sell hardly any ties these days. We used to sell about 50 MCC ties every cricket season. Now, nothing." "MCC ties? They're London-made yellow and orange silk jobs for members only, aren't they?" "Yeah, well, we had a crowd in China who made great replicas, but they're sending the Gang Gear ones now. Here's one. Black and blue stripes and an embroidered Rebels gang logo in the middle. You know, that's the one with the Confederate flag and a Civil War-type soldier's cap. Very popular with the young guys." "Well, I'm not getting any younger. Maybe a lighter-coloured tie with a small skull would do." "Done. Now, what about braces. They're back. Killer Bees braces are flying off the shelf. Get it? But braces can be a big help when you're putting on a bit around the gut." "No thanks. Braces remind me of my old grandfather. He was always snapping them and complaining about not having a belt so that he could tan my backside. Very unpleasant memories." "Belt! Oh, yeah, that reminds me. Over here. Real leather belts and gang insignia buckles to fit. Your granddad could have given you a lot of grief with one of these. You wouldn't have been able sit down for a week." "Well, the old boy's no longer with us, so I guess a belt would be safe. What buckle would you recommend?" "There's one here from Comancheros. Some sort of bird. Would that suit?" "No, thanks. The Comancheros are a bit on the violent side for the golf club. Maybe I'll stick to the rodeo buckle with the steer's horns I've always worn." "Fair enough. The Gang Gear can be a bit over the top." "Yeah. I don't know what my wife's going to say all this gang stuff." "Your wife? She'll like the stuff over here. The Gang Gear Grundies." "Gang Gear Grundies?" "Absolutely. Underwear with an underworld theme. Patches on underpants, jockstraps and all that stuff." "That's crazy. No-one looks at men's underwear." "You'd be surprised. Wait a minute. The head! I almost forgot." "The head?" "Don't you remember the old slogan? 'Use your head. Wear a hat'. It was in all the ads when I was a boy. Over here. Berets, boaters, baseball caps, towelling hats, the works. All with gang logos. There's even one of those German coal scuttle helmets with the gang logo. Take your pick." "No, it's not going to work. I'll just tell the wife I'm not ready to change into someone interesting. Maybe the end of a marriage, but it'll beat wearing this gang stuff." "Oh, no. That's awful. Divorced over dress sense! Get something just for her. The home furnishings department have some good stuff. Gang insignia on shower curtains, pillow cases, duvets, even curtains." "She'd hate that. Let's stick to something from menswear." "OK. What about something discreet. Y'know, a bit more subtle. No-one notices socks too much but when they do it makes an impression. Try these. Just $9.99 for a pair of Mongrel Mob socks." "They seem pretty harmless and you deserve a sale having to work in a place like this. I'll take a pair." "Good on you. I'll wrap them. Hey, when you play golf next time, they'll all be watching your ankles." "No, they'll be watching my clubs. Those Gang Gear socks are the cheapest golf club-head covers I've ever had." — Jim Sullivan is a Patearoa writer.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Television Critic: Too Much and Wednesday (Season Two)
Luis Felber and Lena Dunham attend the Netflix Special Screening of 'Too Much' at The Barbican Centre on June 23rd, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. Photo: / Netflix Let's talk about what's on the box and Philippa Rennie is here with her recommendations. Philippa was the Executive Producer of TV show Escaping Utopia and producer on Fresh Eggs, as well as Heaven and Hell: The Centrepoint Story, so it's fair to say she knows a thing or two about good television. She reviews Too Much (Netflix) and Wednesday - Season Two (Netflix)
