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Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Murderbot review: Apple TV+'s sci-fi series delivers thrills and comedy
Alexander Skarsgard (left) is a cyborg guard and David Dastmalchian a scientist in Murderbot, showing on Apple TV+. PHOTO: APPLE TV+ Murderbot (M18) Apple TV+ ★★★★☆ Poor Murderbot. The titular cyborg guard has secretly hacked his obedience circuits and become a sentient being with free will. But he does not long to escape slavery, nor does he want to become human. All he wants is to be left alone to watch soap operas. His human masters are a group of scientists with the survival instincts of infants, who muddle around a planet filled with elephant-size centipedes and other dangers, forcing him to rescue them over and over. That is the premise of American novelist Martha Wells' The Murderbot Diaries books (2017 to 2023), which the Apple TV+ streaming series Murderbot has maintained. The Weitz brothers, Chris and Paul, are the show's creators. They bring the same laid-back drama-comedy energy seen in their 2002 movie adaptation of Nick Hornby's 1998 novel About A Boy. Murderbot's first season, which premiered on May 16, is a faithful adaptation of All Systems Red, the 2017 novella that launched the book series. Here are three reasons to binge the science-fiction action comedy. Accurate, funny satire The narrator in both the book and the show is a security unit, or SecUnit for short, who calls himself 'Murderbot'. Played by Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard, the unit observes quietly but judges harshly. To his eyes, his human masters are emotionally weak, needy bags of meat. The series is grounded in a workplace sitcom set-up – the grumpy nerd main character forced to get along with a bunch of kooky colleagues. The story milks that premise by making the scientists goofy Silicon Valley stereotypes – giddy optimists who discuss their feelings too much for Murderbot's liking. The misanthropic robot secretly calls them 'hippies' because he is frustrated by their touchy-feely work style and preoccupation with gender-fluid, polyamorous relationships. Decisions take forever because consensus must be present. That – and the group hugs and singalongs – makes him roll his mechanical eyes. Murderbot himself is a parody of masculinity. He hates emotions in real life but, like many men, is addicted to melodramatic entertainment that makes for hilarious show-within-a-show interludes. Noma Dumezweni in Murderbot. PHOTO: APPLE TV+ Strong performances and set design Apple TV+ has built up a storehouse of quality fantasy and science-fiction content, from Silo (2023 to present) to Severance (2022 to present) to Foundation (2021 to present). These shows, and Murderbot, look good – money has been spent on sets, props, locations and digital effects. Casting is also strong. Skarsgard is surrounded by solid actors, including John Cho, who plays the pompous starship captain in Murderbot's favourite soap opera, Sanctuary Moon. David Dastmalchian as a scientist who suspects that Murderbot has free will and Noma Dumezweni as the team leader provide credible supporting performances. No mystery, no problem Too often, science-fiction shows are propelled by a Big Mystery or Big Twist. What lies outside the silos in Silo? Why does the employer in Severance require employees' brains to be compartmentalised? That form of storytelling often leads to disappointment – the final unveiling must feel momentous yet inevitable – and many fail to hit the mark. Murderbot ditches sci-fi mysteries in favour of workplace drama-comedy tinged with corporate espionage and spiced up with the thrill of occasional attacks by house-size insects. It is a low-stakes, often rambling affair that relies on the ensemble of characters bickering good-naturedly – when they are not busy trying to bed each other or fighting giant bugs. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Actors Natalie Portman and John Krasinski bring on-screen sibling rivalry to Fountain Of Youth
LOS ANGELES – For moviegoers missing grand archaeological action adventures such as those in the Indiana Jones (1981 to 2023) and The Mummy (1999 to 2017) films, Fountain Of Youth will scratch an itch. But instead of a lone hero as the protagonist, the new movie revolves around two bickering siblings, played by John Krasinski and Natalie Portman. Directed by English film-maker Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, 2009 and 2011; Aladdin, 2019) and debuting on Apple TV+ on May 23, Fountain Of Youth follows estranged brother-and-sister duo Luke (Krasinski) and Charlotte Purdue (Portman), whose late father was a famous archaeologist. Bankrolled by enigmatic billionaire Owen Carver (Domhnall Gleeson), they decide to set aside their differences and try to find the mythological fountain of youth. Speaking to The Straits Times and other media over Zoom recently, Krasinski, 45, says he used to fantasise about being in an Indiana Jones movie. 'He was the first person who wasn't wearing a cape. He was a superhero who was just using his brain and sheer will to get to these places, and I thought that was really cool,' explains the American actor, who wrote, directed and starred in the A Quiet Place horror films (2018 and 2020). Portman, 43, was drawn to the fact that the main characters are siblings. Natalie Portman at the photo call for Arco during the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 16. PHOTO: EPA-EFE 'A relationship between the brother and sister is quite rare to see at the centre of this kind of movie, and one of the reasons I was so excited to play this role,' says the American performer, who won a Best Actress Oscar for playing a troubled ballerina in the psychological drama Black Swan (2010). 'I always dreamt of having a sibling, being an only child, so I got to put years of imagination to work in the movie,' adds the former child star, who also appeared as scientist Jane Foster in the Thor superhero blockbusters (2011 to 2022). Krasinski felt the same way. 'I get to play this unique thing where it's not a love story, it's actually a sibling rivalry,' says the actor, who also played the title character in the Jack Ryan spy series (2018 to 2023). 'The second I see her, we get right into bickering because I know her entire history, she knows my entire history, and it launches the movie in a very different way.' And the co-stars connected immediately off-camera too. John Krasinski (left) and Natalie Portman (right) play siblings who help a billionaire, played by Domnhall Gleeson (middle), track down the mythological fountain of youth in Fountain Of Youth. PHOTO: APPLE TV+ 'Natalie was just like the sister I never had,' says Krasinski, who is the youngest of three sons. 'We started working together in Vienna, and she was nice enough to come to dinner with my family and I and that was really fun,' adds the actor, who is married to English actress Emily Blunt, 42, and has daughters aged 11 and eight. 'And Natalie's done all these iconic roles, but she was so incredibly funny every day on set and, for me, the sense of humour was the way in. All the bickering (between our characters) comes from all the jokes off-camera.' 'It was so fun getting to work with John,' adds Portman, who has two children, aged 13 and eight, with former husband Benjamin Millepied, a 47-year-old French choreographer. 'He's obviously a brilliant actor and he's a very funny person in real life, and he made me feel very comfortable and at ease right away.' As the characters go on a globetrotting heist, the production filmed on location in Bangkok, Vienna and Cairo. The latter saw them shoot at the Great Pyramids – a backdrop so stunning, it made their job easier. 'They were so jaw-dropping that there was no acting required,' Krasinski says. 'I couldn't believe they let us get that close to the pyramids. That was pretty incredible.' Portman adds: 'The pyramids are so mysterious that when you're there, you really are, like, 'How did they build these hundreds of years ago?' 'So, it definitely added to the mystery and awe of what we're exploring in the movie.' Fountain Of Youth premieres on Apple TV+ on May 23. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Daily Telegraph
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Telegraph
Streaming guide: Best May shows on Binge, Max, Stan, AppleTV+, Disney+, Paramount+, Stan, Prime Video, Netflix
From classy Kidman to a murderous robot and the return of the Wrexham lads and the Sex and the City ladies, there's plenty to choose from on the streaming services in May Alexander Skarsgard as a sentient android in Murderbot on Apple TV+ APPLE TV+ MURDERBOT MAY 9 Sci-fi author Martha Wells won coveted Hugo and Nebula Awards for her The Murderbot Diaries series of books and this ten-part comedy-thriller adaptation looks to be in good hands thanks to Chris and Paul Weitz (American Pie, About a Boy) and Alexander Skarsgard, who executive produces as well as stars. The Swedish Adonis plays the title character, a security droid who has broken free from its programming and come to realise that he despises most of the people he has been tasked with protecting and would rather be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas. But when he's assigned to guard a scientific team on a hostile planet, he finds himself oddly fascinated by the full gamut and weakness of human emotions. Bono has adapted his memoir and one-man show for the small screen. BONO: SONGS OF SURRENDER MAY 30 In April 2023, the man born Paul Hewson but known to the rest of the world as U2 front man Bono adapted his memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story for the stage at New York's Beacon Theatre. Now, with the help of Australian director Andrew Dominik, that show comes to the small screen featuring never-before-seen footage from the residency, stories about his journey 'as a son, father, husband, activist and rock star' and stripped-back versions of some of the Irish band's treasured hits. It's also the first feature film that will cater to Apple's crazily immersive new tech, Apple Vision Pro. ALSO SHOWING Long Way Home – May 9 Fountain of Youth – May 23 Lulu Is a Rhinoceros – May 30 Alison Daddo hosts wellness show Gen Well. Picture: Sam Ruttyn BINGE GEN WELL MAY 5 TV personality Ali Daddo has enlisted the help of psychologists, instructors, academics and health practitioners, as well as ordinary, multigenerational families for this new wellbeing and lifestyle show designed to help Australians improve their overall health. Embracing traditional medicines and practices like Tai chi and yoga alongside emerging health trends such as ice baths, there are helpful tips to help remedy stress, pain and sleep issues as well as tackling life transitions like pregnancy, post-partum, and menopause. Asher Keddie is back for another season of Strife. STRIFE MAY 8 Life is not getting any easier for Asher Keddie's new media entrepreneur Evelyn Jones in the second season of the well-received Aussie comedy drama. Like the real woman who inspired the show, Mamamia founder Mia Freedman, Jones and her team at the female-focused website Eve are branching out into the uncertain world of podcasting while also sparring with colleagues-turned-rivals, financial challenges, the prospect of rekindling love with her ex and what it means to be a modern woman. New faces this season include Mary Coustas, Tim Minchin and Dylan Alcott. ALSO SHOWING The Great Pottery Throwdown Season 8 – May 15 Taskmaster UK Season 19 – May 16 Honest Renovations – May 26 Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney cheers on his team as they race up the league pyramid. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA via AP DISNEY+ WELCOME TO WREXHAM MAY 16 After back to back promotions since being bought by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, football fans are wondering just how far Welsh club Wrexham AFC can go as the sports documentary with a huge heart enters its fourth season with an eye on the country's second top tier. The injection of cash and the raised profile have lifted one of the oldest football clubs in the world out of the doldrums on field, but its celebrity owners have always been just as interested in the fans, the staff and the team's hold on the community as they continue daring to dream of the very top. ADULTS MAY 29 With its premise of five friends in New York trying to navigate 'the wins, losses and humiliations of starting out in the adult world', this new comedy from The Tonight Show writers Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw sounds like Friends for the modern era. But with the pair describing it as 'the hardest, horniest time of life' as the mates wrestle the health system, how to get ahead at work and modern dating, expect a more grown-up edge to the comedy. Charlie Cox, Julia Fox, D'Arcy Carden, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, John Reynolds and Ray Nicholson have also been confirmed as guest stars in the eight-episode season. ALSO SHOWING Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld – May 4 The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 2 – May 15 Tucci In Italy – May 19 Josh Holloway and Rachel Hilson in the '70s set Duster. MAX DUSTER MAY 16 With fabulous flares and funked-up soundtrack, this early '70s set crime thriller from JJ Abrams (Felicity, Alias, Lost) – his first co-written project in six years – and LaToya Morgan (Turn: Washington's Spies, Into the Badlands) this crime thriller looks groovy as all get out. In a part written specifically for him by his former Lost boss, Josh Holloway oozes cocky charisma as getaway driver Jim and Love, Victor star Rachel Hilson plays the FBI's first black woman agent, who recruits him to bring down a dangerous and violent crime syndicate. Sarah Jessica Parker in season three of And Just Like That ... AND JUST LIKE THAT … MAY 30 By now you're either all-in or all out on the belated Sex And the City sequel as it heads into its third season of Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) swanning around New York City looking fabulous and doing fabulous things. Diehards will be disappointed to know that despite a tantalising cameo in the season 2 finale, Kim Cattrall has confirmed she will not be returning to the show as Samantha (little chance of seeing Chris Noth's Mr Big again either), but John Corbett's Aiden is still in the picture to continue his 'complicated' relationship with Carrie as she spreads her wings professionally as a fiction writer. ALSO SHOWING 100 Foot Wave Season 3 – May 2 Jay and Pamela – May 6 Outback Opal Hunters Season 8 – May 15 Pee-Wee As Himself – May 24 Rick and Morty Season 8 – May 26 Colman Domingo as Danny and Tina Fey as Kate in The Four Seasons. NETFLIX THE FOUR SEASONS MAY 1 The great Tina Fey, along with her fellow 30 Rock writer-producers Lang Fisher and Tracey Whigfield, spearheaded this adaptation of Alan Alda's 1981 rom-com of the same name into an eight-part series about a three tightly knit couples whose long standing tradition of quarterly family holidays is up-ended when one of the couples splits. Fey calls the show as 'a love letter to long-term relationships, both platonic and romantic' and is reunited with her Date Night co-star Steve Carell, along with Colman Domingo, Will Forte, Erika Henningsen and Kerri Kenney-Silver. Milly Alcock as Simone Sirens. Picture: Macall Polay/Netflix © 2025 SIRENS MAY 22 The White Lotus's Meghann Fahy and Aussie House of the Dragon actor Milly Alcock star as sisters in this seductive black comedy from Maid creator Molly Smith Metzler and Margot Robbie's production company Lucky Chap. Told over the space of a weekend and set on a luxury island, older sister Devon is worried about her younger sibling's creepy relationship with her socialite boss Michaela (Julianne Moore) in what's billed as an incisive, sexy, and darkly funny exploration of women, power, and class. ALSO SHOWING Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Centre Mark Twain Prize for American Humour – May 4 Full Speed Season 2 – May 7 Blood of Zeus Season 3 – May 8 Nonnas – May 9 Fear Street: Prom Queen – May 23 American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden – May 14 Jack and Falcon go warrior retro in Germany in The List. PARAMOUNT+ THE LIST MAY 1 Those knuckleheads from social media sensation The Inspired Unemployed, Jack Steele and Matt 'Falcon' Ford, are going global in what looks like a mash-up of The Amazing Race and one of those Japanese game shows that tries to inflict as much pain on its contestants as humanly possible. In a six-part series, the comedians and pranksters are hitting the road to six countries to tick off tasks from a bucket list that has been created for them – but they have no idea what's on it. Expect plenty of pain and laughs at their expense as they become Mermen in Malaysia, enter a rap battle in Soweto, train with Japanese monks and get stalked by bears in Finland. Hari Dhillon, Morgana Robinson and Shobna Gulati in The Serial Killer's Wife. THE SERIAL KILLER'S WIFE MAY 2 Parties don't get much worse that having your husband arrested for suspect murder in front of all your guests, but that's just the beginning of the nightmare for Beth Fairchild (Britannia's Annabel Scholey) in this four-part British crime drama. As the police conduct their investigation, Beth's seemingly perfect world is shattered as she uncovers dark secrets about her husband as well as his infidelity and perverted tastes. As she fights to clear his name, she's also left to face up to some uncomfortable truths about their relationship and whether she might have unwittingly played a role in shielding his crimes. ALSO SHOWING SpongeBob Squarepants Season 15 – May 7 Caught in the Act: Unfaithful Season 3 – May 14 SkyMed Season 3 – May 17 Lena Olin and Nicole Kidman in the second season of Nine Perfect Strangers. PRIME VIDEO NINE PERFECT STRANGERS MAY 22 Aside from the return of Aussie Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman as wellness guru Masha, it's an all-new cast and location for the second season of the mystery drama, based on Liane Moriarty's 2018 novel of the same name. Where the first season was set in sunny California (filmed in Byron Bay during Covid), the action now moves to the chilly Austrian alps as a fresh set of clients unpack their emotional baggage with the help of Kidman's micro-dosing psychedelics enthusiast, now sporting a blond bob and juggling some legal and financial issues. Once again there's a top-notch ensemble cast including Henry Golding, Annie Murphy, Christine Baranski, Murray Bartlett, Dolly de Leon, and Mark Strong. Elizabeth Banks in The Better Sister. THE BETTER SISTER MAY 29 Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks star as sisters in this eight-part adaptation of Alafair Burke's best-selling 2019 thriller. Biel's Chloe is a successful media executive with a luxurious lifestyle and a teenage son, while Banks plays her estranged sister Nicky, whose long battle with drug and alcohol addiction have left her struggling to make ends meet. But when Chloe's high-flying lawyer husband is brutally murdered, the aftermath and investigation will reunite the pair as they try to untangle a complex family history that might provide some clues to his death. ALSO SHOWING Another Simple Favour – May 1 Overcompensating – May 15 Clarkson's Farm Season 4 – May 23 Natasha Lyonne is back as Charlie Cale in Poker Face. STAN POKER FACE MAY 8 The first season of Rian Johnson's (Knives Out) hugely fun crime-comedy-drama was one of the surprise packages of 2023 and lead actor Natasha Lyonne was well worth her Emmy nomination for her role cocktail waitress Charlie Cale, who has an uncanny ability to tell when people are lying. In this second season of the mystery-of-the-week series, Charlie is embracing the crime-solving abilities that come with her gift as she hits the road in her vintage Plymouth Barracuda and encounters an absolutely stacked roster of guest stars including Cynthia Erivo, John Mulaney, Katie Holmes, Melanie Lynskey and Justin Theroux. Kevin Costner on the set of his documentary The West. KEVIN COSTNER'S THE WEST MAY 28 From his breakout role in Silverado through his Oscar-winning success with Dances With Wolves right up to his current Horizon epics, there are not many actors as well versed in the Wild West as Kevin Costner. All of which makes him the perfect host for this eight-part documentary series that examines the complex history of the American West and the competition and conflict for land, power and identity that framed it. Told from a variety of perspectives and incorporating explorers, outlaws, lawmen, indigenous warriors and ranchers, each episode will highlight an important and often tragic chapter from the era. ALSO SHOWING The Downfall of Diddy: His Defense – May 4 Walking Dead: Dead City – May 5 Love Triangle UK – May 18 American Music Awards – May 27
Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Streaming sneaks: Murderbot, messy married couples among top picks in May
Alexander Skarsgard plays Murderbot, a cyborg who secretly hacks itself to gain free will. PHOTO: APPLE TV+ Streaming sneaks: Murderbot, messy married couples among top picks in May Murderbot Debuts on May 16 on Apple TV+ In this sci-fi comedy thriller based on an award-winning book series, Alexander Skarsgard stars as an android, a security robot designed to protect and obey humans. But having secretly hacked itself to gain free will, the cyborg – who decides to call itself Murderbot – must now conceal its autonomy and navigate its complex feelings about humanity. Both repelled and intrigued by its human clients, it undertakes a dangerous assignment – all while yearning to be left alone to ponder its place in the universe and binge on trashy soap operas. Why watch it: Created by Oscar-nominated writer-directors Chris and Paul Weitz (About A Boy, 2002), the 10-episode series blends action, dark humour and existential angst. Adapted from American author Martha Wells' Hugo- and Nebula Award-winning The Murderbot Diaries, the story offers a timely take on the sentient-robot trope amid today's artificial intelligence boom. The Four Seasons Debuts on Netflix on May 1 Will Forte and Tina Fey in The Four Seasons. PHOTO: NETFLIX Comedy stars Tina Fey and Steve Carell, who played a married couple in the 2010 action comedy movie Date Night, reunite in The Four Seasons, an eight-episode series inspired by the 1981 romantic comedy film of the same name. The story centres on three couple friends – played by Fey and Will Forte; Carell and Kerri Kenney-Silver; and Colman Domingo and Marco Calvani – whose annual getaway is upended when one pair announces their impending divorce. Over the course of the following year, the split tests the group's dynamic – reigniting old tensions, sparking new ones and prompting everyone to reassess their relationships. Why watch it: Fey, Carell and Forte will be a draw for comedy lovers. And for fans of the original movie, which starred Alan Alda and Carol Burnett, this adaptation – created by Fey and her collaborators from Emmy-winning sitcom 30 Rock (2006 to 2013) – aims to recapture its heartfelt humour. Sirens Debuts on Netflix on May 22 Julianne Moore in Sirens. PHOTO: NETFLIX This five-episode limited series stars Oscar winner Julianne Moore (Still Alice, 2014), Milly Alcock (House Of The Dragon, 2022 to present) and Meghann Fahy (The White Lotus 2, 2022) in a darkly comic tale of class, power and sisterhood. Set at the lavish seaside estate of Michaela Kell (Moore), a socialite married to billionaire Peter Kell (Kevin Bacon), the story looks at her magnetic influence over those in her orbit, especially her young assistant Simone (Alcock). When Simone's sister Devon (Fahy) arrives unannounced one weekend, she grows suspicious of Michaela's cult-like hold over her younger sibling. He r investigation uncovers a web of secrets and shifting loyalties. Why watch it: Created by Molly Smith Metzler (Maid, 2021) and based on her 2011 play Elemeno Pea, Sirens is co-produced by Australian actress and Barbie (2023) star Margot Robbie. The trailer looks a little campy, but Metzler's track record with female-centric stories – she also worked on acclaimed prison drama Orange Is The New Black (2013 to 2019) – suggests a sharp psychological drama lurks beneath. Nine Puzzles Debuts on Disney+ on May 21 Kim Da-mi in Nine Puzzles. PHOTO: DISNEY+ This South Korean mystery thriller follows Yoon E-na (Kim Da-mi), a criminal profiler haunted by a traumatic past. As a high schooler, she discovered her uncle's dead body lying next to a single puzzle piece, presumably left by the killer. But with no memory of what happened, she became the prime suspect in his murder. Ten years later, E-na finds herself investigating a string of homicides linked by similar puzzle pieces, suggesting the killer has resurfaced. And she must work with Kim Han-saem (Son Suk-ku), a detective convinced that she played a part in her uncle's death. Why watch it: This cerebral 11-episode crime thriller promises intricate plotting and relentless suspense, keeping viewers guessing till the very end. K im, star of the award-winning K-drama Itaewon Class (2020), shares some deliciously tense scenes with Son, who appeared in the hit military series D.P. (2021 to 2023). Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
More Nine Perfect Strangers and Strife, plus a Bono doco: Here's the best shows to stream in May
From classy Kidman to a murderous robot and the return of the Wrexham lads and the Sex and the City ladies, there's plenty to choose from on the streaming services in May APPLE TV+ MURDERBOT MAY 9 Sci-fi author Martha Wells won coveted Hugo and Nebula Awards for her The Murderbot Diaries series of books and this ten-part comedy-thriller adaptation looks to be in good hands thanks to Chris and Paul Weitz (American Pie, About a Boy) and Alexander Skarsgard, who executive produces as well as stars. The Swedish Adonis plays the title character, a security droid who has broken free from its programming and come to realise that he despises most of the people he has been tasked with protecting and would rather be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas. But when he's assigned to guard a scientific team on a hostile planet, he finds himself oddly fascinated by the full gamut and weakness of human emotions. BONO: SONGS OF SURRENDER MAY 30 In April 2023, the man born Paul Hewson but known to the rest of the world as U2 front man Bono adapted his memoir Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story for the stage at New York's Beacon Theatre. Now, with the help of Australian director Andrew Dominik, that show comes to the small screen featuring never-before-seen footage from the residency, stories about his journey 'as a son, father, husband, activist and rock star' and stripped-back versions of some of the Irish band's treasured hits. It's also the first feature film that will cater to Apple's crazily immersive new tech, Apple Vision Pro. Long Way Home – May 9 Fountain of Youth – May 23 Lulu Is a Rhinoceros – May 30 BINGE MAY 5 TV personality Ali Daddo has enlisted the help of psychologists, instructors, academics and health practitioners, as well as ordinary, multigenerational families for this new wellbeing and lifestyle show designed to help Australians improve their overall health. Embracing traditional medicines and practices like Tai chi and yoga alongside emerging health trends such as ice baths, there are helpful tips to help remedy stress, pain and sleep issues as well as tackling life transitions like pregnancy, post-partum, and menopause. MAY 8 Life is not getting any easier for Asher Keddie's new media entrepreneur Evelyn Jones in the second season of the well-received Aussie comedy drama. Like the real woman who inspired the show, Mamamia founder Mia Freedman, Jones and her team at the female-focused website Eve are branching out into the uncertain world of podcasting while also sparring with colleagues-turned-rivals, financial challenges, the prospect of rekindling love with her ex and what it means to be a modern woman. New faces this season include Mary Coustas, Tim Minchin and Dylan Alcott. ALSO SHOWING The Great Pottery Throwdown Season 8 – May 15 Taskmaster UK Season 19 – May 16 Honest Renovations – May 26 DISNEY+ WELCOME TO WREXHAM MAY 16 After back to back promotions since being bought by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, football fans are wondering just how far Welsh club Wrexham AFC can go as the sports documentary with a huge heart enters its fourth season with an eye on the country's second top tier. The injection of cash and the raised profile have lifted one of the oldest football clubs in the world out of the doldrums on field, but its celebrity owners have always been just as interested in the fans, the staff and the team's hold on the community as they continue daring to dream of the very top. ADULTS MAY 29 With its premise of five friends in New York trying to navigate 'the wins, losses and humiliations of starting out in the adult world', this new comedy from The Tonight Show writers Ben Kronengold and Rebecca Shaw sounds like Friends for the modern era. But with the pair describing it as 'the hardest, horniest time of life' as the mates wrestle the health system, how to get ahead at work and modern dating, expect a more grown-up edge to the comedy. Charlie Cox, Julia Fox, D'Arcy Carden, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, John Reynolds and Ray Nicholson have also been confirmed as guest stars in the eight-episode season. ALSO SHOWING Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld – May 4 The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Season 2 – May 15 Tucci In Italy – May 19 MAX DUSTER MAY 16 With fabulous flares and funked-up soundtrack, this early '70s set crime thriller from JJ Abrams (Felicity, Alias, Lost) – his first co-written project in six years – and LaToya Morgan (Turn: Washington's Spies, Into the Badlands) this crime thriller looks groovy as all get out. In a part written specifically for him by his former Lost boss, Josh Holloway oozes cocky charisma as getaway driver Jim and Love, Victor star Rachel Hilson plays the FBI's first black woman agent, who recruits him to bring down a dangerous and violent crime syndicate. AND JUST LIKE THAT … MAY 30 By now you're either all-in or all out on the belated Sex And the City sequel as it heads into its third season of Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) swanning around New York City looking fabulous and doing fabulous things. Diehards will be disappointed to know that despite a tantalising cameo in the season 2 finale, Kim Cattrall has confirmed she will not be returning to the show as Samantha (little chance of seeing Chris Noth's Mr Big again either), but John Corbett's Aiden is still in the picture to continue his 'complicated' relationship with Carrie as she spreads her wings professionally as a fiction writer. ALSO SHOWING 100 Foot Wave Season 3 – May 2 Jay and Pamela – May 6 Outback Opal Hunters Season 8 – May 15 Pee-Wee As Himself – May 24 Rick and Morty Season 8 – May 26 NETFLIX THE FOUR SEASONS MAY 1 The great Tina Fey, along with her fellow 30 Rock writer-producers Lang Fisher and Tracey Whigfield, spearheaded this adaptation of Alan Alda's 1981 rom-com of the same name into an eight-part series about a three tightly knit couples whose long standing tradition of quarterly family holidays is up-ended when one of the couples splits. Fey calls the show as 'a love letter to long-term relationships, both platonic and romantic' and is reunited with her Date Night co-star Steve Carell, along with Colman Domingo, Will Forte, Erika Henningsen and Kerri Kenney-Silver. SIRENS MAY 22 The White Lotus's Meghann Fahy and Aussie House of the Dragon actor Milly Alcock star as sisters in this seductive black comedy from Maid creator Molly Smith Metzler and Margot Robbie's production company Lucky Chap. Told over the space of a weekend and set on a luxury island, older sister Devon is worried about her younger sibling's creepy relationship with her socialite boss Michaela (Julianne Moore) in what's billed as an incisive, sexy, and darkly funny exploration of women, power, and class. ALSO SHOWING Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Centre Mark Twain Prize for American Humour – May 4 Full Speed Season 2 – May 7 Blood of Zeus Season 3 – May 8 Nonnas – May 9 Fear Street: Prom Queen – May 23 American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden – May 14 PARAMOUNT+ THE LIST MAY 1 Those knuckleheads from social media sensation The Inspired Unemployed, Jack Steele and Matt 'Falcon' Ford, are going global in what looks like a mash-up of The Amazing Race and one of those Japanese game shows that tries to inflict as much pain on its contestants as humanly possible. In a six-part series, the comedians and pranksters are hitting the road to six countries to tick off tasks from a bucket list that has been created for them – but they have no idea what's on it. Expect plenty of pain and laughs at their expense as they become Mermen in Malaysia, enter a rap battle in Soweto, train with Japanese monks and get stalked by bears in Finland. THE SERIAL KILLER'S WIFE MAY 2 Parties don't get much worse that having your husband arrested for suspect murder in front of all your guests, but that's just the beginning of the nightmare for Beth Fairchild (Britannia's Annabel Scholey) in this four-part British crime drama. As the police conduct their investigation, Beth's seemingly perfect world is shattered as she uncovers dark secrets about her husband as well as his infidelity and perverted tastes. As she fights to clear his name, she's also left to face up to some uncomfortable truths about their relationship and whether she might have unwittingly played a role in shielding his crimes. ALSO SHOWING SpongeBob Squarepants Season 15 – May 7 Caught in the Act: Unfaithful Season 3 – May 14 SkyMed Season 3 – May 17 PRIME VIDEO NINE PERFECT STRANGERS MAY 22 Aside from the return of Aussie Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman as wellness guru Masha, it's an all-new cast and location for the second season of the mystery drama, based on Liane Moriarty's 2018 novel of the same name. Where the first season was set in sunny California (filmed in Byron Bay during Covid), the action now moves to the chilly Austrian alps as a fresh set of clients unpack their emotional baggage with the help of Kidman's micro-dosing psychedelics enthusiast, now sporting a blond bob and juggling some legal and financial issues. Once again there's a top-notch ensemble cast including Henry Golding, Annie Murphy, Christine Baranski, Murray Bartlett, Dolly de Leon, and Mark Strong. THE BETTER SISTER MAY 29 Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks star as sisters in this eight-part adaptation of Alafair Burke's best-selling 2019 thriller. Biel's Chloe is a successful media executive with a luxurious lifestyle and a teenage son, while Banks plays her estranged sister Nicky, whose long battle with drug and alcohol addiction have left her struggling to make ends meet. But when Chloe's high-flying lawyer husband is brutally murdered, the aftermath and investigation will reunite the pair as they try to untangle a complex family history that might provide some clues to his death. ALSO SHOWING Another Simple Favour – May 1 Overcompensating – May 15 Clarkson's Farm Season 4 – May 23 STAN POKER FACE MAY 8 The first season of Rian Johnson's (Knives Out) hugely fun crime-comedy-drama was one of the surprise packages of 2023 and lead actor Natasha Lyonne was well worth her Emmy nomination for her role cocktail waitress Charlie Cale, who has an uncanny ability to tell when people are lying. In this second season of the mystery-of-the-week series, Charlie is embracing the crime-solving abilities that come with her gift as she hits the road in her vintage Plymouth Barracuda and encounters an absolutely stacked roster of guest stars including Cynthia Erivo, John Mulaney, Katie Holmes, Melanie Lynskey and Justin Theroux. KEVIN COSTNER'S THE WEST MAY 28 From his breakout role in Silverado through his Oscar-winning success with Dances With Wolves right up to his current Horizon epics, there are not many actors as well versed in the Wild West as Kevin Costner. All of which makes him the perfect host for this eight-part documentary series that examines the complex history of the American West and the competition and conflict for land, power and identity that framed it. Told from a variety of perspectives and incorporating explorers, outlaws, lawmen, indigenous warriors and ranchers, each episode will highlight an important and often tragic chapter from the era. ALSO SHOWING The Downfall of Diddy: His Defense – May 4 Love Triangle UK – May 18 American Music Awards – May 27
