Photo: Screenshot
Gaslit
Julia Roberts and Sean Penn star in this political thriller centred around the Watergate scandal - what more could you want?
The mini-series is based on the podcast Slow Burn by Leon Neyfakh and looks at some of the characters surrounding the scandal. Roberts plays Martha Mitchell, a mouthy, charming and confident socialite in Arkansas and wife of John Mitchell - loyal Attorney General to Nixon in the '70s.
Despite her ties to the party, she's the first person to sound the alarm on the president's involvement in Watergate. For the party - she's a problem.
This leads to the unravelling of both the presidency and her personal life.
It's a well-known story which needs a fresh perspective if told again - and Martha Mitchell as the lead character is the way in.
Amazon Prime 16 September
Handmaid's Tale - S5
This season is all about June vs Serena. Or Offred vs Serena if you're in Gilead. I suspect many would have dropped off from this series, perhaps around Season 3 or 4 but if you stuck around - you may have felt like exclaiming "FINALLY" when June made it to Canada and then orchestrated the murder of her fellow commander Fred Waterford - along with her fellow refugee Handmaids.
Now, Serena wants answers and revenge. June is on the other side and will continue to try and bring down Gilead from the perimeter. But she may also have to answer to Fred's death. June has completely changed and the look on Luke's face tells you she's unrecognisable to him. But she's on a vengeance mission and it's likely she'll have to go back into Gilead.
Neon - 15 September
The Lord of the Rings - The Rings of Power
I don't think this recommendation will come as a surprise given the hype and lead up to this show. The show has already secured a record debut for Amazon Prime with more than 25 million views on its first day. There's really one word for this show - whopper.
It's the most expensive TV series ever produced; costing more than $US750 million.
Filmed in New Zealand, it's the prequel to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit novel and films. It takes place in Middle Earth - during the Second Age - 4000 years prior.
The story will be told in five seasons and over 50 hours. Production for the second season has moved to the UK.
Amazon Prime
Thai Cave Rescue - Miniseries
A miraculous news story which captured the world; 12 boys from a soccer team and their assistant coach trapped in a flooded cave, in northern Thailand, leading to a worldwide rescue effort in 2018.
Created by Michael Russell Gunn (Billions, Designated Survivor) and Dana Ledoux Miller (Narcos) the six-party mini-series is told from a local perspective. This is one of several attempts to tell this extraordinary story and it was filmed entirely in Thailand.
Netflix 22 September
The Rehearsal
If you're familiar with Nathan For You then this series will likely pique your interest and for those who aren't you may watch this and think "what on earth is going on?"
The central question in this series is can everyday uncertainties and the anxieties that go along with it be reduced? With actors and a construction crew, Nathan Fielder lets ordinary people prepare for life's biggest moments - by crafting a simulation and rehearsing those moments.
The recreations and simulations suggest a rather large budget but an interesting concept as to whether you can rehearse your way through difficult events and moments which could go wrong if you're not prepared.
Neon
Selling the OC
Look, sometimes you just need to watch some mindless trash and I will gladly nominate this show.
I ripped through Selling Sunset during lockdowns which follows the real estate company The Oppenheim Group in LA - owned by two brothers and their crew of overly glamorous female real-estate agents.
It's good-looking people (by LA standards) selling multi-million -dollar mansions.
Their commissions alone will make you rethink your day job for about a second.
This is the spin-off to Selling Sunset - with the company opening up a branch in the OC and an entirely new cast of agents which will no doubt aim to up the ante on the drama and sell a few beachside mansions in between.
Netflix
Monarch - S1
Following the trend of film actors leaping to the smaller screen, Susan Sarandon has emerged as the matriarch of the Roman family - America's first family in country music.
Together with her husband Albie Roman, Dottie Roman has created a multi-generational music dynasty. But of course, it can't be that simple and the real story behind the origins of the family appears to be secretive and protected.
The siblings in the family spar for the spotlight and they're all trying to secure their position in the family and the spotlight.
It's giving me Nashville vibes perhaps with a touch of murder and seeing as that show has finished - there's a country music drama void to be filled.
TVNZ+ 12 September
Celebrity Treasure Island NZ
And finally - the most biased recommendation you'll get this month … Celebrity Treasure Island NZ - featuring yours truly! Catch me and the other contestants eating rice and beans, more rice and beans, fight off possums, shed some tears, and battle for our charities in the beautiful far north!
TVNZ - 5 September
