TV Gold

This week the TV Gold podcast with Andrew Mercado and James Manning  reviews three series and a Netflix movie. Listen to the podcast: https://pod.link/1106441089 Reckless (SBS, 4 episodes)Two feuding siblings are forced to work together to get away with an accidental hit and run murder that spirals wildly out of control in their hometown of Fremantle. Features a memorable performance from Tasma Walton. The Beast in Me (Netflix, 8 episodes)A famous author is pulled into a twisted mind game with her rich, powerful new neighbour — who just might be a murderer. Claire Danes is back with what is arguably her best role since playing Carrie in Homeland. She stars alongside Matthew Rhys and Brittany Snow. The Forsytes (ABC iview, 6 episodes)Inspired by John Galsworthy's Forsyte Saga novels, The Forsytes chronicles the lives, loves, trials and triumphs of a wealthy late Victorian stockbroking family near the turn of the 20th Century. From the makers of Poldark, this series again stars Eleanor Tomlinson with Jack Davenport co-starring. Frankenstein (Netflix movie)Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro reimagines Mary Shelley's classic tale of a brilliant scientist and the creature his monstrous ambition brings to life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do we have a new contender for worst TV show ever made this week? This week on the TV Gold podcast the creator of Breaking Bad is back with a new sci-fi series, Pluribus, on AppleTV.Andrew and James also review two sitcoms – a musical on HBO Max, Happiness, and an Australian version of the successful Ghosts franchise on Network 10Plus more from Ryan Murphy – high priced actors playing high priced divorce lawyers in All’s Fair on Disney+. Pluribus (AppleTV,  10 episodes)What does a virus heading for planet Earth have to do with Carol Sturka, a fantasy romance author who has just completed a gruelling book tour? No spoilers here, but Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan delivers a gripping launch episode. Happiness (HBO Max, 6 episodes)Ex-Broadway director Charlie is forced by circumstances to return to his home town of Tauranga, New Zealand where his mum makes him join her amateur theatre society. Rebecca Gibney stars as Charlie’s mum in this adventurous musical comedy. Ghosts Australia (Network 10, 8 episodes)Young couple Kate and Sean are about to jump into the inner-city rental market, until Kate inherits a huge mansion in the country. Moving in together for the first time they are attempting domestic bliss, but unbeknown to them, the house is haunted by a collection of needy spirits who carked it in Ramshead Manor over the past 200 years. All’s Fair (Disney+, 6 episodes)A team of female divorce attorneys leave a male-dominated firm to open their own powerhouse practice from creator Ryan Murphy. They navigate high-stakes breakups, surprising secrets and shifting allegiances—both in the courtroom and within their own ranks.The cast includes Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Sarah Paulson and Glenn Close. Is it really as bad as some of the international press reviews have indicated?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Her Fault (Binge, 8 episodes)Sarah Snook stars in this thriller about a mother who is distraught after learning her son has disappeared from a supposed play date. Down Cemetery Road (AppleTV, 8 episodes)All the elements are here – Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson star in a story from the writers involved with Slow Horses. Both series are adaptations of novels by author Mick Herron and share creative personnel, including writer Morwenna Banks, who also serves as an executive producer for both shows. I Love LA (HBO Max, 8 episodes)A tight-knit friend group of young self-obsessed LA professionals gather after years apart, navigating the complexities of ambition, relationships, and how time has changed them. *PLUS* One More Shot (Stan, movie)In One More Shot, Emily Browning is about a woman named Minnie who discovers a bottle of time-traveling tequila on New Year's Eve 1999. Each shot sends her back to the beginning of the night, giving her multiple chances to try and win back her ex-boyfriend before the new millennium begins. Son of a Donkey (Netflix, 6 episodes)Host Andrew and James couldn’t disagree more about the merits of this Netflix Australian comedy series. Andrew got plenty of laughs, James reckons he lost a few brain cells watching the first episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the TV Gold podcast four programs – three about different sorts of horror, and the other a romcom series. • Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Foxtel/Binge, 8 episodes) A horror story about America’s most notorious serial killer. But a TV series made without exploiting the actual crimes. It instead focuses on the impact on the victims families and follows closely the police investigation and the court case. • Film Club (Foxtel/Binge, 6 episodes) A quirky comedy from actor/producer Aimee Lou Wood who stars as Evie who runs a film club in the garage at her mother’s house. Mum is played by Suranne Jones who is not really known for her comedy skills. But it’s an intriguing premise and there is a nice cameo from Emmy-winning star of Adolescence, Owen Cooper. • A House of Dynamite (Netflix, movie) The much anticipated new movie from director Kathryn Bigelow. The film repeatedly tracks the 18 minutes that follow a missile being launched at the United States — first from the perspective of the White House Situation Room, then from the perspective of United States Strategic Command, and finally from the perspective of the President himself. • Andrew’s Halloween special - It: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max) A terrifying prequel series that goes back to 1962 to trace the origins of the murderous, shape-shifting entity known as Pennywise the Clown. Based on the novel It by Stephen King.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Audio update: The original episode upload had missing audio near the end of the podcast. A new complete version of the episode replaced the first upload late on Friday evening. This week’s podcast features reviews of:Mr Scorsese (Apple TV, 5 episodes)Chad Powers (Disney+, 6 episodes)Boots (Netflix, 8 episodes)Watching You (Stan, 6 episodes) Plus James on the new movie Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, and Andrew on the Hollyoaks 30th anniversary specials and its Brookside crossover episode. Mr Scorsese (Apple TV, 5 episodes)  Mr. Scorsese is a film portrait of America’s greatest living director through the lens of his work, exploring the many facets of a a man who redefined filmmaking, including his extraordinary career and unique personal history. With exclusive, unrestricted access to Martin Scorsese’s private archives, the documentary series is anchored by extensive conversations with the filmmaker himself and never-before-seen interviews with friends, family and creative collaborators including Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Robbie Robertson, Thelma Schoonmaker, Steven Spielberg, Sharon Stone, Jodie Foster, Paul Schrader, Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Jay Cocks and Rodrigo Prieto, along with his children, wife Helen Morris and close childhood friends. Chad Powers (Disney+, 6 episodes) Eight years after an unforgivable mistake nukes his promising college football career, hotshot quarterback Russ Holliday tries to resurrect his dreams by disguising himself as Chad Powers — a talented oddball who walks onto the struggling South Georgia Catfish. The football star is played by Glen Powell. The series is being labelled as an American Ted Lasso by some. Boots (Netflix, 8 episodes) Inspired by former US Marine Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, the eight-episode series is an irreverent, off-beat take on the coming-of-age story. Set in the tough, unpredictable world of the 1990s US Marine Corps—when being gay in the military was still illegal—the series follows directionless, closeted Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer) and his best friend Ray McAffey (Liam Oh), the son of a decorated Marine, as they join a diverse group of recruits. Watching You (Stan, 6 episodes) Watching You centres on thrill-seeking paramedic Lina (Aisha Dee) and the fallout of a single decision which threatens to upend her life. Though apparently happily engaged to Cain (Chai Hansen), a chance encounter with mysterious stranger Dan (Josh Helman) triggers Lina’s desire and culminates in a passionate one-night stand in a WeStay property. In the aftermath, Lina discovers that the affair has been captured by a hidden camera and is blackmailed with the footage.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the TV Gold podcast with Andrew Mercado and James Manning there are reviews of:King and Conqueror (SBS)The Chair Company (HBO Max)The Woman in Cabin 10 (Netflix movie)Victoria Beckham (Netflix) King and Conqueror (SBS On Demand, 8 episodes, two on launch and then weekly)King & Conqueror epic eight-part series was filmed in Iceland and features James Norton (Happy Valley) as Harold, Earl of Wessex, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) as William, Duke of Normandy, two allies with no designs on the British throne who find themselves forced by circumstance to take up arms against each other. The Chair Company (HBO Max, 8 episodes)Cringe comedy – not a genre we enjoy a lot.After an embarrassing incident at work, a man (Tim Robinson) finds himself investigating a far-reaching conspiracy.The embarrassing incident is a chair collapsing on him while onstage at a work function in front of a handful of people. The Woman in Cabin 10 (Netflix movie)While on a luxury yacht for a travel assignment, a journalist (Keira Knightly) witnesses a passenger tossed overboard late one night, only to be told that she must have dreamed it, as all passengers are accounted for. Despite not being believed by anyone onboard, she continues to look for answers, putting her own life in danger. Also co-stars Guy Pearce and Hannah Waddingham.No show has caused so much debate this year about the merits of this movie. Andrew and James both enjoyed it because it was all over in 90 minutes, but there’s not much else they agree on about this shipboard thriller. Victoria Beckham (Netflix, 3 episodes)A three-part documentary that follows Victoria Beckham's career, from her rise to fame as Posh Spice to her current status as a fashion designer and businesswoman. The docuseries was produced by Studio 99, the production company founded by her husband, David Beckham. It was made following the success of his own 2023 Netflix documentary, Beckham, which featured some of Victoria's own viral moments. Not a lot of insights about the Spice Girls, but a fascinating glimpse inside Victoria’s business empire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A monster trio of shows from Netflix this week plus a disaster movie and the return of an Aussie classic.Andrew Mercado and James Manning choose different Shows of the Week but are pretty united on one of the others. Reviewed this week:Monster: The Ed Gein StoryThe House of GuinnessWaywardplusThe Lost BusRFDS Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix, 8 episodes)First Jeffrey Dahmer. Then The Menendez Brothers. And now, Ed Gein.  Could Ryan Murphy’s Netflix universe get any sicker?Murphy’s latest monster instalment certainly lives up to the franchise title. The Ed Gein instalment of Monster is set in the 1950s, and Ed Gein (played by Charlie Hunnam) is haunting the frozen fields of rural Wisconsin, killing and desecrating the bodies of multiple women. His crimes went on to inspire multiple classic horror films, including The Silence of the Lambs, Psycho, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. If you watch it with someone else make sure they are broadminded. And be prepared to see a TV Gold favourite, Lesley Manville, as you’ve never seen her before! The House of Guinness (Netflix, 8 episodes) A historical  drama created by Steven Knight, inspired by the true story of the powerful Guinness brewing family in 19th-century Dublin, following their four adult children after their patriarch, Sir Benjamin Guinness, dies in 1868. The series explores the family's struggles to maintain their brewing empire, their relationships with each other, and their involvement in the politics and social dynamics of the time. Brilliant cast led by James Norton, Louis Partridge and the wonderful Emily Fairn who we loved in The Responder alongside Martin Freeman. Wayward (Netflix, 8 episodes) A small-town cop Alex (Mae Martin) and two teenage girls, Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) and Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind), uncover the dark secrets of a mysterious "troubled teen" academy in the picturesque town of Tall Pines. As Alex investigates the unsettling school, he works with the girls to expose its leader, Evelyn (Toni Collette). Plus The Lost Bus (AppleTV+, movie) RFDS (7plus, 8 episodes)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the TV Gold podcast, Andrew Mercado and James Manning review two very different crime dramas and a documentary screening on SBS On Demand. Black Rabbit (Netflix, 8 episodes) Jude Law and Jason Bateman play brothers Jake and Vince Friedken. Vince returns to the New York restaurant they launched together, but his presence triggers an endless succession of bad decisions that plunge the brothers and the business into trouble. The brothers’ family, friends and employees are also caught in the whirlpool. Death Valley (BritBox, 7 episodes) A Welsh cosy crime mystery series that follows the unlikely crime-solving partnership between an eccentric national treasure John Chapel (Timothy Spall), a retired actor and star of hit fictional detective television show Caesar, and socially obtuse Detective Sergeant Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth). The People Vs Robodebt (SBS, 3 episodes) The series from Michael Cordell and CJZ follows the extraordinarily brave people who fought against the system after almost half a million Australians were hounded to pay back debts they did not owe. The documentary hears from Robodebt victims and their angry families, the crusading social media activists, the whistleblowers and investigative journalists, the tenacious lawyers, as well as the forgotten victims of Robodebt: the Centrelink workers who battled the system from within – their complaints falling on deaf ears.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hack (Stan, 7 episodes)Mystery Road: Origin (ABC, 6 episodes)Outrageous (BritBox, 6 episodes) In this episode, James Manning and Andrew Mercado review three television series: 'The Hack' on Stan, 'Mystery Road Origin' on ABC, and 'Outrageous' on BritBox. They discuss the at times confusing dual narrative structure of 'The Hack', the challenges faced by the makers of 'Mystery Road: Origin' in maintaining its franchise quality, and the captivating real-life story of the Mitford sisters in 'Outrageous'. The conversation highlights the expectations, disappointments, and successes of the different series.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on TV Gold, Andrew Mercado and James Manning discuss four new series: Top End Bub (8 episodes, Prime), I Fought the Law (4 episodes, Stan), Morning Wars (10 episodes, AppleTV+), and Aka Charlie Sheen (2 episodes, AppleTV+) • Top End Bub (8 episodes, Prime)Miranda Tapsell has co-created an impressive sitcom spun off from her 2019 movie Top End Wedding. • I Fought the Law (4 episodes, Stan)A memorable performance (again) from Sheridan Smith, this time as Ann Ming in the inspiring real-life story of a mother who, driven by unimaginable grief, finds strength to challenge the centuries-old British Double Jeopardy Law to see her daughter’s murderer finally brought to justice after a 15 year battle. • Morning Wars (10 episodes, AppleTV+)Following last season's merger between the UBA and NBN networks, there are more unhinged power grabs for the TV business, plus a plane crash unfolding live on air, unbelievable romantic liaisons, an unlikely story involving false imprisonment, a Russian oligarch and a night at the opera…and that’s just some of the plot lines that the cast led by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston take viewers on. • Aka Charlie Sheen (2 episodes, AppleTV+)With seven years of sobriety behind him, Sheen opens up like never before, tackling the rumours, scandals, and self-inflicted chaos that have always threatened to cut him down. The doco features revealing interviews with those who know Sheen best, from family and friends to Hollywood insiders — and even his former drug dealer! Interview guests include Denise Richards, Heidi Fleiss, Jon Cryer, Sean Penn, Ramon Estevez, Brooke Mueller, Chris Tucker and Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on TV Gold, mystery dramas set in London, Rotterdam and Philadelphia. Your hosts Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:The Girlfriend (Prime, 6 episodes)Task (HBO Max, 7 episodes)Safe Harbor (SBS On Demand, 8 episodes) • The Girlfriend (Prime, 6 episodes)Based on Michelle Frances' novel of the same name, The Girlfriend follows Laura (Robin Wright), a woman who seemingly has it all: a glittering career, a loving husband, and her precious son, Daniel. Her perfect life begins to unravel when Daniel brings home Cherry (Olivia Cooke), a girlfriend who changes everything. After a tense introduction, Laura becomes convinced Cherry is hiding something. Is she a manipulative social climber, or is Laura just paranoid? The truth is a matter of perspective. Andrew called this “trash” and James objected! • Task (HBO Max, 7 episodes)Set in the working class suburbs of Philadelphia, an FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo) heads a Task Force to put an end to a string of violent robberies led by an unsuspecting family man (Tom Pelphrey). From the creator of Mare of Easton, Brad Ingelsby. • Safe Harbor (SBS On Demand, 8 episodes)Starring Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon in Game of Thrones), Charlie Murphy (Happy Valley), Alfie Allen (Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones) and Martijn Lakemeier, the crime drama is based around an Irish mob that are looking to make the most of Rotterdam’s drug-trafficking friendly port.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the TV Gold podcast, reviews of The Paper (Binge/Foxtel, 10 episodes)I, Jack Wright (ABC iview, 6 episodes)Brian and Maggie (HBO Max, 2 episodes) The Paper (Binge/Foxtel, 10 episodes)From the makers of the US version of The Office, a spin-off about a local newspaper in Ohio that has an ambitious new editor-in-chief (played by Domhnall Gleeson) who is saddled with a very small and unqualified staff. I, Jack Wright (ABC iview, 6 episodes)A British drama that follows the events that unfold after Wright family patriarch Jack is found dead from a supposed suicide, leaving his family devastated over his death.Th grief soon turns to confusion when it is revealed his wife and two sons have been left out of his will. An intriguing drama as his death is investigated and the brilliant cast face of against each other in court. Brian and Maggie (HBO Max, 2 episodes)It’s 1989.  Brian Walden and Margaret Thatcher come together for their last ever TV interview. Little did they know they were about to embark on one of the most famous political exchanges of all time. The 45-minute showdown became a national talking point and helped set in train a series of events that ended with Margaret’s resignation. Afterwards, they never spoke again…Steve Coogan plays Brian Walden, the ‘much feared inquisitor’ and Harriet Walter plays prime minister Margaret Thatcher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the TV Gold podcast Andrew Mercado and James Manning review: The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix, movie)Hostage (Netflix, 5 episodes)The Rainmaker (Stan, 10 episodes)Alone Africa (Stan 10 episodes) • The Thursday Murder Club (Netflix, movie)The much-anticipated film based on Richard Osman’s first crime novel. The four members of the The Thursday Murder Club are Helen Mirren as ex-spy Elizabeth, Ben Kingsley is ex-psychiatrist Ibrahim, Pierce Brosnan is ex–union activist Ron, and Celia Imrie takes on the role of ex-nurse Joyce. • Hostage (Netflix, 5 episodes)TV Gold favourite Suranne Jones stars as the newly elected British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton, whose husband is kidnapped while he is working overseas. Julie Delpy features as the French president, Vivienne Toussaint, who is visiting the UK while grappling with her own political problems including being blackmailed over a sex scandal. • The Rainmaker (Stan, 10 episodes)Based on the best-selling novel by John Grisham. The plot features Rudy Baylor (Milo Callaghan), who is fresh out of law school. He gets an internship at a major law firm, but manages to get sacked on his first day after a run in with the boss (John Slattery). He can’t find work anywhere else except for a small time ambulance chasing law firm run by a woman called Bruiser (Lana Parrilla). • Also mentioned this week is Alone Africa, as the American series of the franchise move from SBS to Stan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the TV Gold podcast:Playing Gracie Darling (Paramount+, 6 episodes)Alien Earth (Disney+, 8 episodes)Home and Away: Farewell Lynne McGranger (7plus)And Just Like That: Farewell everybody (HBO Max) Listen to the podcast here: https://pod.link/1106441089 Playing Gracie Darling (Paramount+, 6 episodes) Playing Gracie Darling is an Australian supernatural crime drama about a missing girl, Gracie Darling, who vanished after a séance in 1997, and a second girl who goes missing 27 years later when local teens reenact the game of "Playing Gracie Darling". The series follows Joni, Gracie's former best friend, as she returns to her small hometown to uncover what happened to Gracie and prevent the history from repeating itself. Created and written by Miranda Nation (Undertow) also writer Anya Beyersdorf (creator of Fake) and directed by Jonathan Brough (Rosehaven, The End), Playing Gracie Darling features an  international cast led by New Zealand’s Morgana O’Reilly (The White Lotus Season 3, Friends Like Her) as Joni, Dame Harriet Walter (Succession, Ted Lasso) as Pattie, and Rudi Dharmalingam (Wakefield, The Lazarus Project) as Jay. The Australian cast includes Celia Pacquola (Love Me, Rosehaven) as Ruth Darling, Annie Maynard (Colin From Accounts, Upper Middle Bogan) as Anita, Dan Spielman (The Code, New Gold Mountain) as Peter, and screen icon Anne Tenney (The Castle, A Country Practice) as Moira Darling. Alien Earth (Disney+, 8 episodes) When a returning exploration space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman and a group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat in this sci-fi horror series. Led by Sydney Chandler, the series showcases an international cast which includes Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, and Adrian Edmondson. Home and Away: Farewell Lynne McGranger (7plus) Irene Roberts, a beloved character on the long-running Australian television series Home and Away, departed the show in an emotional farewell episode. But could it have been better handled and who was missing from then show this week? And Just Like That: Farewell everybody (HBO Max) The conclusion of HBO series And Just Like That marks the apparent end of the Sex and the City universe on television, though fans and critics have expressed mixed feelings about the final season's "open-ended" resolution and overall quality. Andrew was along for the ride all the way, listen to his final thoughts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the TV Gold podcast Andrew Mercado and James Manning review:The Family Next Door (ABC/iview, 6 episodes)The Hunting Wives (Stan, 8 episodes)Wednesday (Netflix, Season 2, 8 episodes) The Family Next Door (ABC/iview, 6 episodes)The mysterious Isabelle moves into a small seaside cul-de-sac where her obsessive drive to solve a mystery casts suspicion on four neighbouring families. Based on bestselling Australian author Sally Hepworth's novel.Features great performances from a stunning cast woking with a wonderful script. That cast includes Teresa Palmer, Bella Heathcote, Bob Morley, Catherine McClements, Jane Harber, Daniel Henshall, Ming-Zhu Hii and Philippa Northeast. The Hunting Wives (Stan, 8 episodes)Having recently moved from Boston to East Texas, Sophie and Graham O’Neil attend a party at the home of Graham’s boss, Jed Banks. Sophie has an unexpected bonding encounter with Jed’s wife, Margo, and is introduced to the hunting wives, Margo’s inner circle of affluent friends. A wild and saucy drama about what real housewives of Texas might get up to. Wednesday (Netflix, Season 2, 8 episodes)Season 2 of the Netflix hit series from director Tim Burton. This series sees Wednesday’s parents Morticia and Gomez spend more time at the Nevermore Academy, as does her brother Pugsley. Joining the cast this season in guest roles are Joanna Lumley and Lady Gaga.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the TV Gold podcast Andrew Mercado and James Manning review: • The Twelve (Binge, Season 3, 8 episodes)• Chief of War (Apple TV+, 9 episodes)• Mandy (Prime Video, Season 4, 6 episodes) The Twelve (Binge, Season 3, 8 episodes)The cold case murder of two teens in 1968 becomes the focus of attention when an English teacher is murdered, whilst researching a book on the crime. The husband of a friend of barrister Brett Colby (played by Logie-winner Sam Neill), is charged with the current murder – but he swears he is innocent. Twelve jurors, who are sworn in for the trial, find their own lives are changed by the experience. Chief of War (Apple TV+, 9 episodes)Performed by a predominantly Polynesian cast led by Jason Momoa, the series follows the epic and unprecedented telling of the unification and colonisation of Hawai’i at the turn of the 18th century. Mandy (Prime Video, Season 4, 6 episodes)Mandy - a hapless, jobless heroine whose daft adventures mostly end in disaster. She's got big dreams, but can she actually be bothered? Created by and starring Diane Morgan. With the fourth season about to drop in Australia, now is a good time to discover this series on Prime Video. Plus Andrew updates on his trip – this week he has been in Belfast. He is also pretty annoyed about The Logies and one of its winners in particular.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the TV Gold podcast with Andrew Mercado and James Manning it is Keeley Hawes week with: The Assassin (Stan, 6 episodes)The Assassin follows retired assassin Julie (Keeley Hawes) and her estranged son Edward (Freddie Highmore) as they are forced to flee an idyllic Greek island when Julie’s dangerous past catches up with her. With questions around Edward’s paternity and Julie’s past life as a hitwoman, the pair go on the run across Europe, working together in a fight for survival. Miss Austen (ABC/iview, 4 episodes)Miss Austen is a  story about the bond between two sisters, Jane Austen - one of our England’s most cherished novelists - and her sister Cassandra. Very little is known about Cassandra, who figured hugely in Jane’s life. What Gill Hornby did in her novel about the two is pull together many of the historical facts about Jane and her family set-up, and fashion it into this story about the two sisters and their importance to each other. We also discuss six Keeley Hawes roles we have enjoyed the most. PLUSOutrageous (BritBox, 6 episodes)A British drama about the Mitford sisters in 1930s Britain and the scandal that enveloped two of the sisters flirtation with fascism and a friend ship with Adolph Hitler. Also Andrew has been watching a bunch of new British television episodes plus he updates on his visits to iconic British TV institutions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the TV Gold podcast Andrew Mercado is in Manchester on his global tour and James Manning is in the northern NSW TV Gold studio. Listen here: https://pod.link/1106441089 Shows reviewed this week: Untamed (Netflix, 6 episodes)Eric Bana and Sam Neill team up for this mystery set in California’s Yosemite National Park, yet filmed in Canada. Eric Bana reminds us what a talented actor he is as he investigates the death of a woman who seems to have been living in the park. He’s a cranky special agent, but as the series unfolds we learn why. Billy Joel: And So It Goes (HBO, 2 part documentary)This is a lot of Billy Joel – close to five hours if you watch both parts. But you just might come away a much bigger fan of this talented singer/songwriter than you were previously. Bookish (HBO Max, 6 episodes)London 1946 is the setting for series one, with viewers introduced to the appropriately named Gabriel Book (Mark Gatiss) who owns a bookshop in Archangel Lane. Book spends most of his time successfully helping police solve murders. Sold (Foxtel/Binge, documentary)Comedian Mark Humphries goes on a journey to uncover why so many Australians are struggling to secure home ownership. He delves into the complex housing debate, looking at the current house prices, soaring rent, and the "Australian Dream" that feels more out of reach than ever. Guests include Alan Kohler and Ray Martin. Other podcasts mentioned this episode that we recommend: The Rest is Entertainment: https://pod.link/1718287198Club Random with Bill Maher: https://pod.link/1613459129 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tvgoldpodcast/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Such Brave Girls (Season 2, 6 episodes, Stan)Too Much (Netflix, 10 episodes)Patience (ABC iview, 6 episodes)alsoThe Bear (Season 4, Disney+, 8 episodes) In this episode, James Manning and Andrew Mercado review two new comedies, Season 2 of Such Brave Girls and Len Dunham's Too Much, followed by a discussion on the crime drama Patience and Season 4 of The Bear. They explore the strengths and weaknesses of each show, highlighting themes of relationships, comedy, and the portrayal of neurodivergence in a TV crime drama.Takeaways this episode:• 'Too Much' is based on Lena Dunham's life experiences.• The cast of 'Too Much' includes actors like Rita Wilson, Naomi Watts and Richard E. Grant.• 'Such Brave Girls' is praised for its dark humour and relatable characters.• The family relationship dynamics in 'Such Brave Girls' are central to its comedy.• The portrayal of mental health in 'Such Brave Girls' is both humorous and poignant.• 'Patience' features a neurodivergent protagonist solving crimes.• The show 'Patience' is an adaptation of a French series.• 'The Bear' continues to explore the chaos of restaurant life.• The episode concludes with a preview of Andrew's upcoming trip to the UK. Chapters00:00Introduction to new comedies07:22Exploring Such Brave Girls Season 2 and Too Much18:05Diving into Patience crime drama24:49The Return of 'The Bear and who some people have tuned outSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of TV Gold, hosts James Manning and Andrew Mercado discuss three shows: Families Like Ours (SBS On Demand, 7 episodes)Enigma (HBO Max documentary feature)The Backside of Television (Foxtel/Binge) They delve into the emotional and societal themes presented in 'Families Like Ours', the intriguing lives of Amanda Lear and April Ashley in 'Enigma', and the historical insights provided by 'The Backside of Television'. The conversation highlights the impact of streaming services on viewing habits and the importance of cultural narratives in television. Highlights include: 'Families Like Ours' presents a harrowing yet brilliant concept. The show explores the impact of climate change on families. Character decisions in 'Families Like Ours' lead to deep emotional responses. 'Enigma' reveals the hidden lives of Amanda Lear and April Ashley. The documentary highlights the struggles of trans individuals in the past. 'The Backside of Television' uncovers lesser-known stories of Australian TV history. Mitch McTaggart's research is commendable and insightful. The hosts emphasise the importance of representation in media. Cultural reflections in these shows resonate with current societal issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.