THE New Year long weekend is a great time to catch up on the biggest television series of 2017 you’ve been meaning to watch.
Why not make some time to sit back and start streaming these popular shows.
The Handmaid’s Tale – SBS On Demand Critics and viewers praised this adaptation of Canadian writer Margaret Atwood’s classic dystopian novel but were terrified at how some of the themes reflected real life. Elizabeth Moss of Mad Men fame heads a stunning cast as Offred, who is forced to leave her husband and child and become a Handmaid to Commander Waterford (Joseph Fiennes), purely because she can create new life in a world struck by infertility. Moss won an Emmy at this year’s awards for the role.
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READ NOWStranger Things 2 – Netflix
The first season of Stranger Things arrived on Netflix out of the blue last year and instantly became a hit, tapping into ’80s nostalgia and referencing cult horror and sci-fi movies. The saga of one town’s battle against the monsters that lurk in the Upside Down continues with this second season. New faces include Sean Astin of The Goonies and Lord of the Rings fame and Dacre Montgomery, an up-and-coming, Perth-born actor who studied at WAAPA before starring in this year’s Power Rangersfilm.
Big Little Lies – Foxtel Now
Winning a score of Emmys this year, Big Little Lies is a star-studded adaptation of the novel by best-selling Australian author Liane Moriarty. The show follows three mums played by Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Shailene Woodley who live in Monterey, California. The first episode shows a murder has taken place at the local school’s parent fundraiser night before it flashes back to the lead up to the night. Viewers slowly learn more about the community’s women and families and how looks can be deceiving.
Twin Peaks – Stan
The highly-anticipated Twin Peaks third season comes 16 years after the original aired. Return to the town of Twin Peaks, Washington, where the death of Laura Palmer made its mark all those years ago, with new actors joining the cast including Naomi Watts and Laura Dern. If you need to catch up on the original, Stan has it available to stream.
Search Party – SBS On Demand If you are only going to watch one show about millennials living in New York, make it this one. Dory (Alia Shawkat) feels unfilled by her job as a personal assistant to a rich housewife and her relationship with her sweet but boring boyfriend Drew (John Reynolds). When she comes across a missing poster for college acquaintance Chantal, she makes it her personal mission to find her, dragging Drew and friends Elliott (John Early) and Portia (Meredith Hagner) into the mystery with her. Dark, weird and funny, Search Party will surprise you at every turn.
Westworld – Foxtel Now
HBO’s latest hit, Westworld is in the unique genre of sci-fi western thriller. Populated by android hosts, Westworld is a technologically-advanced, wild west-themed amusement park where high-paying guests can indulge in their fantasies, no matter how depraved. However, the robotic hosts have evolved an artificial consciousness that is similar to, yet diverges from, human consciousness and the guests soon learn there is a price to pay when their every wish is indulged.
American Gods – Amazon Prime Neil Gaiman’s best-selling novel American Gods had long been slated for an adaptation and it finally arrived this year. The story follows Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) who, after being released from prison, meets the mysterious Mr Wednesday (Ian McShane). He soon becomes caught up in a battle between the Old Gods and the New Gods who grow stronger every day.
Master of None – Netflix
From the comedic mind of Aziz Ansari, Master of None is known for its diverse cast, clever writing and unique take on everyday life. The show stars Ansari as Dev Shah, a 30-year-old New Yorker trying to jump-start his acting career and elevate his dating game. Viewers follow Dev as he meets up with his eclectic group of friends (including Arnold played by Eric Wareheim of Tim and Eric fame), goes on dates, enjoys all the food New York has to offer and ponders issues such as getting typecast as an Indian actor, male privilege and whether he wants kids.