MAYANS M.C. S2 | BIKER DRAMA
First on Showmax. Binge Season 1 & the first four episodes of Season 2 now; new episodes every Wednesday
Fresh out of jail with a trail of broken dreams behind him, EZ needs a place to belong. Mayans M.C. seems to offer that, if EZ’s ready for everything that comes with it – navigating the club hierarchy, turf wars, extreme violence, shifting allegiances and a dangerous emotional link to the head of the deadly Galinda cartel, just for starters.
In this Sons of Anarchy spinoff, Emmy nominee JD Pardo from Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part II plays EZ, while Oscar nominee Edward James Olmos (Battlestar: Galactica) and Clayton Cardenas (American Crime) co-star as his father and brother.
:: The third-biggest cable premiere of the year in the US, behind only Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead
:: 100% critics score for Season 2, Rotten Tomatoes
:: 2019 Critics Choice nominee: Best Supporting Actor (Richard Cabral)
HARLOTS S3 | PERIOD DRAMA
First on Showmax. Binge now
The first two seasons of Harlots revolved around rival brothel owners, Margaret Wells (Oscar nominee Samantha Morton) and Lydia Quigley (Oscar nominee Lesley Manville), in 18th century London – an era when one in five women earned a living as a prostitute in the city. At the start of Season 3, it seems the Wells girls can finally free themselves of their mother’s feud, helped by allies such as Lady Fitz (Liv Tyler). But Charlotte Wells (Jessica Brown Findlay from Downton Abbey) soon learns that running a lucrative brothel brings enemies as well as friends, including the new pimp in town, Isaac Pincher (2019 Emmy nominee Alfie Allen from Game of Thrones).
:: 100% critics rating, Rotten Tomatoes
:: “Obscenely enjoyable” The Guardian
PEN15 S1 | MIDDLE SCHOOL COMEDY
First on Showmax. Binge now
PEN15 follows 13-year-old besties Maya and Anna as they navigate – and try to survive – seventh grade and puberty. 32-year-old co-creators Maya Erskine (Plus One) and Anna Konkle (Rosewood; the first episode of Ramy) play their 13-year-old selves, while Maya’s real-life mom, Matsuko Erskine, plays her character’s mother, Yuki. The rest of the cast are genuine teenagers.
:: Nominated for a 2019 Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Writing
:: #34, Rotten Tomatoes’ Best TV Shows of 2019 So Far, with a 93% Critics Rating
STRANGE ANGEL S2 | OCCULT DRAMA
First on Showmax. Binge now
Created by BAFTA nominee Mark Heyman (Black Swan), Strange Angel explores the bizarre true story of Jack Parsons (Sundance winner Jack Reynor from Sing Street), who pioneered America’s rocketry program in the 1940s while simultaneously practicing sex magick rituals as a devotee to Aleister Crowley’s religion, Thelema. At the end of Season 1, Jack and his team from Caltech made a scientific breakthrough that secured the military’s interest as the country neared the brink of war. In Season 2, the U.S. is fighting World War II, transforming Jack’s rocketry work into a lucrative business. Bella Heathcote (Neon Demon) and Emmy nominee Rupert Friend (Homeland) co-star.
:: 88% audience rating, Rotten Tomatoes
:: Directed by the likes of Oscar nominee Steph Green (The Americans), SXSW winner David Lowery (Pete’s Dragon, A Ghost Story), Toronto winner Ben Wheatley (Kill List) & Emmy nominees Brooke Kennedy (The Good Wife), Kate Dennis (The Handmaid’s Tale) & Sarah Boyd (This Is Us)
:: Executive produced by four-time Oscar nominee Ridley Scott (Gladiator)
SWEETBITTER S2 | RESTAURANT DRAMA
First on Showmax. Binge now
Based on Stephanie Danler’s New York Times’ bestseller, Sweetbitter follows 22-year-old Tess (Ellen Purnell from Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children) who, shortly after arriving in New York City, lands a job at a celebrated downtown restaurant. Swiftly introduced to the world of drugs, alcohol, love, lust, dive bars, and fine dining, she learns to navigate the alluring yet punishing life she has stumbled upon. This is the story of a young woman’s coming-of-age, set against the rich and grimy backdrop of exclusive restaurants, conjuring a nonstop, high-adrenaline world evoking the possibility, beauty, and fragility of being young and adrift.
:: Directors include Emmy winners Adam Bernstein (Breaking Bad, Fargo) & Richard Shephard (Ugly Betty) as well as rising stars like Augustine Frizzell (Euphoria) & Cherien Dabis (Ramy)
:: 83% critics score; 92% audience score, Rotten Tomatoes
KIDDING S1 | DRAMA
Binge from 11 October
Jeff is a famous children’s television icon who helps kids name their feelings, but isn’t allowed to publicly admit his family is falling apart. Mostly directed by Oscar winner Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind), Kidding stars two-time Golden Globe winner Jim Carrey; Oscar nominees Frank Langella and Catherine Keener; and Judy Greer (Ant-Man).
Showtime has renewed Kidding for a second season.
:: 2019 Golden Globe nominee: Best TV Comedy & Best Actor (Jim Carrey)
:: 8/10, IMDB
THE TWILIGHT ZONE S1 | SCI-FI ANTHOLOGY
Same time as M-Net. Weekly episodes at 10pm every Friday from 11 October
The godfather of sci-fi series, the original The Twilight Zone premiered 60 years ago on CBS. The series became a worldwide phenomenon as it used socially conscious storytelling to explore humanity’s hopes, despairs, prides and prejudices in metaphoric ways conventional dramas could not. Oscar winner Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) reboots the series as co-creator and narrator, alongside an all-star cast that includes Oscar nominees Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick) – in an Emmy-nominated performance – and Greg Kinnear (As Good As It Gets); six-time People’s Choice nominee Ginnifer Goodwin (Once Upon A Time); Emmy nominee Tracy Morgan (30 Rock); two-time Critics Choice nominee Adam Scott (Big Little Lies); and Teen Choice nominee John Cho (Star Trek).
:: 2019 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Guest Actor (Kumail Nanjiani)
:: Best Streaming Horror & Thriller Series nominee, Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, 2019
SUCCESSION S2 | DRAMA
First on Showmax. Binge from 14 October
In Season 2, the dysfunctional Roy family is struggling to retain control of their global media empire. But while the future looks increasingly uncertain, it is the past that threatens to ultimately destroy them. Kieran Culkin was nominated for a Golden Globe as Roman, Matthew Macfadyen was up for a Critics Choice Award as Tom, and the impressive cast includes Golden Globe nominee Brian Cox (Adaptation, X-Men 2, Deadwood), Screen Actors Guild nominee Jeremy Strong (The Big Short) and multi-award winners like Hiam Abbas (Ramy, Blade Runner 2049) and Sarah Snook (The Dressmaker).
:: Best Writing & Best Title Music, Emmys, 2019
:: Best International Series, BAFTAs, 2019
:: TV Program Of The Year, AFI Awards, 2019
:: #3 on Rotten Tomatoes’ list of the Best TV Shows of 2019 So Far
:: Season 1 was nominated for a Golden Globe
:: #20, Most Popular TV, IMDB
:: Recently renewed for a third season
BALLERS S5 – THE FINAL SEASON | SPORTS COMEDY
Binge from 14 October
Exploring the glamorous and often cutthroat world of pro football through a group of past and present players striving to stay in the game, Ballers stars Dwayne Johnson (Jumanji) as ex-superstar Spencer Strasmore, who has reinvented himself as a financial manager for today’s players. Emmy winner Rob Corddry, BAFTA nominee Russell Brand and 2019 Image Award nominee John David Washington (yes, he’s Denzel Washington’s son) co-star.
:: 2019 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Cinematography & Sound Editing
:: 2019 Image Awards nominee for Best Actor (Dwayne Johnson) and Best Supporting Actor (John David Washington) in a Comedy
SOUTH PARK S23 | ANIMATED COMEDY
New episodes every Monday, from 21 October
It’s hard being a kid growing up in South Park, Colorado, what with all the insane adults, deranged celebrities and occasional talking turd…
Season 23 starts as Cartman sends an anonymous tipoff that Kyle is an illegal immigrant, leading ICE to detain and separate his entire family after Kyle’s dad can’t find their passports. So yes, South Park is as topical as ever, or as Forbes puts it, “Reality has never resembled South Park as much as it does today.”
:: #90, Top Rated TV of All Time, IMDB
:: Winner of five Emmys for Outstanding Animated Program
:: Recently renewed for another three seasons
BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE…
Atlanta S1-2 | Comedy drama | #127, Top Rated TV of All Time, IMDB | Binge now
Sons of Anarchy S1-7 | Motorbike drama | #200, Top Rated TV of All Time, IMDB | Binge now
Empire S1-5 | Hip hop industry drama | Best Actress (Taraji P. Henson), Golden Globes, 2016 | Binge now
The Strain S1-4 | Vampire horror | Co-created by double Oscar winner Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labyrinth) | Binge now
Six S2 | Navy seal action drama | 87% audience score, Rotten Tomatoes | Binge now
Outcast S1-2 | Horror | Best TV Actor (Patrick Fugit) nominee, Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, 2017 | Binge now
Modern Family S1-8 | Best TV Comedy or Musical, Golden Globes, 2012 | Binge from 4 October
Criminal Minds S1-13 | Crime | Three-time Emmy nominee, eight-time People’s Choice nominee | Binge from 7 October
American Horror Story S1-7 | Horror | Winner of two Golden Globes | Binge from 11 October
Da Vinci’s Demons S1-3 | Historical drama | Winner of two Emmys | Binge from 11 October
Wayward Pines S1-2 | Sci-fi mystery | Best Science Fiction Television Series nominee, Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA, 2016 | Binge from 11 October
Corporate S1 | Workplace comedy | 93% Critics Rating, Rotten Tomatoes | Binge from 14 October
Better Things S1-2 | Comedy drama | 2018 Emmy and Golden Globe nominee for Best Actress in a Comedy (Pamela Adlon) | Binge from 21 October
