TV reviews: Platonic, Eyes Of Wakanda, Demascus and Chief of War
Rose Bryne and Seth Rogen in a scene from Platonic.
ONE SHOW. TWO VIEWS
PLATONIC
NEW EPISODES WEDNESDAYS, APPLE TV+
After the fabulous first season of Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne's comedy about old college buddies Will and Sylvia who reconnect while both are married to other people, there are still plenty who think Hollywood cliches are going to win out and the pair will end up romantically involved. Guess again.
'People still want it to happen and ask us if it's going to happen,' says Rogen. 'It's not going to happen'.
Taking the 'will-they, won't they' out of the equation is the whole point and allows for a fresher take on friendship – not to mention family, careers and middle age.
Having worked together for more than a decade, Byrne and Rogen have a real-life connection that easily translates on to the screen even when they are frequently screaming at each other and finding new ways to screw up each other's lives.
In a step up from the first season, as Will's wedding approaches and Sylvia prepares to return to work, side characters such as Sylvia's lawyer husband Charlie and bestie Katie also get their chance to shine, making for one of the funniest shows around. JAMES WIGNEY
Rose Bryne and Seth Rogen in season two of Platonic.
Billy Crystal's character in When Harry Met Sally was wrong. Men and women can be friends. That's certainly clear in this quirky comedy about best mates, Sylvia and Will (Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen). Unlike Harry and Sally (Crystal and Meg Ryan) who's friendship slowly and hilariously evolved into romance in the 1989 comedy classic, there's never the slightest suggestion of attraction between Sylvia and Will. And that's reinforced by having real life buddies, Byrne and Rogen at the helm. Certainly, Platonic feels tailor made for the frequent collaborators. As mum-of-three Sylvia, Byrne gets to once again show her skill at playing uptight women who are secretly champing at the bit to let loose. While Rogen leans into his long and storeyed history of playing likeable slackers, as craft beer connoisseur, Will. Having renewed their friendship in season one, this follow-up sees the pair's friendship tested by Will's new romance. While Sylvia's marriage is strained by her new career as a party planner and her usually dependable husband's midlife crisis. SIOBHAN DUCK
Okieriete Onaodowan in a scene from Demascus on Tubi.
DEMASCUS
TUBI
Some of the strangely familiar tech in this near-future-set, six-part sci-fi comedy will leave viewers wondering whether its unconventional therapy techniques are really that far away in this ever-changing AI driven world. At the encouragement of his outspoken therapist (played by Janet Hubert from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air), Okieriete Onaodowan's weed loving, slightly lost title character signs up for the experimental Digital Immersive Reality Therapy (DIRT), by which he can visit alternative versions of himself 'but only as a voyeur'. As he digs deeper in search of answers about his true self, the acquired memories he gains begin to blur the lines of reality and his subconscious as he plays out scenarios of possible lives.
Lisa Millar heads to the Snowy River on Back Roads.
BACK ROADS
THURSDAY, 8PM, ABC
With Heather Ewart calling time after a decade in job, Gold Logie nominee Lisa Millar proves to be a more than capable replacement on the travel show that spotlights the country's hidden gems and the fascinating people who live there. Millar's first stop is the legendary Snowy River, beginning in the High Country where she confronts her fear of horses head on with the help of a woman who trains and rehomes Brumbies. In between gamely shooting rapids and bush-bashing in blowout prone buggy, she also meets a 98-year-old Italian expert who explains the multicultural marvel that was the Snowy Hydro Scheme and meets the Indigenous women with a profound connection to the river, just before it meets the sea.
SOUTH PARK
THURSDAY, PARAMOUNT+
The first episode in the long-running animated comedy's 27th season was billed as its most savage ever and it certainly didn't disappoint on that front. How you feel about the episode – featuring appearances by Satan AND Jesus – will probably correspond to the regard you have for the current American president, who bore the brunt of the show's fury. But Trey Parker and Matt Stone have always been equal opportunity offenders and also had their sights set on woke culture, religion, the media and even AI. After nearly 30 years of lewd, crude satire and mayhem with Cartman, Kyle, Kenny and Stan, audiences should know what they are in store for with whatever they come up with for this week. You have been warned.
Jason Momoa in his historical drama, Chief of War. Picture: AP
CHIEF OF WAR
NEW EPISODES FRIDAYS, APPLE TV+
Man mountain Jason Momoa's stunning historical drama passion project has been billed as Shogun for Hawaiian culture – and it's not a bad comparison, given the scale, use of local language and political machinations punctuated by bouts of brutal and bloody violence. The former Aquaman, who also created and co-wrote the series based on actual historical events, plays Ka'iana, a warrior chief embroiled in the ongoing battle between the four major kingdoms of Hawaii. When he's summoned from his peaceful self-imposed exile by his warmongering uncle (a terrifying Temuera Morrison) for his formidable fighting skills, he begins to question the old ways and chain of command, and has his life turned upside down by an encounter with European sailors.
The Voice coaches for this season: Mel C, Richard Marx, Kate Miller-Heidke and Ronan Keating
THE VOICE
SUNDAY, 7PM, CHANNEL 7
There's been a major shake-up for the 14th season of the long-running reality singing show, with ARIA-winning Aussie Kate Miller-Heidke the only returning coach. Joining her in the spinning chairs are Grammy winning rocker Richard Marx, former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating (last seen on the show in 2016 and a veteran of the UK and German versions) and Sporty Spice herself, Mel C. The season gets off to a flyer, with promising artists from all walks of life (Kiwi Cassie is an early standout) causing the coaches to get even more competitive then the contestants. No one is talking a back step, with Marx in particular willing to pull out every trick in the book – and his seriously impressive contacts list – to land the top talent.
Noni (Winnie Harlow) and The Lion (Cress Williams) in Eyes Of Wakanda.
EYES OF WAKANDA
DISNEY+
With the news that Black Panther 3 is on the way with original director Ryan Coogler in charge comes this fun detour into one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's more interesting corners – the mysterious and secluded fictional African country of Wakanda. The four-part animated series, which spans centuries of Wakandan history, is mainly concerned with the Hatut Zaraza, who are basically black ops agents tasked with tracking down stolen items made of Vibranium, the substance that powers the country's advanced technology. In doing so they interact with historical eras and mythical figures from Achilles and ancient Crete to Middle Ages China, with beautifully rendered fight scenes and recreations of ancient civilisations.
Michael Hutchence performing with INXS at Wembley Stadium.
INXS: LIVE AT WEMBLEY
SUNDAY, 8.50PM, CHANNEL 7
Seeing Never Tear Us Apart top Triple J's Hottest 100 Australian Songs last month was a reminder of just how good the band was at the peak of its powers. So too is this behind-the-scenes look at their legendary 1991 gig at London's Wembley Stadium, with late, great frontman Michael Hutchence prowling the stage belting out hit after hit and connecting with the ecstatic audience in a way that belied the vastness of the venue. With narration by Michael Usher, band members Kirk Pengilly and Jon Farriss break down the unforgettable sold-out gig (the guest list alone was more than 2000 people) song by song and reveal insights into how a pub band from Down Under made it one of the world's biggest stages.
Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow in Two Lovers.
TRENDING: GWYNETH PALTROW
TWO LOVERS
Streaming, Tubi
After weeks being drip fed salacious titbits about Gwyneth Paltrow's famed romances with Ben Affleck and Brad Pitt, Amy O'Dell's explosive book Gwyneth: The Biography finally hits shelves this week. But there are other ways to dig into the Oscar winner's past that don't involve a trip to the bookstore, including revisiting this 2008 film co-starring Joaquin Phoenix.
As you would expect for any project with Phoenix as leading man, this is no predictable Hollywood rom com. It sees a suicidal middle-aged New Yorker torn between the nice girl picked out for him by his parents and his self-destructive neighbour (Paltrow). While Paltrow is more focused on her Goop empire than acting these days, this film is a reminder of what a magnetic presence she is on screen.
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