With more and more streaming services popping up each year, it’s getting harder and harder to keep your viewing calendar organised. We’ve made the task of mindlessly scrolling through the pool of streaming services a little more bearable by confining our picks this month to Binge. While you can’t possibly watch them all in one sitting, we guarantee you you’ll find your next show below.
Barry
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Cast: Bill Hader, Stephen Root, Sarah Goldberg, Henry Winkler, Stephen Root
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Tragicomedy
Bill Hader is back on screens for the darkly comedic, action-packed series Barry. Hader’s character Barry showcases both the serious and humorous sides of the actor, as he plays a hitman who unexpectedly discovers the joy of acting while looking for his next target. What sets this show apart is its ability to seamlessly blend humour, drama and thrill into an engrossing plot. While the pace gets your heart pumping each episode, there’s no time for breaks, leaving viewers wondering what happens next as the credits roll. At its core, Barry delves deep into the purpose of life and the lengths people go to to find happiness and satisfaction.
A Black Lady Sketch Show
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Cast: Robin Thede, Quinta Brunson, Ashley Nicole Black
Genre: Sketch Comedy
Fresh, innovative and at times absurd, A Black Lady Sketch Show sports powerhouse talent and takes an effortless approach to sketch comedy. With a main cast of Black women, the sketches are cleverly written and witty, proving that comedy can be both meaningful and entertaining. The series follows a various plots and leaves you with something new every episode, covering everything from catfishing and political debates to relationships and religion in an amusing, easy-to-digest way. Beyond all the laughs, the show is paving the way for representation and inclusivity in the entertainment industry in its centring of Black women. If you’re looking for a show that’s socially relevant and will leave you in tears (in the best way possible), then A Black Lady Sketch Show is for you.
Snowfall
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Cast: Damson Idris, Carter Hudson, Emily Rios
Genre: Crime, Drama
Known for its compelling narrative, crime-drama Snowfall has returned for its sixth season. Set during the rise of the drug epidemic in South Central Los Angeles in the 80s, this series follows protagonist Franklin Saint (Damson Idris) as he navigates the complexities of the drug business. Though set in the 80s, the series defies the concept of time, with themes of race, poverty and power reminiscent of many problems still extant in the 21st century. Snowfall boasts an elite cast and writing so well-executed you’re guaranteed to smile, laugh and cry with each watch.
Perry Mason
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Cast: Matthew Rhys, Juliet Rylance, Chris Chalk, Shea Whigham
Genre: Historical drama, crime, murder mystery
Set in Los Angeles during the prospering 1930s, period drama Perry Mason follows the story of a private investigator turned unintentional defence attorney, who finds himself investigating a chilling child kidnapping case. This new adaptation of the 1957 TV series challenges the original Perry Mason’s strong, heroic character traits through actor Matthew Rhys who plays Detective Mason as a washed up, psychologically tormented World War 1 veteran. The series has somewhat of a slow start, but as the storyline unfolds and delves into themes of corruption, politics, relationship breakdowns and the judicial system, the drama of it all is hard to pass up. So, if you’re searching for a good, fictional murder-mystery, look no further than this HBO classic.
Love Me
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Cast: Bojana Novakovic, Hugo Weaving, Will Lodder, Bob Morley, Heather Mitchell
Genre: Drama, Grief, Romance
Love me is Binge’s first original Australian drama series that’ll leave you completely absorbed and wanting more. The Mathieson family is at the centre of the storyline, and the show explores the experiences of Glen and his children Aaron and Clara, as they navigate their respective journeys with love and grief following the death of their mother. Set in the streets of suburban Melbourne, directors Emma Freeman and Bonnie Moir do a fantastic job at capturing the city’s aesthetic and culture. Love Me is a comforting, steady watch that remains engaging without the fast-paced, thrill seeking energy you might get from other drama series’. With only 12 episodes across two seasons, it’s an easy pick for anyone wanting to revel in a great Australian drama.
Rain Dogs
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Cast: Daisy May Cooper, Jack Farthing, Ronke Adékoluejo, Stephen Wight
Genre: Comedy, drama
Still in its first season, British comedy-drama Rain Dogs is a binge-worthy choice for those interested in having an awkward laugh at the unconventional yet authentic relationship between a single mother, her daughter, and their filthy rich best friend who’s just returned from prison. The show chronicles single mother Costello Jones who embarks on a miserable attempt to acquire basic necessities for her only daughter. The show is an uncomfortable depiction of the realities Costello finds herself in, often at the mercy of gender and class disparities. Rain Dogs is an exhilarating watch and a very real account of how people struggle within class systems and the subsequent mental health challenges this can entail.
Mrs Davis
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Cast: Betty Gilpin, Jake McDorman, Andy McQueen, Ely Henry
Genre: Science fiction, comedy, drama
Two deeply controversial topics, religion and technology, are at odds with one another in Binge’s latest science fiction/drama-comedy Mrs Davis. Creators of the show Tara Hernandez and Damon Lindelof have cleverly crafted a storyline that is steeped in vengeance and the exploration and exploitation of artificial intelligence powers. Protagonist Sister Simone, sets out on an enthralling adventure to defeat the all knowing, all powerful AI force, Mrs Davis, by locating the ‘Holy Grail’. With a bunch of subplots adding to the air of mystique for excitement, the interesting elements of this series definitely lie in its dry humour and frustrating character development. We can confirm that Mrs Davis the perfect show to start binging if you’re looking for something topical and a little different.
