Always Be Streaming... Japanese monster superhero shows
Always Be Streaming... Japanese monster superhero shows
Earlier today ABC channel Radio National released the latest episode of it’s Stop Everything podcast. The bulk of the episode is an interview with your ol’ pal Dan Barrett talking about the current state of streaming while adding a bit of historical context and a look forward at emerging AI tech that may result in the flattening of culture. You can listen to it on the RN site or via your favourite podcast app.
The appearance must have gone okay as the Always Be Watching email inbox was overflowing with notifications today of new subscribers to the newsletter. So, hello and welcome to all of the new readers.
A couple of thoughts about TV this week:
Put the British comedy Black Ops on your watchlist. This isn’t a new show, having debuted on BBC1 back in May, but it did debut on streaming service Binge here in Australia earlier this week. It’s a comedy thriller that owes a lot comedically to Brooklyn Nine Nine.
Another really strong comedy is the whipsmart Minx, which today released its second-season finale. The content in the show may be a bit extreme for some viewers (that’s me being polite about the fact there’s just a lot of d*cks on screen in every episode), but every week it is a thoughtful, dirty comedy that delights.
This week has a lot of new releases, but, there’s nothing especially noteworthy. That said, quite juggernaut series Virgin River is returning for season 5. That will draw far more eyeballs than you would expect.
Playing in cinemas this week in Australia is the Japanese movie Shin Ultraman. It’s based on the 60s Japanese TV show Ultraman and its many sequel series. I caught it earlier this week and, honstly, I didn’t think it was very good. The film is too episodic with not enough of a narrative consistency or thematic core. Compare that with 2016’s Shin Godzilla, for which this is a quasi-sequel, and it really just doesn’t hold up.
A couple of years ago, I discovered the Ultraman sequel series Ultraseven, which Shin Ultraman takes quite a bit from narratively. That show is a blast to watch - it is visually a lot of fun if you like silly costumes and funky 60s-era model work. The show streams on the 70s Pluto TV quite a bit, but you can also find episodes on YouTube:
I Am Groot (s02), Virgin River (s05), Star Trek: Lower Decks (s04), Archer (s14)
Reporting For Duty - Netflix
Stars: Leandro Hassum, Luciana Paes
When Suzano, an awkward police chief from the backwoods of the state of Rio de Janeiro, arrives in its capital to take over Tijuca's 8th precinct, he needs to wise up on the double. Life in the capital isn't going to be easy, much less with his new police colleagues, who are fearless and always ready for the next bust.
Dear Child - Netflix
Stars: Kim Riedle, Naila Schuberth
A mysterious woman's escape from her harrowing captivity points investigators toward the dark truth behind an unsolved disappearance 13 years earlier.
The Lovers - Sky Atlantic [UK], Binge [AUS]
Stars: Roisin Gallagher, Johnny Flynn, Alice Eve
Janet, a foul-mouthed Belfast supermarket worker, encounters Seamus in unusual circumstances in her garden. Unlike her, he lives a London life, works as a political broadcaster, and has a celebrity girlfriend. Despite the apparent gulf in experiences between them, the two find themselves unexpectedly falling for each other. As this extraordinary relationship develops, they must each contend with a range of difficulties that stem from the extreme differences in their backgrounds and life experiences.
The Killing Kind - Paramount+ [UK]
Stars: Emma Appleton, Colin Morgan, Elliot Barnes-Worrell, Olivia D'Lima
Lawyer Ingrid Lewis defends a dangerous client named John Webster against stalking allegations. But when he reappears in her life one day, Ingrid must do everything she can to escape him.
Burning Body - Netflix
Stars: Úrsula Corberó
The charred remains of Pedro, a police officer, are found inside a burnt-out car; the discovery triggers an investigation into a network of toxic relationships, deceit, violence, and sexual scandals involving Pedro and two fellow police officers.
A Time Called You - Netflix
Stars: Harrison Xu, Lee Min-goo, Ahn Hyo-Seop, Jeon Yeo-been
A young woman mourns the death of her boyfriend. As a result, she is inexplicably transported back in time in the body of a high school student. There she meets a student who looks confusingly like the deceased.
The Changeling - Apple TV+
Stars: LaKeith Stanfield, Clark Backo
Apollo and Emma's love story is a fairy tale, until Emma mysteriously vanishes; bereft, Apollo finds himself on a death-defying odyssey through a New York City he didn't know existed.
What If - Netflix
Stars: Renee Zellwegger, Juan Castano, Jane Levy
Desperate to secure funding for her med tech startup, an idealistic scientist and her husband strike an outrageous deal with a mysterious investor.
How To Date Billy Walsh - Prime Video
Stars: Sebastian Croft, Charithra Chandran
Archie has always kept his love for Amelia a secret, but just as he builds up the courage to declare his feelings, she falls for Billy, the new transfer student.
That’s the newsletter for this week.
