MAY STREAMING GUIDE

It’s time to get your binge fitness up. The last of the long sunny days are behind us. Daylight Savings has ended and there is every excuse to snuggle in and binge. Let the anticipation build.

TVNZ OnDemand Vegas It would be a mistake to dismiss Vegas as merely a beautifully shot drama series exploiting and glamorizing the high stakes world of gang culture. It is set in one of the most exquisite and dynamic locations in the country and is on its way to becoming New Zealand’s answer to The Sopranos.

Inspired by Canadian born writer Ray Berard’s award winning novel, Inside the Black Horse, Vegas script writer Micheal Bennett aimed to tell a more nuanced and far reaching narrative.

Brought to life by director Kiel McNaughton, the actors and Rotorua based crew of Vegas have delivered a layered and complex character driven tale, ready to take audiences on a long and intriguing journey.

The first episode introduces an ensemble cast you quickly care about, empathise with or despise. The action, tension and drama drives the story forward at pace, offering just enough plot twists and turns to keep you guessing and wanting more. The allegorical inferences are tempered with a style of humour local audiences appreciate and global audiences will find refreshing. It’s a homegrown production that easily competes with anything available on the international streaming services. Definitely a must watch. 

Amazon Prime Them More chilling than expected, Them is so cleverly put together and the performances so compelling that you can almost taste the hatred dripping from the white community intent on driving out their new black neighbours.

It is telling that the spooky supernatural elements at play in this limited anthology series are actually a relief from the inhumanity displayed by the white Compton ‘welcoming committee’.

It’s a narrative that lays bare the overt examples of the racism commonplace in 1950s America and serves as reminder of the more subversive racism that still persists in many forms today throughout the world. Entertaining yet scary. 

On Netflix, SHADOW AND BONE (L to R) BEN BARNES as THE DARKLING / GENERAL KIRIGAN and JESSIE MEI LI as ALINA STARKOV in SHADOW AND BONE Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2021

Netflix Shadow and Bone Magical fantasy based series continue to be popular on streaming platforms the world over.

Their dystopian, often historically based story worlds are ripe for the development of complex and interesting characters who resonate with a wide range of audiences from all walks of life.

Shadow and Bone, an adaptation of the richly drawn and sprawling world’s of Leigh Bardugo’s trilogy of novels of the same name is a wonderful escape with a satisfying level of plot and character complexity. Very binge worthy.  Neon Shrill Some of the most confronting flaws in society are most effectively addressed through humour. Shrill is a cleverly funny series that champions the idea that self-acceptance comes from changing how you view yourself rather than changing who you are to become more acceptable to others.

The talented comedian Aidy Bryant stars as Annie, a capable journalist who limits her self worth by giving the shallow judgments of others too much weight - excuse the pun. When she decides to turn things around she stops being ‘too nice’ and starts putting herself first. Funny with often an acerbic flavour this is not a constant laugh out loud comedy but it will make you smile. 

Shrill on NETFLIX

The Covert Theatre in Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby is NZ’s home of improvised comedy. With workshops and shows every night of the week there is something for everyone. Be sure to check out www.coverttheatre.com