Need to catch a TV break and don’t know what to watch? Simon takes us through his top picks on must-see shows and films for the week. Click through to see what’s showing for your entertainment needs….
Wednesday 7th October 2015
The Principal-SBS-8.30pm AEST
SBS’s first original drama in two years is an exceptional exploration into the multicultural melting pot of Australia, utilising a fictional school in Western Sydney as the setting for a fictional insight into increasing problems associated around drugs, radicalization of youth and racial tensions. Starring Alex Dimitriades in the title role, the four-part miniseries centres on new principal Matt Bashir settling into his new job at his former high school Boxdale Boys’. But an incident on school grounds quickly shatters his attempts to get his new students on track, and also sees him butting heads with local police played by Aden Young and Mirrah Foulkes. Also starring newcomers Rahel Romahn and Tyler De Nawi, The Principal is a show very much worthy of your attention.
Thursday 8th October 2015
The Secret World of Lego-The Lifestyle Channel-9.30pm AEST
First conceived in the workshop of Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen all the way back in 1932, The Lego Group is now not only one of the biggest toy manufacturers in the world, but one of the biggest companies full stop. In fact, they recently usurped Ferrari to earn the position of the “world’s most powerful brand”. The Secret World of Lego is a fascinating insight into the company, which is also known for keeping their business operations firmly behind closed doors, away from the prying eye of consumers and competitors. The documentary largely follows a young man named Justin as he schleps his way through the grueling recruitment process of the company, whilst also depicting the lives of a number of employees such as Matthew Ashton, the co-vice president of design at Lego. If you’re looking to gain an insight into how the business ticks, or are simply a big kid at heart, then The Secret World of Lego is the perfect documentary for you.
Friday 9th October 2015
The Bourne Identity-Seven-8.30pm AEST
Before you catch Matt Damon in his latest film The Martian, revisit one of his most popular roles, the amnesiac super spy Jason Bourne. Based on the novel by Robert Ludlam, The Bourne Identity completely changed the rules of the spy film when it was released back in 2002, with modern iterations of the James Bond and Mission: Impossible series having a lot to thank for director Doug Liman’s take on the genre. The film centres on on-the-run agent Bourne, as he scours the globe in an attempt to not only discover his true identity but also find out his role in a CIA conspiracy. If you’re looking for some thrills and chills on your Friday night in, look no further.
Saturday 10th October 2015
Saturday Night Crackup-ABC-7.30pm AEST
All this week the ABC’s “Mental As” week is broadcasting a series of programs on both the company’s various television and radio channels. This vital initiative, which aims to end the wholly unnecessary and completely outdated stigma that still surrounds this issue was hugely successful last year in starting a frank and honest discussion about mental health, and is once again ending on a high with the Saturday Night Crack Up. In 2014, the telethon raised an astounding $1.5 million for mental health research, so here’s hoping that they manage to either equal or beat this amount on Saturday night. Tune in, have some laughs and don’t forget to chip in a few dollars, it’s definitely worth it.
Sunday 11th October 2015
Quantico-Seven-8.30pm AEST
Supposedly pitched to Hollywood execs as Grey’s Anatomy meets Homeland, Quantico is a new drama series that centres on the lives of FBI recruits at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Centred on recruit Alex Parrish (played by Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra), the big twist in the series is that it largely takes place in flashbacks, with the present timeline seeing Parrish framed by one of her academy buddies for a terrorist attack she didn’t commit. Also starring Aunjanue Ellis and Josh Hopkins, Quantico is an action-packed thrill ride that is sure to keep fans of the spy genre more than entertained.
Monday 12th October 2015
The Walking Dead-FX-1.30pm/8.30pm AEST
Now that the first season of spinoff Fear The Walking Dead has wrapped up, it’s time to check in and see what Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and the gang are up to over in Virginia for the sixth season of the acclaimed horror series The Walking Dead. When the last season finished up Rick had left a real impression on the gated community of Alexandria, with the cliffhanger murder of Pete (Corey Brill) destined to have major ramifications for the group. They must also come to grips with the arrival of Rick’s first friend of the zombie apocalypse Morgan (Lennie James), and rising outsider threat The Wolves. Oh, and the first episode of the series is rumoured to include a record number of 654 zombies! Sounds like the audience is in for a treat.
Tuesday 13th October
Raging Bull-Masterpiece Movies-8.30pm AEST
Martin Scorsese’s 1980 classic Raging Bull is a masterpiece example of both the biopic and sport film genres. Starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, the film depicts the life of Ray LaMotta (De Niro), an Italian American Middleweight boxer who was just as well known for the controversies that plagued his life out of the ring as he was to his contributions to the sport. Though the movie initially received mixed reviews, it is now considered to be one of the greatest American films of all time, with De Niro going on to win his second Academy Award for the role. If you’ve never seen Raging Bull before it’s about time you give it watch, and if you have already, hey, I hear it’s even better on its second viewing.
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