What to watch on streaming in September: Netflix, Disney, SBS, ABC, Binge and more

From expensive TV shows with glamorous A-listers to ambitious new sci-fi epics, there really is something for everyone.

From glittering dramas with A-listers including Jennifer Aniston and Oscar Isaac and ambitious sci-fi epics to bold Australian stories, September has something for everyone.

The only question you have to ask yourself is, how will you find the time?

What We Do in the Shadows S3 (Foxtel Now/Binge, September 3*): That rare laugh-out-loud comedy that guarantees a raucous time thanks to its absurd and droll humour. The vampires of Staten Island are back, having narrowly escaped execution by their own, saved by their familiar who’s secretly a vampire hunter.

Morning Wars S2 (Apple TV+, September 17): With its A-list cast including Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup and Steve Carell, Morning Wars started as a starry albeit uneven series but really picked up by its explosive season finale. The second season promises even more drama, and now with added Julianna Margulies.

Frenemies.

Impeachment: American Crime Story S3 (Foxtel Now/Binge, September 8): After drilling into the Gianni Versace murder and the OJ Simpson trial, American Crime Story turns its piercing eye to the Monica Lewinsky/Bill Clinton scandal and how sexism victimised a young woman who was seduced by the most powerful man on Earth. Lewinsky was a producer on the series.

Sex Education S3 (Netflix, September 17): Those awkward and randy Moordale kids have gotten over that unfortunate chlamydia outbreak but now they have a new challenge: a new headmistress (Jemima Kirke) with a different vision for the school.

Scenes From a Marriage (Foxtel Now/Binge, September 13): With its impeccable pedigree (an adaptation of Ingmar Bergman’s 1973 series) and a stellar cast (Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac), this miniseries will explore the highs and lows of a modern marriage, from the euphoria of love to the depths of loneliness and regret.

Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in Scenes From a Marriage.

Frayed S2 (ABC iview, undated): Sarah Kendall’s acclaimed series dramedy returns for a six-episode second series this month. Escaping Australia lands Sammy and her kids back in the UK, but the pesky question of what happened in their neighbour in Newcastle isn’t going away anytime soon.

Inside Central Station S1 (SBS On Demand, September 12): This observational docuseries takes audiences into the inner workings of Sydney’s Central Station, as workers deal with freak lightning strikes and other disruptions. If nothing else, maybe we’ll finally see the nitty gritty of how a bit of rain can cripple a whole network.

Foundation (Apple TV+, September 24): An ambitious, high-concept sci-fi streaming show adapted from Isaac Asimov’s well regarded book series, Foundation certainly looks as if it didn’t spare a cent on the production values. The story is about the battle between the ruling elite of a future empire and a renegade convinced the only way to save civilisation is to destroy it. Lee Pace, Jared Harris and Alfred Enoch stars.

The School That Tried to End Racism (ABC iview, September 21): Presented by Marc Fennell, this three-part series explores the idea that the key to countering racism is early intervention. Based on a UK series, it’s set in an Aussie school in which kids are given the tools to identify racial bias – and thereby proposing tangible, lasting change.

Get ‘em while they’re young.

Money Heist Part 5: Volume 1 (Netflix, September 3): The hugely popular Spanish-language series returns to Netflix this month with the promise of more heart-pounding action. The first half of the final season will see the gang work out the final stage of their heist, but now that they’ve been exposed, what’s their exit strategy?

Billions S5B (Stan, September 6): With the fifth season interrupted by covid, only seven episodes aired last year. So, it’s been a long time coming for the back half, especially with all those dangling threads. Last we left them, Axe was about to truly lose it – but not that $3 billion thanks to Taylor, but pretty much everything else.

Bluey Father’s Day Special (ABC iview, September 4): Music to parents’ ears! Bluey will drop a special Father’s Day episode on Sunday, a story about Bluey tackling a particularly hard art project. Even those without small kids could benefit from Bluey’s wholesomeness.

Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father S5 (Netflix, September 14): What does a travel series limited by covid do for new episodes? Stick closer to home with Jack and Michael Whitehall exploring parts of their home island. The show has never really been about the places as much as it is about their strange relationship and for final journey, we get to join them.

Doogie Kamealoha M.D. is a remake of Neil Patrick Harris’ Doogie Howser M.D.

Doogie Kamealoha M.D. (Disney+, September 8): Given Disney is aggressively mining its back catalogue to reboot, the only surprise that a Doogie Howser remake didn’t come sooner. The child genius in question this time is Lahela Kamealoha, a high school student who’s also embarking on her medical career.

Iggy & Ace (SBS On Demand, September 9): Short web series Iggy & Ace centre on two young gay inseparable best friends whose relationship is challenged when one of them turns to Alcoholics Anonymous, leading the other thinks their mate has been brainwashed by a cult.

Dear White People S4 (Netflix, September 22): More than two years after the most recent season, Justin Simien’s incisive dramedy about race relations on an American university campus returns for its final instalment as a jukebox musical. And one of the Queer Eye guys is slated to guest star.

A.P. Bio S4 (Stan, September 3): Revived after its post-season two cancellation, AP Bio has been the little show that could – and now it’s back for number four. It stars Glenn Howerton as a scheming high school teacher who’s convinced his life’s purpose is to steal his professional rival’s philosophy job at Stanford, and Patton Oswalt as the exasperated principal who knows he can’t control this particular subordinate.

AP Bio returns for its fourth season.

Lost for Words S1 (SBS On Demand, September 22): Just because they don’t run ads for the Reading Writing Hotline anymore doesn’t mean Australia’s adult literacy problem was fixed. Four in 10 Australians struggle with it and Lost for Words, hosted by Jay Laag’aai, will follow the experiences of eight of them as they undertake an intensive nine-week program.

Come From Away (Apple TV+, September 10): Since half the country can’t go to the theatre, including the live show of Come From Away which would have been playing now in Sydney, now’s a pretty good time for Apple to drop a filmed version of this Broadway musical. And it’s releasing on the 20th anniversary of the event that inspired it. The story follows the stranded passengers whose flights were diverted to a small Canadian town after the Twin Towers were attacked, and the efforts of its residents at an extraordinary time.

Six Empty Seats (SBS On Demand, September 2): Six co-workers of a construction company end up at the wrong airport and miss their flight, which turns out to be a miracle because that plane crashes, killing everyone on board. It’s the catalyst they each needed to blow up their unhappy lives – but going in on a heist against the wrong man wasn’t the best idea.

Fires (ABC iview, September 26): An absolute bumper cast for this anthology drama series charting the experiences of Australians during the monstrous 2019-20 bushfires, including Anna Torv, Eliza Scanlen, Miranda Otto, Richard Roxburgh and Daniel Henshall.

Fires is an Australian anthology series.

Back to the Rafters (Amazon Prime Video, September 17): Packed to the Rafters ran for 122 episodes but that doesn’t mean its most ardent fans had enough of that very large family with their extremely suburban choices in home décor. The main change is Georgina Haig takes over the role of Rachel after Jessica Marais dropped out.

Love It or List It Australia S4 (Foxtel Now, September 29): It may be sans Shaynna Blaze but Love It or List It is roaring back, and at a time when house prices are astronomically ridiculous – thanks, government policy and unscrupulous real estate agents. Neale Whittaker and Andrew Winter take 10 homeowners through a makeover journey, pressing them on that crucial question.

Wu-Tang: An American Saga (Stan, September 9): Created by original Wu-Tang member RZA and screenwriter Alex Tse, the drama series is a fictionalised retelling of the founding of one of hip-hop’s most pioneering and revered groups. It’s set in New York City in the early 1990s and stars Ashton Sanders and Shameik Moore.

*Binge and Foxtel Now are majority-owned by News Corp, publisher of news.com.au