What to binge on this year

As we ride the era of Peak TV, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ready-to-stream content. Here are the only shows worth watching.

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As we ride the era of Peak TV, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ready-to-stream content. Hit after hit, seasons just keep getting better. Whatever you do, don’t let these impressive blockbusters, gripping miniseries and unassuming gems slip through the cracks. Here’s what to look out for in 2019.

As we ride the era of Peak TV, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ready-to-stream content. Hit after hit, seasons just keep getting better. Whatever you do, don’t let these impressive blockbusters, gripping miniseries and unassuming gems slip through the cracks. Here’s what to look out for in 2019.

RETURNING SEASONS

Watch every episode.  Every. Episode. Ever.

Upcoming anticipated returning seasons. If you haven’t already, sink your teeth into all previous seasons and get up to date ahead of their anticipated returns.

GAME ON THRONES

The end is near. Now is the time to sink your teeth into this epic blockbuster ahead of its eighth (and final) season, which will premiere in April on Foxtel. Reacquaint yourself with its legendary storyline, gratuitous violence and dragon-rearing women — it’ll take you four solid days to devour all 67 episodes. The final season premieres exclusively on Foxtel 15 April.

BIG LITTLE LIES SEASON 2

Adapted from Australian author Lianne Moriarty’s bestseller, the second instalment of Big Little Lies continues to explore the lies and deceit lurking in the depths of suburbia, female friendships, the fragility of marriage and the trials of parenting. If you haven’t already, watch all episodes from the first season now. This darkly comedic drama returns with an all-star cast including Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoë Kravitz and Meryl Streep.

MR INBETWEEN SEASON 2

Ray Shoesmith, played by Scott Ryan, is a heavy-for-hire who isn’t such a bad bloke. As the rookie season explored, Ray might be a cold-blooded killer, but he’s also a diligent weekend father to his daughter, carer for his brother and boyfriend to Ally (Brooke Satchwell), a paramedic he met while walking his dog. Scott Ryan and Nash Edgerton’s second season continues to follow the amusing antics of this likeable rogue in seedy Sydney.

MAYANS MC SEASON 2

An offshoot of biker drama Sons of Anarchy, Mayans MC delivers a full-throttle plot following the exploits of Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes (JD Pardo), a good-looking, bad-natured dude. Once a bright student with a promising future, he has joined the gang Mayans after a stint in prison. Season two promises more drama, border disputes, drugs and murder.

SECRET CITY SEASON 2

Move over House of Cards. Political thriller Secret City twists and snakes through the inner workings of Canberra, exposing the dark side of the political word and cyber-espionage. Two-time Academy Award-nominee Jacki Weaver will reprise her role alongside Anna Torv and newcomer Danielle Cormack in season two, uncovering more conspiracies, betrayals and spy technology. You’ll never say Canberra is boring, again.

TRUE DETECTIVE SEASON 3

True Detective returns to form after a disastrous second season (let’s try to forget it even happened) with a storyline as compelling as the pilot season. This season stars the talented Mahershala Ali playing Detective Hays, a state policeman in northwest Arkansas, whose mission is to find two missing children. In Southern Gothic style, there are plenty of cults, corpses and evil characters unearthed along the way.

THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 9

Even after nearly a decade of zombie drama, the world of The Walking Dead remains an enthralling and scary place. No zombie or fan favourite is safe — not even its main character Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). Having moved on from its war phase, the remaining survivors in this season attempt to rebuild civilisation under Grimes’ leadership. It’s a welcome change after all the gang clashes and endless gore and death. No doubt you’ll still be keen to see how Grimes meets his fate.

VEEP SEASON 7

At a time when the truth is stranger than fiction, Veep’s sharp and satirical look at the insular world of politics seems relevant to the current political climate. The sixth and final season continues to follow Selina Meyer (Emmy® winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the former Vice President and one time President, who is keen to secure her legacy now she’s out of office.

SUITS

Meghan Markle might be well and truly be royalty now, but you can still catch her outside sovereign protocol in Suits. Binge all eight seasons of legal dramedy filled to the brim with office politics, secrets and betrayals, and of course, fierce legal battles. You’ll never see Markle like this again.

WENTWORTH

Watch every episode of high-quality prison drama Wentworth, a series confirming local production can compete with international HBO series. A reimagined version of long-running Aussie soap Prisoner, this gritty and unflinching show explores the challenges inmates and officers face in an all-female prison.

NEW HITS

New shows coming to the silver screen

UPRIGHT (FOXTEL ORIGINAL)

Modern day renaissance man Tim Minchin stars in the new Foxtel drama series Upright, which tells the story of Lucky (Minchin) and tough-as-nails teenager Meg (Milly Alcock) dragging a battered piano across the Nullabor. Minchin is also behind the sharp-tongued script, in collaboration with The Chaser’s Chris Taylor, and award-winning writer-actors Kate Mulvany and Leon Ford.

ROSWELL NEW MEXICO

Move over, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed, there’s a contemporary take on the angsty teen supernatural saga. Only this version has woke sensibilities. This swoony human-alien romance remake is silly and fun — the perfect summer binge fodder.

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

The BBC’s three-part adaptation of H. G. Wells' classic novel is faithful the original’s tone but with a few contemporary twists: in this period drama/ horror/ sci-fi version, Eleanor Tomlinson and Rafe Spall fight for their lives as aliens descend in Edwardian England. Woah.

THE END (FOXTEL ORIGINAL)

This ten-part drama series centres around three generations as they grapple with the what it means to die with dignity, live with none and make it count. The provocative drama stars The Missing and Mr Selfridge star, Frances O’Connor who plays a palliative care doctor opposed to euthanasia.