Well, this month's What to Watch is more than a little late!
August disappeared in a blur of summer holidays, work and general life, and apparently my answer to being too busy to write a TV blog was... to keep watching more TV. So much so that a couple of September watches have sneaked onto the end of this list too!
I've also discovered a worrying new pattern - if I really like a series, there's a fairly good chance it'll get cancelled!
Here's what I've been watching...
The Five-Star Weekend (Series)
This was a really lovely series, bringing a group of friends together for a weekend in Nantucket after the death of Hollis's husband.
I've never actually been to Nantucket, but it seems to be the setting for many a good programme or film, so I had high hopes from the start!
I also liked that, for a change, the characters were more my age. It was nice watching friendships, relationships and life at a slightly different stage rather than yet another group of ridiculously beautiful twenty-somethings.
Some of it was a little predictable, but that didn't really matter. It was warm, easy to watch and exactly the kind of girlie series you can settle into without having to concentrate too hard.
- Platform: NOW / Sky
- Rating: 8/10
- Vibe: warm, girlie and easy-going
- Best for: a cosy watch with friendship, relationships and a gorgeous setting.
It's Not Like That (Series)
Another series about life after losing a partner - apparently I like my easy viewing with a side helping of grief!
This one follows two families living across the road from each other, navigating grief, divorce, parenting and the possibility of their friendship turning into something more.
Again, it was a really easy watch. I wouldn't say it was a favourite, but I definitely liked it, and the ending wasn't what I expected at all. It left me ready for another series...
Except it's been cancelled.
Just me that liked it then?! 😂
- Platform: Prime Video
- Rating: 7/10
- Vibe: heartfelt, easy-going and family-focused
- Best for: an easy relationship drama with a little more emotion behind it.
Ransom Canyon - Series 2
Well, at least Ransom Canyon actually made it back for another series!
I clearly can't get enough of the cowboys and country music, and this time we had love triangles, family feuds, psychotic exes and an epic music festival - basically everything you could possibly want from a Texas ranch drama.
I finished it hoping for Series 3, only to discover that this one has now been cancelled too!
I'm starting to think my taste in TV might be quite unique. Either that or Netflix is deliberately working its way through my watch list. 😂
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 8.5/10
- Vibe: cowboys, country music, romance and drama
- Best for: romance with ranches, family feuds and plenty of cowboy hats.
My Life with the Walter Boys - Series 3
Back to a mummy-daughter watch and, yes, this is definitely far too young for me.
However... can we just acknowledge that the younger Walter boy is turning into a rather handsome young man? 👀
Could I actually be converting to Team Alex?!
The love triangle had a slightly different corner this series, which kept things interesting, and then they went and finished it with a VERY dramatic cliffhanger.
I'm ready for the next one - please, please don't cancel this one too!
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 9/10
- Vibe: young romance, family drama and love triangles
- Best for: a mummy-daughter binge - or anyone still emotionally invested in Team Alex versus Team Cole.
Let's Marry Harry (Series)
What an absolute farce.
And welcome to another series I watched despite morally disagreeing with almost everything about it. 😂
I had no idea who Harry Jowsey was when I started watching and, to be honest, I'm still not entirely sure. Apparently he's an Australian reality TV personality who has been a bit of a lad and has now decided it's time to settle down.
Naturally, the best way to achieve this is to gather 20 women and find yourself a wife on Netflix.
Harry spends much of the series living his best life, kissing all the girls and quite literally having his cake and eating it.
Eventually he chooses one and gets married. Surprise, surprise... it didn't work out.
And because I absolutely do not recommend you watch this, I'm not even going to pretend to care about spoilers!
The follow-up show was explosive, with bitching, bullying and abuse flying in all directions. It wasn't healthy viewing and didn't exactly leave me feeling warm and fuzzy about any of it.
Why do people make such awful shows?
But more importantly... WHY DO I WATCH THEM?! 😂
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 4/10
- Vibe: chaotic, uncomfortable and completely ridiculous
- Best for: absolutely no one. Save yourself.
Love Is Blind: UK - Series 3
Thankfully, my next dating show restored a little bit of faith in reality TV!
The format of Love Is Blind is that singles meet and date in pods without ever seeing each other. If they fall in love, they propose before meeting face-to-face, then get properly engaged, live together, meet the families and eventually head to the altar - where they still have to decide whether they're actually going to get married.
It sounds completely bonkers written down, but compared with Let's Marry Harry, it felt positively wholesome!
There seemed to be some genuine connections being formed and I actually like the idea behind it - that attraction can develop from getting to know someone rather than simply what they look like.
I also love Emma and Matt Willis as hosts, and because this one is set in London, I enjoyed spotting places we've been and adding a few more to the places-to-go list.
All round, a decent watch.
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 7.5/10
- Vibe: romantic, feel-good and occasionally dramatic
- Best for: reality TV when you'd actually quite like to root for the couples.
My Fault: London / Your Fault: London (Films)
I'd tried watching one of the original My Fault films before, but it was subtitled and I gave up. I didn't realise there was a London version until I came across these.
Unfortunately, I then stupidly watched Your Fault: London first.
I think I'd have enjoyed them more if I'd watched them in the correct order!
I've also developed a theory that every young romance now needs an accompanying sport. We've had The Summer I Turned Pretty - volleyball, Walter Boys - rodeo, Off Campus - hockey, and I'm looking forward to Crew Girl - rowing.
This one gives us car racing.
It gives the films a slightly different edge and they're definitely grittier - and considerably saucier - than some of my other young-romance watches. I keep calling these teen romances, although given some of the sex scenes, let's perhaps say late teens!
Then there's the relationship itself. Noah and Nick become step-siblings when their parents move in together, so while there's nothing actually illegal going on, there's definitely something about it that feels a little morally questionable!
Still... worth a watch. 😂
- Platform: Prime Video
- Rating: 8/10
- Vibe: steamy, gritty, dramatic and fast-paced
- Best for: fans of young romance who like considerably more edge than The Summer I Turned Pretty.
The Whisper Man (Film)
With Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan and Adam Scott in the cast, I had very high hopes for this one.
I don't know whether watching it in the shop did it a disservice because it was a bit stop-start, but I just didn't love it.
It had all the ingredients to be really good, but I found it too predictable. There weren't any proper plot twists that caught me out and, for a thriller like this, I wanted a few more surprises.
There was also one particularly disturbing scene that, in my opinion, was completely unnecessary and added nothing to the story.
Maybe I need to give it the benefit of the doubt because of how I watched it, but overall... disappointing.
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 6/10
- Vibe: dark, disturbing and predictable
- Best for: crime-thriller fans - although it wasn't one of mine!
The Gentlemen - Series 2
And we're ending on a HIGH.
Love, love, LOVE this series!
Yes, technically this arrived in September, but this blog is so late that I'm claiming it. 😂
Guy Ritchie gets the balance absolutely spot on - drugs, violence, comedy and romance, all wrapped up with the best of British cast and some absolutely stunning scenery.
My husband tuned in with me at one point and I found myself trying to explain it with: "This is weird... but weird in a good way."
And I stand by that!
The ending is AWESOME. That's all I'm saying because this is one I absolutely don't want to spoil. Although if you do watch it, please don't judge me for saying that once you get there. 😂
And if you need one final reason to give it a go, may I introduce the super-handsome Duke, Theo James. 👀
I can't wait for the next series and, for once, I have good news - Series 3 has already been confirmed!
FINALLY. One I like that they're not cancelling!
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 10/10
- Vibe: stylish, violent, funny, sexy and wonderfully weird
- Best for: anyone who likes clever crime drama, dark humour, brilliant British characters... or Theo James.
As always, if you've watched any of these, I'd love to know whether you agreed with me (or completely disagreed!).
I'm already making my way through September's list, with Trigger Point, Vigil and The Blame lined up.
And if you've discovered something brilliant that should make next month's list, please let me know - I'm always on the lookout for my next binge!
Happy watching!
Janice x