Well, look at me being organised! After running late with last month's What to Watch, I've actually been taking notes as I've watched this month, which means for once I'm not trying to remember what on earth happened three weeks ago!
September has been a pretty mixed bag. We've had badass women, bomb disposal, beautiful sewing, murder mysteries, rowing, romance, sexy scientists and more than one very attractive man - purely relevant to the reviews, obviously.
Here's what I've been watching...
Running Point - Series 2
Absolutely loved this.
If you're a Ted Lasso fan and, like me, still have a soft spot for Kate Hudson from her How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days days, you'll love this too. If you haven't seen Series 1, start there and watch both.
Kate Hudson plays Isla Gordon, president of her family's professional basketball team, and I love seeing a beautiful, brainy badass holding her own in a male-dominated world.
It's funny, warm and easy to watch, with that same sports-meets-family feel I loved about Ted Lasso. There's even a little How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days nod tucked into Series 2.
Best of all, Series 3 has already been confirmed, so for once I haven't fallen in love with something only for it to be immediately cancelled!
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 9/10
- Vibe: Funny, feel-good, sporty and smart
- Best for: Ted Lasso fans, Kate Hudson fans and anyone who loves a brilliant female lead
Trigger Point - Series 4
Another badass woman, but this time with considerably more chance of being blown up.
Vicky McClure is brilliant again as bomb disposal expert Lana Washington. I wouldn't describe myself as a staunch feminist, but I do love seeing women portrayed as equals within a team and absolutely at the top of their field.
And Lana is COOL. AS. A. CUCUMBER.
There are some genuinely emotional moments alongside all the explosions, with plenty of hold-your-breath, edge-of-your-seat stuff. Lana makes a pretty major decision at the end which made me wonder if this could be the last we see of her - but she certainly doesn't leave quietly!
- Platform: ITVX / STV Player
- Rating: 9/10
- Vibe: Explosive, emotional and seriously tense
- Best for: Anyone who likes their British drama with plenty of action
The Great British Sewing Bee - Series 12
One of my favourite programmes and, coming from a design background, completely my cup of tea.
I love Patrick Grant and Esme Young as judges, particularly Esme's brilliantly dry sense of humour. I preferred Sara Pascoe as host, but definitely warmed to Sophie Willan as the series went on.
Yes, it's the same tried-and-tested formula as Bake Off and The Great Pottery Throw Down, but it works - why change it?
I had the winner pegged pretty early on, but loved some of the runners-up's wonderfully original ideas too. The final Rumpelstiltskin-inspired dress, transforming straw into gold, was amazing.
I've always fancied making my own clothes and this series has done nothing to discourage me, so a sewing machine has now officially made its way onto my Santa list.
Because apparently I don't have enough to do already.
- Platform: BBC iPlayer
- Rating: 9/10
- Vibe: Creative, comforting and inspiring
- Best for: Design lovers, crafty types and anyone who enjoys watching talented people make things look deceptively easy
Crew Girl - Series 1
I had SUCH high hopes for this.
It was suggested as something to fill the void left by the brilliant Off Campus, so naturally I was straight in. Unfortunately, it did not deliver.
Teen rower Teagan joins the boys' crew at an elite school and, of course, there's a love triangle. Except neither boy particularly did it for me. Maybe I'm just too old.
There was very little romance and it was all incredibly tame. Fine if you're expecting a teen sports drama, but you cannot mention Off Campus to me and then give me this level of bleugh.
And then there's Teagan during the races.
I know absolutely NOTHING about rowing, but her coxing seemed to involve shouting encouragement in an increasingly high-pitched scream and then taking rather a lot of credit afterwards. She drove me mad.
Mediocre romance, no particularly swoon-worthy men and an irritating coxswain...
Obviously I'll be watching Series 2.
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 6/10
- Vibe: Teen drama, sport and a very tame love triangle
- Best for: Younger YA drama fans - just don't expect Off Campus
Vigil - Series 2
I loved the first series, particularly the claustrophobic submarine setting, so was looking forward to another gritty British crime drama.
Series 2 swaps the submarine for a military drone investigation which eventually takes us to the fictional Middle Eastern country of Wudyan.
It started well enough and I still like the characters but, somewhere along the way... I got bored.
Then something shinier came along and I wandered off.
I rarely give up on a series once I've started, but I didn't actually finish this one. I haven't completely ruled out going back, but when another programme manages to lure you away halfway through, that's probably a review in itself.
- Platform: BBC iPlayer
- Rating: Abandoned!
- Vibe: Military conspiracy and serious British drama
- Best for: Fans of political and military thrillers - although I'd still choose Series 1
The Blame - Series 1
Now THIS was the gritty British crime drama I was looking for.
Michelle Keegan plays DI Emma Crane, investigating the murder of a teenage girl alongside DI Tom Radley, played by Douglas Booth.
And yes, Douglas Booth is rather easy on the eye. Important investigative detail.
The investigation soon starts looking much closer to home, with the police themselves coming under suspicion. There are twists, turns and even reverse twists - every time I thought I knew where it was heading, something else happened.
I love Michelle Keegan anyway. She's a brilliant actress and, quite frankly, a stunning natural beauty.
There's also a romantic storyline woven through it which gave me something else to become far too invested in.
I won't say much more because you're better going in without knowing too much. It didn't end exactly the way I wanted - and you know I like my happy endings - but I absolutely loved it.
- Platform: ITVX / STV Player
- Rating: 9/10
- Vibe: Twisty, gritty, romantic and addictive
- Best for: British crime drama fans who like plenty of twists and a little romance
The Love Hypothesis - Film
I started this thinking it was going to be another Channel 5-style cheesy movie.
And to be fair, there was enough cheese to accompany a good cracker or two.
But I actually loved it!
PhD student Olive and professor Adam are completely predictable from the start, but Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman somehow make being nerdy scientists look rather sexy.
There's fake dating, a meeting of minds and plenty of nerd-on-nerd action - which apparently is something I'm now into.
It also tackles some surprisingly serious issues towards the end, giving it a little more substance than I expected.
And, as predicted, I FINALLY got my happy ending.
Cheesy? Absolutely. Predictable? Completely. Did I thoroughly enjoy it anyway? Yep.
- Platform: Prime Video
- Rating: 8.5/10
- Vibe: Cheesy, clever, romantic and nerdy
- Best for: Rom-com lovers, fake-dating fans and anyone partial to an attractive scientist
The Split Up - Series 1
I started this thinking it was basically the next series of The Split, which I loved, so was waiting for Nicola Walker and the familiar Defoe family to appear.
It is connected, but follows a completely new family - the Kishans, a British-Indian family running a successful divorce law firm in Manchester.
There are loads of connecting storylines involving family, relationships, marriages, secrets and legal cases, and they weave together brilliantly.
I'm slightly ashamed to admit I also spent a considerable amount of time willing someone to cheat on their perfectly loving partner.
I KNOW.
I'm blaming the writers. They absolutely wanted me to.
I also loved seeing the British-Indian traditions throughout the series. I've attended a Scottish-Indian wedding myself and it was a fantastic meeting of two cultures, so I recognised lots of the little details.
Then they left us on a cliffhanger.
Surely there has to be another series? I'm definitely not finished with this family yet.
- Platform: BBC iPlayer
- Rating: 9/10
- Vibe: Family drama, romance, culture and complicated relationships
- Best for: Fans of The Split and intertwined family dramas
Flack - Series 1 & 2
This wasn't quite what I thought I'd signed up for.
It starts fairly lighthearted, with PR executive Robyn, played by Anna Paquin, getting celebrities out of ridiculous and often funny predicaments alongside storylines about family, friendships and romance.
Then it gets DARK.
Drugs, suicide, abortion and eating disorders are just some of the serious and disturbing storylines it tackles.
That's not to say it isn't good, but it definitely wasn't the lighthearted watch I thought I'd found.
By Series 2 we're a long way from the funny celebrity PR disasters of the beginning, before it finishes on a particularly grim cliffhanger.
Cheery.
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 7.5/10
- Vibe: Sharp, scandalous and surprisingly dark
- Best for: Fans of complicated characters and dark comedy drama
So there we have it - September's viewing!
As always, if you've watched any of these, I'd love to know whether you agreed with me (or completely disagreed!). 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