New Aussie drama New Gold Mountain (Wednesday on SBS) is another success story from our multicultural broadcaster. Set in the Victorian goldfields during the 1850s, it’s great to finally saw a period drama where the Chinese settlers are more than just background extras.
Starring Yoson An, Alyssa Sutherland, Dan Spileman, Alison Bell and an unrecognisable Rhys Muldoon, New Gold Mountain is an ambitious mix of murder, corruption and snobbery. There is also bigotry from all races, particularly when it comes to the local Indigenous people. Well done SBS.
10 are feel good next week with Celebrity Masterchef (Sunday) and then The Dog House Australia (Tuesday on 10). The latter, narrated by Dr Chris Brown, is a replica of the UK original but with a bit more bogan. Thankfully though there is welcome diversity with the prospective dog owners. Lovely.
There will need to be a few dogs on Love Island Australia (Monday on Nine) to make its move to the main channel worth the upgrade. If the ratings aren’t all that flash, maybe there will be another Josh and Luke, the twins who have bit off more than they can chew on The Block (Sunday on Nine).
The Real Housewives of Melbourne (Sunday on FoxArena) opens its fifth season with a shot of the just-closed Melbourne Star Observation Wheel. Let’s hope there is a bit more movement with just three remaining castmates spinning new ways to bring in four new housewives.
So far there is yoga teacher Cherry, who points to her own head while saying “There’s a lot going on up here”, and champagne-mad Kyla who wants to be the new troublemaker. Episode two will introduce former CNN journalist Anjali Rao who says she is “keen to explore her bisexuality on the show”. Really?
CSI: Vegas (Sunday on 10) is an “epilogue” to the original Crime Scene Investigation series which ended six year ago. This one opens with new Crime Lab boss (Paula Newsome who replaces Marg Helngenberger) getting a severed head in the mail. Her reaction to the gruesome package is how I felt after watching the episode – whatever.
Some icons are out in force this weekend with World Of Madonna’s Madame X (Paramount+) and Hey Hey We’re 50 (Sunday on Seven) but none will be as anticipated as the third season premiere of Succession (Monday on FoxShowcase). It picks up right where it left off and is still as monstrously hilarious as ever.
Next week – How Veneno, the best drama of 2021, quietly snuck onto iView