WHITE FEVER
WEDNESDAY, 9PM, ABC
Korean-Australian adoptee Jane has a definite type in men and, as her friend points out, they are of “the caucasian persuasion” – and the hairier and the blokier the better. Creator Ra Chapman, of Wentworth fame, drew on her own experiences of being adopted from South Korea at the age of four and growing up denying her heritage. Her fictional alter ego Jane is horrified to learn her “white meat” fetish is masking deeper issues of race, identity and belonging on her hilarious and sometimes heartfelt quest to date an Asian man. Crazy Rich Asians star Chris Pang plays the childhood friend turned potential love interest.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING
WEDNESDAY, PARAMOUNT+
It’s still a little baffling why this seventh entry into the long-running spy franchise didn’t do better at the box office. While it loses at little of its impact on the small screen, there’s still plenty to like about Tom Cruise’s indefatigable IMF agent Ethan Hunt and his band of super-spy sidekicks including gadget man Benji (Simon Pegg), loyal lieutenant Luther (Ving Rhames) and the ever-mysterious Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson). The team is battling yet another global threat in the form of an all-seeing artificial intelligence known as the Entity. Not that it really matters, it’s all about those Cruise stunts, including an eyewatering motorcycle jump and a simply stunning train sequence.
HEARTBREAK HIGH
THURSDAY, NETFLIX
After becoming one of the country’s most successful recent television exports, the sometimes shocking, often funny and always watchable reboot of the homegrown 90s school comedy drama is back. Sex, drugs, romance and teen angst are once again very much on the curriculum again as our Hartley High heroes and heroines face the consequences of their actions while dealing with raging hormones and ever-shifting relationships. New enrolments include Rowan (Sam Rechner) the vest-loving hottie from Dubbo and veteran Angus Sampson makes a mighty impression as the ponytailwearing, Shannon Noll-quoting, super-blokey PE teacher Timothy Voss, who is convinced he’s walked into a “woke snowflake nightmare”.
RIPLEY
NETFLIX
Although the source material of Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 thriller The Talented Mr Ripley is the same, this eight-episode limited series is a rather different beast to Anthony Minghella’s 1999 movie that starred Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law. Veteran screenwriter and director Steven Zaillian takes his sweet time to gradually reveal the scheming and duplicity of the title character as he insinuates his way into the life of a wealthy gadabout American living on the Amalfi coast in the 1960s. Gloriously shot in black and white, with exquisite attention to period detail, it’s driven by a mesmerising, award-worthy performance by Andrew Scott as the dead-eyed, vaguely reptilian Ripley.
SUPERFAN
SATURDAY, BINGE
Firmly in the “only in America” school of reality TV game shows, audiences will enjoy Superfan mostly for how much they admire the weekly guest. With some heavy hitters, including LL COOL J, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan and Mr Worldwide, Pitbull, that’s a whole lotta fans. The premise is that five self-confessed superfans competing in elimination rounds – identifying songs and images, matching answers with the artist, then lip-synching a song – until one is left. For the artist, who performs and drops titbits from their career, it’s an ego trip. To neutral observers it’s one step away from stalker territory, but oddly watchable.
BLUEY: THE SIGN
SUNDAY, 8AM, ABC KIDS
It’s the biggest thing to happen to the Heeler family – and while this 28minute special episode might seem a Titanic length to littlies, it doesn’t drag for a second and will keep them coming back. Set against impending nuptials of Frisky (Claudia O’Doherty) and Uncle Rad (Patrick Brammall), Bluey and Bingo are also coming to terms with moving house and an uncertain future as Bandit considers a higher paying job to give his kids a better life. Joel Edgerton and Deborah Mailman are among the voice guests in what is a gorgeous celebration of family that tugs at the heartstrings as much as it delights.
FARMER WANTS A WIFE
SUNDAY, 7PM CHANNEL 7
“This could be the day you meet the man of your dreams,” says host
Samantha Armytage to the 40 women assembled for this TV dating powerhouse. All five farmers found love last season and one couple is now expecting a child. The farmers – Joe, Tom, Dean, Dustin and Bert – are tasked with a day of speed dating to whittle eight hopefuls to the five they will take to the farm. It’s a struggle for some, with silences from charming, awkward Bert, and a breeze for others like the larrikin Dean – and its tears and devastation for unlucky ladies who don’t make the cut.
LEGO MASTERS AUS VS THE WORLD
SUNDAY, 7pm, CHANNEL 9
The loved reality TV game show introduces four international teams to take on the best Aussie bricklayers. Genial host Hamish Blake invokes the spirit of the Olympics (and average linguistic skills) as he welcomes teams from Germany, America, France and Lego motherland, Denmark. The first task from exacting judge Brickman is to construct something strong enough to break through ice while looking cool doing so. From first impressions, the firedup and experienced blow-ins are going to take some beating.
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY PARAMOUNT+
It’s the beginning of the end for what has been a mostly reliable Star Trek spin-off. After the dramatic events of last season, helping fix the fractured Federation, it’s shaping up to be a more fun final season with Captain Michael Burnham (Sonqeua MartinGreen) and the gang heading off on a top secret mission to find an ancient and powerful Romulan technology.