New Documentaries and Dramas Headline June Viewing
This June, a slate of compelling Australian content is set to capture viewers’ attention, featuring two new local series and a powerful documentary. Alongside these, audiences can anticipate a new scripted drama from a renowned creator and a gripping film exclusive to streaming services. Here’s a look at what’s on offer.
Rolf Harris: Primetime Predator Examines Disgraced Performer’s Downfall
In the wake of the #MeToo movement, the public continues to confront the uncomfortable truth that many celebrated figures harbored abusive tendencies. A new Australian documentary, Rolf Harris: Primetime Predator, delves into the life of the disgraced Australian entertainer. The film offers a thorough examination of how Harris leveraged his public profile to conceal his actions, particularly focusing on his conviction for indecent assault against young girls.
The initial part of the two-episode documentary traces Harris’s ascent to stardom as a musician and presenter in the United Kingdom during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Heartbreaking accounts from women, who were once girls subjected to his abuse, vividly illustrate the access his fame afforded him. The second installment concentrates on Harris’s downfall, spurred by Operation Yewtree, the British investigation initiated after the discovery of fellow entertainer Jimmy Savile’s pedophilic crimes. Narrated through historical testimony and expert analysis, Primetime Predator promises to be a challenging but essential viewing experience, offering a solemn dose of truth.
The first episode is available for streaming now, with the second episode scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, June 16.
The Killings at Parrish Station: A Tense Mystery Unfolds
Drawing on the trend of comedians venturing into darker storytelling, The Killings at Parrish Station emerges as a compelling horror series. Created by Ben Jenkins, known for his work with The Chaser, the series operates across dual timelines, centered on a series of brutal murders that occurred in 1987 at a remote research station. The mystery surrounding the perpetrator, or perpetrators, is as chilling as the violence itself.
In the original timeline, detectives Georgia Cooke (Mia Wasikowska) and Michael Thorne (Xavier Samuel) are tasked with uncovering the truth, only for the case to consume their lives. Thirty-seven years later, history appears to be repeating itself with eerily similar killings. This resurgence forces Cooke (portrayed in the present day by Heather Mitchell) to emerge from a mental institution and confront the case once more. While Jenkins’ signature satire subtly surfaces, particularly through elements like the fictional “Crime Sluts” podcast, the series largely delivers a tightly crafted and stylish mystery with a distinct supernatural undertone, complemented by Michael Yezerski’s captivating score.
The Killings at Parrish Station premieres on June 24.
Tip Toe: A Nuanced Look at Societal Intersectionality
Following his groundbreaking work on Queer as Folk, Russell T Davies, a celebrated voice in television drama, presents Tip Toe, a layered and tense exploration of societal intersectionality. The series centers on Leo (Alan Cumming), a pub owner approaching sixty who continues to grapple with the intolerance he faced as a young gay man. Much of this prejudice is embodied by his confrontational, nationalist neighbor, Clive (David Morrissey).
When Leo reluctantly provides Clive with a spare key, their lives become entangled in increasingly concerning ways. Davies tackles a wide array of contemporary issues, from pronoun usage to political figures, managing to avoid didacticism through deft storytelling. The magnetic performances of Cumming and Morrissey elevate Tip Toe, making it a significant addition to Davies’s impressive body of work.
Tip Toe is currently streaming.
Two Years Later: A Sunshine State Rom-Com
Queensland’s burgeoning screen industry is not only attracting large-scale action productions but also serving as the backdrop for the new romantic comedy series, Two Years Later. The series prominently features Brisbane, with its distinctive public transport and the iconic Brown Snake river, acting as a character alongside the potential love interests, Emily (Phoebe Tonkin) and Ryan (Brenton Thwaites).
The narrative picks up after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts the budding flirtations between Emily and Ryan during their daily commutes. Determined not to let Emily slip away, Ryan proposes a retro courtship: eight dates to decide if marriage is on the cards. The series offers a charming take on a small-city romance, buoyed by the effortless chemistry between Tonkin and Thwaites. For fans of television set in Brisbane, the return of Thwaites to the city’s landscape after the short-lived teen drama SLiDE in 2011 is a welcome sight.
Two Years Later is available for streaming now.
