New year, new telly. Why not give these 5 suggestions a try. Need some more? Try a previous edition of Stream On: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8.
Big Boys (Channel 4 – 12 x 30 mins)
Big Boys season one arrived in May 2022, seemingly out of nowhere, and became one of the funniest and most profound sitcoms of the decade. With season two now available, you need to get on board if you’re not already. Based on writer-creator Jack Rooke’s own experiences, season one followed two very different boys from very different ends of the “spectrum of masculinity” boys become friends in their first year at university, they explore, experiment and try to discover themselves, helping one another along the way. Season two is set during their second year of uni, as both have come more to terms with themselves and exploring the world. Total joy!
Men Up (BBC – 90 mins)
Swansea, 1994. Five ordinary Welshmen face up to their secrets and lies when they embark on one of the world’s first medical trials for the drug that would become Viagra. A sensitive and tender exploration of masculinity & societal expectations.
Criminal Record (Apple Tv+ – 8 x 60 mins)
Few things beat a corker of a crime drama, especially when they’ve got lead performances – courtesy of Cush Jumbo and Peter Capaldi – that are this good. DS June Lenker (Jumbo) is assigned a domestic violence case, a call to the emergency services which also alluded to the wrongful conviction in a historic murder case. By notifying the Senior Investigating Office of the case, DCI Daniel Hegarty (Capaldi) she ends up triggering a tug of war that will bring much to light.
The Brothers Son (Netflix – 8 x 60 mins)
When the head of a Taiwanese triad is shot by an assassin, his eldest son, Charles `Chairleg’ Sun, heads to Los Angeles to protect his mother and brother, who’s been completely sheltered from the truth of his family until now. With the makings of an almost-Shakespearean epic family narrative, with regular hilarious moments and jaw dropping fight sequences – how on Earth did Netflix just drop this month with zero fanfare?!?
Boy Swallows Universe (Netflix – 7 x 60 mins)
It’s worth remembering throughout watching Boy Swallows Universe that it is based on a true story. Based on journalist Trent Dalton’s 2018 semi-autobiographical book, based on Trent’s own childhood in Queensland with a troubled mother and a stepfather who was a heroin dealer. What follows is a beautiful, sad and crazy story.
Charlotte Sometimes 
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