This week on the TV Gold podcast four programs – three about different sorts of horror, and the other a romcom series.

• Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Foxtel/Binge, 8 episodes)

A horror story about America’s most notorious serial killer. But a TV series made without exploiting the actual crimes. It instead focuses on the impact on the victims families and follows closely the police investigation and the court case.

• Film Club (Foxtel/Binge, 6 episodes)

A quirky comedy from actor/producer Aimee Lou Wood who stars as Evie who runs a film club in the garage at her mother’s house. Mum is played by Suranne Jones who is not really known for her comedy skills. But it’s an intriguing premise and there is a nice cameo from Emmy-winning star of Adolescence, Owen Cooper.

• A House of Dynamite (Netflix, movie)

The much anticipated new movie from director Kathryn Bigelow. The film repeatedly tracks the 18 minutes that follow a missile being launched at the United States — first from the perspective of the White House Situation Room, then from the perspective of United States Strategic Command, and finally from the perspective of the President himself.

• Andrew’s Halloween special - It: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)

A terrifying prequel series that goes back to 1962 to trace the origins of the murderous, shape-shifting entity known as Pennywise the Clown. Based on the novel It by Stephen King.

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Audio update: The original episode upload had missing audio near the end of the podcast. A new complete version of the episode replaced the first upload late on Friday evening.

This week’s podcast features reviews of:
Mr Scorsese (Apple TV, 5 episodes)
Chad Powers (Disney+, 6 episodes)
Boots (Netflix, 8 episodes)
Watching You (Stan, 6 episodes)

Plus James on the new movie Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, and Andrew on the Hollyoaks 30th anniversary specials and its Brookside crossover episode.

Mr Scorsese (Apple TV, 5 episodes)

Mr. Scorsese is a film portrait of America’s greatest living director through the lens of his work, exploring the many facets of a a man who redefined filmmaking, including his extraordinary career and unique personal history. With exclusive, unrestricted access to Martin Scorsese’s private archives, the documentary series is anchored by extensive conversations with the filmmaker himself and never-before-seen interviews with friends, family and creative collaborators including Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, Robbie Robertson, Thelma Schoonmaker, Steven Spielberg, Sharon Stone, Jodie Foster, Paul Schrader, Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Jay Cocks and Rodrigo Prieto, along with his children, wife Helen Morris and close childhood friends.

Chad Powers (Disney+, 6 episodes)

Eight years after an unforgivable mistake nukes his promising college football career, hotshot quarterback Russ Holliday tries to resurrect his dreams by disguising himself as Chad Powers — a talented oddball who walks onto the struggling South Georgia Catfish. The football star is played by Glen Powell. The series is being labelled as an American Ted Lasso by some.

Boots (Netflix, 8 episodes)

Inspired by former US Marine Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, the eight-episode series is an irreverent, off-beat take on the coming-of-age story. Set in the tough, unpredictable world of the 1990s US Marine Corps—when being gay in the military was still illegal—the series follows directionless, closeted Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer) and his best friend Ray McAffey (Liam Oh), the son of a decorated Marine, as they join a diverse group of recruits.

Watching You (Stan, 6 episodes)

Watching You centres on thrill-seeking paramedic Lina (Aisha Dee) and the fallout of a single decision which threatens to upend her life. Though apparently happily engaged to Cain (Chai Hansen), a chance encounter with mysterious stranger Dan (Josh Helman) triggers Lina’s desire and culminates in a passionate one-night stand in a WeStay property. In the aftermath, Lina discovers that the affair has been captured by a hidden camera and is blackmailed with the footage.

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This week on the TV Gold podcast with Andrew Mercado and James Manning there are reviews of:
King and Conquerer (SBS)
The Chair Company (HBO Max)
The Woman in Cabin 10 (Netflix movie)
Victoria Beckham (Netflix)

King and Conquerer (SBS On Demand, 8 episodes, two on launch and then weekly)
King & Conqueror epic eight-part series was filmed in Iceland and features James Norton (Happy Valley) as Harold, Earl of Wessex, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) as William, Duke of Normandy, two allies with no designs on the British throne who find themselves forced by circumstance to take up arms against each other.

The Chair Company (HBO Max, 8 episodes)
Cringe comedy – not a genre we enjoy a lot.
After an embarrassing incident at work, a man (Tim Robinson) finds himself investigating a far-reaching conspiracy.
The embarrassing incident is a chair collapsing on him while onstage at a work function in front of a handful of people.

The Woman in Cabin 10 (Netflix movie)
While on a luxury yacht for a travel assignment, a journalist (Keira Knightly) witnesses a passenger tossed overboard late one night, only to be told that she must have dreamed it, as all passengers are accounted for. Despite not being believed by anyone onboard, she continues to look for answers, putting her own life in danger. Also co-stars Guy Pearce and Hannah Waddingham.
No show has caused so much debate this year about the merits of this movie. Andrew and James both enjoyed it because it was all over in 90 minutes, but there’s not much else they agree on about this shipboard thriller.

Victoria Beckham (Netflix, 3 episodes)
A three-part documentary that follows Victoria Beckham's career, from her rise to fame as Posh Spice to her current status as a fashion designer and businesswoman.
The docuseries was produced by Studio 99, the production company founded by her husband, David Beckham. It was made following the success of his own 2023 Netflix documentary, Beckham, which featured some of Victoria's own viral moments.
Not a lot of insights about the Spice Girls, but a fascinating glimpse inside Victoria’s business empire.

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