SBS On Demand has a great range of local and international TV shows and series to choose from. The On TV Tonight team have sat through this month’s best SBS On Demand shows just for you!
BLOODLANDS
Why you should watch: Season 2 of this excellent crime drama has landed on SBS. The story follows Northern Irish police officer DCI Tom Brannick, who investigates crimes while trying to hide a dark secret from his past. Brannick is getting into dangerous territory as he navigates his way through being a caring father and a conscientious colleague, all whilst walking a fine line between good and evil. While his fellow investigators are becoming suspicious, he ducks and dives, getting himself deeper into his dark side. James Nesbitt does tend to wear the same expression throughout, but, hey, he’s damn good at it!
Director: JOHN EAST, AUDREY COOKE
Cast: JAMES NESBITT, VICTORIA SMURFIT, CHARLENE MCKENNA, LOLA PETTICREW, CHRIS WALLEY, LORCAN CRANITCH, MICHAEL SMILEY
THE WALK-IN
Why you should watch: Stephen Graham would have to be one of the most under-estimated actors around, but he is always convincing in every role he undertakes. In this true unsettling drama, he stars as Matthew Collins who was the South London organiser for a far-right fascist organisation as well as a volunteer for another. Collins is a reformed man and heads up an advocacy group, Hope Not Hate, as a looming Brexit vote wreaks havoc across Britain. There’s an excellent ensemble cast attached to this one. The atmosphere purveying this drama can only be described as menacing. It’s not for the feint hearted.
Director: PAUL ANDREW WILLIAMS
Cast: STEPHEN GRAHAM, LEANNE BEST, CHRIS COGHILL, ANDREW ELLIS, DEAN-CHARLES CHAPMAN, BOBBY SCHOFIELD, JASON FLEMYNG
FENRIS
Why you should watch: This is a complex crime series from Norway. It explores the secret lives of the inhabitants of a small town, and the mistrust that ensues when a boy disappears. Rumours arise that wolves are responsible, but a biologist discovers the bloody jacket in her father’s house, and he soon disappears too, sparking a wave of investigations. Everyone becomes a suspect here. One can always expect excellence when it comes to Nordic drama, and this one is no exception. Humans wiped out Norway’s original wolf population in the wild around 1970. Those found in Norway and Sweden today are Finnish, according to studies of their genetic makeup.
Director: SIMEN ALSVIK
Cast: IDA ELISE BROCH, MAGNUS KREPPER, CENGIZ AL, JOH EMIL JORGENSRUD, JULIA SCHACHT, OYSTEIN ROGER
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S HJERSON
Why you should watch: Agatha Christie’s Hjerson is the first-ever TV adaptation based on a spin-off character from Agatha Christie’s literary universe. He was the creation of Poirot’s friend, Mrs Ariadne Oliver. Like Poirot, Scandinavian Sven Hjerson is contained, enigmatic, intense and impeccably attired, but loves cold winter swims, which Poirot would certainly never do. We follow the former criminal investigator who has been involved in solving some of Sweden’s most difficult cases of all time. He has retired from the limelight and now lives far under the radar. A life fraught with daily routines, vegan diet, dedicated vinyl collecting and an incredible love of gossip. All this changes when he meets Klara Sandberg who is out to recruit Hjerson for her true-crime TV show. This is wonderful, entertaining viewing, with filming taking place in picturesque Aland, Finland. There’s a great soundtrack with this one.
Director: LISA FARZANEH, LISA JAMES LARSSON
Cast: JOHAN RHEBORG, HANNA ALSTROM, DAVID FUKAMACHI REGNFORS, MARIA LUNDQVIST, BJORN ADRESEN, MAJA SODERSTROM
A CRIMINAL AFFAIR
Why you should watch: This is an entertaining, intense thriller set in the long Antarctic winter. Most of the staff evacuate the Polaris VI Antarctic Research Station, but a small team stays on to continue their innovative research, a crucial part in the fight against climate change, led by renowned biologist Arthur Wilde. But when spring comes, summer commander Johan Berg returns to find the entire team are either dead or missing. A killer is on the loose and Annika, Johan’s wife, is missing. If he wants to find her alive, he will have to trust Maggie, the young doctor who is traumatised and apparently the sole survivor from the group. There’s a real twist in this one, but those seasoned crime drama viewers may see it coming. Hailed as one of the best dramas of recent times. There are two series available.
Director: JORGE DORADO
Cast: JOHN LYNCH, KATHARINE O’DONNELLY, ALEXANDRE WILLAUME, TOMOHISA YAMASHITA, LAURA BACH, THIERRY GODARD, RICHARD SAMUEL, ALVARO MORTE, SANDRA ANDREIS, JOSEFIN NELDEN
CARMEN CURLERS
Why you should watch: Women of a certain age will definitely remember the innovation that was electric hair curlers. Even those with the straightest hair could have the curls they desired in ten minutes. The idea for the Carmen Curler started rolling when a 34-year-old Dane named Arne Bybjerg Pedersen answered a newspaper ad in 1962: a hairdresser was looking for a partner to help develop a new-style curler. Morten Hee Andersen is wonderful as driven wiz entrepreneur Axel, who decides to recruit women from the neighbouring farms for his production of electronic hair curlers. Nothing will stop him from achieving his dream. The story tackles other subjects of the time such as male chauvinism and homosexuality. Highly entertaining viewing.
Director: NATASHA ARTHY, LISA JESPERSEN, JOSEFINE KIRKESKOV, CHRISTIAN TAFDRUP
Cast: MORTEN HEE ANDERSEN, MARIA ROSSING, NICOLAI JORGENSEN, FANNY BOMEDAL, ROSALINDE MYNSTE, CHRISTIAN TAFDRUP
EDUCATORS
Why you should watch: If you are easily shocked at irreverence, this one is not for you. The teachers at this high school are definitely far from the norm. Here we have an unscripted comedy series set behind-the-scenes of an ordinary Kiwi secondary school, following the people in charge of educating the next generation. It’s not perfect, but New Zealand has been responsible for some great comedy, and this one did provide this viewer with a few laughs. Not to everyone’s taste, but it is entertaining.
Director: JESSE GRIFFIN
Cast: JONNY BRUGH, JACKIE VAN BEEK, RICK DONALD, KURA FORRESTER, YVETTE PARSONS, THOMAS SAINSBURY, PAUL GLOVER
Well Quirky KIWI Movie has captured my imagination, especially with real sisters playing the lead roles? 😉 😉 watching soon Thanks
Some great movies and memories! Thanks
just finished watching “The Responder” sometimes I wished that I could pick him up and say talk to someone, but no a really good watch
To call SBS On Demand shows “free” is misleading. They plaster their shows with frequent long commercial breaks. Watching commercials is the equivalent for paying for a service.
I totally agree, i loath TV commercials with a passion, Ii view them as an unwelcome intrusion on my private time and space, I watch TV for information and relaxation and don’t wish to be constantly subject to a bombardment of unwelcome and unwanted sales messages.
Kenneth Smith
SBS won’t play on a browser with an ad blocker
I’m not sure that I have the correct SBS Channel but, my husband & I really love “For the Love of Dogs” it is so good how they all look after the dogs that come to them, & Cats too. We don’t like to miss it & thank you at SBS for showing such a beautiful & informative programme.