What to Watch: Black Snow, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, Cunk on Life and Tiddler

Black Snow

Wednesday, streaming on Stan

Boy Swallows Universe, Dune: Prophecy, and now the second season of Black Snow — Aussie actor Travis Fimmel is everywhere right now — and we’re not hating it.

This series sees him return to Queensland, stepping into his role as thorny Detective Cormack once more. This time, the loner detective is travelling to the fictitious hamlet of Moorvale, to investigate the historical disappearance of a young woman last seen leaving her 21st birthday party in 2003.

The girl in question is Zoe Jacobs (Jana McKinnon) who seemingly ran away, cutting ties with her family – never to be seen again. Did she really leave of her own volition? Or is there something more sinister at play?

Cormack’s on the case.

Helping him along the way is local policewoman Samara Kahlil (Megan Smart) who has connections to the missing woman, and as the story weaves from past to present, they inch steadily closer to discovering what really went down.

This series struck a chord with viewers in its first iteration, and it’s great they’ve chosen to move Cormack’s story along in tandem with this new case.

Fimmel and Smart make a fabulous double act, and the present-day ensemble do a great job of keeping you guessing. The real stand-out for me, though, was the performances of the younger cast who step in to play the characters 20 years prior — Jana McKinnon as Zoe is particularly great.

If you loved this the first time around, you’ll enjoy stepping back into this world. Worth a look.

Tiddler

Wednesday, streaming on ABC iview

If you have little people at home, chances are you’re up to your eleventy billionth re-read of The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom. These are two of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s most popular books, though they’ve written lots more. The latest to be adapted for TV is the adorable Tiddler, all about a chronically late-for-school fish. It’s every bit as adorable as its predecessors — a great family watch.

NYE24

Tuesday, 8.30pm, ABC

For those of us with small children, the chances of us making it to the new year are slim at best. And forget about going out — we’ll be on the couch with Charlie Pickering, Zan Rowe and Concetta Caristo, watching as they broadcast live from the Sydney Opera House. Look out for a special performance curated by triple j’s Nooky, which will lead us into the 9pm fireworks display. Let’s be real here: I’ll be asleep by 9.30pm.

Lockerbie: A Search for Truth

Thursday, streaming on Binge

If you’re looking for a meaty mini-series to sink your teeth into over the Christmas break, this one, starring Colin Firth, works well. It’s inspired by the true story of Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter was killed when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988. He spearheaded a victim’s group, travelling “across continents and political divides” in the pursuit of truth and justice for victims’ families in the wake of the terror attack. This one is getting lots of buzz.

Cunk on Life

Thursday, streaming on Netflix

The world’s most hilarious documentarian, Philomena Cunk, aka British actress and comedian Diane Morgan, is back, asking some seriously thorny questions. She’s chatting to philosophers and academics in a quest to unravel the meaning of life — and you just know she’s going to come up with some humdinger questions. Absolutely cannot wait to see her take on quantum physics, existentialism, nihilism and hedonism “and all the other isms”. High hopes for this one.