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'The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window' and a chilled red
The Girl on the Train, The Woman in the Window and now The Woman in the House Across the Street From the Girl in the Window. While the trailer doesn’t really make it clear, this Netflix original is a parody series, mocking all those female-witnesses-murder-tries-to-crack-case thrillers. Kristen Bell, who loves to do a bit of comedy, is the lead, but TBC if this will actually be funny. If you watched Amy Adams mix meds and spy out the window of her New York brownstone in fits of giggles, like I did, then the fairly straight trailer is a good indication you’ll laugh at this too. Netflix also created that film, so maybe this is their bid to be in on the joke. A glass of red is the go-to prop of these central characters, but because it’s January, and hot, take your red chilled. If you’re yet to venture into chilled reds, Yering Station Little Yering Pinot Noir is the perfect beginner bottle.
Watch it on: Netflix
'Ozark' S4 and a tasty XPA
Just when you thought the Byrde family had been through everything a family involved with drug cartels could go through, they are back for more. But just once more. This will be the final season of the drama, and Jason Bateman, who plays Marty Byrd, promises “I'm excited to end with a bang(s).” Ozark can get pretty dark so you want something refreshing, fruity and bright to cut through the grit. Balter XPA seems custom-built for the job.
Watch it on: Netflix
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'Pam & Tommy' and a very 2022 premix
When English rose Lily James was cast as the all-American, blonde, tanned, big-boobed ‘90s beach babe Pamela Anderson for a film about her sex tape, critics didn’t quite see it. But from the trailer of Pammy & Tommy, it looks like she nailed it. Sebastian Stan, of Marvel fame, plays Tommy Lee, and together they bring to life the couple that married after just 96 hours of knowing each other in this biographical drama mini series. It’s directed by Craig Gillespie who did I, Tonya and Cruella, which is very promising, and the cast includes a lot of great actors dressed in their '90s finest, including Seth Rogan, Taylor Schilling and Nick Offerman. While Pals Peach and Passion is a decidedly 2020s drink – it’s gluten-, preservative- and colouring-free, and vegan – it has a '90s aesthetic. It’s the pastel purple. Enjoy it cold, straight from the recyclable can.
Watch it on: Disney+
'RuPaul’s Drag Race' Season 14 and Champagne. Amen
It’s rare that new episodes of one of the many Drag Race editions isn’t dropping weekly on Stan – there’s UK, Canada, Thailand, Holland, Espana, Italia and our very Down Under. Then of course there’s All Stars. But the original US version is the show in its truest format, and most fun. For the 14th season we’ve got a hot new tagline “Victory never tasted so sweet”, and Ru in an '80s short hair 'do. Not a pussycat wig (because we know how she feels about that), but well above shoulders. They're 14 seasons in and still showing us something new! Toast to Drag Race with Duperrey Champagne Brut Premier Cru, because with all the turmoil, shutdowns, lockdowns and lockouts over the last few years, Ru has remained a constant. Cheers to that.
Watch it on: Stan
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'Succession' and a seriously good dupe
Okay, not super new, but Succession gets a lot of media attention (maybe because it’s about a media family?), but it doesn’t get huge viewings. So this is your opportunity. Watch all three seasons of Succession, as a nice (easy) January pop-culture to-do. Then you can read all the think-pieces about it, which really makes you feel involved with the zeitgeist. I’ll admit, the first three quarters of season one are rough viewing – unless you like watching horrible people be horrible to each other – but the juice is worth the squeeze. Speaking of juice. You’ve got a lot of eps to get through so opt for an alt spirit, like Lyre's Non Alcoholic Italian Orange and make yourself a Spritz.
Watch it on: Foxtel or Binge
