WATCHING

Downton Abbey

Four years after the series called it quits, the highly anticipated Downton Abbey film is finally here. The film picks up in 1927, when the Crawley family find out King George V and Queen Mary are coming to visit. The occasion is so great that beloved former head butler Carson comes out of retirement to chip in. Most of the cast are reprising their roles, including Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith and Michelle Dockery. Catch the regal drama in cinemas from September 12.

Hustlers

What do Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Lizzo and Lili Reinhart all have in common? They star in knockout crime-comedy Hustlers. The film follows a group of former strip club employees as they get revenge on the Wall Street men who did them wrong. Hustlers delivers on laughs and drama and feeds into pop culture’s current obsession with scam artists. Oh, and it’s based on a true story that played out in the mid-00s. See the con-artistry for yourself from October 10.

Jojo Rabbit

Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit follows a lonely German boy named Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) as he grapples with the news his mum (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic during World War II. In the satirical comedy Waititi plays Adolf Hitler, young Jojo’s imaginary friend. If the trailer is anything to go by, expect the dark comedy to have you in stitches. Jojo Rabbit is out October 24.

LISTENING

Bon Iver – I,I

Creative genius Bon Iver has returned with his fourth studio album, I,I. It dials down the electronic sound Justin Vernon (the man behind the moniker) rode with for his last record 22, A Million, hitting an absolute sweet spot. I,I, which Vernon says is his “most complete” work to date, boasts contributions from equally respected names James Blake, Moses Sumney, Francis Starlite and Aaron Dessner of The National. It’s a masterpiece, worthy of your undivided attention.

Charli XCX – Charli

Hardcore pop-heads will be happy to learn Charli XCX’s new album is due out September 13. The edgy, innovative star kicked things off with a fierce Lizzo collab, which she followed up with an equally headstrong number, ‘Gone’, featuring Christine and the Queens. Other notable collabs on the record include songs with Troye Sivan, HAIM and alternative darling Clairo. Charli XCX is known for pushing the bounds of pop music with her tight production and skilled songwriting. This one is sure to be a banger.

Angel Olsen – All Mirrors

October is looking mighty fine with adored singer-songwriter Angel Olsen set to release her fourth record. Not one to do anything by halves, the album’s title track was recorded alongside a 14-piece orchestra, adding a moody depth to the piece. The genre-leading musician said the album is about “owning up to your darkest side” and “finding the capacity for new love”. All Mirrors is due to land October 4.

Podcasts

Second Life

This insightful podcast spotlights successful women who have undergone major career changes – and come out the other end as winners. It features guests such as Michelle Pfeiffer and Mandy Moore.

The Dropout

Elizabeth Holmes dropped out of university, then convinced some of America’s wealthiest men to invest in her medical tech business, Theranos, which was riddled with lies. This follows its dramatic unravelling. 

READING

Grand Union, Zadie Smith

Literary powerhouse Zadie Smith is releasing a collection of short fiction on October 8. Grand Union, a collection of old and new pieces, will touch on the ideas of time and place, identity and rebirth, and the push-pull between our past and future selves.

Māori at Work, Scotty Morrison

In Māori at Work, broadcaster and te reo Māori educator Scotty Morrison sets out how to incorporate our indigenous language into emails, speeches, social media, retail and hospitality, among other things. The guide is accessible to all and a workplace must-have.

PLAYING

The Outer Worlds

The Outer Worlds isn’t due for release until October 25, but we promise it will be worth the wait. The first-person sci-fi game unfolds in a post-apocalyptic future you’re required to navigate. Character arcs are complex and companions will offer opinions on your journey as you go. Fans of Fallout: New Vegas, which also came from Obsidian Entertainment, will find a lot of parallels between the two games, making it a sure-fire winner. outerworlds.obsidian.net

The Surge 2

Two years on from The Surge’s release, Focus Home Interactive and Deck13 Interactive have followed it up with The Surge 2. The thrilling sequel is set amongst a sprawling, devastated city, which offers even more space for players to explore. The combat is grislier and a new arsenal of weapons, implants and drones give people a host of new tools to overcome enemies with. The Surge 2 drops on September 24.
deck13.com

BINGEWATCHING

Wentworth

If you’re struggling with the fact Orange Is the New Black has wrapped up, you need to get started on Aussie prison drama Wentworth. The series starts out following Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack) as she climbs to the top of the prison hierarchy. As seasons run on, the focus widens to other characters’ trials and tribulations. Stream it at TVNZ OnDemand.

Veronica Mars

Remember Veronica Mars? The teen drama that saw high school student Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) moonlight as a private investigator? Well, 12 years on from the show’s initial end, a brand new season has been made. The reboot picks up in 2019 when Mars is hired to investigate the murder of spring-breakers in her home town. She quickly finds herself caught up in a class battle that has the wealthy elites and working class going head-to-head. All four seasons of the hit show can be streamed on NEON.

Queer Eye

There ain’t no makeover like a Queer Eye makeover! If you’re a Netflix subscriber and you’re yet to give the Queer Eye for the Straight Guy reboot a try, now is the time. Each episode sees the Fab Five take over someone’s life, helping them gain confidence in fashion, beauty, cooking, their home and their sense of self. Even staunch patriarchs have been known to fall for the heart-warming series. YAASS QUEEN!