Screen Queen TV reviews: Austin, Bridgerton, Fantasmas, Presumed Innocent

Austin

Sunday, 8pm, ABC

In an age when so much television feels like recycled concepts or stuff we’ve seen before, it’s refreshing to discover a show that is so absolutely of itself, it’s impossible to compare it to anything else.

That’s how I felt when watching Austin, a new eight-part series coming to ABC. It’s all about Julian Hartswood, a British author (played by Ben Millar), who discovers he has a neurodivergent 20-something secret son named Austin, who’s been living on the other side of the world for all these years.

When he finds this out, poor old Julian is having a rough time: he’s just been cancelled online thanks to some unintentionally racist stuff he’s re-tweeted (those pesky white nationalists!), and to make matters worse, when Austin appears out of the blue, his wife Ingrid (played by the always hilarious Sally Phillips) does the maths and realises there was a crossover between her and Austin’s mum (played by Gia Carides) — comic hilarity ensues.

This is a truly obscure concept for a series (surprise! You have a secret autistic son!) and in lesser hands could easily have been woefully unfunny. But this is ridiculously good fun, mostly thanks to some great performances from the central cast and Michael Theo, who plays the deadpan, hilarious Austin.

Theo first found fame through Love on the Spectrum, and it’s hard to know where his character ends and Theo begins (I suspect they are inextricably linked). He delivers his lines with such incredible comic timing, that it’s strange to think he’d never acted until recently.

This is a laugh-out-loud must-see.

Bridgerton S3 Part 2

Thursday, streaming on Netflix

Where do you go in your relationship after you’ve had a knee-trembler in a horse and carriage, then your bestie/suitor turns around and surprises you with a proposal of marriage?

That’s the big question being explored in the second part of this series, which lands this week, much to the excitement of fans.

Yes, there is more rumpy-pumpy on the way. Yes, there is romance galore. No, it most certainly will NOT be smooth sailing for Colin and Pen, who’s still desperately trying to hide her secret identity.

Gird thy loins, dearest gentle readers.

Fantasmas

Saturday, streaming on Binge

Felt like someone had popped a hallucinogen into my drink after dipping in to check out this series, from writer, director and comedian Julio Torres. It’s a strange-as-heck six-part story, which plays out as part fairytale, part comedy, part LSD trip. Fantasmically original.

My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman

Wednesday, streaming on Netflix

Ridiculous Father Christmas beard notwithstanding, there’s much to like about this interview series, which sees ex-late-night host Letterman catching up with Charles Barkley and Miley Cyrus for an in-depth look at their lives.

Presumed Innocent

Friday, streaming on Apple TV Plus

If you think this show rings a bell, you’re right: remember that 1990 Harrison Ford flick? This series, from David E. Kelley and J.J. Abrams, is based on the same book. This incarnation stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Rusty Sabich, the prosecutor charged with the murder of his colleague and mistress.