STACK NZ September 2016 Issue 77

REVIEWS

DVD

DVD&BD

he USA in the 1980s is regarded as the decade

f excess, not least for the masses of cocaine that

aressed nostrils. That particular phenomenon was

asically due to one enterprising fellow, Colombian drug

ntrepreneur Pablo Escobar (portrayed with admirable

estraint by Wagner Moura). This 10-episode first season

Narcos

blends crime-thriller with biography to deliver

fascinating view of the rise of cocaine demand in the

tates, as seen through the eyes of a fictional DEA

gents, Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook) and Javier Peña

(

Game Of Thrones

' Pedro Pascal). While

Narcos

can be uncomfortably

funny, it contains an air of documentary, making it an educational,

exciting and often unnerving rush. Addictive television – we can't wait

for the second season.

There's no business like blow business

NARCOS:

SEASON ONE

Two years on from blood-drenched

second season finale, life is looking

pretty good for Brummie gangster

Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy).

He is about to wed the love of his

life, Grace (Annabelle Wallis), he

owns a lavish mansion and has

even convinced some people that

he's a respectable businessman.

However, when shady figures

in the establishment call in the

favour he owes them, Shelby finds

himself drawn into a conspiracy

to overthrow the new Communist

regime in Russia. Murphy is as

magnetic as ever as the conflicted

mobster, while Paddy Considine

– taking over from Sam Neill –

makes for a suitably menacing new

nemesis.

PEAKY BLINDERS:

SEASON THREE

Release Date:

07/09/16

Format:

American Horror Story

creators

Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy

bring their distinctive brand of

demented horror-comedy to this

sassy series that pays tribute

to the '80s slasher film cycle –

complete with original scream

queen Jamie Lee Curtis. A college

campus is stalked by a serial killer

in a red devil costume, who's

targeting members of the exclusive

Kappa Kappa Tau sorority house,

led by abrasive queen bitch Chanel

(Emma Roberts). Closer in tone to

Glee

than

AHS

Scream Queens

knows its target audience and

gives them exactly what they want,

like guest roles for popsters Ariana

Grande and Nick Jonas. Horror fans

will enjoy all the in-jokes, too.

SCREAM QUEENS:

FIRST SEASON

Release Date:

07/09/16

Format:

Release Date:

08/09/16

The sixth season of the phenomenally popular zombie

series had fans abuzz with delight and outrage alike

over some of the, let's say 'twists', in the narrative this

year. There was the demise of a series regular to be

addressed, and also one of the biggest TV cliffhangers

in recent memory. As far as the plot is concerned,

the fate of Alexandria and its population is decided,

with the walkers and the Wolves a major threat to the

community's survival. Morgan returns, but his "no killing'

policy doesn't sit well with Rick, who's placed in the

difficult position of watching those he's fought to keep alive facing a

gruesome fate. And then there's Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), the new

bad guy on the block, whose lethal baseball bat isn't just used on the

zombies. Season 7 can't come soon enough!

Batter up

THE WALKING DEAD:

SIXTH SEASON

Let’s face it. If you’re a billionaire

playboy, nobody would expect

you to do anything much with

your life beyond keeping the likes

of Rolex, Dom and Aston Martin

in business. Luckily Oliver Queen

has a deep-seated humanitarian

streak, or we wouldn’t have a

fourth season of DC Comics’

Arrow

to enjoy. Oliver and

Felicity may have been aiming

for a somewhat less hectic

life, but it isn’t going to happen

anytime soon. There’s a Darhk

new big bad in town, and he’s

not only trying to bring down the

recently renamed Star City, he

also has the newly green Oliver

and friends firmly in his sights.

Arrows will fly!

ARROW:

FOURTH SEASON

Release Date:

07/09/16

Format:

As we discovered with its first

season, spin-off

Better Call Saul

isn’t

Breaking Bad 2

, but it’s just

as moreish. When last we caught

up with ‘Saul Goodman’ – when he

was just Jimmy McGill – an offer

had been made that would put

Jimmy on track for partnernship

at swanky law firm Davis & Main.

When we catch up now, Jimmy’s

declined the offer as he wants to

leave the legal world behind – much

to the chagrin of his friend Kim.

While this brilliant season is very

much about relationships – Jimmy

and Kim, Jimmy and his spiteful

brother Chuck – it also delivers

enough

-esque moments to

help assuage some of those

aforementioned itches.

BETTER CALL SAUL:

SEASON TWO

Release Date:

Out now

Format:

Release Date:

21/09/16