Your Weekend Streaming Guide: A Gritty New Aussie Medical Drama, and an Inspiring Melbourne Cup Story

Your Weekend Streaming Guide with Emily Darlow

Whether you’re in the mood for a new Australian medical drama, an inspiring true story, a gripping mystery, an addictive reality competition or a heartwarming comedy, there’s plenty to stream this weekend. Here’s what’s worth adding to your watchlist.

The F Ward – Stan – Paid Subscription

For fans of fast-paced medical dramas, new Australian series The F Ward takes viewers inside the underfunded Pines Hospital in Sydney, where a group of brilliant but troubled medical interns have been sent for one final chance to complete their training.
As they face high-pressure emergencies and life-or-death decisions, the interns must also confront the mistakes, personal struggles and insecurities that have threatened their careers. Starring Anna Friel, Ioane Sa’ula, Lola Bond and Dan Wyllie, the six-part Stan Original combines hospital drama with the complicated personal lives of its young doctors.

Ride Like a Girl – Netflix – Paid Subscription

Australian cinema doesn’t get much more inspiring than Ride Like a Girl. Based on the true story of Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, the film follows her extraordinary determination to overcome setbacks, family tragedy and the challenges of competing in a sport long dominated by men.
Teresa Palmer stars as Payne alongside Sam Neill as her father, Paddy, with Sullivan Stapleton also appearing in the film. It is an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys uplifting stories based on remarkable real-life achievements.

Treasure & Dirt – ABC iview – Free

For mystery lovers, Treasure & Dirt delivers a compelling Australian crime drama filled with secrets, greed and small-town tensions.
When a headless torso is discovered deep inside an opal mine, detective Ivan Lucic and young investigator Nell Buchanan are sent to the remote outback mining town of Nulla. In a place where law and order are negotiable, their investigation draws them into a strange and dangerous world of corruption, long-held grudges and secrets that refuse to remain buried.
Based on the novel by Australian crime writer Chris Hammer and starring Michael Dorman and Liv Hewson, the six-part series is an intriguing weekend binge.

Alone Australia – SBS On Demand – Free

If you’ve never watched Alone Australia, now is the perfect time to see what all the fuss is about. The survival series drops ten Australians into separate areas of remote wilderness, where they must endure hunger, loneliness, unpredictable weather and complete isolation.
With contestants filming their own experiences and relying on a limited selection of survival equipment, the challenge becomes as much psychological as it is physical. The last person remaining wins the competition, making it fascinating, emotional and surprisingly addictive viewing. Four seasons are currently available to stream.

Bottle Shock – 7plus – Free

Pour yourself a glass of wine before settling in for Bottle Shock, the charming comedy-drama inspired by the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris wine competition.
Starring Alan Rickman, Chris Pine and Bill Pullman, the film follows British wine expert Steven Spurrier as he travels to California in search of wines for a blind tasting against some of France’s most prestigious labels. His discovery of the emerging Napa Valley wine industry leads to a result that shocks the French establishment and changes the reputation of Californian wine.
While the film takes some creative liberties with the real events, it remains a funny and warm choice for a relaxed movie night.

Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro – Disney+ – Paid Subscription

Reality television fans can lace up their dancing shoes with Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, hosted by Australian wildlife conservationist and Dancing with the Stars champion Robert Irwin.
The competition brings together 12 talented up-and-coming dancers who move into one house and face a gruelling series of auditions, performances and challenges. They are competing for the chance to secure a coveted position as a professional dancer on Season 35 of the US version of Dancing with the Stars.
Packed with impressive choreography, fierce competition and plenty of behind-the-scenes emotion, it is an entertaining watch for longtime fans of the franchise and anyone who loves a good talent competition.