Your weekend streaming guide: five women form a punk band, Attenborough at his best, Sally Field and an octopus, and Stanley Tucci eating pasta in Italy

Your weekend streaming guide

SBS On Demand Free – Riot Women

TV SERIES · BRITISH DRAMA · MUSIC COMEDY DRAMA · FREE TO STREAM

If you loved Happy Valley or Last Tango in Halifax, this new series from acclaimed British writer Sally Wainwright deserves a spot at the very top of your watchlist. Riot Women is funny, chaotic, emotional and wonderfully rebellious, following five women who are juggling demanding jobs, family pressures, menopause, ageing parents and all the other exhausting realities of midlife when they decide to form a punk rock band.  Set in Yorkshire and packed with sharp humour and genuine heart, the series explores friendship, frustration and reinvention in a way that feels incredibly relatable. Joanna Scanlan, Tamsin Greig and Rosalie Craig lead a brilliant ensemble cast and there is something deeply satisfying about watching women of a certain age stop apologising for taking up space.
What begins as a local talent contest quickly becomes something much bigger, as old resentments, personal struggles and long buried dreams come crashing to the surface. It is loud, messy, touching and very funny, with a soundtrack that will make you want to dust off your old playlists immediately. One of the most joyful surprises of the year.

ABC iview Free – Wild Isles

DOCUMENTARY SERIES · 6 EPISODES · NATURE DOCUMENTARY · FREE TO STREAM

There are nature documentaries and then there are David Attenborough nature documentaries and Wild Isles is among his very best. Originally created for the BBC, this visually astonishing series explores the wildlife of Britain and Ireland in a way that feels completely fresh, even if you think you have seen every nature show imaginable.  Across six breathtaking episodes, the series journeys through woodlands, grasslands, freshwater habitats and coastlines, revealing extraordinary behaviour from creatures many viewers would never expect to see so close to home. Puffins battle brutal Atlantic storms, wild horses roam ancient landscapes, killer whales hunt off Scottish shores and tiny creatures hidden in forests become cinematic stars. The cinematography is extraordinary, with some sequences genuinely looking more like a Hollywood fantasy film than a documentary. But what really elevates Wild Isles is Attenborough’s sense of wonder. Even after decades of storytelling, his voice still carries genuine amazement and affection for the natural world. It is soothing, emotional and quietly hopeful television, the kind that reminds you to put your phone down for an hour and just marvel at the planet.

Netflix Subscription – Remarkably Bright Creatures

MOVIE · DRAMA · MYSTERY · FEEL GOOD FILM

This gentle new Netflix drama has quickly become one of the platform’s biggest word of mouth hits and it is easy to understand why. Based on Shelby Van Pelt’s bestselling novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures stars the magnificent Sally Field as Tova, a lonely widow working night shifts at a small aquarium who forms an unlikely bond with a remarkably intelligent octopus named Marcellus.  Yes, an octopus sounds like an unusual emotional co star, but somehow it works beautifully. Marcellus, voiced with wit and warmth by Alfred Molina, becomes both observer and emotional guide as Tova slowly reconnects with the world around her while grieving the loss of her son. Lewis Pullman plays Cameron, a drifting young man searching for answers about his own family history and as their stories begin to intertwine, the film unfolds into a moving mystery about grief, loneliness, connection and second chances.  It is exactly the sort of warm, emotionally rich film that mature audiences often complain Hollywood no longer makes. Bring tissues.

Disney+ Subscription – Tucci in Italy

FOOD AND TRAVEL SERIES · DOCUMENTARY

Stanley Tucci eating his way across Italy while speaking lovingly about pasta, wine and regional traditions is essentially comfort television perfection and this latest series is every bit as charming as fans would hope. Tucci in Italy follows the actor and food enthusiast as he travels through different regions uncovering local recipes, family traditions and hidden culinary gems. But this is not just another glossy travel food show. Tucci has a genuine curiosity about people and culture and the series spends as much time with grandmothers cooking in tiny kitchens as it does in glamorous restaurants. The landscapes are spectacular, the food will make you immediately hungry and Tucci remains endlessly watchable company. There is a warmth and intimacy to the series that makes you feel less like you are watching a presenter and more like you are travelling with a particularly witty friend who always knows where to find the best pasta. If you loved Searching for Italy, this is an easy weekend binge.

Amazon Prime Video –  Paid Home Premiere – Fackham Hall

MOVIE · COMEDY · SATIRE

If you enjoy British humour that is delightfully silly, slightly chaotic and packed with eccentric aristocrats, Fackham Hall is an absolute treat. This very cheeky comedy lovingly spoofs the grand country house dramas that audiences cannot seem to get enough of, with more than a few nods toward Downton Abbey style storytelling. Set in a crumbling stately home filled with bizarre family members, mounting financial disasters and increasingly ridiculous social scandals, the film leans fully into absurdity. Expect chaotic dinner parties, terrible decisions, upper class meltdowns and enough awkwardness to make you physically cringe in the best possible way. The humour is broad and unapologetically British, but underneath all the silliness there is a strangely affectionate warmth toward these gloriously dysfunctional characters. Perfect viewing if you are after something light and easy after a long week.

7plus Free – Oops I Bought A Pub

REALITY SERIES · LIFESTYLE · FREE TO STREAM

There is something endlessly addictive about watching people make enormous life decisions they may or may not immediately regret and Oops I Bought A Pub absolutely delivers. This entertaining reality series follows everyday Australians who take the plunge and buy country pubs, chasing dreams of sea changes, tree changes and completely new lives. Of course, the reality of running a struggling regional pub is usually far more chaotic than anticipated. From kitchen disasters and staffing dramas to crumbling buildings and quirky locals, every episode feels like a mixture of renovation show, hospitality nightmare and heartfelt community story. But what makes the series so watchable is the optimism of the people involved. Even when everything appears to be falling apart, there is still something deeply hopeful about watching people risk everything to build a new life. It is warm, funny and distinctly Australian television and an easy weekend comfort watch.

All shows available now unless otherwise stated. Happy viewing.