For fans of quirky New Zealand humour, musical theatre, and Greek mythology, a new series has arrived that perfectly blends these elements into what can only be described as a pure delight. Rebecca Gibney stars in the new Kiwi musical comedy Happiness, which is now streaming on HBO Max and is an absolute joy to binge.
A Quirky Kiwi Triumph
This easily digestible series consists of just six episodes, each running for a little over twenty minutes. The story follows Charlie, played by Harry McNaughton, a Tauranga native and Broadway expat who returns home to New Zealand after some undisclosed trouble during his production of Cats.
He is welcomed back by his mother, Gaye, portrayed by the brilliant Rebecca Gibney, who is clearly having the time of her life in the role. Gaye is a key figure in the local amateur theatre scene, and the entire seaside town is thrilled to have their star back home.
Gaye cleverly ropes Charlie back into the community theatre group, Pizazz, under the pretence of connecting him with a local visa expert to resolve his travel issues. This expert, as it turns out, is the local travel agent who also happens to be the stage director for Pizazz.
Greek Myths and Amateur Dramatics
Charlie soon finds himself consulting as Pizazz prepares for its first-ever original musical, which draws inspiration from the women of Troy, specifically Cassandra and Helen. The series features some wonderfully clever mirroring between the Greek myths that inform the musical and the real-life interpersonal dynamics among the cast and crew, offering a special treat for those familiar with the classics.
The original music created for Happiness is genuinely quite good, yet maintains just enough daggy charm to be entirely believable as the product of an amateur theatre company. You can easily finish the entire season in one day, and you will undoubtedly be left eagerly awaiting a second season, which has reportedly already been given the green light.
What Else To Stream This Week
Another standout new release is the gripping drama All Her Fault on Binge. Starring Sarah Snook and Dakota Fanning, the eight-episode series, filmed in Melbourne but set in Chicago, opens with a terrifying premise: a mother arrives to pick up her son from a playdate only to discover the woman at the address has no idea who she or her child is.
The show delves into themes of parental guilt and the intense pressures of motherhood, supported by a top-notch cast that includes Jake Lacy and Michael Peña.
For science fiction enthusiasts, Pluribus on Apple TV+ is a must-watch. From Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad, the series begins with astronomers detecting strange space communications, which soon leads to a global event where people lose their individuality to a hive mind.
Rhea Seehorn stars as a romantasy author who is mysteriously immune, and the high production quality and compelling premise make it an excellent weekly watch.
On the flip side, the new Ryan Murphy series All's Fair on Disney+ is one to avoid. Despite a star-studded cast including Naomi Watts and Kim Kardashian, the feminist legal drama falls flat with poor cinematography, ridiculous dialogue, and costuming that shatters any sense of immersion.
Also worth a look is the historical drama Death by Lightning on Netflix, a four-part miniseries about US President James Garfield, and Guillermo del Toro's lavish adaptation of Frankenstein, also on Netflix, featuring Australian actor Jacob Elordi.
