There’s a very specific kind of emptiness you feel after finishing a show you’ve been hooked on. You’re eager to fill it – almost instantly – but, often, finding that satisfying next watch is no easy task.
And so it begins – the endless scrolling through the many streaming services you’re subscribed to, flicking back and forth, before landing on a potentially binge-worthy series or a movie to settle into for the night. Luckily, there’s plenty to pick from on SBS On Demand, whether it’s the new drama everyone’s watching, a cooking show, documentaries and comedy series, indie cinema, old-time classics and festive favourites. The selection is always changing and rotating, so you might find a different gem with each browse. Better yet, this platform is free to use.
If you’re currently on the hunt for something to watch, we asked around the Broadsheet offices to find out what our editors can’t get enough of. Block out time to watch them soon.
Action thrillers aren’t usually my wheelhouse – but when politics are involved and stakes are high enough to threaten whole countries, democracies and societies? Sign me up. The latest installation in the Has Fallen series (remember those Gerard Butler-starring flicks set in the US and London?) is an eight-part show this time. With conspiracies, intrigue, revenge and ultimatums, I’m prepared to be glued to the screen and on the edge of my seat.
– Chynna Santos, branded content editor
Everyone has a show they switch on to switch off to. For a lot of people I know, the immortal ’90s sitcom Friends is the one they’ll binge after a long day at work or a big night out. For me, Adam Liaw is the whole Central Perk gang rolled into one. At this point, there are more than 700 episodes of Liaw’s juggernaut cooking show (each one a snacky 20-odd minutes), which effectively means I’m unlikely to ever see them all, let alone see the same episode twice. But every binge yields a fruit salad of celebs (Luke Powell, Yumi Stynes, Jimmy Barnes and Broadsheet’s own Grace MacKenzie, to name a few). Not to mention a cooking hack and a Liaw dad joke or two.
– Dan Cunningham, features editor
There’s nothing like a good whodunnit to keep you on your toes. My current watch is The Bridge (or Bron/Broen, the 2011 Scandinavian original, not the equally excellent French-British remake). The series begins with a murder at the border of Denmark and Sweden, halfway across the Oresund Bridge. The discovery of the body forces a joint investigation between Malmo and Copenhagen police, sparking a twist-filled plot that’s gritty, atmospheric and perfect for edge-of-seat viewing. Plus, it stars Kim Bodnia from Killing Eve (another great watch) and Sofia Helin in a compelling turn as the spiky Swedish detective Saga Norén.
– Simone Richardson, shopping editor
Before The Bear’s Carmy, there was burnt-out head chef Andy in the highly stressful, high-stakes 2021 film Boiling Point. Stephen Graham (Snatch, This Is England) plays a volatile and incompetent chef who is teetering on a knife edge right from the opening credits. Stocks are low, a health inspector has made a surprise visit, a renowned critic is dining in the restaurant tonight, and staff are dealing with their own issues (around mental health, pregnancy, covering other people’s shifts). The single-take 90-minute drama is as anxiety-inducing as any episode of The Bear, but with more British accents – and instead of “Yes, chef!”, “Fuck you, chef” is the catchphrase.
– Emma Joyce, features editor
I’m only one episode into This Town, but already there’s been a riot, a semi-surreal heist, an IRA funeral and lots of cracking tunes, so I can’t wait to see what’s next on the agenda. An ode to the rise of ska and two-tone music in 1980s Birmingham, it’s from Peaky Blinders and Rogue Heroes (also on SBS On Demand) creator Steven Knight and tells the story of Dante Williams, a young Jamaican Irish poet in search of rocksteady beats. Worth it for the soundtrack alone; the fashions and hairstyles are pretty great too.
– Jo Walker, studio editor
There’s a lot of great TV out there, with political takes, wikis full of lore, and tense, soul-scorching dramatic scenes. Then there’s Travel Man. It’s not hard-boiled, it’s not high-brow – it’s just mini-breaks. Hosted pre-pandemic by Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd) and post-pandemic by comedian Joe Lycett, each episode takes us through a 48-hour itinerary designed to hit all the high points of any given city with minimum expenditure and minimum faff. At 23 minutes, they’re perfect for my attention span after a long week – and equally useful as escapism or planning resources for your next getaway.
– Lucy Bell Bird, national assistant editor
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with SBS On Demand.
