TV Report Card: We rate what’s passing and what’s failing on Aussie TV this week

Another day, another wacko Netflix doco. This week we’re inhaling their latest, about a strange alien cult. We’re also cheering on Mr Bates, settling in to binge a very stylish new drama on Apple TV Plus … and getting bewildered by everyone’s sudden love of American football!

Mr Bates vs The Post Office (Seven)

A

Anyone else incandescent with rage after watching the first two episodes of this British drama? It tells the story of the gross miscarriage of justice that befell hundreds of British subpostmasters over a 20-year period. They were blamed for falsifying accounts when it was actually a computer malfunction — some even went to jail — and this left me absolutely raging. No wonder the entire United Kingdom were up in arms when this went to air there. Gobsmacking.

Rael: The Alien Prophet (Netflix)

B

“Everyone get nude, let’s worship aliens, and maybe clone a human while we’re at it.” That basically sums up what the guy at the centre of this wacko doco has been telling his devotees for over 40 years. I tell you, if there’s a bizarre cult out there somewhere in the world, chances are someone is making a doco about them right now for Netflix — and you bet I’ll be tuning in. This sucked me in good and proper.

The New Look (Apple TV Plus)

B-

Tuned in to this one for the fashion — it didn’t disappoint. Nor did the performances of Juliette Binoche and Ben Mendelsohn, who are fabulous as fashion icons Coco Chanel and Christian Dior. This is beautifully shot, and though a little slow at times, I’m enjoying spending time in this world, which is beautifully realised for the small screen. Deducting points for Mendo’s approximation of a French accent — extremely distracting.

Grimsburg (Binge)

C

Grimsburg? More like dullsberg. Couldn’t connect with this “made for adults” cartoon, which sees Mad Men’s Jon Hamm (usually so great in everything) voicing a surly, washed-up detective. It felt like they were trying too hard to be the next BoJack Horseman or Rick and Morty. Everything Hamm associates himself with is usually fabulous, but I fear he’s missed the mark with this one. Not a fan.

The Super Bowl (Seven)

C

Apparently there was a football game at that Usher concert that Taylor Swift attended — who knew? Not me — I was far more concerned with all the off-field action, and googling the ads American audiences got to watch during the telecast. Sorry, Swift or no Swift, I just don’t see the attraction of American football. Why did this rate so well in Australia? Surely there’s not THAT many Swifties?