Binge Game of Thrones from the beginning
Get a glimpse of your favourites ahead of the worldwide premiere of Season 8 on 14 April, and catch up by streaming all seven seasons on Showmax.
The night is cold and full of terrors! It’s been a long wait for the final season of Game of Thrones. When we last saw our beloved Westerosi (Westerosians? Westerooons?) the White Walkers were poised to overrun the seven kingdoms and Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen were… well, let’s not spoil it for the stragglers.
Season 8 is being released on 14 April 2019. Be ready for it, whether you’ve never watched Game of Thrones before, or need a recap before the no-doubt gut-wrenching final season.
We’ve done the maths — and if you start a binge watch marathon it will take you two days, 15 hours and 30 minutes to watch all seven seasons of Game of Thrones on Showmax. That’s without breaking for pizza deliveries. But who needs food when you’re fuelled by the fire of the Lord of Light?
HBO has released a teaser trailer for season 8 and they’re not giving anything away about the six-episode conclusion of the series based on A Song of Fire and Ice. It’s 39 seconds of icy-hot anticipation.
DStv Premium customers get Showmax at no additional cost. DStv Compact and DStv Compact Plus subscribers get a two-month free trial. Find out more at showmax.com/dstv.
Sports fans will be delighted to know that DStv will open up all sports channels to all bouquets this weekend. That’s right, for an entire weekend DStv Compact Plus, Compact, Family or Access customers can live the Premium life and tune into whatever sport they wish. And it’s going to be an action-packed weekend, with Super Rugby, ODI Cricket and more on the cards.
It won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Film, now Free Solo can be viewed on National Geographic this week. It’s an in-depth, moving story of free soloist climber Alex Honnold who sets out to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park … without a rope.
There’s plenty of local SAFTA-nominated local drama on screen, from Binnelanders to Isithembiso. The awards take place on 3 March, so it’s the perfect time to familiarise yourself with all the contenders.
LOCAL
The Live Series (Jason Goliath), Friday, 1 March, 1Magic, 21:30
For an hour and 30 minutes, Jason Goliath’s stand-up comedy show is just the thing for a Friday night. Bring out your tissues (because you will laugh until you cry), and giggle at all life’s toils, troubles and turmoil. His commanding stage presence and boisterous energy have earned him a spot as one of the country’s leading comedians. Not only experienced in the art of making people laugh, Jason is also an actor and a motivational speaker
Enter One Night with My Ex, 1Magic
1Magic’s newest reality show allows for couples to get closure before they move on to the next relationship. Whether it’s “the one that got away” or just that partner who knew which buttons to push to get your blood boiling, One Night with My Ex is perfect to help you get over the past relationship. 1Magic (DStv channel 103) is calling on all lonely singles, scorned lovers and deserted dreamers who need their mysteries of lost love resolved, to join us on this new relationship show starting this April. If you have a lost love and want to reawaken what “might have been”, reach out to us on 060 567 9955, and who knows, we might be able to help you reignite the passion, and reunite with that long-lost ex. Entrants must be over 21.
Carte Blanche, Sunday, 3 March, M-Net, 19:00
It wouldn’t be a Sunday evening without the investigative and human-interest stories on SA’s award-winning current affairs programme. This week the crew travels to Lisbon, Portugal, to find out if their famous approach to their addiction problem might provide a blueprint for turning the tide in the fight against drugs here. In the 70s and 80s Portugal’s port capital Lisbon was overrun by drug peddlers. By 1999 the country had the highest rate of HIV among injecting drug users in Europe. Then it adopted one of the world’s most progressive drug policies – and impact has been startling. Another story looks at zoos around South Africa – are our animals living in cages that are too small and in inadequate conditions? Can our municipalities manage them effectively?
Op Seer Se Spoor, Tuesday, 5 March, kykNET&Kie, 20:30
Kuier magazine’s feature editor Ernusta Maralack goes in search of some of the most hard-hitting stories to come out of the Western Cape. Tonight, she revisits the story of Cameron Wilson, from the Cape Flats, who was renamed as a modern day serial killer. She focuses on Lekitha Moore (18), who Wilson killed in 2016 by stabbing her 98 times.
Binnelanders, Thursday, 7 March, kykNET, 19:30
The last few weeks’ tension comes to a head, with Brett Adler’s murderer being uncovered. It will be a shock for some people – especially when unconditional love is put under fire. Make sure to tune in to this gripping soapie, which has been nominated in the category Best TV Soapie at SAFTAs.
How Do I Look South Africa S2, Thursday, 7 March, E! Entertainment, 20:00
Roxy Burger and Kat Sinivasan are back from a break to assemble a much-needed glam squad for those challenged people who just can’t seem to style themselves properly. Not everyone knows that horizontal lines are a big no-no or that cerise pink and neon green are just for costume parties, but these fashion gurus will show them the way.
Ehostela, Sunday, 3 March, Mzansi Magic, 20:00
In KwaMashu KZN, there lives two brothers, Jama and Mndeni. Like the proverbial story of two brothers, theirs is a relationship of jealousy, secrets and resentment. Jama feels that he’s the rightful heir while Mndeni believes that blood is not the bond for kith and kin.
Isithembiso S2, Sunday, 3 March, Mzansi Magic, 19:30
This coming-of-age drama, set in the dog-eat-dog worlds of Jozi and rural KwaZulu-Natal, looks at the lives of young students and some of the perilous choices they make in their lives. We all thought it was over for Banzi when he shot Claudia and Simi has a new purpose in life now after the birth of her baby. It’s been nominated for six SAFTAs this year.
Trippin with Skhumba, Showmax
In the second episode, Skhumba and another of his comedian friends hit another home town, getting back to their roots and seeing where it all began.
Imposter S2, Showmax
In this second season of the locally produced anthology series, a streetwise hustler discovers he has a recently deceased identical twin brother. He assumes his identity – and the fun begins.
SPORT
Get your free pass to watch SuperSport all weekend
There’s great news for all DStv subscribers this weekend. All subscribers – whether DStv Compact Plus, Compact, Family or Access customers – get the full DStv Premium sports experience by using the DStv Now app. For just one entire weekend, all SuperSport channels will be available for all DStv customers to stream on DStv Now.
Premier League: Tottenham Hotspurs v Arsenal and Everton v Liverpool, Saturday-Sunday, 2-3 March, SuperSport 3, 14:30 and 18:15
Tottenham and Arsenal fans will be out in force to support their teams this weekend in one of the biggest rivalries in the Premiere League. The feud has been going on since 1913, so there’s a lot at stake. Then two Merseyside teams clash when Everton comes up against Liverpool. The latter may be the favourites – but Everton are not going to go down easily.
SA Cricket, ODI Series, South Africa v Sri Lanka 1st ODI, Sunday, 3 March, SuperSport 2, 10:00
After Sri Lanka claimed a historic Test series win against the Proteas, our local team is going to have to pull out all the stops to save face in the ODIs. It’s certain to be thrilling cricket to watch!
Vodacom Super Rugby: Emirates Lions v Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks v DHL Stormers, Saturday, 2 March, SuperSport 1, 15:05 and 17:15
The Lions play the Bulls in Johannesburg this week, and the Stormers face the Sharks in Durban on the same day in clashes that are likely to show the intensity that even leading New Zealand teams will find hard to match.
KIDS
Bitz & Bob S1, Monday, 4 March, CBeebies, 15:30
This new pre-school animated series guides youngsters through the concepts of science, technology, engineering, art and maths (STEAM) through the adventures of eight-year-old inventor Bitz and her younger brother Bob. With her unique “Steam Pink” style, intrepid Bitz is bound to become a favourite among boys and girls alike, and prove that your imagination has no limits.
Gamba, Saturday, 2 March, M-Net, 15:30
This Saturday kids’ movie sees an adventurous young mouse travel to the city in search of help as his home, Dream Island, has been taken by the wicked weasel clan.
Ben 10 S4, Monday, 4 March, Cartoon Network, 18:30
Pack your bags, and be aware of sneaky attacks, as Ben travels between mountains and national monuments in the quest to use his powers in heroic ways. This exciting episode sees Grandpa Max’s engineer buddy, Phil Billings, give Team Tennyson the Omni-Copter, a state of the art flying vehicle that can transport the Rustbucket for overseas adventures.
Big Hero 6: S2 (New Eps and Finale), Saturday, 2 March, Disney XD, 08:30
Teenage tech wiz Hiro and his lovable and compassionate inflatable robot Baymax are back for more superhero adventures along with the rest of the Big Hero 6 team. Things almost fall apart when Richardson Mole makes a breakthrough and manages to get Fred to reveal Big Hero 6’s secret identities. He then blackmails his way into the team, becoming its seventh member.
MOVIES
I, Tonya, Sunday, 3 March, M-Net Movies Premiere, 20:00
An award-winning biopic that takes a look at the scandal that rocked the ice-skating world and changed the life of figure-skater Tonya Harding, who inadvertently becomes embroiled in the aftermath of an attack on a fellow skater that was planned by her ex-husband. Tonya’s mother is played by Alison Janney, who won last year’s Best Supporting Actor Oscar for the role while Margot Robbie was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her role as Tonya.
Read the SAMDB review of I, Tonya.
Den of Thieves, Sunday, 3 March, M-Net, 20:00
In this high-octane bank robbery block buster, rapper and business mogul 50Cent (Curtis Jackson) stars alongside action man Gerard Butler. It’s said that for each successful bank robbery, inside info is crucial. Enter “Big Nick” O’Brien (Gerard Butler), a crooked sheriff and in integral part in the nabbing of US$30 million from the Federal Reserve Bank in Downtown Los Angeles.
London Road, Wednesday, 6 March, Sundance TV, 20:30
This musical (based on the stage musical of the same) tackles the grim topic of a serial killer who killed five women in London Road in Ipswich, Surry in 2006, and the repercussions for the people living in the area. Starring Olivia Colman, who this year won a Best Actress Academy Award for her role in The Favourite.
U: July 22, 3 March, M-Net, 23:10
A moving drama based on the real-life events of the horrific massacre of Norwegian students in 2011 at the Utoya summer camp. While the story is real, the characters are fictional, but were created in close collaboration with some of the survivors. This international movie was nominated for more than 22 Amanda Awards (those given at the Norwegian International Film Festival).
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
BULL S3, Thursday, 7 March, M-Net, 21:00
Season three brings Trial Analysis Corporation a new prominent Health Insurer to defend, and the case hits close to home for Dr Bull who is still recovering from his cardiac episode. Having recently faced his own mortality, and then having to contend with the unexpected and shocking loss of one of his team, the sometimes arrogant doctor finds himself forced to examine his own life and the decisions he has made a little more closely.
Legacies S1, Friday, 1 March, M-Net City, 20:00
A supernatural drama that continues where The Originals left off, Legacies follows 17-year-old Hope Mikaelson and a new generation of young witches, vampires, and werewolves at the Salvatore School for the Young & Gifted in Mystic Falls.
Strike Back S6, Showmax
– S6 First on Showmax
– Binge from the beginning from S1
When a Russian bomber crashes in the South China Sea, the covert special-ops soldiers of the revived Section 20 are sent to investigate. They uncover a conspiracy that threatens to push the world to the brink of global conflict.
Murdoch Mysteries S12, 5 March, ITV CHOICE, 20:00 & 23:50
Meticulous and dashing detective Murdock is back, and in the season opener the housewarming party for his newly completed home designed by none other than Frank Lloyd-Wright, turns into a real-life murder mystery evening.
FACTUAL
Free Solo, Monday, 4 March, National Geographic, 21:00
Named Best Documentary Feature at the 2019 Academy Awards, Free Solo depicts the wildly ambitious yet highly personal journey of climber Alex Honnold as he sets out to achieve his ultimate dream: scaling the face of the world’s most famous rock wall, the over 900 m high El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, without rope or harness.
The New York Times describes Free Solo as “an engaging study of a perfect match between passion and personality.”
Dead by Dawn S1, Monday, 4 March, Nat Geo Wild, 18:00
At night mother nature reveals her sadistic side. As mysterious monsters come out to feed on the weak, anything can become prey. To survive you’ll have to be smart, fast and lucky or you might find yourself dead by dawn.
Grizzly Bear Cubs and Me S1, Sunday, 3 March, BBC Earth, 16:00
This new documentary will leave viewers feeling all warm and fuzzy as wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan helps to rehabilitate three sets of orphaned baby grizzly bear twins back into the Russian wilderness.
A User’s Guide to Cheating Death S2, Monday, 4 March, BBC Earth, 20:00
Find out how you can live longer with Timothy Caulfield as he delves into the social and science issues surrounding today’s increasingly demanding health trends to understand how they do or don’t impact and enhance our lives.
REALITY
The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan S1, Sunday, 3 March, BBC Earth, 20:00
British comedian Romesh Ranganathan is taken out of his comfort zone as he explores international destinations that most travellers would think twice about adding to their itinerary. Whether he is witnessing a voodoo ceremony in Haiti, meeting up with Rastafarians in Ethiopia or getting tattooed in a bunker in Albania, the hilarious Romesh shows viewers a different side to these less-visited countries.
America’s Got Talent: Champions, Friday, 1 March, M-Net, 18:00
This exciting new spin-off of the original show format pitches a host of winners, finalists, and standout performers from previous seasons against each other in front of judges Simon, Mel, Heidi and Howie.
Tipping Point S9, Monday, 4 March, ITV CHOICE, 19:05
Tune in for a brand-new season of this popular UK game show. Four contestants are pitted against the show’s distinctive machine in their quest to walk away with the cash prize.
Dance +4 S1, Saturday, 2 March, Star Life, 21:00
An energetic dance reality show championed by master choreographer Remo D’Souza who along with mentors Dharmesh, Shakti and Puneet, are out to find the country’s most original and unique dancing talent.
BOXOFFICE
Widows, BoxOffice, Monday, 4 March
After the death of their husbands, four women team up to forge a future of their own in the criminal underworld. Veronica, the widow of known heist-mastermind Harry Rawlings, calls on three fellow widows in orchestrating a huge hold-up. Boasting an all-star cast of Oscar winners such as Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out) and Viola Davis (Fences), this action-packed thriller sees four helpless widows change into fearless ringleaders.
Ben is Back, BoxOffice, Friday, 1 March
It’s Christmas Eve and 19-year-old drug addict Ben has returned home after being away for a while. His relieved mother (played by Julia Roberts) welcomes him back but is unsure of what the future holds. She’s right to worry – the troubled teen has not quite cut ties with his bad-influence friends.
Kin, BoxOffice, Friday, 1 March
When Jimmy is released from prison, his relationship with his younger brother Eli is somewhat sour, until Eli comes across a mysterious weapon that he uses on some unsavoury characters to save Jimmy’s life. Problem, is, some very powerful people want this weapon and the two brothers find themselves targets.
17-Year old Myles Truitt, the lead in this film was included in Variety’s 2018 “Young Hollywood Impact Report” of talent poised for break-through. He portrayed ‘Ronnie DeVoe’ in The New Edition Story, broadcast recently on BET and appeared opposite Donald Glover in Atlanta, Season 2 of which concluded on FOX in January.
Time Freak, BoxOffice, Monday, 4 March
Young love. Don’t you wish time would just stand still at that stage? One genius teenage boy does exactly that – he freezes time in a machine that goes back to the day before his girlfriend broke up with him. This rom-com stars Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner.
WATCH THESE OSCAR WINNERS!
Les Miserables, DStv Now
She was awarded a Best Actress Oscar for her exceptional performance as Queen Anne in The Favourite, but Olivia Colman is hardly recognisable yet equally impressive in her role as the cruel innkeeper’s wife in BBC’s non-musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic novel.
True Detective, DStv Now
Mahershala Ali picked up his second Best Supporting Actor award at the 91st Annual Academy Awards®, in recognition of his portrayal of genius composer Don Shirley in The Green Book. His powerful performance in the third season of True Detective has also received rave reviews, marking a welcome return to the series’ original tone and quality under the watchful eye of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, as Executive Producers.
Disierto, DStv Now
Viewers can catch more of Best Director winner Alfonso Cuarón’s skilful storytelling in Disierto, a tense and minimalist thriller that follows a border patrol guard’s overly vicious pursuit of immigrants along the US and Mexican border, which he produced with his equally gifted son Jonas.
Black Panther, DStv Now
If you haven’t seen it yet, now’s your chance! Immerse yourself in all things Wakanda in this epic fantasy adventure that has wowed critics and fans alike. Having won an impressive three of the six Oscars it was nominated for – it is clear that Black Panther is more than your average superhero movie.
Read the SAMDB review of Black Panther.
Mr Robot, Showmax
Best Actor winner Rami Malek wowed audiences with his true-to-life portrayal of the charismatic late Freddy Mercury in the smash hit Bohemian Rhapsody, but Mr Robot fans have always known that this talented actor was destined for stardom. Binge from the Beginning and immerse yourself in all three seasons of the ground-breaking, mind-bending series.
