{"id":13719,"date":"2021-12-02T15:00:40","date_gmt":"2021-12-02T13:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=13719"},"modified":"2021-12-02T15:00:41","modified_gmt":"2021-12-02T13:00:41","slug":"the-16-best-international-series-to-binge-this-december-january-on-showmax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2021\/12\/02\/the-16-best-international-series-to-binge-this-december-january-on-showmax\/","title":{"rendered":"The 16 Best International Series To Binge This December &#038; January On Showmax"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>First seasons of Gossip Girl, Dr. Death, Scenes From A Marriage; new Euphoria &amp; What We Do In The Shadows<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Showmax_black.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Showmax_black.jpg?w=750&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3061\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EUPHORIA S2 | <\/strong>10 January 2022, express from the US every Monday&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trailer for Season 2 of <em>Euphoria<\/em> hit over 1 million views on YouTub<em>e<\/em> within 12 hours when it dropped at the end of November. The ground-breaking, controversial hit series stars Zendaya as teenage addict Rue: a performance that made her the youngest ever actress to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, not to mention the People\u2019s Choice Award for Favourite Drama TV Star and a Black Reel Award, among other accolades.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once again helmed by series creator Sam Levinson, the eight-episode second season\u2019s cast includes trans superstar and GALECA Dorian Award nominee Hunter Schafer as Jules, along with a who\u2019s-who of rising young stars including Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Sydney Sweeney (<em>The White Lotus<\/em>, <em>The Handmaid&#8217;s Tale<\/em>), Black Reel nominee Algee Smith (<em>The Hate U Give<\/em>, <em>Judas and the Black Messiah<\/em>), and Teen Choice Award nominee Storm Reid (<em>The Invisible Man<\/em>, <em>A Wrinkle in Time<\/em>), as well as People\u2019s Choice nominee Eric Dane (<em>Grey\u2019s Anatomy<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Euphoria S2 | First on Showmax | 10 Jan 2022\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8yGrAbMRFbc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS S3 | <\/strong>Binge now, first on Showmax<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on the 2014 cult movie from the batty brains of nine-time Emmy nominee Jemaine Clement (<em>Flight Of The Conchords<\/em>) and Oscar winner Taika Waititi (<em>Jojo Rabbit<\/em>, <em>Thor: Ragnarok<\/em>), the fiendishly funny vampire mock-doc <em>What We Do in the Shadows<\/em> is back, with a threat of retribution and a whole new job description for Staten Island\u2019s oldest and most inept housemates!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 3 has a 100% critics\u2019 rating and is #10 on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>\u2019 Best TV of 2021 So Far, where the critics\u2019 consensus says, \u201cCarried on the wings of its cast&#8217;s incredible chemistry and the strongest writing of the series so far, <em>What We Do in the Shadows<\/em>&#8216; third season is scary good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Already nominated for 10 Emmy Awards, <em>WWDITS<\/em> added to its accolades earlier this year with awards for Best Series at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards and Best Actress in a Science Fiction\/Fantasy Series (for Natasia Demetriou as Nadja) at the Critics\u2019 Choice Super Awards. At the 2021 Critics\u2019 Choice Awards, BAFTA winner Matt Berry (<em>The IT Crowd<\/em>, <em>Toast of London)<\/em> \u2013 who playsLaszlo \u2013 was nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, while Mark Proksch (<em>The Office<\/em>, <em>Better Call Saul<\/em>) and Harvey Guill\u00e9n (<em>The Magicians<\/em>) were both up for Best Supporting Actor as energy vampire Colin Robinson and the not-so-harmless Guillermo respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What We Do In The Shadows S3 | First on Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9FI5nqsGd7I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GOSSIP GIRL<\/strong> | Binge the first 10 episodes from 3 December, first on Showmax, with episodes 11-12 due 10 December 2021, express from the U.S<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on the bestselling novels by Cecily von Ziegesar, the original 2007 <em>Gossip Girl <\/em>won 18 Teen Choice Awards and launched the careers of the likes of Penn Badgley (<em>You<\/em>) and Blake Lively (<em>The Town<\/em>).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now this extension of the pop culture classic takes us back to the Upper East Side, finding a new generation of New York private school teens being introduced to social surveillance nine years after the original blogger\u2019s website went dark.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Gossip Girl,<\/em> which explores just how much social media &#8211; and the landscape of New York itself \u2014 has changed in the intervening years, saw record viewership over its first weekend on HBO Max in July 2021, trending at #1 on Twitter and generating over 15 billion total social impressions at launch.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amid all the gorgeous fresh faces, some of the key elements that made the original <em>Gossip Girl<\/em> such a hit will stay the same \u2013 People\u2019s Choice Award winner Kristen Bell (<em>The Good Place<\/em>, <em>Veronica Mars<\/em> and the voice of <em>Frozen<\/em>\u2019s Anna) returns to voice the anonymous blogger and &#8220;Gossip Girl&#8221;, and the show will be helmed by the original executive producer team of Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (<em>The O.C.<\/em>) and Joshua Safran (<em>Quantico<\/em>), who developed the new series and serves as showrunner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also catch all 122 episodes of the original <em><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/h4-rJn84c0M\">Gossip Girl<\/a><\/em> series from 1 December, for a limited time only until 31 March 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Gossip Girl (2021) | HBO Series on Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ip4ouLF4kXc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SUCCESSION S3&nbsp;<\/strong>| Binge episodes 1-7 now, with new episodes every Monday until 13 December 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Succession,&nbsp;<\/em>winner of Best Drama at both the Emmys and Golden Globes in 2020, follows four very rich siblings behaving very badly while trying to win their father\u2019s approval &#8211; and control of his company, a&nbsp;global media and entertainment empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jeremy Strong won the 2020 Best Actor Emmy as Kendall Roy, while Brian Cox won the 2020 Best Actor Golden Globe as his father, Logan. Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin, as Kendall\u2019s siblings, and Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Braun and James Cromwell, as his extended family, also earned Emmy nominations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Season 3, that already impressive cast is adding Oscar winner Adrien Brody (<em>The Grand Budapest Hotel<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>The Pianist<\/em>) and Emmy winner Alexander Skarsg\u00e5rd (<em>Big Little Lies<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>True Blood<\/em>), not to mention Black Reel winner Sanaa Lathan (<em>The Affair<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>Love &amp; Basketball<\/em>), Emmy nominee Hope Davis (<em>Your Honor<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>Captain America: Civil War<\/em>) and singer Jihae (<em>Mortal Engines<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ambushed by Kendall at the end of Season 2, Logan begins Season 3 in a perilous position, scrambling to secure familial, political, and financial alliances. Tensions rise as a bitter corporate battle threatens to&nbsp;turn into a family civil war.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HBO has just renewed <em>Succession<\/em> for a fourth season, after the Season 3 premiere drew over 1.4 million viewers across all platforms, marking a series high and the best premiere night of any HBO Original series since the launch of HBO Max.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Succession S3 | HBO on Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xHgmEO2r1vw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE S1 <\/strong>|Binge now&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A remake of the iconic 1973 Swedish miniseries by legendary Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman, the HBO drama <em>Scenes From a Marriage<\/em> stars Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain (<em>Zero Dark Thirty<\/em>, <em>The Help<\/em>, <em>Interstellar<\/em>) and Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac&nbsp; (<em>Inside Llewyn Davis<\/em>, <em>Star Wars<\/em>\u2019 Poe Dameron) in an intimate examination of love, hatred, desire, monogamy, marriage and divorce, as seen through the eyes of a contemporary American couple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Written and directed by Golden Globe-winning series creator Hagai Levi (<em>In Treatment<\/em>, <em>The Affair<\/em>), the five-episode miniseries holds an 81% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, with <em>TV Guide<\/em> calling it, \u201can acting tour de force&#8230; impossible to look away from even when it&#8217;s almost too difficult to watch.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a cast that includes Black Reel nominee Nicole Beharie (<em>Miss Juneteenth<\/em>), Golden Globe nominee Corey Stoll (<em>House of Cards<\/em>), and Screen Actors Guild nominee Sunita Mani (<em>Mr. Robot<\/em>, <em>GLOW<\/em>), <em>Scenes From a Marriage<\/em> is already listed among the 2022 Limited Series award contenders by the Emmy predictors over at <em>Varie<\/em>ty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Scenes from a Marriage | HBO Limited Series on Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/90ffAtkoQUA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>INSECURE S5<\/strong> | Binge from 29 December 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All good things come to an end, even Issa Rae\u2019s landmark, Emmy-winning comedy, <em>Insecure<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you should know by now, <em>Insecure<\/em> centres on friends Issa and Molly (Nigeria\u2019s Yvonne Orji) in what the <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em> critics\u2019 consensus hails as \u201can insightful, raunchy, and hilarious journey through the life of a twentysomething black woman that cuts through stereotypes with sharp wit and an effusive spirit.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the Peabody Awards put it, \u201cRae delivers a groundbreaking series that captures the lives of everyday young black people in Los Angeles with a fresh and authentic take. Breaking away from tired and familiar representations of \u2018diversity\u2019 on television, this series offers a fun and intimate portrayal of work, relationships, and the ordinary experiences of the two young black women at its center.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 5currently has a 100% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, while the show\u2019s 2021 accolades include Image Awards wins for Best Comedy and Best Actress (Rae), not to mention Critics\u2019 Choice and MTV nominations for Best Actress and a Satellite Awards nomination for Best TV Series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Showmax is also releasing<em> Insecure: The Final Season <\/em>documentary on 4 January 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Insecure S5 | Final Season | HBO Comedy series on Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/h49aTWXiQEg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>DR. DEATH S1<\/strong> | Binge from 1 January&nbsp;2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on a terrifying true story, <em>Dr. Death<\/em> stars Teen Choice winner Joshua Jackson (<em>Little Fires Everywhere<\/em>,<em> The Affair<\/em>, <em>Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/em>) as ostensibly brilliant young neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch. After several of Duntsch\u2019s procedures end with patients maimed or dead, two fellow physicians and a Dallas prosecutor set out to stop him\u2026 and discover a system rigged to fail the most vulnerable among us.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The phenomenal cast includes Oscar nominee Alec Baldwin (<em>Mission: Impossible &#8211; Fallout<\/em>, <em>BlacKkKlansman<\/em>, <em>Glengarry Glen Ross<\/em>); Golden Globe winner Christian Slater (<em>Mr. Robot<\/em>, <em>True Romance<\/em>, <em>The Wife<\/em>); Critics\u2019 Choice nominee AnnaSophia Robb (<em>Words on Bathroom Walls<\/em>, <em>The Act<\/em>); Meryl Streep\u2019s daughter, Grace Gummer (<em>Mr. Robot<\/em>, <em>The Hot Zone<\/em>, <em>American Horror Story<\/em>); and five-time Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer (<em>Frasier<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on Wondery\u2019s hit podcast of the same name, which has over 50 million listeners to date, the eight-episode limited series has a 91% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, with <em>AV Club<\/em> saying, \u201cThis adaptation manages to improve on its source material, perhaps because the story of Dr. Christopher Duntsch is so monstrous, it must be seen to be believed.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also look out for the four-episode true crime docuseries, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/RKAzfE0wTQA\">Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story<\/a><\/em>, from 1 January 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Dr. Death | Official Trailer | Peacock Original\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WUydwrPAY-M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>IN TREATMENT S4<\/strong> | Binge from 1 January 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 4 of <em>In Treatment<\/em> stars Emmy winner Uzo Aduba (<em>Mrs. America<\/em>, <em>Orange Is The New Black<\/em>) as the observant, empathetic therapist Dr. Brooke Taylor, who takes over from Gabriel Byrne\u2019s Doctor Paul Weston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She was up for the 2021 Best Actress Emmy, while the Season 4 reboot has a 96% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, where it\u2019s #32 on their Best TV Shows of 2021 list. As <em>Variety<\/em> says, Aduba is \u201cproving to be one of the essential actors of the 21st century.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The season\u2019s cast includes <em>Hamilton<\/em> star and Emmy nominee Anthony Ramos; Emmy nominee John Benjamin Hickey (<em>The Big C<\/em>, <em>The Good Wife<\/em>); Charlayne Woodard (<em>Pose<\/em>, <em>Law &amp; Order: Special Victims Unit<\/em>); and Saturn Award nominee Joel Kinnaman (<em>House of Cards<\/em>, <em>The Killing<\/em>), among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"In Treatment: Season 4 Official Trailer | HBO\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zMFtA3rAz7o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>THE CRIME OF THE CENTURY<\/strong> | Binge now, first on Showmax<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From Oscar- and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney (<em>Taxi to the Dark Side, The Inventor<\/em>),<em> The Crime of the Century<\/em> is a searing indictment of big pharma and the political operatives and government regulations that enable over-production, reckless distribution and abuse of synthetic opiates.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the help of whistleblowers, newly leaked documents, exclusive interviews, sobering testimony from victims of opioid addiction, and access to behind-the-scenes investigations, Gibney\u2019s expos\u00e9 posits that drug companies are in fact largely responsible for manufacturing the very crisis they profit from, to the tune of billions of dollars \u2013 and thousands of lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Produced in an association with <em>The Washington Post, The Crime of the Century<\/em> won Best Political Documentary at the 2021 Critics\u2019 Choice Documentary Awards, where it was also up for Best Documentary Feature and Best Narration for Gibney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Crime of the Century | HBO Documentary on Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DMpggcSJ1u0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NEW AMSTERDAM S3<\/strong> | Binge now<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Dr Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold from <em>The Blacklist<\/em>) took over New Amsterdam, he asked a simple, revolutionary question: \u201cHow can I help?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Season 3, Max and his team face the daunting task of sustaining that optimism while dealing with a pandemic that exposed the gaping inequities in healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"New Amsterdam S3 | Showmax Series\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/41KOp_3fkYk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>BILLIONS S5 <\/strong>| Binge episodes 1-7 now, with the last 5 episodes due 21 December 2021&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bobby Axelrod and Chuck Rhoades have been unscrupulous adversaries and underhanded allies, but nothing has prepared them for the ruthless machinations of billionaire Mike Prince, who\u2019ll use everything \u2013 and everyone \u2013 at his disposal to come out on top. As alliances get ripped apart and new enemies rise, everyone gets roped into the conflict. Consequences be damned.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis (<em>Homeland<\/em>), Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti (<em>Sideways), <\/em>and Golden Globe nominee Corey Stoll (<em>House of Cards<\/em>) co-star as Bobby, Chuck and Mike respectively.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Billions S5 Part B | Showtime Drama series on Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0P9V5h-NluM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WHY WOMEN KILL S2 <\/strong>| Binge from 1 January 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The delicious (but deadly) new season of the drama anthology series <em>Why Women Kill<\/em> is here is at last. Created by Emmy nominee Marc Cherry (<em>Desperate Housewives<\/em>, <em>Devious Maids)<\/em>, the series has an 8.3\/10 score on <em>IMDb<\/em>, with an 83% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em> for Season 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emmy nominee Allison Tolman (<em>Fargo<\/em>, <em>Good Girls<\/em>) headlines this season as Alma Fillcot, a frumpy 1940s housewife desperate to join an exclusive local garden club, presided over by Rita Castillo (Teen Choice Award winner Lana Parrilla from <em>24<\/em>, <em>Once Upon a Time<\/em>). Veronica Falc\u00f3n (<em>Ozark<\/em>, <em>Perry Mason<\/em>), MTV Movie Award nominee Nick Frost (<em>Fighting with My Family<\/em>, <em>Shaun of the Dead<\/em>) and Teen Choice Award winner Matthew Daddario (whose older sister Alexandra played Jade last season) co-star.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even more star-studded is the line-up of directors this season: <em>Desperate Housewives<\/em>\u2019 Emmy-nominated director-producer, Larry Shaw; <em>Housewives<\/em> star, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Eva Longoria; <em>Growing Pains<\/em> star and Emmy-nominated director, Joanna Kerns; BAFTA nominee Jennifer Getzinger (<em>Mad Men<\/em>, <em>Westworld<\/em>, <em>How to Get Away with Murder<\/em>); and Emmy winner Melanie Mayron (<em>Jane the Virgin<\/em>, <em>Pretty Little Liars<\/em>, <em>Thirtysomething<\/em>).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Why Women Kill | Official Trailer | Paramount+\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rFYNqmKdaoI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ZOEY\u2019S EXTRAORDINARY PLAYLIST S2<\/strong> | Binge now<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jane Levy (<em>Suburgatory,<\/em> <em>Castle Rock<\/em>) was nominated for the 2021 Best Actress Golden Globe as Zoey, a young woman who suddenly gains the ability to hear other people\u2019s innermost thoughts \u2026 in song.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Zoey\u2019s Extraordinary Playlist<\/em> won a 2020 Emmy for its Outstanding Choreography and was nominated for another five Emmys this year. The quirky musical comedy has an 8.1\/10 score on <em>IMDb<\/em>, while Season 2 has an 83% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, with <em>Collider<\/em> calling it \u201cthe TV series of the year\u201d, <em>ET Online<\/em> the \u201cantidote to your quarantine blues\u201d, and <em>US Weekly<\/em> \u201cpure joy\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 2 sees Critics\u2019 Choice nominee Harvey Guill\u00e9n (<em>What We Do in the Shadows<\/em>) join the already impressive cast, which includes Alex Newell (<em>Glee<\/em>), who was nominated for a 2021 Critics\u2019 Choice Best Supporting Actor award as Zoey\u2019s friend Mo.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Zoey&#039;s Extraordinary Playlist S2 | Showmax Series\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lMQQr2jcmTc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>LITTLE BIRDS S1<\/strong> | Binge now, first on Showmax<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspired by the erotic tales of Ana\u00efs Nin, <em>Little Birds<\/em> follows New York heiress Lucy Savage (2021 Emmy nominee Juno Temple from <em>Ted Lasso<\/em>), fresh off the transatlantic steamer and ready for love and marriage in exotic climes. But when her husband Hugo (Hugh Skinner, aka Harry in <em>Fleabag<\/em>) does not receive her in the way she expected, she spins off into the surprising, diverse and degenerate world of Tangier in 1955.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What Lucy discovers is a world in flux, a country quivering on the cusp of independence, populated by the likes of provocative dominatrix Cherifa Lamor (award-winning Lebanese actress Yumna Marwan), who particularly captures Lucy\u2019s imagination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Little Birds S1 | STARZ Drama series on Showmax\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UjoxJJTpZlg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CALL ME KAT S1<\/strong> | Binge now<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nominated for a 2021 Emmy for its cinematography, <em>Call Me Kat<\/em> stars Emmy nominee Mayim Bialik (<em>The Big Bang Theory<\/em>) as a woman who struggles every day against society and her mother (Emmy winner Swoosie Kurtz from <em>Huff<\/em> and <em>Pushing Daisies<\/em>) to prove that she can live a happy and fulfilling life despite still being single at 39&#8230; Which is why she recently spent her entire savings to open a cat caf\u00e9 in Louisville, Kentucky.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Call Me Kat<\/em> is based on the BAFTA-nominated hit British sitcom <em>Miranda<\/em>, by multiple BAFTA nominee and British Comedy Award winner Miranda Hart (<em>Call the Midwife<\/em>), who executive produces alongside Bialik and series creator Darlene Hunt (<em>The Big C<\/em>, <em>Dickinson<\/em>).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bialik\u2019s co-stars include Emmy winner Leslie Jordan (<em>Will &amp; Grace<\/em>, <em>The United States vs. Billie Holiday<\/em>) and Emmy nominee Cheyenne Jackson (<em>30 Rock<\/em>, <em>Glee<\/em>, <em>American Horror Story<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=C3LNtzcVB_Y\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CHUCKY S1&nbsp;<\/strong>| Binge now, first on Showmax<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A vintage Chucky doll turns up at a suburban yard sale, throwing an idyllic American town into chaos as a series of horrifying murders begins to expose the town&#8217;s hypocrisies and secrets in <em>Chucky<\/em>, which picks up after the events of the seventh film in the horror franchise,&nbsp;<em>Cult of Chucky<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Created by Fangoria Chainsaw Award nominee Don Mancini (<em>Bride of Chucky<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>Child&#8217;s Play<\/em>), the series stars Oscar nominee Brad Dourif (<em>The Lord of the Rings<\/em>\u2019 Wormtongue and&nbsp;<em>One Flew Over the Cuckoo&#8217;s Nest<\/em>\u2019s Billy Bibbit) as the voice of serial-killer-possessed Good Guy doll Chucky, with child actor Zackary Arthur (<em>Transparent<\/em>) as Jake Wheeler.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oscar nominee Jennifer Tilly (<em>Bullets over Broadway<\/em>,\u00a0<em>Bound<\/em>) returns as Tiffany Valentine, and Saturn Award nominee Alex Vincent (<em>Child\u2019s Play<\/em>) reprises his role as Chucky&#8217;s archnemesis, Andy Barclay, with Christine Elise (<em>BH90210<\/em>) returning as Andy&#8217;s foster sister, Kyle. Also look out for Dourif\u2019s daughter and genre marvel Fiona Dourif (<em>Dirk Gently\u2019s Holistic Detective Agency<\/em>,\u00a0<em>The Stand<\/em>,\u00a0<em>The Blacklist<\/em>,\u00a0<em>The Purge<\/em>) returning as Nica Pierce<em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EVERYTHING ON SHOWMAX IN DECEMBER 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To see everything on Showmax in\u00a0December 2021,\u00a0including\u00a0the first Showmax Original romance, <em>Troukoors<\/em>; the 2021 Golden Globe nominee <em>The Personal History of David Copperfield<\/em>; and the Guy Ritchie-Jason Statham action blockbuster <em>Wrath of Man<\/em>, click\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stories.showmax.com\/whats-new-on-showmax-in-december-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.\u00a0Please note this release schedule is subject to change.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First seasons of Gossip Girl, Dr. Death, Scenes From A Marriage; new Euphoria &amp; What We Do In The Shadows EUPHORIA S2 | 10 January 2022, express from the US every Monday&nbsp; The trailer for Season 2 of Euphoria hit over 1 million views on YouTube within 12 hours when it dropped at the end&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2021\/12\/02\/the-16-best-international-series-to-binge-this-december-january-on-showmax\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The 16 Best International Series To Binge This December &#038; January On Showmax<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[110],"class_list":["post-13719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-online","tag-showmax","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13719"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13719\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}