{"id":17645,"date":"2022-12-03T15:39:46","date_gmt":"2022-12-03T13:39:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=17645"},"modified":"2022-12-03T15:39:50","modified_gmt":"2022-12-03T13:39:50","slug":"the-15-best-series-to-binge-these-holidays-on-showmax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2022\/12\/03\/the-15-best-series-to-binge-these-holidays-on-showmax\/","title":{"rendered":"The 15 best Series To Binge These Holidays On Showmax"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<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>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/title\/2333\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HOUSE OF THE DRAGON<\/a> S1 <\/strong>| Binge from 15 December 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HBO\u2019s smash hit prequel to <em>Game of Thrones<\/em> traces the war for succession within House Targaryen at the height of its power, 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen. The 10-episode first season is based on parts of the novel <em>Fire &amp; Blood<\/em> by George R. R. Martin.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Already renewed for a second season, <em>House of the Dragon\u2019s <\/em>premiere drew almost 10 million viewers, the largest-ever audience for any new original series on HBO, with the finale drawing 9.3 million viewers &#8211; the most of any HBO series since the conclusion of <em>Game of Thrones<\/em> in 2019.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The show also topped <em>IMDb<\/em>\u2019s Most Popular TV chart, with an 8.5\/10 score <em>nogal<\/em>, and has a 93% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, with <em>Entertainment Weekly <\/em>calling it \u201cflat-out stunning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen is portrayed at different ages by breakout stars Emma D&#8217;Arcy and Milly Alcock, while Teen Choice nominee Olivia Cooke (<em>Ready Player One<\/em>, <em>Sound of Metal<\/em>, <em>Slow Horses<\/em>) and Emily Carey (<em>Casualty, <\/em>12-year-old Diana in <em>Wonder Woman<\/em>) play Alicent Hightower. The ensemble cast also includes BAFTA winner Paddy Considine (<em>The Outsider<\/em>), Emmy nominee Matt Smith (<em>The Crown<\/em>, <em>Doctor Who<\/em>), BAFTA nominee Rhys Ifans (<em>Spider-Man: No Way Home<\/em>, <em>Notting Hill<\/em>), BAFTA Scotland winner Bill Paterson (<em>Fleabag<\/em>), and Graham McTavish (Dwalin in <em>The Hobbit<\/em> trilogy).<\/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=\"House of the Dragon | Official Trailer | Max\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DotnJ7tTA34?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 WHITE LOTUS S2<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>| Binge from 12 December 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 2 of <em>The White Lotus<\/em> swaps Hawaii for Sicily, following a new group of vacationers jetting off to a different White Lotus resort.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 1 was the most awarded show at the 2022 Emmys, winning 10 awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Directing and Writing &#8211; and Supporting Actress for Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya &#8211; who returns in Season 2.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new cast includes Peabody Award winner Aubrey Plaza (<em>Parks and Recreation<\/em>), People\u2019s Choice winner Theo James (<em>Divergent<\/em>), Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham (<em>Amadeus<\/em>, <em>The Grand Budapest Hotel<\/em>), Emmy winner Michael Imperioli (<em>The Sopranos<\/em>), Teen Choice nominees Meghann Fahy (Sutton in <em>The Bold Type<\/em>) and Haley Lu Richardson (<em>Five Feet Apart<\/em>), BAFTA winner Tom Hollander (<em>The Night Manager<\/em>), BAFTA nominee Will Sharpe (<em>Landscapers<\/em>, <em>Giri\/Haji<\/em>), multi-award-winning Italian actress Sabrina Impacciatore and Adam DiMarco (Todd\/Elliott in <em>The Magicians<\/em>).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 2 has an 89% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>. In their five-star reviews, <em>The Times<\/em> calls this season \u201ca whodunnit like no other\u201d and <em>London Evening Standard<\/em> says, \u201cAs funny as ever, if slightly seedier, the second series is a brilliant rumination on desire and its destructive capability.\u201d<\/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 White Lotus Season 2 | Official Trailer | HBO\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Baflc_0XVfY?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>HIS DARK MATERIALS S3<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>|&nbsp;Tuesdays from 6 December 2022&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The third and final season of the HBO and BBC One fantasy epic <em>His Dark Materials <\/em>is based on <em>The Amber Spyglass<\/em>, the final novel in Philip Pullman\u2019s Carnegie-winning book trilogy, which was listed among <em>Time Magazine<\/em>\u2019s 100 Best Young-Adult Books of All Time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 3 follows Lyra (MTV Movie Award winner Dafne Keen from <em>Logan<\/em>) and Will (Emmy nominee Amir Wilson from <em>The Letter for the King<\/em>) as they journey to a dark place from which no one has ever returned. As her father\u2019s great war against the Authority edges closer, they will learn that saving the world comes at a terrible price.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 2 of the multi-BAFTA- and Annie Award-winning series earned an 85% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>. In their five-star review, <em>The Independent<\/em> called it, \u201ca beautiful, brooding vision of Pullman&#8217;s universe, which retains the mix of childish wonder and darkness that make his books so beguiling to young adults.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oscar nominee Lin-Manuel Miranda (<em>Hamilton<\/em>, <em>tick, tick&#8230; BOOM!<\/em>) returns as Lee Scoresby, with BAFTA winner Ruth Wilson (<em>Saving Mr. Banks<\/em>, <em>Luther<\/em>) as Mrs Coulter, and BAFTA nominee James McAvoy (<em>X-Men<\/em>\u2019s Charles Xavier) as Lord Asriel. British-Nigerian Black Reel nominee Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (<em>Thor: The Dark World<\/em>, <em>Lost<\/em>) joins the cast this season, along with the likes of Emmy nominee Sian Clifford (<em>Fleabag<\/em>) and Ghanaian-British actor Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (<em>Mary Poppins Returns<\/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=\"His Dark Materials Season 3 | Official Teaser | HBO\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FaOe3BegjgE?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>POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN S1<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>| Binge from 12 December 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second spin-off to the hit crime drama <em>Power<\/em>, the prequel series <em>Power Book III: Raising Kanan<\/em> chronicles a journey into the drug trade, as 15-year-old Kanan Stark makes a bid to join the growing family business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young actor Mekai Curtis steps into the lead role as the young Kanan, the character played in the original series by Emmy and Grammy winner Curtis &#8220;50 Cent&#8221; Jackson, who once again executive produces alongside Emmy nominee Courtney A. Kemp and series creator Sascha Penn (<em>Creed II<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 1 has a rare 100% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, and Tony Award winner Patina Miller (<em>The Hunger Games: Mockingjay<\/em>, <em>Madam Secretary<\/em>) was nominated for a 2022 Black Reel Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Raquel Thomas, Kanan&#8217;s mother and one of the most powerful drug lords in Queens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cast also includes Black Reel, Teen Choice and MTV Movie Award nominee Omar Epps (<em>Love &amp; Basketball<\/em>, <em>This Is Us<\/em>, <em>House M.D.<\/em>), rapper Joey Bada$$ (Leon in <em>Mr. Robot<\/em> and the original Rebel in <em>Wu-Tang: An American Saga<\/em>), London Brown (Reggie from <em>Ballers<\/em>), Black Reel winner Omar J. Dorsey (<em>Queen Sugar<\/em>, <em>When They See Us<\/em>, <em>Selma<\/em>), and Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Lawrence Gilliard Jr. (Chris Alston in <em>The Deuce<\/em>, Bob Stookey in <em>The Walking Dead<\/em>, and D&#8217;Angelo Barksdale in <em>The Wire<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The hit series has already been renewed for a second <em>and<\/em> third season.<\/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=ADzSyRvZul0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RAMY S3<\/strong> | Binge from 19 December 2022, first on Showmax<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ramy Youssef\u2019s acclaimed comedy <em>Ramy<\/em> centres on Ramy Hassan\u2019s sometimes awkward, sometimes hilarious, and sometimes disastrous experiences as a first generation Egyptian-American and Muslim millennial in New Jersey.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among its numerous accolades, the series won a 2020 Peabody Award, and was nominated for three 2020 Emmys &#8211; Best Actor and Best Director in a Comedy for Youssef, and Best Supporting Actor for Season 2 guest star Mahershala Ali. Youssef also picked up two nominations at the Critics Choice Awards, where the show was nominated for Best Comedy in 2021.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All the core cast members are back for Season 3, including Hiam Abbass (<em>Succession<\/em>, <em>The Visitor<\/em>, <em>Blade Runner 2049<\/em>) and May Calamawy (<em>Moon Knight<\/em>), along with Ghanaian actress MaameYaa Boafo (<em>The Mysterious Benedict Society<\/em>, <em>An African City<\/em>), who reprises her Season 2 character as Zainab. This season\u2019s guest cast includes model Bella Hadid, Canadian R&amp;B duo Majid Jordan, Amy Landecker (<em>Minx<\/em>, <em>Your Honor<\/em>), Critics Choice nominee Christopher Abbott (<em>Catch-22<\/em>), and Teen Choice nominee James Badge Dale (<em>13 Hours<\/em>, <em>24<\/em>, <em>Iron Man 3<\/em>).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 3 has an 89% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>. \u201cIt takes incredible confidence to go to the kinds of tricky emotional places that <em>Ramy<\/em> likes to live in,\u201d says <em>Rolling Stone<\/em>. \u201cIf the show can at times feel deeply uncomfortable, the payoffs are inevitably worth it.\u201d<\/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=\"Ramy | Season 3 Trailer | Hulu\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mmEVInY_2yw?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 S4 <\/strong>| Binge from 23 December 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 4 of the ever-popular medical drama <em>New Amsterdam<\/em> returns us to America&#8217;s oldest public hospital, where Dr Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold from <em>BlacKkKlansman<\/em>, <em>90210<\/em> and <em>The Blacklist<\/em>) continues his fight to put saving lives above the bottom line while fielding his increasingly personal relationship with Dr Helen Sharpe (Freema Agyeman from <em>Doctor Who<\/em> and <em>Law &amp; Order: UK<\/em>, who was nominated for a 2022 Hollywood Critics Association award for Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series for the role).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Created by writer-producer David Schulner (<em>Desperate Housewives<\/em>) and based on Eric Manheimeris\u2019 book <em>Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital<\/em>, the hit series has an 8.1\/10 score on <em>IMDb<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new season brings in Sandra Mae Frank, who was nominated for a 2022 Hollywood Critics Association award for Best Supporting Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series as the new chief of oncology, deaf surgeon Dr Elizabeth Wilder, and Emmy nominee Michelle Forbes (<em>24<\/em>, <em>True Blood<\/em>). MTV Movie Award winner Gina Gershon (<em>Face\/Off<\/em>, <em>Riverdale<\/em>) guest stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>New Amsterdam<\/em> has already been renewed for a 13-episode fifth and final season.<\/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 Season 4 Promo (HD)\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kEpOgn00eoQ?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>HEELS S1<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>| Binge from 5 December 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Set in the small-town pro-wrestling world in Georgia, <em>Heels<\/em> follows the rivalry between two brothers &#8211; one a villain (or &#8220;heel&#8221;) in the ring, the other a hero (or &#8220;face&#8221;), as they war over their late father&#8217;s wrestling promotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Led by Teen Choice winner Stephen Amell (the Arrowverse\u2019s Oliver Queen\/Green Arrow) and Teen Choice and MTV Movie + TV Award winner Alexander Ludwig (Bjorn Ironside in <em>Vikings<\/em> and Cato in <em>The Hunger Games<\/em>), <em>Heels<\/em> has an 8\/10 rating on <em>IMDb<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, it has a 96% critics\u2019 rating, with the critics\u2019 consensus saying, \u201cStephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig sell hard in <em>Heels<\/em>, an impressive new drama that has compelling angles on both sides of the rope.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s already been nominated for three 2022 Critics Choice Super Awards &#8211; Best Action Series, Best Actor in an Action Series (Alexander Ludwig) and Best Actress in an Action Series (Mary McCormack from <em>The West Wing<\/em> and <em>The Kids Are Alright<\/em>), and Season 2 is already on the way.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Created by Emmy winner Michael Waldron (producer on <em>Rick and Morty<\/em> and the writer of <em>Loki<\/em> and <em>Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness<\/em>), the show\u2019s cast also includes Kelli Berglund (<em>Now Apocalypse<\/em>) and award winner Chris Bauer (<em>For All Mankind<\/em>,<em> The Deuce<\/em>, <em>The Wire<\/em>, <em>True Blood<\/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=OMKR-xRgzjQ\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>GENTLEMAN JACK S2 <\/strong>| Binge now<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second season of <em>Gentleman Jack<\/em> returns us to 1800s West Yorkshire, England, where Anne Lister (BAFTA winner Suranne Jones from <em>Vigil<\/em>) now shares her ancestral home and her passion for life with heiress Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle from <em>Peaky Blinders<\/em> and <em>Bodyguard<\/em>) following their controversial wedding at the end of Season 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Anne\u2019s entrepreneurial spirit frightens the locals as much as her unconventional love life. With Halifax on the brink of revolution, her refusal to keep a low profile is seen as provocative and dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nominated for a 2020 BAFTA for Best Drama Series, as well as a GALECA Award, Season 2 of the hit HBO\/BBC One co-production has a 95% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, where the consensus says, \u201cBlessed with Suranne Jones&#8217; exquisite performance and some of the crispest dialogue on television, <em>Gentleman Jack <\/em>remains a total ace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Gentleman Jack<\/em> is created by four-time BAFTA winner Sally Wainwright (<em>Happy Valley<\/em>, <em>Last Tango in Halifax<\/em>) and stars Screen Actors Guild nominee Gemma Whelan (<em>Game of Thrones<\/em>\u2019 Yara Greyjoy), BAFTA nominee Timothy West (<em>Last Tango in Halifax<\/em>), and BAFTA winner Gemma Jones (<em>Bridget Jones&#8217;s Diary<\/em>), among others.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBehind the familiar frilly bonnets and linen drawers, <em>Gentleman Jack<\/em> is disrupting the conventions of one of our most fiercely loved dramatic forms, at a time when we most need them disrupted. It is a masterpiece,\u201d says <em>The Guardian<\/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=\"Gentleman Jack \ud83c\udfa9 Series 2 Trailer | BBC\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RM1ka0JphHU?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>BLINDSPOTTING S1<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>| Binge from 14 December 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Blindspotting<\/em>, the spin-off sequel series to the award-winning, critically acclaimed 2018 film of the same name, follows Ashley, who has to navigate a chaotic and humorous existential crisis after Miles, her partner of 12 years and the father of their son, is suddenly incarcerated, forcing Ashley to move in with Miles&#8217; mother and half-sister.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once again created by Emmy nominee Daveed Diggs (<em>Snowpiercer<\/em>, <em>Hamilton<\/em>, <em>Black-ish<\/em>) and Black Reel Award nominee Rafael Casal (who reprises his role from the film as Miles), the eight-episode series stars Emmy and Grammy winner Jasmine Cephas Jones (<em>Hamilton<\/em>, <em>The Photograph<\/em>, <em>Mrs. Fletcher<\/em>), who was up for Best Actress in a Broadcast Network or Cable Series, Comedy at the 2022 Hollywood Critics Association Television Awards, for the reprisal of her role from the film as Ashley. The cast also includes Oscar winner Helen Hunt (<em>Mad About You<\/em>, <em>As Good As It Gets<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nominated for a 2021 Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series, <em>Blindspotting<\/em> has a 100% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, with the critics\u2019 consensus saying, \u201cThe rare adaptation that exceeds its source material, <em>Blindspotting<\/em> deftly takes on complicated social constructs with comedic flair, crafting a show that&#8217;s as funny as it is poignant while giving its incredible ensemble &#8211; led by the captivating Jasmine Cephas Jones &#8211; plenty of room to shine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Blindspotting<\/em> has already been renewed for a second season.<\/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=fCtdIC666Ec&#038;feature=youtu.be\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>DMZ<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>| Binge from 6 December 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>DMZ<\/em> leaps off the pages of Brian Wood\u2019s acclaimed graphic novel into a near-future, civil-war-torn America, where one woman sets out on a harrowing quest to find her missing son &#8211; crossing into the demilitarised zone of Manhattan, where a ruthless battle for control rages between rival gang leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rosario Dawson was up for Best Actress at the 2022 Black Reel Awards, where Emmy-nominated series creator and showrunner Roberto Patino (<em>Westworld<\/em>, <em>Sons of Anarchy<\/em>) was also up for Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series. Emmy nominee Benjamin Bratt (<em>Doctor Strange<\/em>, <em>24<\/em>, <em>Law &amp; Order<\/em>) co-stars, with the likes of Hoon Lee (<em>See<\/em>, <em>Warrior<\/em>, <em>Bosch<\/em>) also among the cast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The four-episode HBO Max limited series is executive produced by Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Ava DuVernay (<em>When They See Us<\/em>, <em>13th<\/em>, <em>Selma<\/em>), who directed the first episode, with Emmy-winning cinematographer and director Ernest R. Dickerson (<em>Bosch<\/em>, <em>Raised by Wolves<\/em>) at the helm for the remaining episodes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>DMZ<\/em>, says <em>IndieWire<\/em>, \u201cinverts the dystopian drama formula\u201d and \u201crefuses to give into our worst impulses\u201d, adding \u201cLike <em>Station Eleven<\/em> before it, <em>DMZ<\/em> carries real weight as a rebuke to contemporary conjecture about what people will do in a post-apocalyptic landscape.\u201d<\/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=xLbtQCAPH04\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>THE PORTER S1<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>| Binge now<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspired by the real events that led up to the formation of the world\u2019s first Black union, <em>The Porter<\/em> is set in the roar of the 1920s, following war buddies and train porters Junior and Zeke, whose unbreakable bond is stretched to its limits when tragedy inspires them to take conflicting paths to a better life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the world rebuilds after the First World War, the Black community in St Antoine, Montreal &#8211; known as the \u201cHarlem of the North\u201d &#8211; find themselves thrown together across the colour line in an era that boasts anything is possible. If change isn\u2019t coming for them, they will come for it. By any means necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Already confirmed for a second season (coming in 2023), the eight-episode first season has a 100% critics\u2019 rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, and picked up a 2022 Emmy nomination for its choreography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CBC\/BET+ Original stars Aml Ameen (<em>I May Destroy You<\/em>, <em>The Maze Runner<\/em>) and Ronnie Rowe (<em>The Man from Toronto<\/em>, <em>Star Trek: Discovery<\/em>), with the likes of Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Alfre Woodard (<em>12 Years a Slave<\/em>, <em>State of Affairs<\/em>) and Zambia\u2019s Mizinga Mwinga (Oscar nominee <em>War Witch<\/em>) also among the cast.<\/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 Porter | Official Trailer\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WEkS1UtRtJQ?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>PLANET SEX WITH CARA DELEVINGNE S1 <\/strong>| Fridays from 2 December 2022, first on Showmax<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Got big questions about sex? So does Cara Delevingne.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the world\u2019s most photographed people, Cara puts her mind and body on the line each episode to try to understand our deepest desires.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On a journey spanning the globe, she donates her orgasm to science in Germany; makes art from her vagina in Japan; hits up a women-only sex club; takes a masturbation masterclass; and visits an \u201cethical\u201d porn set.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From LA, New York and London, to Beirut, Barcelona and, wait for it\u2026 Johannesburg, Cara shares her own personal experiences in each episode. Uniquely unfiltered and authentic, there\u2019s no limit on how far Cara\u2019s willing to go to explore what makes us all human.<\/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=\"Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne | Trailer\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/j03Q3oyv5KU?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 VOW, PART TWO<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>| Binge from 7 December 2022, first on Showmax<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Five years after Keith Raniere\u2019s arrest in Mexico, amid rumours of a secret sex sorority within his self-help company NXIVM, <em>The Vow, Part Two<\/em> follows the legal and emotional journeys of the group\u2019s founders, supporters, and defectors as new evidence and stunning revelations come to light, while federal prosecutors and defense attorneys engage in a trial in the national spotlight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Directed by Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated Jehane Noujaim, <em>The Vow, Part Two <\/em>features chilling testimony from the trial, exclusive phone interviews with Keith Raniere from prison and extensive access to co-founder Nancy Salzman, who wrestles with her role in the rise of NXIVM, her relationship with Raniere and her involvement in growing an organisation accused of fostering predatory behaviour and criminal activity. South African Mark Vicente, an outspoken former member, again features prominently this season.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 1 was #3 on <em>Entertainment Weekly<\/em>\u2019s round-up of the best TV of 2020 and was up for Best Docuseries at the 2021 Hollywood Critics Association Television Awards, and for Outstanding Cinematography at the Cinema Eye Honours Awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the critics are saying this season is even better. \u201cAs storytelling, this is crisper and cleaner than <em>The Vow<\/em>\u2019s first iteration; as psychological portrait, little in the nonfiction space of late matches its acuity,\u201d says <em>Variety<\/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=\"The Vow Part II | Official Trailer | HBO\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ctXck_xCtV4?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 BAY S3<\/strong> | Binge from 12 December 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 3 of the British crime drama <em>The Bay<\/em> sees actress Marsha Thomason (<em>Better Things<\/em>) take over the leading role, stepping in as Detective Sergeant Jenn Townsend. She is thrown into the deep end when a body is found in the bay on her first day on the job. She must get under the skin of a grieving and complicated family if she has any chance of solving the premature death of an aspiring young boxer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Already greenlit for a further season, the show has picked up nominations at both the Scottish and Welsh BAFTAs, as well as the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards.<\/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 Bay | Season 3 | BritBox\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HT6LkIBcrkg?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>VIGIL<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>| Binge now<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In November 2022, <em>Vigil<\/em> was named Best Drama at the International Emmy Awards, beating out<em> Lupin<\/em>, <em>Narcos: Mexico <\/em>and South Africa\u2019s very own <em>Reyka<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the creators of<em> Line of Duty <\/em>and<em> Showtrial<\/em>, <em>Vigil <\/em>investigates the mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on-board the submarine HMS Vigil, which bring the police into conflict with the Navy and British security services.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DCI Amy Silva (BAFTA winner Suranne Jones from <em>Gentleman Jack <\/em>and <em>Doctor Foster<\/em>) and DS Kirsten Longacre (BAFTA winner Rose Leslie from <em>Game of Thrones and The Time Traveler\u2019s Wife<\/em>) lead an investigation on land and at sea into a conspiracy that goes to the very heart of Britain\u2019s national security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Vigil\u2019<\/em>s stellar ensemble cast also features Emmy nominee Stephen Dillane (Stannis in <em>Game of Thrones<\/em>), Anjli Mohindra (<em>Bodyguard<\/em>), Shaun Evans (Morse in <em>Endeavour<\/em>), MTV Movie Awards nominee Connor Swindells (Adam in <em>Sex Education<\/em>) and BAFTA nominee Gary Lewis (<em>Billy Elliot<\/em>).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Vigil<\/em> has an 85% critics rating on <em>Rotten Tomatoes<\/em>, with <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> hailing it as \u201cone of the better thriller series of the year,\u201d and <em>Radio Times<\/em> saying, \u201cFrom the shock death inside the opening 10 minutes of episode one to the thrillingly tense climax in the final instalment, this was a terrifically gripping and propulsive affair that proved a huge hit with the viewing public.\u201d<\/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=\"Vigil | Trailer - BBC\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3XRW0kfI2As?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>EVERYTHING ON SHOWMAX IN DECEMBER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To see everything on Showmax in December 2022, including Pumi Morare\u2019s 2021 Student Academy Award winner <em>Lakutshon\u2019 Ilanga<\/em>; rugby documentary <em>Rassie<\/em>, from the creators of the award-winning <em>Chasing The Sun<\/em>; and the animated Julia Donaldson adaptation <em>Superworm<\/em>, helmed by South Africans Sarah Scrimgeour and Jac Hamman, click <a href=\"https:\/\/stories.showmax.com\/what-to-watch-on-showmax-in-december-2022\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S1 | Binge from 15 December 2022 HBO\u2019s smash hit prequel to Game of Thrones traces the war for succession within House Targaryen at the height of its power, 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen. The 10-episode first season is based on parts of the novel Fire &amp; Blood&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2022\/12\/03\/the-15-best-series-to-binge-these-holidays-on-showmax\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The 15 best Series To Binge These Holidays 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-17645","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\/17645","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=17645"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17645\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}