Two Years Later

Thursday, streaming on Paramount Plus

When I was in my twenties and living in Sydney, for five years I had a long, involved and passionate relationship with a handsome man I met on the 389 bus.

Well, I say “met” — in reality we never said more than two words to each other. And I say “relationship”, but the only time we ever interacted was the odd “excuse me” as we bumped past one another on the crowded bus (though, admittedly, we’d smile and nod every morning at the bus stop).

But in my head — oh, the conversations we’d have! The dates we went on! The passionate trysts we’d engage in as we travelled from Paddington to the city at 7.40am every weekday!

This was all imaginary, of course, and the stranger on the 389 had absolutely no idea of the outsized role he was playing in my mind.

Turns out I’m not the only one with a rich inner life — fantasy “commuter relationships” are a whole thing, with people all over the world recounting similar long-running “situationships” with the people they ride public transport with. They’re posting on Reddit forums, sometimes even hoping to connect in real life.

Which is what this delightful series is about. It asks: what happens when two commuter strangers, in this case Phoebe Tonkin and Brenton Thwaites playing Emily and Ryan, decide to take their connection off the bus bench and out into the real world?

The story picks up two years on from the COVID pandemic (Two Years Later, get it?). On a whim Ryan impulsively proposes a unique experiment, suggesting they go on eight dates to figure out if they should . . . get married.

You’ll have to watch to find out what happens. But let’s just say: it won’t be smooth sailing.

I often wonder what 389 Man is up to now, and whether he thinks of me. Probably not.

But gosh it was fun while it lasted.

Turned On: Dirty Sexy Money

Streaming now on Stan

Real Housewives, but make them a bunch of Only Fans creators from the Gold Coast. And have them all be managed by an entrepreneurial ex-content creator, who is now making a squint, along with all these women. Pop in some bitching, backstabbing and drama and you’ve got this show, which plays out as a cross between Real Housewives, MAFS and a bit of Geordie Shore thrown in for good measure.

This is contrived as all get-out, but I have to admit, I found it quite entertaining. Between this and the excellent Margo’s Got Money Troubles on Apple TV, I’m certainly getting an “education” about this strange, new frontier of entertainment.

Not Suitable For Work

Tuesday, streaming on Disney Plus

Mindy Kaling is back, and this time centring her new show around a group of newly graduated friends stepping into the world of work for the first time — it’s the third in her “coming of age” trilogy. Think New Girl meets Friends meets Younger. Admit it: you’re hooked.

Clarkson’s Farm

Wednesday, streaming on Prime Video

Oh yay, our favourite comfort show’s back on! It begins in dramatic circumstances: Jeremy’s had a serious heart scare and is recovering after being “days from death”. Don’t worry, he’s on the mend, and this season is shaping up to be another satisfying watch.

Cape Fear

Friday, streaming on Apple TV Plus

Amy Adams and Javier Bardem star in this modern TV reimagining of the classic 1991 film, playing lawyer Anna Bowden and her convicted client Max Cady, who has recently been exonerated for a crime he committed decades earlier. With Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese serving as executive producers, and Patrick Wilson starring as Anna’s prosecutor husband Tom Bowden, you can bet this will be big.