Snuggle up on the sofa and find a new favourite with Tamar Münch’s top TV picks to add to your watch list.
Halston
Streaming on Netflix
In the early years of his career as a milliner, Roy Halston Frowick was already creating iconic looks: for instance, it was Halston who made the pillbox hat worn by Jackie Kennedy at JFK’s inauguration. In 1966, as the public’s desire for hats began to wane, the House of Halston introduced a clothing line and, thanks to a knack for innovation and innate creative flair, the man behind the brand went on to become one of America’s most celebrated fashion designers of the 1970s and ’80s. As is often the case, Halston’s artistic genius didn’t come with the equivalent business savvy, and the excesses of the ’80s took their toll on both the man and the much-loved label he had created, as is retold in Halston, Netflix’s five-part biopic drama.
Starring the always reliable Ewan McGregor in the titular role and Krysta Rodriguez in a standout performance as Halston’s bestie Liza Minnelli, the series is helmed by prolific drama producer Ryan Murphy (Glee, American Horror Story, Ratched). The show is gorgeous, glossy and camp but – in what seems to be Murphy’s signature – at times it has a tendency to feel like the TV equivalent of junk food.
Thought let’s face it, sometimes we just want chips, chocolate and lollies rather than broccoli – so if you’re just in the mood to watch some mindless trash, you could certainly do worse than this series. However, if you want to sink your teeth into the same story with a little more substance, I recommend the more in-depth documentary, also titled Halston, available to stream via DocPlay.
The Me You Can’t See
Streaming on Apple TV+
Series producers Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry are among those who open up about their mental health struggles and the path to emotional wellbeing in this new documentary series. Opening with Harry, who talks candidly about the impact of his mum’s death and the crippling anxiety that plagued him in adulthood, the first episode also features a deeply emotional interview with Lady Gaga, who speaks about the difficult road to recovery from a traumatic sexual assault. The content of the show is undoubtedly heavy and may be too much for some. But the kaupapa – destigmatising mental health issues and showing there is hope on the other side of suffering – is one worth celebrating.
The Circus
Saturdays, 8pm on Bravo
This new series follows the family behind the Weber Bros. Circus – and they’re anything but ordinary. Firstly, there are 10 of them: mum, dad and eight kids, the older four of whom are all part of the circus. They live together, train together and travel all around the country working under the Big Top. While it might be a novelty to have a local original series on Bravo, fans of the channel will certainly find the classic reality series format comfortingly familiar.
