10 TV and streaming highlights for December: Toy Show, Knives Out, George Best in Cork...
L-R: Lana Headey in The Abandons; Patrick Kielty referees the Toy Show; George Best's spell in Cork remembered
This Western comes with an unmistakable Irish tint, not only because its protagonist Fiona Nolan - played with trademark ferocity by Lena Headey - hails from our shores, but also thanks to the presence of rising star Aisling Franciosi. follows Nolan and her battle to keep her land from being purchased by the wealthy Constance Van Ness - an immaculate Gillian Anderson. The Western may be a slumbering genre, but this could be the project to stir it awake again.
Patrick Kielty returns to marshal the most beloved night on the Irish TV calendar as the Toy Show lands once more, bringing together children from every corner of the country for an irrepressible celebration of imagination. It wouldn’t be the Toy Show without some festive pandemonium, heartfelt stories, and the usual dose of chaos that makes the show a national treasure. We expect this year will be no different.
George Clooney leans into his own mythos in Jay Kelly, a glossy dramedy about an aging movie star facing the reckoning that comes when fame fades and regrets pile up. Enlisting Adam Sandler and Laura Dern for emotional (and comedic) backup, Kelly follows his daughter across Europe in what becomes a road trip of confession and ego-bruising. A smooth watch that will go down easily with a glass of wine on a dark December night.
This political documentary peels back the curtain on our most recent Race for the Áras. President Connolly charts the strategies, missteps, turning points and triumphs that defined the election. It’s a must-see for anyone who enjoys the theatre of politics - or simply wants to understand how Ireland ended up with its newest leader.
Daniel Craig slips back into the linen suits and honeyed Southern drawl of Benoit Blanc for his third outing as cinema’s most charismatic detective. Joined by a starry ensemble - including Andrew Scott and Josh O’Connor - Blanc tackles his most labyrinthine case yet. After a limited theatrical run, the film arrives on Netflix on December 12, amid whispers that it may be the sharpest entry in the Rian Johnson directed series.
Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins return to Amazon’s irradiated wasteland for a second season of Fallout, the rare video-game adaptation that captured critical acclaim and mass viewership in equal measure. With Season 1 earning a staggering 17 Emmy nominations, the follow-up expands the canvas, pushing its characters beyond the vault and into a ravaged Las Vegas.
Emily Cooper’s escapades continue, only this time Paris isn’t enough. Season 5 sees Lily Collins’ indefatigable - and downright bad? - marketing executive whisked off to Rome and Venice, where amore and high-fashion chaos intertwine. Sumptuous locations are inevitable, as is the unapologetically glossy costume design. Beloved by millions, the guilty pleasure is back.
This new adaptation of Peter Shaffer’s 1979 stage play - the first an Oscar-winning hit from 1984 - sees Will Sharpe and Paul Bettany slip into the storied roles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. The series delves deeper into the obsessive rivalry, artistic genius and corrosive envy that defined one of classical music’s most fascinating duels.
This documentary retraces the remarkable chapter of George Best’s sojourn with Cork Celtic, marking the 50th anniversary of his unforgettable spell in the League of Ireland. It features candid interviews and seldom-seen archive footage capturing Best in full flight on Leeside. He was the greatest footballer of his generation, the game’s most mercurial icon. When he walked away, the footballing world held its breath, wondering what could possibly follow. As it happened, the next move was an unexpected detour to Cork.
Hawkins returns for its final curtain call as Stranger Things releases the last two volumes of its concluding chapter. Fans are eagerly awaiting character fates: who will fall prey to Vecna and who will overcome the monster and save both Hawkins and the world as they know it? One last dive into the Upside Down before the lights go out.
