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The original recommendations appeared in PerthNow’s television column.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Heartstopper #1-6 Box Set | $71.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Heartstopper #6: A Graphic Novel | $14.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Heartstopper: The 100% Unofficial Collector's Guide / Heartstopper Forever: Coming of Age Special... | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Heartstopper #1-4 Box Set | $46.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Nick and Charlie (Heartstopper) | $9.19 | Buy on Amazon |
The five shows at a glance
| Title | Format and tone | Best for | Original Australian schedule | Key caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aussie Shore | Explicit ensemble reality | Viewers wanting nightlife, conflict and spectacle | Thursday on Paramount Plus | Strong language, sexual behaviour, nudity and adult situations; check the current classification |
| Take Five | Music and celebrity interviews | Conversation, culture and artist profiles | Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. on ABC | Its impact depends on the host, guests and depth of each interview |
| Joan | 1980s historical crime miniseries | Stylish dramas about reinvention and morally complex leads | Tuesday on Stan | A dramatisation of a real life, not a documentary reconstruction |
| Last Days of the Space Age | Australian period family drama | 1970s social history and local stories | Wednesday on Disney | Western Australian viewers may question the authenticity of its locations |
| Heartstopper season 3 | Queer coming-of-age romance | Warm, character-led relationship drama | Thursday on Netflix | Mental-health and emotional-distress themes sit alongside the sweetness |
All five entries were presented for Australian viewers in that 2024 publication week. Readers elsewhere may not have access to the same services or catalogues.
Aussie Shore: the deliberately provocative pick
The Australian adaptation of the Geordie Shore reality format was filmed in Cairns, with Charlotte Crosby serving as “House Boss”. The premise is a group of young adults living, partying and forming relationships under constant cameras. The article’s “truly outrageous” label is a critical characterisation, not an objective content rating.
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Its likely draw is immediate rather than plot-driven: hookups, arguments, nightlife, strong personalities and the chemistry—or friction—inside the house. The original review found several cast members likeable and singled out Catia as a standout, but that is an opinion rather than a measurable ranking.
Who should watch
- Viewers who enjoy chaotic ensemble reality and social conflict.
- Adults comfortable with explicit language, sexual references and nudity.
- Anyone seeking spectacle rather than a tightly constructed narrative.
What may not work
If you want nuanced character development, a coherent story arc or family viewing, the repetitive cycle of partying and confrontation may feel shallow or exhausting. “Aimed at a young audience” in reality-TV marketing does not make the programme suitable for children or younger teenagers. Use the platform’s current classification and warnings.
Take Five: a calmer, conversation-first alternative
Take Five is the television offshoot of a long-running podcast, hosted by Rowe. The format centres on extended conversations rather than competitions, eliminations or scripted plot. Guests cited in the original column include Bill Bailey, Claudia Karvan, Dannii Minogue, Casey Donovan and Bernard Fanning.
Rank #2
The selling point is the interviewer’s ability to move beyond routine promotional questions. For music fans and culture viewers, that can reveal working methods, career turning points and personal perspectives that a short press junket rarely reaches.
Who should watch
- People who prefer reflective interviews to noisy reality television.
- Music and entertainment fans interested in how artists think and work.
- Viewers wanting a low-intensity programme for a single evening.
Trade-off
The experience varies with the guest and the conversation’s depth. Viewers who need a strong narrative engine may find an interview series too dependent on personality and chemistry.
Joan: glossy crime and reinvention
Starring Sophie Turner, Joan is set in 1980s London. Joan leaves a disastrous marriage and reinvents herself as a jewel thief. The story is based on the real-life Joan Hannington and her memoir, but the series necessarily dramatises events, characters and timing.
Its appeal lies in the collision of glamour and hardship: bold period style, criminal ambition, motherhood and a protagonist making morally dangerous choices. Turner’s casting was a major reason the miniseries attracted attention.
Is it romanticising crime?
The polished surface can make theft and criminal networks look aspirational. That is different from endorsing them. A useful way to watch the series is to hold both elements in view: the escapist fashion and momentum, and the consequences of family breakdown, poverty, victimisation and illegal choices.
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Who should watch
- Fans of stylish period crime dramas.
- Viewers drawn to morally complicated women and stories of reinvention.
- Sophie Turner viewers curious to see her lead a contemporary drama.
Last Days of the Space Age: the omitted local title
Although it was absent from the original headline, Last Days of the Space Age was part of the recommendation list. Set in Perth in 1979, it follows a married couple played by Radha Mitchell and Jesse Spencer while personal and social upheaval reshape their lives.
Rank #4
For Western Australian viewers, place is part of the subject. Period drama depends on streets, landscapes, architecture and production design to make a past feel lived-in. The original review’s main reservation was that the series was not filmed in Western Australia, which may be noticeable to people who know Perth well.
That concern does not erase the attraction of the cast or the 1970s setting. The more useful question is whether the family story remains compelling when local authenticity feels imperfect.
Who should watch
- Viewers interested in Australian social history and family drama.
- People for whom setting and cultural detail matter as much as plot.
- Audiences willing to judge the recreation of Perth on atmosphere as well as geography.
Heartstopper season 3: warmth with heavier emotional material
The third season continues the relationship between Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor). Their romance remains the emotional centre, but Nick is also beginning to understand the seriousness of Charlie’s mental-health difficulties. The result is more than a simple feel-good love story.
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The series balances tenderness, queer representation, friendship and coming-of-age uncertainty with discussions of mental illness, eating disorders and emotional distress. Those subjects should be treated as experiences requiring care—not merely as devices to intensify a romance.
Who should watch
- Fans of gentle, character-led romantic drama.
- Viewers who value emotionally open queer coming-of-age stories.
- Audiences comfortable with a tonal shift from sweetness to difficult conversations.
Content note
Check Netflix’s current episode guidance if discussions of mental illness, eating disorders or distress are difficult for you or someone watching with you. Its idealistic tone will not suit viewers seeking cynical, gritty or plot-heavy drama.
Which programme fits your mood?
| If you want… | Start with… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The most chaotic and explicit option | Aussie Shore | Nightlife, hookups, conflict and deliberately sensational reality-TV energy |
| The most thoughtful watch | Take Five | Long-form conversations with performers and cultural figures |
| Stylish crime drama | Joan | 1980s glamour, criminal ambition and a morally complicated protagonist |
| Australian period storytelling | Last Days of the Space Age | 1979 Perth, family pressures and social change |
| A tender romance with serious themes | Heartstopper | Charlie and Nick’s relationship alongside mental-health storylines |
Where the original Australian schedule placed them
The September 2024 column listed Take Five at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on ABC, Joan on Stan Tuesday, Last Days of the Space Age on Disney Wednesday, Aussie Shore on Paramount Plus Thursday and Heartstopper on Netflix Thursday.
Those entries are historical. They do not establish August 2026 availability, subscription pricing, classifications, episode counts or catalogue status. Before subscribing, search the title directly in your country’s service catalogue.
Official service pages for the original Australian context
Rights vary by territory, licensing window and catalogue. A monthly subscription may be poor value for one programme if it is available through a free broadcaster, library service or temporary promotion.
The Bottom Line
This lineup works because it offers sharply different viewing experiences: Aussie Shore for unrestrained reality spectacle, Take Five for conversation, Joan for glossy crime, Last Days of the Space Age for Australian period drama and Heartstopper for tender romance with weightier themes. Treat the schedules as September 2024 history and verify availability and age guidance in your territory before watching.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
