What To Watch: Duster, Cold Chisel: The Big 5-0, Overcompensating and Murderbot

Duster

Friday, streaming on Max

TV powerhouse J.J. Abrams is best known for bringing epic worlds to both the big and small screen. He’s the man behind TV mega-hits like Lost and Felicity, and has also worked on Star Wars, Star Trek and Mission: Impossible films on the big screen — he’s very much a “big deal” in Hollywood.

So it feels kinda strange that he’d be behind this series, which, if you’ve seen the promo, you’ll know is set in 1970s America and centres around a getaway driver for a crime syndicate, played by ex-Lost star Josh Holloway.

This feels odd, right? And decidedly low-fi for the bells and whistles director.

Holloway stars as Jim, an easy-on-the-eye man-about-town who gets around in a bright orange Plymouth Duster (that’s a Dukes of Hazzard-style muscle car for the uninitiated). His path crosses with a young, black female FBI officer called Nina, a character inspired by a real woman who was working at the Bureau in that era.

Nina, played by Rachel Hilson, is a new recruit investigating the crime syndicate Jim works for, and she’s determined to bring down the “Southwest Al Capone”, a shady bloke named Ezra (Keith David) — their stories form the backbone of the series.

Sadly, I can’t tell you too much more yet, but I will say this: that promo, which shows Holloway’s character answering a call from a public phone in the middle of the desert, is a great indicator of what to expect — and Abrams is clearly excited for us to see it.

“All I had was the title, the vision of the phone booth and being a fan of Josh Holloway,” he told Esquire magazine.

“When I called him with this seed of an idea and he said yes, that was when I started looking for someone to do this with.”

That person was co-creator LaToya Morgan and this is the realisation of that vision. It’s sure to have critics talking.

Cold Chisel: The Big 5-0

Sunday, 8pm, Seven

They’re the little band from Adelaide that defined the pub rock era — and 50 years later, they’re still wowing fans. This film celebrates Cold Chisel for the cultural powerhouse they are, following them as they perform at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Providing exclusive access and interviews, it includes never-before-seen photos, footage and stories from the band’s personal archive. Fans won’t want to miss it.

The Kimberley

Tuesday, 8pm, ABC

There’s something lovely about listening to Mark Coles Smith’s narration for this beautifully shot doco series, which explores the place he calls home. The cinematography is incredible, with a soaring soundtrack to match — it’s enough to make any West Aussie misty-eyed with pride. How lucky we are to observe six seasons — Wilakarra, Koolawa, Barrkana, Wilbooroo, Lalin and Jirrbal — in the Kimberley with Coles Smith as host. Don’t miss this one.

Overcompensating

Thursday, streaming on Prime Video

Pop goddess Charli XCX provides original music for this new college-set comedy, which stars Benito Skinner (also the series’ creator) playing a closeted former high school footballer who’s off to recreate himself at university. He falls in with Carmen (Wally Baram) and together the unlikely twosome navigate their first year on campus. This has all the hallmarks of a hit — can’t wait to cringe-watch it with you all.

Murderbot

Friday, streaming on Apple TV Plus

Based on the award-winning book series by Martha Wells, this stars the always-watchable Alexander Skarsgard (swoon!) as a security unit robot who becomes sentient. He’s gained free will, developing a love of trashy TV in the process. But he’s also having something of an inward existential crisis — should he reveal his new identity to those around him? Sci-fi fans will no doubt enjoy exploring this literary world on the small screen — mark your diaries.