Alan Carr stars in Last One Laughing UK.
By now, you will be well aware of the weather warnings issued for much of the North Island this weekend.
Heavy rain and strong winds are expected as the “multi-hazard”, potentially life-threatening Cyclone Vaianu approaches New Zealand.
While you pay close attention to further warnings, tie loose items down, plan for an evacuation if you need to, think about household supplies you may need and remember to follow any local advice, you might also find yourself with some time on your hands.
And when the weather is truly terrible, binge-watching some quality TV can be a welcome distraction.
To help make things easy, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite shows, series and specials that are worth your time while the rain pours and the winds howl. Just remember to keep an eye on civil defence warnings for your region while you watch.
If you haven’t already been watching this tense, tight, medical drama, this is the perfect time to begin. The rest of us have had to go back to the dark ages and watch one episode per week, waiting patiently (no pun intended) until the next one drops every Friday. But with the season two finale now just a week away, you have plenty of time to binge from the beginning. Each episode takes place in real time, following the staff and patients of a Pittsburgh hospital emergency room over a 15-hour shift. There is blood, there are guts, there is glory, not always in that order. Noah Wyle is excellent as senior attending physician Dr Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, who may or may not be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but the extensive ensemble cast more than holds their own. Warning: at least once an episode, I hide behind a cushion thanks to the gruesome sights on screen. Absolutely do not watch while eating. - Stephanie Holmes
Where to watch: Neon (episode 14 of season two drops today, with the season finale available next Friday)
It’s the perfect time to sit down and binge this gem, as season two of the UK comedy show has just dropped, and it’s just as good as the first. The show’s premise is simple: get a bunch of very funny people in a room for the day (it’s the likes of Alan Carr, Bob Mortimer, Diane Morgan for season two), and whoever is the last one to laugh, wins. Laugh, and you are out. It’s utterly silly and practically pointless, but it will make you feel joyful while the weather gods unleash and your summer tan fades. - Jenni Mortimer
Where to watch: Prime Video
Before interviewing Melissa O’Neil (who plays Sergeant Lucy Chen), I initially dismissed The Rookie as being like any other boring cop procedural. Now, in the space of a few weeks, I’m two seasons in, hooked, and kicking myself for not watching it sooner. It’s the ultimate binge show, one you can flick on any day of the week and instantly enjoy watching the characters go about their days in the LA Police force. Action, comedy, drama, a crowd-pleaser with solid acting and likeable leads. - Mitchell Hageman
Where to watch: TVNZ+ and Netflix
A six-part meditation on love and loss from the man who created Yellowstone? Bear with me. Taylor Sheridan presents grief at Golden Hour. Fewer horses and more trout. Fewer problematic men and more complicated women. Montana glows and so do Michelle Pfeiffer’s ridiculously healthy blond locks. Nothing much happens but, at the same time, everything happens. Life, death and sex. Cowboys, city girls and woke pre-teens. I went full immersion over Easter when Auckland was still sunny and daylight saving had added a dreamy extra hour to the day. My breathing slowed, I planted bulbs for spring and at night, binged The Madison and considered that everybody we love dies, but how lucky we are to love. - Kim Knight
Where to watch: Neon
There’s a new season of Shrinking out, which means I can dedicate my weekend to the most cosy show on television. The show follows grieving therapist Jimmy (played by Jason Segel) as he navigates fatherhood, work and relationships with a cast of intrusive and caring neighbours. Both silliness and earnestness underpin this show, which is a warming combination. The best representation of this is in Harrison Ford’s performance, which is self-aware and grounded. All reviews point to season three being a stage for this star to shine, so I can’t wait to tune in. - Madeleine Crutchley
Where to watch: Apple TV
The long-awaited follow-up to 2023 Amazon series Jury Duty is almost as good as the original, which saw Ronald Gladden sign up for jury duty and what he thought was a documentary about jury service. Unbeknownst to him, he was surrounded by actors whose antics set out to test his limits. Company Retreat follows a fictional retreat for fake hot sauce company Rockin’ Grandma’s, where every employee, bar the unsuspecting temp Anthony Norman, is acting. Awkward moments and increasingly unhinged workplace shenanigans build to the big reveal, as the show’s creators aim to pull off this prank a second time. - Bethany Reitsma
Where to watch: Prime Video
Okay, it’s not exactly a single TV show, BUT three days of (almost) non-stop bangers performed live by the likes of Sabrina Carpenter, The Strokes, David Byrne, Fatboy Slim, Justin Bieber, Wet Leg and CMAT? Yes please. Invite some mates over, grab your flower crowns and glow sticks (are they still a thing?) and pretend a very wet and wild Aotearoa is the California desert for a couple of days. - Bridget Jones
Where to watch: YouTube from 11am, Saturday, Sunday and Monday
A bit like Bro Town or Lord of the Rings, Far North is one of those things that is your duty to watch, as a New Zealander, at least once in your lifetime. The upshot is that you won’t regret it, especially when you can stream this one for free. Starring national treasures Robyn Malcolm and Temuera Morrison, the show is a bloody brilliant, uniquely Kiwi story about a drug deal that sounds like a bar joke, but it’s (mostly) true. Most importantly: it’s cooked as. You will be invested, you will be talking about it with your friends, you will be googling the real case, and wondering: where are they now? - Varsha Anjali
Where to watch: ThreeNow