Screen Queen TV Reviews: Big Brother, The Death Of Bunny Munro, the ARIAs, Working Class Man and Train Dreams

Big Brother

Streaming on Ten and 10Play

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to remember what it feels like to be bored. With phones at our fingers, spare moments these days are spent scrolling and swiping. Those long, boring moments of our 80s and 90s childhoods — time we spent hanging upside down on couches, or watching raindrops race down windows — seem like quaint, distant memories.

Watching this year’s Big Brother is taking me back to that bygone time.

When I spoke to BB host Mel Tracina recently, she insisted the show would be “all about watching people being bored in a house” and she’s right — it is. But here’s the thing: turns out it’s just what my frazzled brain needs right now.

Today I watched this year’s housemates play a game of I Spy via the show’s live stream. It was “something beginning with WC”, and when “wood chip” was finally guessed, I felt a measure of satisfaction in having correctly guessed it moments before. I saw a TikTok of another person who’s been watching the stream at 3am; apparently the sound of the housemates snoring in the Big Brother bedroom sends her right back to sleep.

There’s something weirdly addictive about watching people being bored, or doing nothing — maybe because it reminds us of that long-forgotten sensation of having nothing to do, nowhere to be, and no omnipresent screen enticing us to waste another 10 minutes scrolling the endless nothingness and everythingness of the World Wide Web.

Before you come at me: yes, I get the irony that I am beating my own boredom by watching others try to beat their own boredom. But, honestly, I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Now, if you need me, I’ll be hanging upside down on my couch watching strangers entertain themselves. An excellent use of free will, if I do say so myself.

The Death of Bunny Munro

Thursday, screening on Binge

Matt Smith plays Bunny Munro, the morally bankrupt, sex-addicted door-to-door salesman at the centre of Nick Cave’s 2009 novel of the same name, which has been adapted for the small screen.

If you’ve read the book, then you’ll know Bunny is not what you’d call a likeable character. After the death of his wife, he takes his nine-year-old son on a chaotic road trip, where his life careens steadily more out of control, and your heart breaks for the innocent young boy caught up in the chaos of his life.

It’s testament to Smith’s considerable talents that you want to stick with this story, despite how detestable the titular character can be at times.

This is a moving story, beautifully shot. Worth a look.

Working Class Man

Monday, 7.30pm, Seven

I’m not a massive fan of his music, but I am a huge fan of Jimmy Barnes after learning more about his storied life through his first doco, Working Class Boy. This sees the musician riffing on what came next — it’s every bit as fascinating as you’d imagine. Don’t miss this one.

ARIA Awards 2025

Wednesday, from 2pm, Paramount Plus

This is streaming live on Paramount Plus from 5pm AEDT, and I’ll be tuning in, if only to see the ridiculous outfits that will no doubt be worn by this year’s guests. Troye, pictured, bucked the trend last year and opted for business “casual” — go off, king.

Train Dreams

Friday, streaming on Netflix

This beautiful film, starring Joel Edgerton, is sitting pretty with a 97 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and has been universally praised by critics. Don’t miss its streaming debut this week.