review

Screen Queen TV Reviews: It Gets Worse, Big Brother, Nocturne, The Mob & The One About Matthew Perry

This week Screen Queen Clare is peeping a new Girls-esque comedy, checking back in with Big Brother, creeping herself out with Nocturne and wondering if she should watch the Netflix Matthew Perry doco.

Headshot of Clare Rigden
Clare Rigden
The West Australian
Emily Fairn, Leo Reich and Olive Gray star in It Gets Worse.
Emily Fairn, Leo Reich and Olive Gray star in It Gets Worse. Credit: Unknown/Supplied

It Gets Worse

Thursday, streaming on Foxtel and Binge

Last week, Lena Dunham announced her seminal comedy series Girls would be returning next year for a five-episode special — I passed away with excitement.

Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.

Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.

Email Us
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.

Her HBO series, which premiered in 2012 and ran for six glorious seasons, is perhaps my favourite TV show of all time, which is saying something.

A few days later, from beyond the grave, I watched a screener for It Gets Worse. And who should pop up in a guest role but Ms Dunham herself?

Passing the mantle: Lena Dunham pops up in It Gets Worse.
Passing the mantle: Lena Dunham pops up in It Gets Worse. Credit: Unknown/Supplied

By then I’d already decided this British comedy, all about a bunch of best mate roommates living in London in their twenties, was a worthy successor to Dunham’s genius comedy, so her unexpected cameo felt entirely appropriate.

Of course she’d lend her voice to this incredible new series. It all felt right.

Not since Fleabag have I fallen so in love so instantaneously with a show.

From the very first instance, I knew I was going to adore it, even though I wasn’t entirely sure I actually liked any of the main characters, a dysfunctional bunch of pseudo-adults in inner-city London f...... up left, right and centre.

Still, having watched Girls, I already recognised that liking a show and liking the characters are concepts that exist entirely independently in my brain. I was able to lean into the chaotic hilariousness of this fabulous series, written, created and starring comedian Leo Reich.

Oh, and Fleabag’s very own Hot Priest, Andrew Scott, also pops up. RIP me, all over again.

Big Brother

Monday, 7.30pm, Ten

Mel Tracina is the new Gretel Killeen.
Mel Tracina is the new Gretel Killeen. Credit: Supplied

Anyone else lose hours and weeks of their life watching Big Brother’s TikTok Live Stream last year?

Just me? Yeah — that checks out.

The show, and its addictive live element, is back, with The Cheap Seats’ Mel Tracina once more at the helm. She was fabulous last season, a worthy successor to Gretel Killeen, who remains the GOAT in my mind.

Here’s hoping they keep up the momentum.

Now, if you need me, I’ll be watching strangers sleeping . . .

The One About Matthew Perry

Tuesday, streaming on Netflix

The One About Matthew Perry is coming to Netflix.
The One About Matthew Perry is coming to Netflix. Credit: Supplied

Not sure how I feel about the post-mortem celebrity doco: they feel a dime a dozen these days. It doesn’t bode well that Perry’s Friends co-stars declined to take part. Still, this has his family’s blessing, so I’ll be curious to take a peek.

The Mob

Monday, streaming on Disney Plus

Parker Posey presides over The Mob, a new reality TV format coming to Disney Plus.
Parker Posey presides over The Mob, a new reality TV format coming to Disney Plus. Credit: Andrea Miconi/Disney

A bunch of celebs are sequestered in an Italian villa, tasked with tackling mob movie-inspired challenges for a chance to win big, with Parker Posey presiding. Sounds fab, right? But will this Traitors-inspired deception contest stack up? Intrigued.

Nocturne

Friday, streaming on Apple TV Plus

Nocturne is coming to Apple TV Plus.
Nocturne is coming to Apple TV Plus. Credit: Supplied

Adolescence’s Stephen Graham stars as a creepy AF serial killer locked in a psych ward, who is playing mind games with Liev Schreiber’s ex-detective character. This had me hooked from ep one — can’t wait to see more.

Originally published on The West Australian

Latest Edition

The Nightly cover for 23-10-2026

Latest Edition

Edition Edition 23 October 202623 October 2026

Aussie skin cancer breakthrough hailed as ‘moon-landing’ moment.