Need something heartwarming or relaxing to pop on when you're not sure what to watch? Whether it's riding around on trains with the delightful Alan Cumming, or getting a crash course into the Chinese dating scene on If Are You The One?, all of the titles in SBS On Demand's Something Lighter collection can be enjoyed without a care in the world.
Throw the phrase "guilty pleasure" out of the window. If you enjoy it, it should be all pleasure with no guilt! Instead, look forward to feeling pampered, romantic, cheeky and more. Here's a selection to show you what's waiting.
Iris – Independent
“Try to be normal.” This is the advice imparted to Iris within the first five minutes of us meeting her. Normal, as it turns out, isn’t something she’s particularly interested in. Trying to juggle her career, her boyfriend, her crush (who is also her boss) and his wife (who is also her editor), nothing seems to come easy to Iris. Modern day Paris, a love triangle (square?) and a perfectly imperfect Fleabag-esque lead, it’s hard to leave Iris without a new formed sense of independence, and a cheeky satisfaction for being embroiled in on-screen melodramatic relationship drama that you have no real life responsibility to.
Iris is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Iris
series • comedy • French
M
series • comedy • French
M
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – Adventurous
The 1950s wouldn’t be the first thought for many when faced with the question: “When was a great time in history for independent women?”, but then The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel doesn’t play by many rules. Starring the electric Rachel Brosnahan as Mrs “Midge” Maisel, and the hilarious Alex Bornstein as her comedy mentor Susie, this iconic series follows Midge as she navigates being a working mother in a world that wants to put women in a box. Watching Midge advocate for herself with humour and courage each season is thrillingly infectious, and might have the side effect of pushing you to try something new.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
series • Comedy drama
MA15+
series • Comedy drama
MA15+
If You Are The One – Romantic
24 women. One man. Usually that wouldn’t be the set up for a love story, but miraculously, in China’s most famous dating show, it is. If You Are The One follows a simple enough premise: the bachelor shows three videos of himself detailing his job, interests, previous relationships or family life, and after each video, the bachelorettes decide whether they are still interested in him, until slowly but surely there are only a small number of women left. In other hands, If You Are The One could feel shallow and cold, but remarkably, it is extremely heartwarming how open and vulnerable each contestant is. Turns out love does exist!
If You Are The One is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
If You Are the One
series • drama • Chinese
PG
series • drama • Chinese
PG
Brassic – Lawless
Watching someone stealing a car, run an underground marijuana operation and then contemplate jumping off their neighbour’s roof would usually be somber viewing, but in the hands of Vinnie and his ragtag mates, it’s surprisingly hilarious. Set in rural northern England, Brassic utilises classic dry British humour to tell the story of Vinnie, who appears as a typical late-20s working class lad, but in reality is coming to terms with his bipolar diagnosis and slowly fragmenting friendships. Never dull, sometimes sweet and always funny, Brassic is a rollercoaster ride that pauses long enough for you to utter “aw” before shooting off again.
Brassic is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Brassic
series • Comedy drama
MA15+
series • Comedy drama
MA15+
Shoresy – Cheeky
What if Eric Cartman was a Canadian ice hockey coach? Surely he’d be the witty, crass and rough around the edges Shoresy, the titular character of this Canadian comedy, a spinoff of cult favourite Letterkenny. From meticulously crafted “I’m dating your mum” jokes to silly and self aware takes on the North American jock type, Shoresy is a show so confident and cheeky in its delivery that it's only natural that attitude seeps through the screen straight into the viewer.
Shoresey is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Shoresy
series • sitcom
MA15+
series • sitcom
MA15+
Letterkenny is also streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Letterkenny
series • sitcom
MA15+
series • sitcom
MA15+
Scotland’s Poshest Train with Alan Cumming – Pampered
Who doesn’t love a ridiculously fancy and luxurious holiday that you don’t even have to leave your house for? Enter Scotland’s Poshest Train with Alan Cumming, an enchanting mix of exploring the Scottish countryside and an exploration of the history and workings of the iconic Flying Scotsman train. Playing tour guide is none other than celebrated actor and native Scot Alan Cumming, whose trademark charm shines in every anecdote. Lie back, put your feet up on the couch and indulge in a relaxing reset aboard the fanciest train in Britain, all from your lounge room.
Scotland’s Poshest Train with Alan Cumming is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Scotland's Poshest Train with Alan Cumming
series • documentary
PG
series • documentary
PG
Great Australian Road Trips – Wanderlust
Road trips around Australia aren’t a hard concept to sell. With every state and territory boasting a completely unique and culturally rich landscape, no matter where you drive in Australia you’re going to end up with your jaw on the floor in wonder. Claudia Karvan, Melissa Leong, Nazeem Hussain and Steph Tisdell take us on their journeys through the Red Centre, Far North Queensland, Tasmania and more, meeting incredible locals, learning about country and partaking in countless bucket list activities, such as swimming in a waterhole up in the Daintree. Watching this is best done with your calendar close by so you can check when the next long weekend is.
Great Australian Road Trips is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Great Australian Road Trips
series • documentary
PG
series • documentary
PG
Warm Props – Creative
It may seem counter-intuitive, but a series about the pains of making television and balancing family responsibilities simultaneously can be a perfect mixture to kick your creative bone into gear. Produced in collaboration with NITV, this bite-size series follows independent Charlie as she returns to her hometown Broome to work as an extras coordinator on a feature film. The only problem? Her estranged aunty, a local superstar in her own right, is one of the leads. Miscommunicated schedules, micromanaging production and an egotistical director; Charlie wades through it all for the love of her job. Who said making art was easy?
Warm Props is streaming at SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Warm Props
