Top new series in June 2023

Get set for a feast of brand new and returning international favourites, plus two new Australian documentaries. Stream free at SBS On Demand.

(L–R) ‘The Kingdom’, ‘Clean Sweep’, ‘Couples Therapy’ season 3, ‘Sisi’ season 2. Source: SBS On Demand

Clean Sweep

‘Clean Sweep’. Source: Distributor

Shelly is a busy mum of three and married to Jason, the local detective. What neither he nor anyone else knows is that Shelly is a killer, hiding in plain sight. When her criminal ex-boyfriend shows up and threatens to expose her true identity, she makes a drastic decision. Charlene McKenna (Holding, Bloodlands now streaming at SBS On Demand) and Barry Ward (The Fall, also streaming) star as Shelly and Jason Mohan in this exciting crime drama set in the west of Ireland, and inspired by a true story.

All six episodes of Clean Sweep premiere exclusively in Australia at SBS On Demand on Thursday 1 June.

Limbo

‘Limbo’. Source: Viaplay

From Sweden comes this six-part thriller in which the friendship and priorities of mothers My, Ebba and Gloria is tested when their sons are involved in a serious car crash late one night. Starring Rakel Wärmländer, Louise Peterhoff and Sofia Helin (from SBS favourite The Bridge), this will hook you in.

Limbo premieres exclusively in Australia at SBS On Demand on Thursday 1 June.

 

Sisi – season 2

Season 2 of ‘Sisi’. Source: RTL Story House Pictures

Joining season 1, now streaming at SBS On Demand, we continue the story of Empress Sisi in this lush and romantic German-language Austrian period drama. Based on the real Bavarian princess, as a freedom-loving teenager, Sisi fell for the Austrian Emperor and captured the hearts of the public, giving the Habsburg monarchy a softer image. Growing in self-confidence, Sisi must meet plenty of emotional and political challenges, not least due to her beloved Emperor’s dark side.

Six-part season 2 of Sisi premieres exclusively in Australia at SBS On Demand from Thursday 1 June. Episodes will air on SBS later in the year. Catch up with season 1, now streaming.

Couples Therapy – season 3

Season 3 of ‘Couples Therapy’. Source: Courtesy of Showtime

Dr Orna Guralnik is back, including us in her sessions for a third season of this popular American docu-series. Dr Guralnik is the therapist we wish we had, and supports four new couples this season as they delve into their intimacy and relationship issues. With diverse backgrounds in race, gender and sexual orientation, the couples candidly expose their troubles while Dr Guralnik is ready with her compassion and clarity.

Season 3 of Couples Therapy episodes 1-9 are available on SBS On Demand from 1 June. Double episodes air at 9.40pm on Tuesdays from 6 June on SBS VICELAND. 

The Crash

‘The Crash’. Source: Distributor

Based on Holland’s biggest ever cover-up, this Dutch thriller follows Asha, Vincent and Pierre who begin to question the official account given, when in 1992, a plane crashed into two residential high-rises in the Amsterdam suburbs. Everyone was told only perfume, flowers and computer parts were onboard, but that just doesn’t add up when people begin falling ill, sparking questions from surviving residents and aid workers. Our trio of truth-seekers go up against the might of the Dutch government and Israeli secret services to uncover what really happened.

Five-part series The Crash premieres exclusively in Australia at SBS On Demand from Thursday 8 June.

The Kingdom

‘The Kingdom’. Source: SBS

Well-known to SBS viewers, Walkley Award-winning journalist Marc Fennell grew up attending the Pentecostal megachurch, Hillsong. Now, 17 years after he walked away, Marc returns to explore the rapid decline of the church, plagued by allegations of bullying, sexual harassment and financial mismanagement, and to investigate the rise of others to take its place.

Feature-length documentary The Kingdom premieres on Thursday 8 June at SBS On Demand and at 7.30pm Sunday 11 June on SBS.  

The Orchestra

‘The Orchestra’. Source: Distributor

Something fresh and fun from Denmark, The Orchestra is a ten-part sitcom set at the Copenhagen Symphony Orchestra. Similarly to France’s L’Opéra it takes us into the belly of a creative workplace, which we don’t get to glimpse all that often. Amid the extremely high professional standards expected of all at the Orchestra are the hierarchies, intense power struggles, jealousy and friendships that pepper the place with plenty of drama; it seems to follow us humans everywhere. Here though, the genre is definitely comedy.

The Orchestra premieres exclusively in Australia at SBS On Demand on Thursday 8 June.

Patriot Brains – season 2

‘Patriot Brains’ season 2 host Sue Perkins. Source: SBS

This fun and quirky trans-Tasman quiz show is back with a brand-new host. Sue Perkins takes the reins from fellow funny Brit, Bill Bailey. (You can also see Sue in Sue Perkins’ Big American Road Trip, now streaming at SBS On Demand). Season 2 has done away with team captains, but will still deliver our favourite comedians, including Becky Lucas, Luke McGregor, Nazeem Hussain and Heath Franklin for Australia, and Guy Montgomery, Urzila Carlson, Hayley Sproull and Josh Thomson for New Zealand. Each team must answer questions about their own country or risk humiliation by the other team answering it correctly. With topics as oddly specific as ‘Regional Advertising’, ‘80s Sex Symbols’ and ‘Drug Busts’, this is not your run-of-the-mill quiz show, and that’s just the way we like it. 

Ten-part season 2 of Patriot Brains airs at 8.30pm Wednesdays from 14 June on SBS VICELAND. You can stream episodes at SBS On Demand after they go to air.

 

Deep Fake Neighbour Wars

‘Deep Fake Neighbour Wars’. Source: ITV Picture Desk

In a world’s first, this UK comedy uses deep fake (AI) technology to transform global celebrities into everyday bickering neighbours. Billie Eilish is a dentist and Beyonce teaches Taekwondo. Chris Rock is a wannabe strongman and Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a farmer. Pictured above are the fake Idris Elba and Kim Kardashian. Filmed as a fake reality show, the UK’s best new impressionists really get to play here.

Six-part comedy series Deep Fake Neighbour Wars premieres exclusively in Australia at SBS On Demand on Thursday 15 June.

The First Inventors

‘The First Inventors’. Source: NITV/Paramount

Actor Rob Collins presents this fascinating four-part series exploring the innovations, complex knowledge systems and scientific discoveries of the oldest culture in the world: the First Nations people of Australia. From as far back as 120,000 years ago, the communities on this land were developing sophisticated stone tools, art, agriculture, irrigation and much more. Telling a story of deep knowledge, resilience and invention, Collins meets with First Nations scientists who share exciting new insights into ancient Indigenous innovations and discoveries. A truly epic series.

Four-part docu-series The First Inventors premieres at 8.30pm on NITV on Thursday 15 June with episodes available the same time at SBS On Demand.

The Sandhamn Murders – new season

‘The Sandhamn Murders’. Source: Johan Paulin/Filmlance International AB

We can’t get enough of this Swedish crime drama, based on Viveca Sten’s best-selling novels. While it’s visually stunning, the Stockholm archipelago is the setting for some gruesome actions indeed. Alexandra Rapaport, Jakob Cedergren, Jonas Malmsjö, Anki Lidén and Ping Mon H. Wallén star.

All three episodes of new-season The Sandhamn Murders premiere exclusively in Australia at SBS On Demand on Thursday 15 June.

Hudson & Rex – seasons 1 and 2

‘Hudson & Rex’. Source: Duncan de Young/Shaftesbury Pope Productions

Yes, it’s that Rex! This is a Canadian remake of everyone’s favourite detective show, Inspector Rex. Here, Charlie Hudson (John Reardon) is more than happy to team up with his “highly trained law enforcement animal”, Rex, who is not only excellent at his job, but doesn’t chew his ear off like his human colleagues are wont to do. Mayko Nguyen plays his co-worker Sarah Truong and Kevin Hanchard plays Superintendent Joseph Donovan.

Seasons 1 and 2 of Hudson & Rex premiere exclusively in Australia at SBS On Demand on Thursday 22 June.