Sometimes it feels like Netflix is trying to dig around for the most macabre concept it can possibly find to push into a streaming doco hit. Well, they might have just found it with Maternal Instinct,” writes streaming columnist NICK OVERALL.

The disturbing true crime film Maternal Instinct follows the case of Texas woman Taylor Parker, who not only faked a pregnancy but committed murder to keep her secret.

The monstrous lie, as Netflix’s doco explores, extended to shocking extremes.

Fake doctors’ appointments, a sham gender-reveal party, an ultrasound bought online, even using a silicone belly to deceive her partner and her family.

Then came the truly horrific part of Parker’s plan.

I won’t reveal what happened so as not to spoil it for those interested to watch, but so extreme was it that right now she’s on death row.

The director of the film, Jessica Dimmock, said she wanted to make sure the focus remained on the victims of the crime and how it impacted their lives, making the conscious decision to not interview the perpetrator herself.

One X (formerly Twitter) user summed it up pretty well: “After watching it, I felt like I needed an hour of silence.”

Or this review, also on social media: “I’ve watched a lot of crime and serial killers, but man, this was something else.”

For many, such a reception might turn them off. For others it’s undoubtedly a morbidly intriguing invite.

This is a hard watch even for true-crime junkies, but the sympathetic approach in an age of exploitative streaming hits is commendable.

IN a time where crime mysteries are a dime a dozen thanks to streaming over-saturation, a show that truly does something bold is hard to come by.

But with Sugar, now streaming its second season on Apple TV Plus, viewers definitely get something different, for some even more than they’re bargaining for. 

This slick, neo-noir series is set in LA and stars Colin Farrell as private investigator John Sugar.

Also a major film buff, this soft-spoken sleuth combines his biggest skills when he’s tasked with investigating the disappearance of the granddaughter of a major Hollywood producer.

A little by the books in its premise, but around halfway through the first season Sugar took a dramatic story pivot that transforms its genre entirely.

Some loved it. Others hated it. This humble columnist personally found the change came just before getting the itch to change to another show and re-hooked me entirely. 

I feel like I’m almost spoiling it via mere mention of this formula twist, but it’s worth talking about to get viewers intrigued.

On its surface the series has everything it needs to be a perfectly serviceable crime drama that would have done well for Apple.

But in an age where these scripts are so common they feel like they’ve been copied and pasted, Sugar takes a turn that truly proves a sweet surprise.

NETFLIX has doubled down on the glitter and pom-poms in its third season of hit reality show America’s Sweethearts.

Adding to the platform’s extensive catalogue of sport documentaries, this one explores the world of competitive cheerleading – following the squad for the Dallas Cowboys NFL team.

While glamorous on its exterior, it turns out the grind can be brutal.

Days-long rehearsals, constant injury management and a relentless pressure to move with perfect precision make cheerleading at the elite level an intense feat.

The documentary has unsurprisingly proven a hit, bringing in more viewers with each season.

One of the biggest talking points when the show first released was how little the cheerleaders were paid despite their efforts.

Converted to the Aussie dollar, it worked out to be the equivalent of around $25 an hour for rehearsals and around $700 for game day.

After Netflix’s doco hit the platform though, the team managed to negotiate a whopping 400 per cent pay rise for the 2025 season. 

Now that’s something for them to cheer about. 

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