Sex and the City
Streaming on HBO Max
Sex and the City spent six seasons treating Miranda and Steve as the b-plot — the mostly stable couple viewers caught a glimpse of when the focus wasn’t on Carrie’s chaos.
And yet over two decades on, they’re the ones that inspired the songs of one of the world’s biggest pop stars.
Olivia Rodrigo was a one-year-old when Sex and the City wrapped its sixth and final season. Now, thanks to hits on her new album You Seem Pretty Sad For a Girl So in Love built around the pair, a new generation is discovering her favourite TV show.
Like Rodrigo, I’ve watched every season at least three times. On first viewing I aspired to be a Carrie — the fashion, the column, the martinis and late-nights, Mr Big.
But like most people who rewatch as adults with a fully formed frontal lobe, it’s Miranda who stands out. Funny, whip-smart, a ride-or-die friend, self-aware and the one who showed growth across the seasons. The scene with her bathing Steve’s mum. Her relationship with Magda. Following Charlotte home after her challenging fertility news. Gorgeous.
As for Steve, their relationship had its fumbles, but the two of them felt more normal, more level-headed and more willing to love each other as the imperfect people they were than any other couple on the show. Let’s just hope new fans don’t discover there are also two films, or that And Just Like That exists. . .
If this is all making you feel nostalgic too, here’s your homework: listen to Rodrigo’s album, click on to Cynthia Nixon’s Instagram account for a lovely time capsule of Miranda and Steve moments, and rewatch episode 18, season two, Ex and the City for the interaction that inspired maggots for brains.
Cosmopolitans optional.
Commonwealth Games
From Friday, Seven and 7Plus
It’s almost the time of the year when our sleep is disrupted as we become sport experts from the comfort of our couches. Finally, the high school netball games played in the rain and childhood gymnastics attempts are put to good use.
Naturally, we’ll be looking out for the West Aussies competing in Glasgow, including pocket rocket Rhiannon Clarke, Nina Kennedy and Peter Bol (all of which we’ve featured in the pages of STM).
And we’ll be in good hands with Seven as the official broadcaster with Matt Shirvington, Emma Freedman, Johanna Griggs and Bruce McAvaney fronting the presenting team. Let’s go!
The Dink
Friday, Apple TV Plus
Pickleball is the latest sport to get the Hollywood treatment as washed-up tennis pro Dusty, played by Jake Johnson, picks up a paddle to save his father’s country club and earn his approval, with Ben Stiller producing and starring alongside Ed Harris and Mary Steenburgen, plus Aussie comedian Aaron Chen. This is perfect Friday night viewing, looks like a lot of fun.
The Agency S2
Streaming on Paramount Plus
The new season of this excellent spy series dropped without fanfare, and yet it’s been one of my favourite watches of 2026 so far. If it’s not on your radar, add it immediately: Michael Fassbender, Jodie Turner-Smith and Richard Gere all star in the twisty CIA thriller that takes them across the world, from Iran to London and Africa.
72 Hours
Friday, Netflix
This film starring Kevin Hart and a bunch of actors and comedians you’ll know by face, but perhaps not name, has Hangover-meets-Superbad-energy — it will make you wince and laugh in equal measure. Hart plays a 40-year-old exec who joins a Gen Z bachelor party, desperate to feel young again before, to no one’s surprise, nothing goes to plan.
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