The Half-Time Report – Our Favourite Finds of 2019 So Far!

Get the cups of tea and orange slices ready; 2019 has almost reached half-time! And while we’re not taking a break before launching into the second half of the year, it’s a good opportunity to slow down and take a look at exactly what’s made the first six months so special.

 

From big-screen brilliance and gaming greatness to one of the finest TV finalés in recent memory, we’ve had an awful lot to love since January – which is why we’ve singled out some of the cream of the crop from the last 26 weeks. Whether you’re reminiscing or playing catch-up, here’s what’s stood out so far…

 

 

FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY

Available to rent from July 1 on Virgin Movies from €4.99

 

While die-hard wrestling fans were looking forward to this one for a while, the wider population probably had little idea what was in store – which made it one of the year’s greatest surprises! A heartwarming story told in hilarious fashion, it’s one not to be missed; handy that it lands on Virgin Movies in a matter of days, then!

 

 

 

RUSSIAN DOLL

Season One available now on Netflix, Virgin TV 999

 

Her acerbic turn on Orange Is The New Black meant we were already mega-fans of Natasha Lyonne, but this series was an unexpected delight! Innovative and inventive, it combined a perfect story arc, excellent writing and incredible performances to deliver an absolute gem of a season – and it’s just been renewed for a second one, too!

 

 

 

CATASTROPHE

Seasons 1-4 available now on All4

 

OK, so we can’t quite say that Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney’s relationship comedy-drama is a new discovery for 2019 – but it’s fair to say that the culmination of the show was an absolute revelation. We won’t give too much away, but let’s just say it’s the type of ending to put the entire four-season run in an entirely new light…

 

 

 

ACTIONDASH

Available for Android here

 

This clever gadget tracks your phone use with meticulous detail – from how many times you unlock to how long you devote on each app. If you’re curious, it’s an eye-opener, and if you feel like you’re spending a bit too much time with your pocket pal, it can provide all the answers; we just hope you won’t be too shocked by the results!

 

 

DEVIL MAY CRY 5

Available for PS4, Xbox One and PC

 

Supremely classy and impossibly cool, the latest instalment of the fabulous series is every inch the all-action romp you’d hope for – and more! Nero’s narrative and the tying up of loose ends mean there’s substance behind the style, but it’s by turning a slash-em, shoot-em, hack-em arcade game into a true theatrical experience that this one has sealed a spot on our list!

 

 

 

13 MINUTES TO THE MOON

Available on Apple Podcasts here

 

With the 50th anniversary of the moon landing approaching, you can be sure you’ll see plenty more on the subject in the weeks to come – though we doubt many will be as in-depth as this BBC World Service production. From interviews to archive recordings, it’s an impressively complete retelling of one of the most extraordinary feats in human history…

 

 

SAMSUNG S10+

Available on Virgin Mobile here

 

Whether it’s the improbably excellent Infinity-O display, the wicked Wireless Power Sharing, or cameras capable of catching just about every shot imaginable, the newest Samsung offering is bringing the heat! The performance is outstanding, and it looks the part too; in bringing up double figures, they’ve knocked it out of the park!

 

 

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