Elections, moon landings, solar storms, and the Olympics. It was a very busy year. Closer to home, it was a very good year for dramatic exits, big wins, and dragons on M-Net channel 101! We're winding down 2024 with TV moments on M-Net that shocked, astounded, or delighted. Let's go! 🎉
WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!
Frank's exit in Reyka season 2
The return of Reyka was received with a lot of fanfare. Understandly so, thanks to an intense first season, a stellar cast, and two International Emmy Award nominations. Many of the characters from the first season returned, including its title character of course, played by Kim Engelbrecht. But there were also new faces on the scene, including Frank Rautenbach as Reyka's illicit love interest Leon Lombard. So imagine our shock and horror when the beloved actor's character died early in the season. And not in a dramatic shoot-out, but in his bed! Luckily, we still had Summertide to give us our weekly Frank fix!
Stream Reyka season 2 on DStv Stream here.
Killer reveal on White Lies
White Lies had several jaw-dropping moments and crazy twists, and we mean crazeee! But the moment that had us saying “shut the front door!” was that epic killer reveal scene. We were left speechless when “sweet” Jaime was unmasked by Edie as the killer and puppet master pulling the strings. While Jaime was basking in her 15 minutes of fame in the school’s production of The Great Gatsby, it was Edie who earned a standing ovation from us for that glorious unmasking. Epic we tell you, epic!
Recipes for Love and Murder season 2 begins filming
Tannie Maria has a taste for delicious recipes and an even bigger taste for solving murder. After a glorious first season of Recipes for Love and Murder, viewers were left wanting seconds. Season 2 began filming in April this year, and when the news broke, fans were very excited. The new season is going to be deliciously deadly with new faces and new murders. After a massive fire engulfs the small town of Eden, Tannie Maria gets dragged into yet another murder mystery filled with sinister secrets. We’ve said too much … Watch out for Recipes for Love and Murder season 2, coming soon to M-Net.
Stream Recipes for Love and Murder season 1 on Showmax here.
Dragon fight in House of the Dragon season 2
Let's not kid ourselves. The dragons are the best thing about this whole series. Their name is right there in the title, so need we say more? Well, yes we do. The highlight of the second season of the popular fantasy series was indubitably the epic dragon clash from episode 4 (The Red Dragon and the Gold). Dubbed "puppies in the sky" online, this moment saw Aemond's dragon Vhagar throttle Rhaenys's dragon Meleys, sending both plummeting to the ground. Neither survives. Now if you've ever had your dogs have a go at each other, you probably related to this moment. As much as we loved Princess Rhaenys (and Eve Best did a magnificent job portraying her), we were screaming in anguish more for the loss of Meleys, echoing our trauma at losing Viserion in Game of Thrones season 7. Beyond the emotional heft of this moment, we really need to marvel at and applaud the exemplary job this show has done in portraying the dragons. We constantly need to remind ourselves that dragons are not real, because the visual effects are so stupendous, you forget they are creatures of imagination. And what imagainations this team has!
Stream House of the Dragon season 2 on Showmax here.
Runaway bride in Summertide
Dearly beloved, Summertide has so many good moments, sad moments, and moments that make us gasp. But one of the most memorable so far, was when Rebecca pulled a runaway bride in true Julia Roberts style … and left poor Gavin licking his wounds at the altar. Ag, shame! Her wedding theme song should be, ‘Here comes trouble’.
Watch Summertide on Sundays at 18:00 on M-Net channel 101 or catch up on DStv Stream here.
Lioness wins at the SAFTAs
The second season of Lioness roared trimphumantly at this year's South African Film and Television Awards when it walked away with a SAFTA for Natasha Sutherland for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama and one for Best Actress in a TV Drama for Shannon Esra. Well done ladies! We're so proud of you.
Stream Lioness season 2 on Showmax here.
Cent'Anni, The Penguin
Arguably, and deservedly, we could have just placed this whole show on the list; but we decided to hone in one of its most memorable and unexpected highlights: the rise and fall of Sofia Falcone. Nemesis to Oz Cobb, Sofia was much more than just a foil to Oz’s grand plans. She was tough and brutal, but everything she said and did was compounded by a tragic backstory that pegged her as the antihero of the piece and Oz as the true villain he was always meant to be. While everyone around her (including the audience) thinks she’s guilty and crazy, episode 4 (titled Cent’Anni) unveiled the true tragedy of how Sofia became The Hangman. It was a story made all the more harrowing by Cristin Milioti’s magnificent performance. Brava!
Stream The Penguin on DStv Stream here.
Yellowstone finally returns
The world waited with bated breath to see what would happen next on the Dutton ranch ... and boy, we were not disappointed! Although we were sad that John Dutton (Kevin Costner) had left the series, we were still shocked to see how they pulled off the biggest TV shocker of the year (suicide, really?).We saw rattlesnakes galore (we don’t think Tater will ever recover), but we cannot help wonder whether there are other snakes in the grass – and who will eventually win the war for the Dutton ranch …
Watch Yellowstone season 5 Express from the US on Mondays at 20:00 on M-Net or catch up on DStv Stream here.
Dune: Prophecy arrives
After two hit movies in the 21st century, the epic Dune universe created by Frank Herbert expanded in the form of this prequel series. Based primarily on the book Sisterhood of Dune, by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson, Dune: Prophecy takes place 10 000 years before the rise of Paul Atreides. With sumptous costume and production design, big ideas, and an exemplary cast, this expansive universe continues to stun.
Dune: Prophecy airs Express from the US on Mondays at 03:00, and in prime time at 21:00, on M-Net. Catch up on DStv Stream here.
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House of the Dragon, The Penguin, Dune: Prophecy images: HBO
Yellowstone image: Paramount