Killers, picnics and sequels, oh my! Australian television's 2017 slate is interesting – because it blends some classics, some exhumed masterpieces and some very strange choices.
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It also sees the largest shift to date in favour of pay television, with Foxtel and the streaming services Stan, Netflix and Amazon almost overwhelming free-to-air with more ambitious choices and riskier ventures.
Which is not to say free-to-air is down for the count. Richard Roxburgh, Tony Martin and Peter Phelps in the Seven-backed Blue Murder sequel may yet turn out to be the year's most exciting television moment.
Digging up the classics, however, seems to be a big part of everyone's slate, from Seven's mining of Blue Murder, to Foxtel's Picnic at Hanging Rock remake and to Stan's acquisition of the highly-anticipated US reboot of Twin Peaks.
NINE OF THE BEST
Blue Murder: Killer Cop (Seven)
Richard Roxburgh (above) reprises the role of notorious former detective Roger Rogerson, backed by an all-star sequel to Blue Murder, featuring Toni Collette, Matt Nable, Dan Wyllie, Aaron Jeffery, Tony Martin and Peter Phelps.
Britannia (Amazon Prime)
Big-budget historical drama set in 43AD as the Roman Imperial Army sets out to crush the Celtic heart of Britannia, "a mysterious land ruled by wild warrior women and powerful druids who can channel the powerful forces of the underworld."
House of Bond (Nine)
Following House of Hancock (and mercifully lawsuit free, so far) is the "rags-to-riches-to-rags" story of business tycoon (and former Nine owner) Alan Bond, played by Ben Mingay. Also stars Rachael Taylor and Sam Neill.
Picnic at Hanging Rock (Showcase)
Joan Lindsay's iconic Australian novel about the disappearance of three schoolgirls and their teacher on a picnic in 1900 is re-imagined as a six-part drama, exploring the more provocative themes of the text: gender, control, identity and sexuality.
Ronny Chieng: International Student (ABC)
Comedy series piloted last year and co-produced with the US channel Comedy Central based on the experiences of Malaysian-born Daily Show correspondent Ronny Chieng (above) as a law student in Melbourne.
A Series of Unfortunate Events (Netflix)
Neil Patrick Harris (above) stars in the eight-part TV spin-off to the book series by Lemony Snicket (author Daniel Handler) about the three Baudelaire orphans – Violet, Klaus, and Sunny – whose guardian Count Olaf wants to get his hands on their inheritance.
Sunshine (SBS)
Four-part crime drama about a young Kenyan refugee who grows up in Melbourne and, on the brink of embarking on a professional basketball career, finds his world turned upside down when he is accused of a life-threatening assault.
Twin Peaks (Stan)
David Lynch's highly-anticipated redux of the iconic 1990s mystery series, featuring original cast members Kyle MacLachlan and Sherilyn Fenn, and Australian actors Eamonn Farren, Naomi Watts and Gia Carides.
Wake In Fright (Ten)
A two-part miniseries based on Kenneth Cook's novel about a school teacher who is travelling in the outback and ends up stranded in the small mining town of Bundanyabba with no money and no way to escape.
THE A-Z OF 2017
Australian Ninja Warrior (Nine): Obstacle course-style endurance series hosted by Rebecca Maddern.
Common Sense (Lifestyle Channel): Gogglebox tackles current affairs, serving up opinions on the week's headlines.
Crisis in Six Scenes (Amazon Prime): 1960s-era suburban comedy from legendary director Woody Allen.
Goliath (Amazon Prime): Down and out lawyer (Billy Bob Thornton) takes on the system; from David E. Kelley.
Gypsy (Netflix): Naomi Watts as a therapist engaged "dangerous and intimate" patient relationships.
Hoges: The Paul Hogan Story (Seven): Josh Lawson (below, with Ryan Corr and Justine Clarke) stars in a colourful biopic about the iconic Aussie comedian.
I'm Dying Up Here (Stan): Comedy/drama set behind the scenes of a comedy club; created by Jim Carrey.
Is Australia Racist? (SBS): Ray Martin presents a social experiment exploring a "side of Australia rarely seen".
Knightfall (SBS): The story of the Knights Templar gets the Game of Thrones treatment.
Marvel's The Defenders (Netflix): Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist merge for an epic crossover.
Newton's Law (ABC): Claudia Karvan (below) plays a suburban solicitor who returns to her life as a barrister.
Olivia Newton-John (Seven): The "personal, musical and uniquely female journey" of the iconic singer, played by Delta Goodrem.
One Night Stan (Stan): Series of stand-up specials featuring Tom Ballard, Judith Lucy and Sam Simmons.
The Real Housewives of Sydney (Arena): Melissa Tkautz headlines the latest chapter of the mannequins gone mad franchise.
Russell Coight's All Aussie Adventures (Ten): Glenn Robbins dusts off one of his iconic characters for an encore performance.
Safe Harbour (SBS): A man's encounter with a refugee boat comes full circle four years later.
Seven Types of Ambiguity (ABC): Hugo Weaving and Andrea Demetriades in an adaptation of Elliot Perlman's novel.
Sisters (Ten): Family drama featuring Catherine McClements, Lucy Durack and Magda Szubanski.
This Is Us (Ten): US comedy drama about a group of interconnected people (below) born on the same day.
24: Legacy (Ten): Miranda Otto stars in the Kiefer-less reboot of the US thriller series.
Ultimate Beastmaster (Netflix): Netflix nudges into reality with 108 competitors taking on an obstacle-course.
Underbelly Files: Chopper (Nine): The "untold, uncut" story of notorious criminal Mark "Chopper" Read.
Underground (Stan): Stunning US drama about the underground railroad in Antebellum, Georgia.
Undressed (SBS): Social experiment in which complete strangers meet and undress each other.
Untitled Hamish & Andy Project (Nine): Gap Year's hosts return to Nine with an as-yet-unveiled new TV series.
Warnie (Seven): Biopic about the "admired, criticised and publicised" cricketer Shane Warne.
The Warriors (ABC): Two young indigenous men drawn into the cyclone of professional football.
Watership Down (Netflix): Beloved novel by Richard Adams transformed into a four-part animated mini-series.
