WOMEN really are front and centre of some cracking TV at the moment, whether writing it, starring in it or both - think Killing Eve, The Bay, Fleabag, The Widow, to name just a few.

And over on Netflix, it's no different.

As soon as Dead To Me popped up, it was put straight to the top of my 'next binge' list, simply by its two lead cast members alone - Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. It's also written by Liz Feldman, creator of sitcom 2 Broke Girls.

It's a 10-episode series and I sat down ready to demolish a few episodes but the pilot left me needing a break. I'll get back to that.

Real estate agent Jen (Applegate) has recently lost her husband in a hit-and-run accident, and retirement home worker Judy (Cardellini) suffers the loss of her fiance to a heart attack. The two strangers meet at a Friends of Heaven support group, and despite having chalk and cheese personalities, form a bond.

Things go along with a nice balance of humour and sadness, and then bam! Ooooh, plot twist.

Secrets are revealed that alter everything.

No spoilers here but suddenly the dynamic is changed and it takes some strength of character and brutal honesty for this fledgling friendship to have any hopes of surviving.

By now, Judy has moved into the pool house at Jen's, with her eldest son making it clear he thinks it's crazy to invite a stranger into their home. And I suspect he's right.

There's a great comic thread throughout Dead To Me (Jen's business partner Christopher is a one-line scene stealer) that lures the viewer into thinking it's lighthearted but it's getting dark and I suspect it's only going to get darker.

Which brings me to that break I needed. The first episode already throws a few twists but then the closing scene left me gobsmacked. For me it was one of those 'well I did not see that coming' moments.

I've watched the second episode and frankly I'm on pins. Applegate and Cardellini are delivering great performances, with the writing keeping me on my toes. Where this one is going, I simply cannot call it but I can't wait to find out.

UPDATE: I binged on the rest of the series. So good, highly recommend.