Author: stumberry

Genre: TV Series (Three Seasons) 

Grade:  A

Notable People: Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, John Lithgow, Helena Bonham-Carter…and a cast of thousands Crated by: Peter Morgan

Title: The Crown

Review:     If you have any interest in 20th century history or royalty or all things British…this is a don’t miss show. Brilliantly written, the three seasons have gone from Queen Elizabeth’s wedding in 1947 through her fathers’ (King Edward) death and her ascension to the throne, and in the third season up through 1977. That covers 25 years on the throne-which is amazingly only about a third of the time she has reigned. Fascinating character portrayal by Foy as the younger for the first two seasons and the magnificent Colman as the latter day Queen for season three, which involved a total cast changeover for the aging royal family. Lithgow does an amazing turn as the fading Winston Churchill. Attention to detail is magnificent and the extended stories on the abdicated King David, the Crown Princess Margaret and young Prince Charles…are quite compelling. This show is well worth your time…..brilliant.

Genre: TV Series (Seven Seasons)     

Grade:  A

Notable People: Lieb Schreiber , Jon Voight, Eddie Marsan, Susan Sarandon, Created by: Ann Biderman

Title: Ray Donovan

Review:     Dark, Dramatic, disturbing at times….brilliantly written show about Boston Southie tough kid, with lots of Demons, who grows up to be a Hollywood Fixer extraordinaire. Recent seasons moved to New York locale, but flavor does not change. The casting is top notch…never would have imagined Schreiber in this role, but he owns it. Voight is having a career renaissance with this part, and Marsan is in the role of lifetime. And he could not be better. Very ethnic, very gritty, very real. The plots are riveting, the dialog rapid fire (except for Ray/Lieb who is a man of very few words-but a very big bat), and the characters are amazingly complex and fascinating. Each season has gotten better despite the loss of early star Paula Malcolmson (Ray’s wife) after season five. No end in sight on this one…thank the TV Gods for that.

Genre: TV Series (Two Seasons)  

Grade:  A

Notable People: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Olivia Coleman, Andrew Scott, Created by: Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Title: Fleabag

Review:     Wow…..all I can say is WOW….this one is really out there…lonely young woman in London tries to find love while coping with immense grief….sound funny? Well, it’s hilarious at times. …Bridges deadpan and extraordinary dialog with the audience is unparalleled. The show is developed from her one woman stage show…clearly brilliant….first season started off very slow, and we almost gave up…give it minute…second season is unbelievable with the addition of the beyond-gifted Coleman (Queen in The Crown) ..and the multi-talented and very seductive, Scott (Moriarty in Sherlock)….don’t know whether to bawl or belly laugh at times….Season three coming soon.

Genre: TV Series (Three Seasons)                    

Grade:  A-

Notable People: Rufus Sewell, Joel de la Fuente, Alexa Devalos, Chelah Horsdal, Brennan Brown,   Created by: Frank Spotnitz

Title: The Man in the High Castle

Review:    A far out take on revisionist history, in which the Nazis and Japanese won the war and share control of the US….from master storyteller Philip K. Dicks’ 1970s series of novels…very well done, captivating, mesmerizing at times….back and forth between alternate universes without much seeming like science fiction…the scenes set in Japanese controlled San Francisco are particularly compelling. Cast is first rate…cancelled after three seasons and probably had run its course…was getting a bit repetitive in last season, and ending was disappointing….but very thought provoking and entertaining show to watch.

Genre: TV Series (Three Seasons) 

Grade:  A

Notable People: Giovanni Ribisi, Margo Martindale, Peter Gerity, Marin Ireland,  Created by: Bryan Cranston and  David Shore

Title: Sneaky Pete

Review:    Wow…..this is one not to be missed. Hard not to binge this captivating show about a con man who assumes his cell mates’ identity when released from prison to create a big score with his mates ‘family in rural Connecticut. Convoluted, complex, exceedingly well written. Ribisi is brilliant and the two grandparents (Martindale of “The Americans”, and Gerity, of “Ray Donovan”) are spectacular. Wonderful television!!! Sad note, the show has mysteriously been canceled despite great ratings. Bummer…but watch what you can.

Genre: TV Series (One Season)

Grade:  A-/B+

Notable People: Richard Madden, Keely Hawes, Sophie Rundle, Pippa Haywood, Created by: Jed Mercurio

Title: The Bodyguard

Review:    One season…six episodes…pure intensity….London and Britain are under siege from radical terrorists- focused on the Home Secretary (Hawes), who is a get- tough proponent. Her police protection detail is headed by Madden, in a complex PTSD Afghan War vet role. It is a horrific look at power and control and the villainy of many if government to get what they want. Madden (Rob Stark… and unrecognizable) and Hawes (The Durrell’s of Corfu…what a role shift)…are impeccable…and have some scenes that would have been too hot for tv a few years ago. I thought last few episodes waned…and can’t see what there is to bring back another season….but quite riveting.