Category: Stu’s Reviews

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: A-

Notable People:  Tom Hollander, Saskia Reeves, Tom Taylor Created by: David Nicholls

Title: Us

Review: this two part, four-hour miniseries on the ever- fulfilling Masterpiece theater, is adapted by Nicholls from his own novel. A married couple in their 50s, Douglas and Connie Petersen (Hollander and Reeves), plan to take one last “grand tour” of Europe for the sake of their teenage son Albie (Taylor), who is about to leave for college. The story begins with Connie announcing to Douglas that she thinks their marriage should end, and follows Douglas’ awkward attempts to win her back by proving he can be more spontaneous. Though no great shakes, it an honest look at real family struggles, as they traipse around Europe trying to find themselves. Hollander is a bastion of dry English humor and the cast is generally very good. On site filming in Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, Sienna, Barcelona and the Spanish seacoast is wonderful. The shows are lighter fun and good for summer watching. This is one and done mini-series.

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-

Notable People:  Elizabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Created by: Bruce Miller

Title: The Handmaid’s Tale

Review: Season Four completed last night, was way out on the fringe emotionally and intensely. Everyone either loves or hates this show. I lean towards love, but with some reservations. Season four dragged at times with too many flashbacks and felt completely over the top at others. Moss’ PTSD seems caricatured some episodes, and the dialog wavers at times. That all said, this is brilliant television. Moss redefines living right to the edge, Fiennes is brilliant in his almost nice man ultimate evil, and Strahovski, as Serena Joy, turns in a career performance (check her out a few season on “Dexter”). The show is uber-bizarre at times, but forces us to face the realities of a world run amok, which we have stuck our feet into the water with, in recent years. The finale of season four left me wondering how there could be another season, but have not heard anything to the contrary. This show is not for the over-sensitive or squeamish.

Genre: TV Series

Grade: B+

Notable People:  Kate Phillips, Stuart Martin, Ansu Kabia Created by: Rachel New

Title: Miss Scarlet and The Duke

Review: Low-key PBS Masterpiece show about a Victorian woman who steps into her father’s private eye shoes after he mysteriously passes. Well shot and costumed for the era. Nothing overly dramatic here, juts good British television. The sexual tension between Miss Scarlet (Phillips) and The Duke (Martin) is palpable and a bit reminiscent of the old Moonlighting show and the interactions between Cybil Sheppard and Bruce Willis. Second season in the works post-pandemic. No great shakes- but a fun show to watch.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: A-

Notable People:  William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Alan White, Cameron Monaghan, Emma Kenney, Ethan Cutkowsky, Created by: Paul Abbott

Title: Shameless

Review: I watched the last episode of this amazing run last night- having postponed watching the finale for month. Everyone knows about this show and most have tried it. May not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this is one of the all time ensemble casts, a show with great writing and a biting social commentary under the haze of drugs, alcohol, anti-social behavior and most, if not all, of society’s ills reflected in one fucked up family on Chicago’s Southside. The early years were must watch TV watching this unruly brood of parentless numb kids make their way in a rough and tumble world. Over time they transformed into young (and even not so young) adults. The flashback scenes, in the final episode, of the clan form 12 years ago was illuminating. When Emmy Rossum (Fiona) left the show after many years of being the eldest daughter- cum mother figure-it seemed the show might be doomed, but the remaining cast rose to the occasion, a new generation of Gallaghers was introduced and it rolled on somewhat seamlessly. Twelve years of William H. Macy (Father Frank) is a gift even in this over-the-top role as the drunken, narcissistic and useless patriarch that people step over to go the bathroom in a strongly adaptive means of family life. Rossum was wonderful before she left and White as the enigmatic oldest son, Lip, is a treasure. Like Chicago? – this show is an homage week after week. If you never checked it out, this show will provide full season of great binge watching. Most seasons now available on Hulu and Netflix as well. Personally, will really miss it.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: A-

Notable People:  Sofia Helin, Tobias Santelmann, Kyle MacLachlan, Created by: Alexander Eik

Title: Atlantic Crossing

Review: another fine series from the great storytellers at PBS’ Masterpiece. Set at the early part of the second world war, this is the well told story of Norway’s fight to not fall under Nazi dominion and of the Norwegian royal family –with highlights on the Crown Princess’ intimate and unusual friendship with President Roosevelt. Alternating between Norway, London and Washington, it is extremely well grounded in real people and real events –but with the license for wonderful storytelling. It’s also a quite revealing look at the lives of FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt. Helin is wonderfully understated as the heroic Crown Princess and Kyle MacLachlan comes as close as I’ve seen to capturing the idiosyncratic Roosevelt. Quite the inspiring story.