Category: Stu’s Reviews

Genre: TV Series (Three Seasons)    

Grade:  A-/B+

Notable People: Henrik Mestad, Ane Dahl, Eldar Skar, Created by: Karianne Lund

Title: Occupied

Review:     Intense, dark and frightening Norwegian series (sub-titles) about that country’s occupation by Russia over energy resources. Paints a dismal picture of the world on multi-national intrigue and the underbelly of international politics. The portrait of the Russia is beyond bleak. I thought the first two season were quite dynamic but he third (and seemed like, last) season, felt chaotic to me and without clear direction. The end was appalling…we can only hope this kind of stuff is more fantasy than reality.

Genre: TV Series (Two Seasons)   

Grade:  A-

Notable People: Jessica Biel, Bill Pullman, Created by: Derek Simonds

Title: The Sinner

Review:     I don’t usually review individual seasons of a serial show, but each of three seasons of this drama is a completely different story line with new cast members, so here goes with Season One. This was a recommendation from my high art critic-at-large, Feel, and very, very good one. Leonard Cohen would say…” You want it darker?” ….and this is it. Normal seeming, girl- next- door type, married woman goes to beach in upstate New York, hears strange music, goes berserk, and slashes a strange guy to death…and then…it really begins. I had no idea Biel could really act, thought she was just eye candy (good biceps though) …and Pullman is magnificent as the brooding, obsessed detective. The story is intense and unfolds slowly with lots of flashback…………very complex. well shot, well-acted, well written…. Well Done.

Genre: TV Series (Two Seasons)    

Grade:  A-

Notable People: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Emma Mackey, Created by: Laurie Nunn

Title: Sex Education

Review:     If you were a fan of the X Files, you won’t believe Anderson in this role and single mom sex therapist/educator living in remote Britain…with her confused and sexually challenged son. Northing heavy here, but great story lines, wonderful ensemble acting and a wonderful mix of laughs and tears. The supporting cast in mahvelous………it’s a keeper and has just been renewed for a third season.

Genre: TV Series (Five Seasons)     

Grade:  A+

Notable People: Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Daniel Levy, Annie Murphy, Chris Elliot, Sarah Levy, Created by: Dan and Eugene Levy

Title: Schitt’s Creek

Review:     oh my……. what to say. For my money, SC is the funniest show ever to grace the small screen. The First Family of Canadian Comedy take over a depressing small town (and its sole motel) in the middle of nowhere after losing their Hollywood fortune. The plot is irrelevant…the family interaction is beyond priceless, their characters so flawed as to be peerless, and the supporting folks simply perfect. It is hard to even look at Dan Levy, as the wayward son, David Rose, without laughing. This is one for the ages. Very sadly, the coming season (now on POP TV-later this year on Netflix) will be the last. BIG Boo Hoo.

Genre: TV Series (Five Seasons)

Grade:  A

Notable People: Cilian Murphy, Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, Crated by: Steven Knight

Title: Peaky Blinders

Review:     Magnificent Netflix original/ BBC series about family gang in rough and dirty Birmingham, England in the 1920’s. You’ll grit your teeth though this one…pure intensity. Great performances……Murphy is a revelation as the head of the family. Anderson is a walking bomb-always ready to go off. The hour goes really quickly with this one. Each season (only six episodes per) has been better than the previous one. See the fires of Hell come pouring out of the factory vents in the middle of the street…quite the metaphor.