Category: TV Series

Genre: TV Series         

Grade: B

Notable People: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Giancarlo Esposito, Created by: Guy Ritchie

Title: The Gentleman

Review: created by cutting edge director Guy Ritchie for Netflix, it is a spin-off of Ritchie’s 2019 film of the same name

Edward Horniman (the wonderfully deadpan James) has unexpectedly inherited a massive, regal estate and the title of Duke of Halstead at the reading of the last will and testament of his deceased father. He learns that the land has become part of a weed growing empire run by enchantress, and deadly, Susie Glass (Scodelario). He must navigate a wacked out, semi-sophisticated and bourgeois world of eclectic and dangerous characters with sordid agendas, while to keep his eccentric family, and himself, alive. Amusing, but on the dull side- though the legendary refined menace of Esposito makes it worth it when he is on camera (not enough). Seems an unlikely renewal to me.

Genre: TV Series     

Grade: B+/A-

Notable People: Lize Feryn, Wietse Tanghe, Matthieu Sys, Barbara Serafian, Wim Opbreauk, Sven Mattke, Created by: Jan Matthys

Title: In Flanders fields

Review: Ten part 2014 gritty mini-series on BBC/PBS (who are clearly the new kings of drama) telling the story of the Boesman family living under German occupation in Ghent, Belgium during the first world war. Flanders Fields is a common English name of the World War I battlefields in Belgium and France. The battle scenes can be an assault on the senses- as this “war to end all wars certainly was”. The horrors of the gas attacks are well portrayed as is the brutal lack of regard the Germans had for those they conquered. The story is told thru the lens of a successful doctor, his wife and their three adult (ish) children; all of whom become intricately involved in the war. No happy endings here- but very well done drama with no lack of surprises.  

Genre: TV Series      

Grade: A++

Notable People: Steve Carell, Domhnall Gleeson, Linda Emond, David Alan Grier, Created by: Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg

Title: Astrid

Review: I don’t give this rating lightly. In one of the more remarkable performances in recent memory, Steve Carrel transforms himself into the symbolic ghost of famed analyst and Auschwitz survivor, Viktor Frankl (“don’t wake me up if I am having a nightmare- the reality is much worse”), to treat a serial killer patient how is holding him hostage. Intrigued? You should be. This is a 20-minute show (until the last cataclysmic episode)- that feels like you have watched it for two hours. Darkness and intensity do not come close to describe it. This show was suggested to me by my old friend, Bruce, a renowned analytic practitioner in his own right, and I’m deeply grateful to him for the experience. Both carrel and Gleeson, as the tormented serial killer who wants to get better, are riveting. Their relationship is riveting; the mother living upstairs is riveting. Pure art. A one and done unfortunately, but the ten episodes are transformative. The end music of Leonard singing “You Want it Darker” (his last recording) with an orthodox Jewish choral backing and a Cantor is beyond fitting.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: A-

Notable People: Sara Mortensen, Lola Deweare, Created by: Laurent Burtin, Alexandre de Seguins

Title: Astrid

Review: For my money, PBS is on top of the streaming world for all kinds of wonderful drama series-although you have to like sub- titles for many of them. This is a new one, about a young woman deeply on the spectrum, who becomes unlikely friends with a very tough police officer (Deweare- Think the Zaftig one from Cagney and Lacey) and becomes an asset to the Parisian police crime fight team with her striking memory and deductive abilities. Mortensen is brilliant in the title role, incredibly nuanced, and charming- hard not to wonder if the actor herself is on the spectrum, she is so dead on. Pants a nice picture of the capabilities of people with autism and their potential and value-and it quietly funny while featuring good murder mysteries. Cast is flawless. Definitely a returner for at last two more seasons.

Genre: TV Series

Grade: B+/A-

Notable People: Jeff Daniels, L. Warren Young, Tom Pelphrey, Diane Lane, Lucy Liu, William Jackson, Ami Ameen, Created by: David E. Kelley

Title: A Man in Full

Review: another vehicle for Jeff Daniels shining star (from the great Tom Wolfe novel in a series co-produced by The Obamas); fresh off the gritty northeast coal country of American Rust, into this role as the “60 Minute Man”, a college football icon, turned ruthless businessman, living in a traditional good ol’ boy, southern power frenzy, while the world is shifting away from him. Daniel’s is spectacular and the cast formidable, though mostly not very likeable. Indefatigable Charley Croker’s business and political interests collide when the Atlanta real estate tycoon defends his empire from those wanting to capitalize on his sudden bankruptcy and fall from grace. The story, of lies, deceit and greed is set against an undertone of racial tension and social injustice, with an all-star cast of African –American actors. Pelphrey is despicable as the man with a giant inferiority complex trying to bring the great tycoon down, and Ladd is perfectly radiant as Charlies’ ex-wife. Young steels the show as the corporate lawyer turned reluctant desperate defense attorney as he searches to find his moral compass. Limited six-episode series that was intensely enough. Won’t be back.  

Genre: TV Series       

Grade: B+/A-

Notable People: Jeff Daniels, Maura Tierney, Alex Nuestaedtner, Created by: Dan Futtermen

Title: American Rust

Review: Third season not as rich as the first two for this dark and foreboding drama set in the far reaches of Western Pennsylvania coal country. Daniels is his usual amazing self (he is everywhere these days) as the lonely and depressed Police Chief, now returned to his former life as a Pittsburgh Detective. The critics really did not like this show, for reasons I can’t really understand. It is a bit slow moving, and, at times, a bit predictable. But, Daniels is a tour de force (as always) in a complicated role and the supporting cast is really good. The cinematography brilliantly captures the area’s fade and despair, and the music is dead on. Nuestaedtner shines as confused former town football hero, stuck in his home town and charged with murder. The move to Amazon from ShowTime allowed for ease of binge watching. Anything with Jeff Daniels is worth watching. Season finale suggested this would be it for this show, but it has been picked up by Amazon affiliate, Freevee, for another season. Daniels plays and sings the great country blues title song at the finale.  

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: B+

Notable People:  Toby Jones, Monica Dolan, Alex Jennings, Ian Hart, Created by: James Strong and Gwyneth Hughes

Title: Mr. Bates VS. The Post Office

Review: Labeled as “the greatest miscarriage of justice in Britain’s history”, the series tells the very uplifting and persevering story of a group of rural sub-postmasters, who fought back for over ten years to defeat the overwhelming power and bureaucracy and greed- based persecution by the behemoth division of British government. You probably have to be a PBS type to really like this one; it is very low key, but charming in it ‘s own way. A short four episode series that lets you root for the vast underdog led by the winning charm of Toby Jones and the wonderful ensemble cast.

Genre: TV Series                 

Grade: NR- not even going there…..

Notable People:  Larry David, Cheryl Hines, Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, JB Smoove, Richard Lewis, Created by LD and Gavin Polone

Title: Curb Your Enthusiasm

Review: What is there to say about this absolutely bizarre show that continued the Seinfeld tradition of being about nothing- except possibly the most annoying person ever to grace the small or large stage. The final season went out with a bang- with all kinds of late references to Seinfeld-and even a Jerry sighting. The ensemble cast of zany real Hollywood types was entertaining throughout and the main players had amazing rapport and chemistry. Watching Larry and Susie berate each other became high art. It always looked they were having too much fun doing this show. It’s tempting to believe that liking or hating this show was mostly a function of cultural background- but it may simply be one of good or bad taste-and clearly mine can go in either direction. The opening scenes of the last season’s first episode with Larry going at it fil tilt with Siri pretty much captures it all. I will miss this antichrist despite all his shortcomings, which rank as equal or greater than almost any living individual.

Genre: TV Series        

Grade: A-

Notable People: Jamie Dornan, Danielle MacDonald, Greg Larsen, Olwen Fuere, Created by: Chris Sweeney

Title: The Tourist

Review: Extremely creative and bizarre Aussie drama starring Dornan as the victim of a car crash who wakes up in a hospital in Australia with amnesia. The Irishman wakes up with amnesia in an Australian hospital. Seeking answers, he encounters a local woman who remembers him and volunteers to help him rediscover his identity. What few clues he can find hint that he has a dark past from which he must escape before it catches up with him. That’s the basic plot, which does not do justice to this very quirky, well-acted, well written series recommended to me by my connoisseur of all things art friend, Feel. Two dynamic seasons go by in a flash. This intense series has the good sense to have a number of great comic relief characters, and Dornan is quite loveable in the lead role. Surprisingly, not yet renewed for a third season.