Category: TV Series

Genre: TV Series 

Grade: A-

Notable People:  Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Baskar, Peter Egan, Created by: Chris Lang

Title: Unforgotten

Review: Unusual BBC crime drama set in London focused on a special police unit that solves very old, cold cases. Walker (Last Tango in Halifax) is brilliant as the team plagued by conscience about the effects unsolved cases have on those left behind. The cast is wonderful. Each season’s new story arc is complex and totally believable. Atypical of crime shows as there is not much actual criminal activity or violence as the cold case team methodically identifies and tracks down suspects from 30-40-year-old cases. Walker’s relationship and interaction with her elderly father (Egan) is riveting and the level of compassion evidenced extraordinary. Early seasons are now on Netflix and the last season just finished on PBS. The show will not continue further, but is a well worth the time commitment. Direction and dialog are flawless.

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-

Notable People:  Adrien Dunbar, Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, Created by: Jed Mercurio

Title: Line of Duty

Review: Extremely well done BBC production about London-based police Anti-Corruption unit (AC-12). Each of the six seasons was a totally new story arc with wonderful lead guest stars like Kelly MacDonald (Boardwalk Empire) and Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard, The Durrells). The three mainstays: Dunbar, Compston and McClure are all superior actors and the ensemble woks really well. The last season (six) gripped you from the first moment and never let go. Rumors suggest another season in a year or so.  Most popular show on British telley for last six months. Thanks to Brother Feel for the excellent rec.

Genre: TV Series     

Grade: B+

Notable People:  Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, Cathy Moriarity, Jill Hennesy, Lauren E. Banks Created by: Chuck Maclean

Title: City on a Hill

Review: Developed by Maclean, along with Boston cronies Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, this 90s era series has “The Wire” ambitions, which fall short. Is it a gritty and well-made, and the role of a lifetime for Bacon, who provides distraction with his peacock strutting, just barely –this – side of- the law FBI agent routine. Cast is solid, captures the 90s really well and Hennesy shines in a very nuanced role. Very in depth look at the underside of Boston politics and policing. Surprisingly renewed for a third season, when it seemed it had probably run its course after season two.  Classic line from boundary- less FBI agent Jackie Rohr (Bacon)- “In Boston we hate two things…..Racism.. and Blacks”.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: NR

Notable People:  Mark McKenna, Ciara Bravo, Joshua J. Williams, Stephen Kearin, Created by: Shawn Simmons

Title: Wayne

Review: This from the IMBD summary on “Wayne”: “Wayne, a 16 year-old Dirty Harry with a heart of gold, sets out on a small two stroke road bike from Boston to Florida with his new friend Del to get back the shit-hot 79′ Trans-Am that was stolen from his father before he died.” I have never before used someone else’s review, but could not figure out how to summarize this truly bizarre show. Despite the show seeming to be nuts at times, it captured our attention in a constant “are you puling our legs on this, or not”, kind of way. I also could not give it a rating- it’s definitely a love it or hate it show, but Wayne is an unforgettable character- along with several others on the series.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: A-

Notable People:  Omar Sy, Herve Pierre, Ludivine Sagnier, Antoine Gouy, Created by: George Kay and Francois Uzan

Title: Lupin

Review: this French series (sub-titles) is the bomb- a magical recounting of Assane Diop (the wonderful Sy) – a gentleman French burglar, trying to avenge the plotted death of his father by a corrupt French millionaire. Diop models himself on his childhood hero, the internationally known French thief, Arsene Lupin, and the show is a whirlwind of sleight of hand, Houdini like escapes and brilliant ploys. The cast is outstanding, the filming in Paris magnificent and each plot a barn burner. Just captivating serial TV. A third season is in the works- can’t wait.

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.