Category: TV Series

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-

Notable People:  Alexandra Lamy, Pascal Elbe, Lionel Abelanski Created by: Harlan Coben

Title: No Second Chance

Review: Wonderful 6 part French mini-series form bestselling author Coben’s novel of the same name. Tense and complex thriller set in Paris and environs tries to solve the mystery of an unprovoked murder and kidnapping; a seemingly out of the blue occurrence to a French doctor. The cast is wonderful, the dialog snap quick and the plot well-conceived and delivered. Coincides with my getting a first in the series Coben book recently, which I am now eager to delve into. This one starts slow , but had me in its grips by the surprise ending. Watched on PBS, but appears to be on Netflix also. In French, mostly, with sub-titles.

Genre: TV Series 

Grade: A

Notable People:  Robin Renucci, Audrey Fleurot, Thierry Godard Created by: Sally Frederick Kevine, Emmanuel Dauce, Philippe Triboit

Title: A French Village

Review: A sweeping masterpiece from French TV station MHZ, in French with sub-titles. Tells the riveting tale of the small French village of Villeneuve from the beginning of the Nazi occupation in 1940 until the liberation in 1945-6. Possibly the best representation of the war years I have seen as told from the vantage of a small community devastated, overwhelmed and inalterably changed by the war and its aftermath. Brilliant recount of the initial passivity to the Nazis and loyalty to the onerous Vichy government and the burgeoning of the resistance. An array of splendid characters and story lines, meticulously recreated and detailed. Reviewers have compared in to a French version of The Wire for its plethora of well-developed characters and story lines. The last two epilogue seasons did not quite match up to the first five, but absolutely don’t miss film nonetheless. Available on Prime for free for some seasons and others for charges (Amazon Greed!)- but you can access an MHZ subscription for a month (for binge watching) through amazon for a reasonable amount- once you start and get past an initial documentary-like feel (which changes to pure drama very soon) , you will not stop. DVDs also available from your local library, which I did for last three seasons to say fuck you to Amazon.

Genre: TV Series

Grade: B+

Notable People:  Rose Williams, Theo James, Anne Reid Created by: Sally Rooney

Title: Sanditon

Review: Classic BBC Masterpiece production, created by Andrew Davies (House of Cards) from an unfinished Jane Austin novel. The show has unrequited Jane Austin love as well as J.A. burgeoning questions about woman’s place and rights in Victorian England. Set in the seaside town of Sanditon, the story follows an extended family trying to create a notable holiday destination by the sea. Scandals abound, as might be expected. The acting is top notch and Reid (Halifax) is her always magnificent detestable self. Great attention to the period via costumes, music, sets. Beautiful to watch, if you go in for classic “Masterpiece”.

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-

Notable People:  Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul Mescal, Created by: Sally Rooney

Title: Normal People

Review: Uber-intense complicated love story between two young people in rural Scotland and then in Dublin. From Rooney’s novel of the same name, it is gripping story that is so intense you think the episodes are an hour long, when they are indeed about 25 minutes. Jones and Mescal are brilliant as crossed lovers trying to get on the same page through high school and then Trinity College. The supporting cast is very good, and the dialog really captures each moment. At times, the pain of these two people is difficult to watch and it dragged a bit towards the end, but I was often moved by the story and the performances and hope for an encore season.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: B+

Notable People:  Kaley Cuoco, Michiel Huisman, Zozia Mamet, Michele Gomez Created by: Steve Yockey

Title: The Flight Attendant

Review: this show came recommended by two friends…and I initially thought they had lost their mind. They both encouraged me to persevere past the first few episodes….and frankly, the show did become more enticing. But, make no mistake, this is one bizarre story-from a novel by Chris Bohjalian (a Vermont writer know for bizarre). Cuoco is TFA, who is a drunk and a one-night stand queen, which she has with the occupant of 3C on a New York to Bangkok flight. He winds up dead in their hotel bed, she winds up in a crazed world of drug and gum smuggling, fake corporations, alcohol fueled dementia, hit men and woman of all sized and shapes, traitorous colleagues and wacked out FBI agents. Nothing is what it seems, and it’s a bit hard to follow at times, but the cast is good, there is nice underlying senses of dark humor and Cuoco carries the day, nailing an alcoholic coming apart at the seams in every way , but still, cute and funny and likeable. This is a guilty pleasure, though I think one season is enough.

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-

Notable People:  Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, Dermot Crowley Created by; Neil Cross

Title: Luther

Review: Gritty crime drama set in London with the magnificent Elba (unrecognizable from his drug kingpin role on The Wire) as the tortured detective who gets entwined with one serial killer after another. Wilson is a revelation as the likeable psychopath, Alice, who is becomes Luther’s guardian angel…with a price. The last two seasons were very abbreviated and suffered from some lack of direction, but Elba and Wilson are so good, the show remains a keeper. This one seems like a terminal ending to me, though there is rumor of film version in the works.

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-/ B+

Notable People:  Suranne Jones, Sophie Rundle Created by; Sally Wainwright

Title: Gentleman Jack

Review: Jones is a Tour de Force in this lush period piece set in 1832 in Halifax, Scotland in the story of Ann Lister’s and her dangerous and remarkable liaisons with other woman in the staid Victoria era. This is classic BBC fare but tackles a tricky subject, for the times, in a thoughtful and, at times, quite witty, manner. Good character development, wonderful cinematography and costumes and captures the essence of the times. Season two is in production and should be out soon.

Genre: TV Series    

Grade: B+

Notable People: Hugh Laurie, Helen McCrory, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Created by; David Hare

Title: Roadkill

Review: PBS miniseries on Masterpiece, starring the durable Laurie (late of “House”) as a British Deputy Minister in all kinds of sneaky trouble. Classic dramatic Masterpiece production, as only the Brits can do it, with McCrory (Peaky Blinders) doing a great turn as the Prime Minister, and Knudsen, fresh off her triumph in “Borgen”, as the mistress. Lots of darkness in a very polite way, with some surprising end game. A one shot, four-episode miniseries, that ended a bit abruptly for my taste.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Omar Sy, Created by: George Kay, Francois Uzan

Title: Lupin

Review: this one is all about the performance of Omar Sy, who is magnificent as Assande, a con-man/jewel thief following the legacy of his hero, the famous French gentlemen thief, Arsene Lupin. Set in Paris and full of mischief and wonder, Sy plays a Robin Hood type trying to avenge his father’s death 25 years earlier. Captivating six – part first series is action packed yet quite cerebral. Another quirky recommendation from my spiritual subtitle connoisseurs, Feel et Maux. Second season on the way this summer.