Category: TV Series

Genre: TV Series   

Grade: A-

Notable People: Inbar Lavi, Rob Heaps, Parker Young, Marianne Rendon, Brian Benben, Katherine LaNasa, Created by: Adam Brooks and Paul Adelstein

Title: Imposters

Review:  Absolutely loved this show. Fantastic ensemble cast of very likeable characters-which is refreshing from most quality TV dramas these days. Con woman totally destroys three people she marries, embezzles and leaves in the lurch; they find each other; set out to find her and get their money and esteem back; become con artists themselves. Wacky plot across America with handful of wonderful character actors. Great comic relief. Can’t take your eyes off the temptress, Lavi. Originally on Bravo, Season three may be in the Netflix wind.

Genre: TV Series    

Grade: B+

Notable People: Ramy Youssef, Hiam Abass, Amr Waked, May Calamawi, Created by: Ramy Youssef

Title: Ramy

Review:  Bizarre show chronicling the lives of a traditional Egyptian family resettled in the North Jersey burbs….in dramedy form. Found this show barely watchable initially, but it really grew on me. This is a culture most of us know little about, but Ramy’s take on the subtleties of living in two worlds in quite the effort. Abass (“Succession”), as his mother, plays a role for the ages- chain smoking, watching TV game shows all day and driving an Uber. Alternates between laughing and crying. Very different from most anything l see on TV. The gifted Mahershala Ali has a brilliant recurring role…. bonus.

Genre: TV Series      

Grade: B+

Notable People: Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieren Culkin, Matthew Macfaden, Nicholas Braun, Created by: Jesse Armstrong

Title: Succession

Review:  This is one ugly show …. I’d call it “Billions” light…. not quite the potency of characters as the latter, but a lot of the same themes and set in the hard to believe world of NYC high corporate culture. Cox, a Shakespearian actor, is a powerhouse as the relentless patriarch of the Roy clan. The acting is all very good, but there is nary a likeable character in the bunch. Hard to watch at times foe its sheer malevolence, but captivating at the same time. Makes you wonder if being rich is all that desirable. These people are outright nuts

Genre: TV Series    

Grade: A

Notable People: Sidse Babett Knudsen, Birgitte Hjort Sorenson, Saren Malling, Pilou Asbaek, Created by: Adam Price

Title: Borgen

Review:  This one is a sleeper. Danish political intrigue, reflections on moral underpinnings of modern society, subtitles……. was not sure about this recommendation, and took half of first season to get the rhythm of it…. but then……wow…what a piece of television. Top three in shows I’ve seen in last five years. Cast is brilliant, writing is really captivating, plot never loses steam, and there are some truly unforgettable characters. (check out Asbaek as spin doctor Kaspar Juul, fresh from his turn on Game of Thrones- who knew he was Danish?). Third season turned out to be about half in English, which everyone in Denmark speaks flawlessly. Quite the look inside the modern Danish culture, with its balance of great tradition, ancient histories and ultra-hip modern ethos. Unlike may of the highest quality shows on TV, this one is loaded with very likeable (though complex) characters, which is a refreshing change of pace- from dark, evil and foreboding. Flat out loved this show. Season four apparently coming in 2022-holding my breath.

Genre: TV Series     

Grade: B+

Notable People: Elizabeth Moss, Nicole Kidman, Ewan Leslie, Gwendoline Christie, Created by: Jane Campion and Gerard Lee

Title: Top of the Lake

Review:  Season one was in 2013 and season two came out five years later- dubbed “China Girl”. Idiosyncratic Australian mystery series in which the second season drifted away from the crispy told and compelling storylines of the first season. Moss is Moss-her roles are very similar, but very effective. Christie, who is remembered as the giant warrior woman from Game of Thrones, has a quite different turn here as a neurotic police constable. The story, surrounding illegal Asian child surrogates in Sydney, wanders a bit, but keeps you pretty enthralled to try and figure out what is going on. It’s a totally non macho, and very real life picture of how frail police can be and how out of control in their own lives. Not many laughs here, but well a done series from Down Under.

Genre: TV Series   

Grade: A-

Notable People: Olivia Coleman, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, Gillian Anderson, Emma Corrin, Created by: Peter Morgan

Title: The Crown

Review:  This quietly superb show amazingly just keeps getting better. The fourth season is a dynamo –with story lines covering the 70s-80s-inlcuding the IRA conflict, the Princess Di shebang and the Mrs. Thatcher years. Lots of turbulence, lots of sturm and drang, broken hearts, deep depression, eating disorders, massive cover-ups……………who knew? Anderson does an extraordinary turn as the pipe- up –her- ass, indomitable Margaret Thatcher. And, Corrin…don’t know where they found her…. but she is Dianna resurrected. And ………Coleman……well she is just top of the heap. Magnificent supporting cat and settings. Nice cameo by original early seasons Queen- the rapturous Claire Foy. We were riveted. What does the Queen think of this series?

Genre: TV Series      

Grade: A-

Notable People: Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Acquino, Madison Lintz, Lance Reddick Created by: Michael Connelly

Title: Bosch

Review:  Connelly adapted this series from his own popular novels chronicling, the modern war vet turned homicide investigator in Los Angeles. This is left coast version of The Wire- or as close as it comes. Gritty in  its own La-La land sort of way. Reddick’s ‘s police chief is a 20 – year later continuation of his role on The Wire, and Hector does an amazing turnaround from his earlier role as the malevolent drug dealer, Marlo Stanfield, to Bosch’s steady, wise and trusted partner. The cast is generally superb, the shooting is very LA, the music is tries cool, and Welliver (as Bosch) really grows on you. At first, seemed like maybe he was a mediocre actor, but he’s really pretty subtle in this role….an unusually admirable character. The plots seem a bit twisted at times and hard to follow, but in the end work themselves out. This is a good show to dig into for ridin’ out Covid…coming season is unfortunately purported to be the last.

Genre: TV Series     

Grade: B+

Notable People: Chris Rock, Jessie Buckley, Jason Schwartzman, Jack Huston, Timothy Olyphant Created by: Matt Cameron and Belinda Chayko

Title: Fargo

Review:  the fourth installment season of this bizarre Coen Brothers film -turned TV series is not the best of the lot…. but major Coen-quirky. Rival African -American and Italian gangs fight for supremacy in 1950 Kansas City is the basic story, which is ok, but the characters are beyond weird. Buckley is on the all-Coen team and Huston is a riot as the OCD tic-laden dirty cop. Schwartzman and Rock seem pretty strange casting, though Rock pills it off pretty well. Schwartzman must just be an intended cosmic goof as a mob boss, from what I can tell. But, Salvatore Esposito, as his crazed off the boat brother, however, is worth the price of admission. Season is only seven episodes and the wrap up seemed both lost and deranged……but Coen watching is de riguer.

Genre: TV Series   

Grade: B+

Notable People: Ewan Leslie, Leeanna Waldman, Joel Jackson, Created by: Matt Cameron and Belinda Chayko

Title: Safe Harbor

Review:  A psychological thriller set in Brisbane revolves around a group of friends whose sailing holiday to Indonesia alters their lives forever after they come across a boat overloaded with asylum seekers. Beautifully filmed, tautly written, very suspenseful. Very nice ensemble cast. Two family’s lives turn upside down and role reverse left and right. Another country’s look at how immigration affects people. Well done Australian miniseries of only four episodes that can be viewed on Acorn TV or IMDB- accessed for a subscription fee through amazon Prime.