Category: TV Series

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.

Genre: TV Series                                 

Grade: A

Notable People: Ansel Elgort, Odessa Young, Ken Watanabe, Sho Kasamatsu Created by: JT Rogers

Title: Tokyo Vice

Review: Wow- this is still a hard one to not want to binge. Adapted from the memoir of Jake Adelstein, a young man from rural Missouri, who goes to Japan to pursue his dream of being an investigative journalist for Japans’ leading newspaper, Season 2 picks up full steam where the first season left off-and only gets better. Jake doubles down in all of the underbelly of Tokyo life and becomes ensnarled with the devilish ministrations of the infamous Yakusa gangs. The supporting characters become more fleshed out in season 2 with a number of compelling outside story lines. Extraordinarily well acted, with crisp dialog and a startling sense of being encompassed by Japanese culture- half in English and half sub-titled. Elgort, Young and Kasamatsu are perfectly cast in great roles and Watanabe may be the foremost Japanese actor of his generation. I found myself bowing to people everywhere I went. Season 3 is purported to be most likely.

Genre: TV Series   

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Sly Stallone, Andrea Savage, Martin Starr, Max Casella, Dominick Lombardozzi, Created by: Taylor Sheridan

Title:  Tulsa King

Review: New York mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi is released from prison after 25 years and exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Okla.; realizing that his mob family may not have his best interests in mind, Dwight slowly builds a wacked-out cowboy/misfit/ drug dealer crew. Part comedy and part Mafia wannabe show, Stallone takes the cake, shocking us in his comedic versatility and deadpan one liners. This is not high brown art, but a lot of fun and a close second in mob-gone awry shows to Miami Steve in Lillehammer. Another boost for the current Midas touch of serial television, Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, et al). I am almost ashamed to admit how much I liked this show- which was immediately renewed for second season, moving from Tulsa to Atlanta………. Yo, Adrienne……

Genre: TV Series   

Grade: A-

Notable People: Juno Temple, Jennifer Jason Leigh, David Rysdahl, Joe Keery, LaMorne Morris, Sam Spruell, Jon Hamm, Created by: Noah Hawley

Title:  Fargo

Review: By far the best season since the initial season and though it does certainly not match the chops of the original Francis McDormand film, it has the Coen brothers stamp all over it. Hamm has a career resuscitating role as a very bad religious zealot/crazed all powerful rural and controlling sheriff (and father/husband) and serial abuser- after his stuck as Mad Men hiatus and Spruell is the character you’d expect from every Coen brother’s effort.

Temple is magnificent (how did she manage that accent), and unrecognizable from her wonderful stint in Ted Lasso. The merging of sweet, passive and lilting classic Minnesota personalities combined with the underlying evil and violence is just too good- Hawley and the Coens are masters at this. Loved this cast, loved the writing, loved the bizarre array of Lutherans. Fargo is the story that shifts like a chameleon, but, thankfully, does not go away

Genre: TV Series                          

Grade: A

Notable People: Damian Lewis, Paul Giamatti, Corry Stoll, Maggie Siff, David Constabile, Asia Kate Dillon, Daniel Breaker, Condola Rashad, Jeffrey DeMunn, Created by: Andrew Ross Sorkin

Title:  Billions

 

Review: after several lackluster seasons following the departure of Lewis and the loss of the amazing Bobby Axe character, the show rebounded for magnificent finale with Lewis’ return and his subsequent uneasy alliance between he and US Attorney, Giamatti, to fight the evil empire that was Stoll. Snappiest dialog on serial TV and an individual and absolutely huge recurring, ensemble cast for the ages. Constable steals every scene he is in as the dandy Daddy Wags and DeMunn is wonderfully malevolent as the know-it-all patriarch fixer. The writing on the last season was a masterpiece and the finale riveting. A show that makes you like most of the characters despite their astounding level of greed and self-indulgence; just great acting. This show will  be missed

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 Sy gets more brilliant with each season as the amazingly charming and astoundingly resourceful Assane Diop; a world class thief (think Robin Hood or Errol Flynn) who models his every move on the exploits of a French literary hero. The thrills are a mile a minute, while still being incredibly cerebral and challenging to keep up with. This third season had impossibly trumped the first two. Wonderful series-plus you get a bird’s s eye view of Paris as a bonus.

Genre: TV Series      

Grade: A-

Notable People: Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, Fiona Shaw, Created by: Nick Pizzolatto, Issa Lopez

Title:  True Detective

 

Review I usually no longer review additional seasons of a show I have already reviewed-but each of this show’s season are so distinctly unalike and individualized that I’m making an exception. This season, developed by original creator of the series, Pizzolatto, and featuring Jodie Foster, was by far the best since the amazing first season with McConaughey and Harrelson. Set in the dark season (no light at all) in remote Alaska it is a riveting tale of obsession, mysticism, friendship and power/greed. Foster has reinvented herself for this role and Reis is a screen staler. The ambience is unlike anything else on television, and although confusing at times, it is hard to look away from. Very unusual, very intense, not for everyone- but film quality television. A whopping 92% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes- which is unheard of for a TV series.