Category: TV Series

Genre: TV Series    

Grade: A-

Notable People: Matthew Rhys, Julia Rylance, Shea Whigham, Chris Chalk, Justin Kirk, John Lithgow, Created by: Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald

Title: Perry Mason

Grade: wow- who’d have thunk that this historic TV series could be successfully re-created and not have Raymond Burr rolling around in his grave? The series focuses on the origin story of famed defense lawyer Perry Mason. In 1932 Los Angeles. Very well written with an intriguing plot and a great ensemble cast featuring the very nimble Matthew Rhys (The Americans) in THE ROLE and the subtle scene stealing Rylance as the mysterious and charming Della Street. Dramatically adapting the original had me raising eyebrows initially with an African- American Paul Drake and openly gay Della and Hamilton Burger (the highly entertaining Kirk, “Weeds”), but the show is captivating and I even found myself taken with these modern updates on iconic characters, which did provide grist for more complex societal issues to be framed. At the end of each season, we get the treat of a version of the original iconic theme music- da-da-da……….da-da….can you hear it? Regrettably, and surprisingly, the show has  been canceled by HBO. Boo!!!!

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: A-

Notable People: Shaun Evans, Roger Allam, Anton Lesser, Created by: Colin Dexter  

Title: Endeavor

Grade: set from 1965- 1972, this very well done British detective show follows a young DC Morse (in a prequel to the character from very long running beloved Morse series on PBS) as he finds his way as a cultured and insightful young man in the world of conservative Oxford policing. Shaun Evans is wonderful as the young Morse and Roger Allam is a classic old school bit as his boss/mentor. Very god nine season run of intriguing stories, well written dialog and apropos of the turbulent times it takes place in. Very, very British.

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A

Notable People: Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Marin Hinkle, Tony Shalhoub, Kevin Pollak, Created by: Amy Sherman- Palladino  

Title: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Grade: Ending it’s brilliant five-year run with a bang this season, this dramedy features Brosnahan as a relentlessly aspiring comic in late 1950s-early 60’s New York- in a male dominated world. Dead-on period piece captures everything it should about a very optimistic time in our history; post war boom- pre-60s tumult. The sets and costumes and music are all fabulous. The feel of the time period is so right it makes me nostalgic for my childhood. Brosnahan in a tour de force in the title role-so good that is hard see her in other roles and get over her being Mrs. M- funny, droll, acerbic, sexy…she is he whole enchilada. The two sets of parents are unbelievably right casting- especially the wacky Shalhoub (Monk) and Pollak as dueling fathers in law. Borstein as the cantankerous agent is a bit much at times, but owns the part. I hate to see this one go- magnificent and relevant TV, and even offers a rendering of the great Lenny Bruce.

Genre: TV Series            

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Sharon Horgan, Rob Delaney, Created by: Sharon and Rob

Title: Catastrophe

Grade: Very witty half hour show featuring these two nutcases; he a runaway businessman from the states, she a clock ticking madwoman from Ireland- who meet in London, have a shag and wind up pregnant and married. The chemistry between these two is amazing, and I was shocked to learn they are not an actual couple. Snappy repartee, great storylines and very funny execution. This is a sleeper. Already produced foe two more seasons –not yet showing up on Amazon but apparently available.  

Genre: TV Series       

Grade: A+

Notable People: Ken Burns, Lynn Novak,

Title: Jazz

Grade:  I simply run out of accolades for Burns’ incredible documentaries of American life in all its forms. Watched this in dinner installments over a six-month period and was riveted by every moment of its 10 episodes and 16 hours. Makes a solid case that Louie Armstrong and Duke Ellington are the most significant figures in American, and maybe all, 20^th century music. The footage is incomparable, the narrating brilliant and the interviews- oh, my- completed around 20years ago, it features some of the true greats before they passed, like Artie Shaw and Dave Brubeck. Must watch TV.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: B+

Notable People: Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, Camila Morone, Suki Waterhouse, Josh Whitehouse, Sebastian Chacon, Timothy Olyphant, Created by Scott Neustadter and Michael Weber

Title: Daisy Jones and The Six

Grade:  1970’s rock and roll stardom comes to life in this part fake documentary/part drama about a top of the world rock band flaring out amidst all kinds of interpersonal drama. Seemingly loosely based on the Fleetwood Mac decades-long soap opera, it feels like a genuine dramatic look at the time and culture- but with interviews from the principles looking back at what happened from today. A bit formulaic and, at times, a tear jerker, but the music is really good (the cast can play and sings really well) and the archetypes are dead on. Keough and Claflin have undeniable chemistry and Olyphant is perfect as the seen-it-all hippie road manager (check the hair). One and done season.

Genre: TV Series 

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Gaia Girace, Margherita Mazzucco, Created by Saverio Costanzo

Title: My Beautiful Friend

Grade: Based on the first of four wildly popular “ Neapolitan” novels by Elena Ferrante, the series follows the lives of two girls in post second world war Italy. Fraught with backdrops of post war chaos, the rise of fascism and the local pallor of the Mafia, the how covers four decades in their lives. The extreme loyalties, conflicts and complicated friendships of the times and of the Sicilian temperament, make for unusual scripts. The acting is excellent, the setting exotic and the story lines captivating, though very slow moving- more cerebral than action. Can be very depressing at times, but overall, quite worth the watch.

Genre: TV Series     

Grade: A-

Notable People: Harrison Ford, Helen Mirren Brandon Sklenar, Darren Mann, Julie Schlaepner, Brain Geraghty, Amina Nieves, Created by Taylor Sheridan

Title: 1923

Grade: The second and most recent prequel to the Yellowstone megahit franchise is the prolific Sheridan’s effort to bring the Dutton family forward from 1883’s trek west (the first prequel) and now settled in Montana and dealing with the post-world war one carnage and dangers of the emerging West. Wonderfully filmed with great attention to detail, very strong scripts and surprising quality performances from Ford and Mirren. Shockingly short first season, that end with a clear implication to continue- but who knows-can they get Ford and Mirren back again? Though there is some formulaic element to this whole franchise-the quality is so good-it is hard not to want more– 1943?

Genre: TV Series   

Grade: B+

Notable People: Kevin Janssens, Ini Massez, Robbie Cleiren, Created by Rotem Shamir

Title: Rough Diamonds

Grade: Very well written drama about the orthodox Jewish community running the diamond trade in Antwerp, Belgium. An Israeli and Belgium co-production the plot follows Noah Wolfson, long lost from his family and living a secular life in London, who travels home to Antwerp after the suicide of his younger brother. Upon his return, Noah reconnects with the community he abandoned, while also trying to rescue his family’s diamond trading business from the pressures of organized crime and a zealous local prosecutor. Intense and fast paced, the show is an interesting look at a culture very few of us understand. Probably a one and done season show.   

Genre: TV Series      

Grade: B+/B

Notable People: Emilia Schule, James Purefoy, Louis Cunningham, Jack archer, Created by Deborah Davis

Title: Marie Antoinette

Grade: a historical drama produced by the BBC and based on the life of the last queen of France before the French Revolution who was 14 years old when she became the Dauphine of France upon her marriage to the heir Louis Auguste- Louis the 16^th– who was the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy with the Revolution. Louis was the grandson of the venerable Louis the 14^th who is featured prominently in the show. The acting is good, the setting, mostly in Versailles, magnificent and costumes to die for- though there is some question of its historical accuracy. Nice period piece if you like the period. Commissioned for a second season, so, obviously, she has not yet lost her head .