Category: TV Series

Genre: TV Series    

Grade: A-

Notable People: Kerry Russell, Rufus Sewell, Ato Essandoh, Rory Kinnear, Ali Ahn, David Gyasi, Created by Debora Icahn

Title: The Diplomat

Grade: A heady dramedy about a rising diplomacy corps star and her infamous former ambassador husband- thrown into an explosive situation creating the potential of nuclear disaster- on what seemed like a lightweight pro-forma temporary assignment as Ambassador to Britain. The dialog snaps, the cast is well tuned, the insider knowledge of the workings of the state dept. will give you double takes. Russell and Sewell- its’ like The Americans meets the Man in the Hightower- and the result is sparks flying everywhere- incredible chemistry and with Sewell channeling a kind of debonair reminiscent of Cary Grant and his ilk. Loved this show- already renewed for season two.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Nicola Walker, Stephen Mangan, Fiona Button, Anabel Scholey, Deborah Findlay, Chukwudi Iwuji Created by Abi Morgan

Title: The Split

Review: Brutally hard hitting BBC series about a London couple becoming estranged after cheating episodes and then going thru a long drawn out spectacle of divorce- did I mention that the whole family are divorce lawyers? Not warm and fuzzy but very well done and the chemistry between the ubiquitous and wonderful Nicola Walker and the droll and very funny Mangan (Episodes) is really great. Plus, the matriarch-biatch mother and three high strung daughters represents the definition of family loyalty and huddled circling of wagons at the least threat. Season 4 seems like a long shot given the end of season 3.

Genre: TV Series 

Grade: A-

Notable People: Michael Alona, Irit Kaplan, Swell Ariel Or, Hila Saada, Tom Hagi, Created by Oded Davidoff

Title: The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem

Review: Based on the best-selling Israeli novel by Sarit Levy, Yes dram, as Israeli production company, produced this as daily show with 44 episodes in the first two seasons. Netflix adapted it into on long season of 20 lengthier episodes. The series tells the captivating story of the Armoza family, intertwined with the history of Palestine during Ottoman rule and the British colonial empire It explores the family’s fortunes during the subsequent periods of depression and war. The series takes place simultaneously on two timelines wherein present and past stories are presented alternately (from 1919 thru 1942- encapsulating the role of both world Wars). Beautifully filmed, with intense dialog and action, the show dramatizes a very complex family living in very complex times and is wonderfully historical. Kaplan shines as the detestable “Bubby” and the cast is generally dead on. It won’t make you fond of the British rule. I found this show to get better and better as it progressed. As second season is in the works in Israel to pick up in the post war 1940’s and into the founding of the Jewish state.

Genre: TV Series   

Grade: A

Notable People: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Andrea Band, Simu Liu, Created by Ins Choi and Kevin White

Title: The Outlaws

Review: I’m not sure what to say about this show, except it may be the funniest show ever on TV; a cult favorite in Canada that depicts a Korean family that run a convenience store in Toronto. Lee and Yoon are cult legends in Canada and Liu has become a rising star off his turn in this show. If you are mostly a drama fan and need an occasional half hour break- don’t miss this. Lee, as the father (Appa) is a modernized, Korean, Canadian take on Archie bunker, but in a good way. One of long line of shows created by Kevin White (Trailer Park Boys, Reservation Dogs) it is brilliantly written and acted. We loved this show so much we watched it over a 2-year period and stopped when we got to the last episode, since we did not want it to end. Six months later, we went back to watch the finale and still couldn’t do it- so just started over from the beginning. Brilliant.  

Genre: TV Series   

Grade: A-

Notable People: Audrey Fleurot, Julie de Bona, Camille Lou, Sofia Essaidi. Created by Cecile Lorne

Title: Women at War

Review: Wonderfully conceived and executed story of four complex and flawed, but extraordinarily courageous woman in France, in 1914, at the start of WWI. The weaving of the four stories and the ultimate linkage between the characters is exceedingly well done, and dramatically set gains the back drop of invasion and chaos, standing out all the more for their astonishing achievements. Fleurot (The French Villages) stands out in her role as tortured prostitute/conflicted mother- and de Bona is a find as the mother superior torn between God, love and war. A one shot miniseries unlikely to return, well worth the watch.  

Genre: TV Series

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Stephen Merchant, Rhianne Barreto, Darren Boyd, Gamba Cole, Jessica Gunning, Claire Perkins, Eleanor Tomlinson, Charles Babaloa, Christopher Walken Created by Merchant

Title: The Outlaws

Review: Wow- this seemingly throwaway show from the BBC is sneakily good. The ensemble cast, playing a bunch of small time losers, sentenced by the Court to community service in London, is really good together. The writing and dialog and are really crisp and really funny. Tomlinson is brilliant as a celebrity blogger diva, with a real person lurking just below the surface. Social messages underlay the humor and support characters are wonderful. And then…. there is Christopher Walken…what is there to say, the man is subtle comic genius. Anything with CW is worth watching …… (did he invent droll?)…..but his ow is a real sleeper. Uncertain about a third season as seemed to wrap-up at the end of second season.

Genre: TV Series   

Grade: B+

Notable People: Hanna Hilsdorf, Devrim Lingnau, Melika Foroutan, Svenja Jung, Created by Lena Stahl and Kathanna Eyssen

Title: The Empress

Review: Historical drama set in Austria during the reign of the Hapsburg Empire. Two young people meet. A fateful encounter – the proverbial love at first sight. He is Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary, she is Elisabeth von Wittelsbach, Princess of Bavaria and the sister of the woman Franz is to marry. Chaos follows in many forms not the least of which is the constant verge of war with /Russian end the underlying people’s evolution to take power. The cast is good, the settings and costumes wonderful and the dialog crisp and inventive. Short six- part first season that has already been renewed for a second. Highly entertaining if you like historical semi-fiction.  

Genre: Book  

Grade: A-/ B+

Notable People: Donna Leon

Title:  Death and Judgment

Review: The fourth installment in this endless series featuring Commisario Guido Brunetti of the Venice police is a complex plot involving sex trafficking across continents. Lovingly set in Brunetti’s adored Venice and full of political commentary on the state of the Italian leadership, it does not fail to entrance with suspense, thoughtfulness and humor throughout. Leon is very fine writer and Brunetti a masterful character. Leon dos not put a huge focus on the character development of the peripheral regulars, which is a small disappointment, but the book are so engaging that it hardly matters. Ready for #5.