Genre: TV Series   

Grade: A-

Title: Mo

Notable People: Mohammad Amer, Teresa Ruiz, Omar Elba Created by: Mohammad Amer, Ramy Youssef

Review:  Every once in a while I find we need comic relief from the crime, war and interpersonal dramas that we watch, so we often turn to Netflix for half hour lite. This one was a really good surprise. Crated by Ramy (who has his own half hour Palestinian comedy) and Amer, who stars in the show- and is somewhat of a cult standup comic in the American- Arab community.  The fictional Mo is a Palestinian refugee, living in Houston, one step away from asylum on the path to U.S. citizenship, who straddles the line between two cultures, three languages and “a ton of bullshit.” Amer is a very funny guy though I am sure I miss some of the inside humor as an American white guy. This show does for Arabs and olive oil what My Big Fat Greek Wedding did for Greeks and Windex. And, amazingly, features the superb one off “Elon Musk jizzing Teslas into space” , though maybe it does not ring as well without context…laughed a lot-worth a watch.  

Genre: TV Series            

Grade: B+

Notable People: Murray Bartlett,  Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Steve Zahn, Jake Lacy, Created by: Mike White

Title: The White Lotus

Review:  this limited six episode HBO series was sent my way by Feel the Connoisseur. It’s a very quirky show focused on the guests and high level employees of an exclusive Hawaii resort. The characters are just the right side of believable, but the relationships are potent. Nicely shot and with flashes of humor that make it not be tedious. The ensemble cast is quite good and Murray Bartlett as the closeted, coke snorting, out of control – yet impeccably behaved Hotel manager is well worth the price of admission. I had no idea while watching that this show dominated the 2021 Emmys in its category- would never have guessed, but it has been renewed for a second season to take place in Sicily, with some cast member returning, and a wacked out who’s who of others.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: NR

Title: Midnight Mass

Review:  Oh boy, this is one very strange show. Could not bring myself to rate it, though got totally sucked in to this well acted mixing of soapy drama, mysticism, supernatural and full out bizarreness. The plot centers on an isolated island community that experiences supernatural events after the arrival of a mysterious priest. Creative shooting in the remote setting lend to the isolation and sense of evil from the get-go. Not for everybody, but I was pleased to get this referral from my friend, Bob (who happens to be my financial advisor). Definitely a one and done series. If you like kinky supernatural, this one may be for you.

Notable People: Notable People: Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, Hamish Linklater, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli, Kristin Lehman, Henry Thomas. Camille Cottin, Gregory Montel, Created by: Mike Flanagan

Genre: TV Series    

Grade: A-

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

Title: Borgen: Power and Glory

Review:  The revival of this wonderful Danish show that originally ran for 3 seasons from 2010-2013, picks up almost ten years later with Birgitte Nyberg now returned to politics as the Danish Foreign Minister and the leader of the New Democratic party she founded a decade earlier. One of the best ever tv revivals- which are usually superfluous, but not here. Searing portrait of living with power and public vs. private life wrapped in a treatise on losing an re-finding your moral compass-all set around the discovery of a massive oil strike in Greenland, which brings the worlds super powers into greedy conflict. Knudsen continues to be magnificent as the evolving Nyberg and the whole cast is stellar. Really nicely shot in Copenhagen and Greenland. Great show

Genre: TV Series

Grade: B+

Notable People: Jeff Bridges, John Lithgow, Amy Brenneman, Alia Shawkat, Created by: Robert Levine and Jonathan Steinberg

Title: The Old Man

Review: Jeff Bridges shines in this tale of an aging rogue CIA agent who has been living a secret life off the grid for 30 years and is outed. Bridges is the definition of a suave and gentle deadly force even in his old age. The flashbacks to the origins of his story amidst the tempest of 1980s Afghanistan is well set and the intensity of the story well developed. Lithgow lead a sterling supporting cast. A perfect rebound vehicle for the recently recovered Bridges and the most watched show ever on FX. Just renewed for second season.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: A+/B+

Notable People: Gerard Depardieu, Benoit Magimel, Stephane Caillard, Created by: David Franck

Title: Marseille

Review: the legendary Depardieu makes a rare small screen appearance in this tale of power, corruption and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the French port city of Marseille. Deep dive into the bowels of dirty French politics in France’s poor cousin, second city. Strong performances abound and the juxtaposition of the famous and historical ancient port city with its modern crime ridden, drug infested and woefully anti-immigration counterpart is stunning. Kept me very engaged throughout and seems set for a third season return. Very, very Francais.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: A+

Notable People: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Michael Mando, Rhea Seahorn, Patrick Fabian, Giancarlo Esposito, Michael McKean, tony Dalton, Mark Margolis, Created by: Peter Gould, Vince Gilligan 

Title: Better Call Saul

Review: Not sure what to say about this, except if you have not watched it, where have you been? For my money, right up with “The Wire” and “The Sopranos” as the best ever series on TV, which IS the new movie theater. Both a prequel and ultimately a sequel to the wonderful Breaking Bad, it is an extraordinary portrait of characters run amok. Odenkirk’ s transition from mild mannered Jimmy McGill to part tortured- part egomaniac scumbag lawyer, Saul Goodman (“It’s all good man”) is a rare thing of beauty. Dalton, Margolis an, especially the foreboding Esposito, are subtle manifestations of evil rarely see, Bands is…. well…. Banks….one of kind. The show is brilliantly written, exotically filmed, heady in way rarely seen outside of Sweden, and riveting. The final season was 13 episodes broke into two segments-the wait for the last 5 episodes was almost unbearable…and did not disappoint. The ghost of Walter white hovers throughout, but Saul owns the planet. I am brokenhearted to reach the end of this line.

Genre: TV Series                                                        

Grade: A

Notable People: Amalie Dollerup, Lars Ranthe, Anne Louise Hassing, Annette Steffelbaek, Jens Jacob Tythsen, Created by: Hanna Lundblad, Stig Thorsboe  

Title: Seaside Hotel

Review: This compelling combined drama and subtle comedy “Badehotellet” in remote, NW Denmark opens for its wealthy guests each summer. We follow the guests and staff at the hotel from 1928 and into the 1940s. What starts out as a lighthearted comedy turns darker with each year as Denmark is overtaken by the Depression and then Fascism and the Nazis. The show becomes overly political out of seemingly nowhere- a fascinating turn of events. The ensemble cast has may of Denmarks’ top actors and is wonderful. This is a place we’d all like to spend our summers. Thankfully, a season nine is in the works.

Genre: TV Series  

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Natascha McElhone, Louisa Binder, Oliver Dench, Mark Umbers, Created by: Mark Baker

Title: Hotel Portofino

Review: This six-part first season mini-series is about an expat Brit family running a fabulous hotel on the coast of Italy. The cinematography of the area is worth price of admission. What starts out a a quirky story of a complex family that is light and airy- turns dark with the emergence of fascism and hate in late 30s Italy as Mussolini becomes entrenched. Great ensemble cast of VERY British characters and a few ugly Americans. Kind of sneaks up on you. Second season sounds likely.