Instead of battling the backlog of shows I’ve wanted to post about, let’s just do a quick rundown, yes? Start anewwwwww! (Just a note, this draft was started in the beginning of October. There is no quick way out of anything sometimes! As a result this is an unintentional test of how memorable these shows were.) It pains me that I won’t be writing full posts on them, but I only have myself to blame. I’m sure I’ve wasted my life on much more than this, but here’s the first batch I suppose. They even seem to predominantly fall into 2 categories, Netflix/Amazon original series, and BBC shows.
Original stuff:
Transparent and Grace and Frankie
These are such different shows, and Transparent is kind of Amazon’s darling, winning them Golden Globes and Emmys ‘n all. Watch out, Netflix. But in my brain they got grouped together due to being shows based on the premise of very current event social issue new definition of family kinds of issues.
You’ve probably already heard about Transparent…but if you haven’t, it’s a story about a normal…privileged-ish family dealing with the news that their long-divorced dad is transgender. Before I knew the premise of the show, I thought the title Transparent was just describing how people feel sometimes, not also that the show was literally about a Trans Parent! I’m a sucker for these silly little wordplays. Instant points. The story around M Pfefferman (the trans parent) is touching and conveys the sadness of his hidden life and conflict. But can we talk about how absolutely awful all of the children are? It’s kind of amazing how selfish and terrible they come off. As if the parents needed more sympathy.
Grace and Frankie is a more lighthearted comedy sort centered around the wives, well, ex-wives, of two divorce lawyers simultaneously retire and announce that they are gay lovers and want to get married. The children are far less terrible. A majority of the time is spent focusing on how different the ex-wives are and the trials and tribulations of being forced to rely on each other through the process…though I did enjoy the little commentary there was, like when one of the kids says something along the lines of “you know we’re only okay with this since you’re gay, right? If you left for other women, we’d be really pissed.” (Totally paraphrased. It’s been a while.)
Two words: telepathic orgy. Not sure how much of the show is iffy storytelling and how much is just purposely left confusing. But anyway, the strength in this show lies in its ensemble cast. I don’t even mean the particular ensemble…just that it has one. The characters are diverse and spread around the globe…all linked by the same birthday and they are…sensates? They can sort of mind meld. As diverse as they are and try to be, each character is basically a “token ___ guy”, but this ends up working well I think. The scenes with telenovela actor man are very telenovela and the scenes with secret ninja asian lady are very over the top martial arts movie. It’s for when you don’t know what you want to watch. With a supernatural twist. And that orgy I mentioned above.
Oh my goodness, BoJack. I think I’ve only just recovered. I feel like if you’re depressed, this show just makes you sadder. There are just trigger warnings for every damn thing and every insecurity. But the world is so bizarre and full of anthropomorphous characters that you think you’re watching a comedy. Also there’s an asian-y character named Diane. Close enough.
I loved the theme song. And it explains everything. But apparently this show was forgettable. Definitely worth binging if you liked 30 Rock or Parks and Rec sorts of humor.
Even more forgettable! But I didn’t expect it to be very good. But I like Kyle Chandler (ya know, Coach Taylor!) and Linda Cardellini. It’s kind of a fun soap opera of a rich elite family without the glitz and actual soap opera plots of Revenge. It also had a memorable theme, but not the music so much as the time lapse of a beach. But the song is good too.
Daredevil
Well, in real time and real life I’ve already seen Jessica Jones which puts Daredevil to SHAME. But I will say this…what great fight choreo! They go a little over the top, like I feel like Arrow did, but it is pretty exquisite. They are smart with it too I think — there’s an early fight sequence that basically happens off camera because who cares (the budget?). And I love thinking this is happening in actual Hell’s Kitchen.
Vincent D’Onofrio’s Chinese was really, really, difficult to sit through.
BBC:
Gillian Anderson, amazing. Aged so well since X-Files. More than I can say about David Duchovny. The Fall is an extreeeeemely slow show following a chase after an extreeeemely creepy serial killer. Okay, I just wanted to say extremely twice. He’s not that creepy. I enjoyed watching it and I’d recommend it, but either it’s much more realistic that American procedurals in following rules or British police work is really slow. I think the former. The identity of the serial killer is known both to us and in the show early on but they play subtle mind games and deal with arrest warrants and how does anyone arrest anyone? I’m a little terrible and found the unfamiliar Irish accents distracting. Gillian Anderson as a very feminine, sex-positive, powerful detective is pretty great.
Another female law enforcement officer is dealing with the loss of her daughter, who committed suicide at least largely due to a rape that she did not get justice for. So you have this tortured grandmother who thinks she knows who did this to her daughter. A dark path ensues.
Broadchurch and The Escape Artist
More British crime shows with David Tennant. Ahhhh. Broadchurch is more of a mystery, and The Escape Artist was more of a thriller with fluid morality. I liked both.
There we are. I’m tired.
di•curious 