Mrs. America

I didn’t know the extent of what it was like in the late 70’s during the challenge to pass the Equal Rights Amendment that was designed to guarantee equal rights to all citizens regardless of sex. Gloria Steinem, Betty Freidan, Shirley Chisholm and Bella Abzug sparked a national and emotional movement to ratify the ERA that would guarantee women’s equal rights to equal pay, reproductive freedom and gay/lesbian rights. Phyllis Schliafly, aptly played by Cate Blanchett, does the onerous job as the leader of the backlash- the never ERA nay-sayers. The movement gave rise to the moral majority and shifted the political landscape in this country. It’s a riveting 7 episode series that lends clarity to the women behind the movement. Admirable played by Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth Banks, Kayli Carter, et al. Not to be missed, even it you’re not a woman.

So Dead to Me

Season 3

 Jen and Judy are back and they haven’t missed a step. Steve’s still dead, but we’re introduced to his twin brother, Ben, who hooks up with Jen while Judy hooks up with a woman who previously lived with the police detective investigating Steve’s death. As usual, it’s complicated. Jen’s oldest son finds Steve’s car only to have Jen burn it to the ground, Jen and Judy finally bury Steve in the forest and the finale has Jen and Judy in a car accident with unknown consequences. Told you it was complicated.

House of Lies

Oh, Marty Kaahn. I do love Marty Kaahn and, in fact, had a boss much like him once. He’s ostentatious, conspicuous, arrogant, brilliant and yes, sexy. Marty’s a management consultant kind of guy with a circle (he calls a pod) of assistants that provide the banter for Marty to play off of.  Marty’s very sexed up ex-wife Monica competes with him for clients and adds a layer of instability to Marty’s best laid plans.

 Don Cheadle is brilliant as Marty,Kristen Bell is just downright adorable as Jeannie, Ben Schwartz and Josh Lawson round out the pod while Dawn Olivieri crushes it as Monica. It’s fun, snappy and darn good television. It finished it’s initial air date in 2016 and hasn’t suffered from lack of relevance today. Don’t know why it took me so long to find it…

Killing Eve S3

Just when you thought things couldn’t get better - it doesn’t. Things haven’t really changed. Villanelle wants to untangle herself from the Twelve, she still does her job as best dressed assassin and is still infatuated with Eve. Eve hasn’t changed either – she still wants to be Villanelle, mistrusts her boss and seems a bit uncomfortable in her skin. Oh, and did I mention that Villanelle killed Niko, Eve’s husband and his lover? At the end of the day, Villanelle goes home to mama and burns the house down. Would you expect less?

Billions

So – I’ve just started Season 5. I had to re-watch the last episode of Season 4 to get caught up but up-to-date I am and ready to be impressed with Bobby Axelrod, Chuck Rhoades and Maggie Siff. They’ve not disappointed.

Episode 1, Season 5 kicks off nicely with Axe being the alpha machine he is and Chuck Rhoades being the ambitious politician that he is with Wendy still around to provide some possible kinkiness. Added to key cast is Asia Kate Dillon as Taylor, a nonbinary former Axe Cap employee gone rogue.

 It’s getting hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys – not a bad thing – and maybe there are no good and bad guys – maybe they’re just guys being guys.

Normal People

The New Pope

OMG- what’s not to like about Jude Law and John Malkovich each portraying the pope in their own unique way. 

Malkovich’s Pope John Paul III handles his papacy like a stage for long overdue therapy surrounding his unhappy childhood while Law’s Pope Pius lays in a cherry coke and cigarette coma. I won’t tell what happens.

Little Fires Everywhere

With similar players and a more compelling story, this series is so much better than Big Little Lies. If you want a fee trial, you can find it here: https://www.hbomax.com/subscribe

Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon have issues - mostly based on the fact that they’re from vastly different socia-economic spaces. We see these two women struggle to defend their points of view regarding values, race and culture.

The story explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, the ferocious pull of motherhood and the danger in believing that following the rules can avert disaster.

Mrs. America

I didn’t know the extent of what it was like in the late 70’s during the challenge to pass the Equal Rights Amendment that was designed to guarantee equal rights to all citizens regardless of sex. Gloria Steinem, Betty Freidan, Shirley Chisholm and Bella Abzug sparked a national and emotional movement to ratify the ERA that would guarantee women’s equal rights to equal pay, reproductive freedom and gay/lesbian rights. Phyllis Schliafly, aptly played by Cate Blanchett, does the onerous job as the leader of the backlash- the never ERA nay-sayers. The movement gave rise to the moral majority and shifted the political landscape in this country. It’s a riveting 7 episode series that lends clarity to the women behind the movement. Admirable played by Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth Banks, Kayli Carter, et al. Not to be missed, even it you’re not a woman.

https://www.hulu.com/series/mrs-america-96f330fe-878d-412e-949f-fd8b69b3adf2?&cmp=12809&utm_source=google&utm_medium=SEM&utm_campaign=CM_SEM_Mrs.%20America&utm_term=mrs%20america&ds_rl=1251123&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6PD3BRDPARIsAN8pHuE6MBJKL2Qpnj6dgx8jw-4swmryknYziT5KhiCJQwKJWhzmzOpliLkaAkdrEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Dead to Me

Jen and Judy are back and they haven’t missed a step.

 Steve’s still dead, but we’re introduced to his twin brother, Ben, who hooks up with Jen while Judy hooks up with a woman who previously lived with the police detective investigating Steve’s death. As usual, it’s complicated. Jen’s oldest son finds Steve’s car only to have Jen burn it to the ground, Jen and Judy finally bury Steve in the forest and the finale has Jen and Judy in a car accident with unknown consequences. Told you it was complicated. https://www.netflix.com/title/80219707

House Of Lies

Oh, Marty Kaahn. I do love Marty Kaahn and, in fact, had a boss much like him once. He’s ostentatious, conspicuous, arrogant, brilliant and yes, sexy. Marty’s a management consultant kind of guy with a circle (he calls a pod) of assistants that provide the banter for Marty to play off of. Marty’s very sexed up ex-wife Monica competes with him for clients and adds a layer of instability to Marty’s best laid plans.

Don Cheadle is brilliant as Marty,Kristen Bell is just downright adorable as Jeannie, Ben Schwartz and Josh Lawson round out the pod while Dawn Olivieri crushes it as Monica. It’s fun, snappy and darn good television. It finished it’s initial air date in 2016 and hasn’t suffered from lack of relevance today. Don’t know why it took me so long to find it…you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/House-of-Lies-Season-1/dp/B00AHSRZXU

Killing Eve

Just when you thought things couldn’t get better - it doesn’t. Things haven’t really changed. Villanelle wants to untangle herself from the Twelve, she still does her job as best dressed assassin and is still infatuated with Eve. Eve hasn’t changed either – she still wants to be Villanelle, mistrusts her boss and seems a bit uncomfortable in her skin. Oh, and did I mention that Villanelle killed Niko, Eve’s husband and his lover? At the end of the day, Villanelle goes home to mama and burns the house down. Would you expect less? 

watch here:https://www.amc.com/shows/killing-eve/full-episodes

Billions

I’ve just started Season 5. I was dilligent and re-watched the last episode of Season 4 to get  up-to-date and am ready to be impressed with Bobby Axelrod, Chuck Rhoades and Maggie Rhoades.They’ve not disappointed.

Episode 1, Season 5 kicks off nicely with Axe being the alpha machine he is and Chuck Rhoades being the ambitious politician that he is and with Wendy still around to provide some kinky. Added to key cast is Asia Kate Dillon as Taylor, a nonbinary former Axe Cap employee gone rogue.

 It’s getting hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys – not a bad thing – and maybe there are no good and bad guys – maybe they’re just guys being guys. Check it out here: https://www.sho.com/billions/season/5

Mindhunter

Have we discussed Season 2 of Mindhunter yet?  It’s different from S1 I  in that it spends most of its time examining the murders of young boys in Atlanta. I miss the interaction between the FBI and the serial killers they interview as they try to get perspective on what drives them to commit heinous crimes. Be that as it may, it’s not bad TV, just not great TV. We want great.

Killing Eve

There are plenty of detective and intelligence shows to watch, but Killing Eve has a female assassin. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been faced with a female assassin. Sandra Oh is a British Intelligence officer tracking Jodie Comer, the aforementioned female assassin who doesn’t bother to evade but rather invites a relationship with her tracker. Watching Comer is a show in and of itself.

The show is based in big cities around the world. With limited production time, the camera crew shoots wide and tight at the same time and limits the closeness the camera can get to the actor. With distance from the mic becoming an issue, they employ RF and a great deal of creativity on where to place mics.  If they can’t hide a mic in clothing they’ve hidden mics in hair.

Catch it for free here: https://www.hulu.com/series/killing-eve-c9d3b601-54db-42d1-a1ed-8950cea491b1

Divorce

 You’ve gotta love Sarah Jessica Parker to like Divorce.  This is all about her relationship with her soon-to-be ex husband, her kids and her new found lover. Molly Shannon chimes in as her likeable sidekick. Is it worthy of your time?  Hard to say. Give it a drive through. 

The Deuce

It’s been a pretty good run – maybe not a home run10 points but certainly a solid 7.5/8.  Having followed the rise of porn in NY from pimps to films to brothels, season 4 sums it all up nicely and spends the last ten minutes challenging my ability not to cry. A solid 10 for the end of the run. 

Trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Ixd8Tj9a25k

The Circus

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV7qm-jwd-8

The Circus examines current politics but looks like an Anthony Bourdain travel show. The cinematography says film, the content says 60 Minutes. If you lean left this is your show – there’s food, smart discussion, humor and head scratching. It’s thoughtful and beautiful at the same time – a rare combo.  The cinematography is way better than expected. Have a look yourself and tell me I’m wrong. See it on Showtime.

Dead To Me

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwYBw1raC2o

Linda Cardellini, Christina Appelgate star in a complicated tale of death, friendship and relationship building. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out – you don’t. One kills the other’s husband and one kills the other’s boyfriend. These girls are a match made in heaven.  

The Loudest Voice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAnJJHrq0Ws

Say what you will about Roger Ailes and Fox News, The Loudest Voice documents the rise of Fox News Channel and how Roger Ailes found a niche and filled it.  He saw a place where he could control messaging to build a viewer base in a space that had virtually no presence. It was kinda brilliant, and there’s now a loyal audience to draw from and preach to. Did Roger have his issues? Hell yes. Did his big win in building a news channel diminish his smarts? That’s for you to decide.  Me?  I’m gonna watch it again.