A Look Back on the Series of Summer

If Memorial Day Weekend represents the unofficial kick-off to summer, Labor Day Weekend writes its finish. And with Labor Day looming just a week from today, it makes sense that the series of summer are making their way to a conclusion, preparing to turn over the reigns to the fall (and, of course, football).

It's been an uneven summer, one in which I've followed very few new shows to completion. But today I thought I'd circle back and look at two of the biggest, which got people talking and added a level of prestige to their networks.

Sharp Objects (HBO)
About: This series, based on the novel from Gillian Flynn, was adapted to series by Flynn and TV vet Marti Noxon. The entire series was helmed by Jean-Marc Vallee, the director who brought another novel, "Big Little Lies," to life in fine fashion for HBO in 2017. Here he brought his talents to the story and gave it an edge, but the plot was a bit of a hold up since it was overwhelmingly depressing. But the project was led by a stellar cast, including Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson. It was partially a murder mystery, as Adams' damaged reporter returns to her home town to discover what she can about two dead teens. But it was really a story of a damaged woman and her tormentor, who happened to be her mother (Clarkson), and her younger sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen), who was suffering a similar fate. All three ladies were great in their parts, as were supporting characters played by Chris Messina, Matt Craven and Henry Czerny. But this eight-episode series wasn't what I expected. The episodes were tighter than some HBO dramas, most weighing in between 45-48 minutes. And yet, it felt like they moved at a glacial pace at times. I knew where this was going as I'd looked at the plot for the story after the first episode, and I was surprised at how long it took to get there. In fact, most of the resolution came in the final 15 minutes of the eighth and final episode, including an abrupt ending that deviated from the original source material. To me this felt a bit like a summer slog, in keeping with a 2018 that has provided some unrelentingly harsh and depressing stories in television. This, too, felt like a harsh slog. And for those who were unfamiliar with the narrative, the seemingly happy ending was pulled out from under you in a matter of seconds as the series faded to black. (A mid and post-credits scene further added to the dark nature of the story with its reveal about the real killer.) Still, for HBO it had to be something of a win in what's been a slow and uneven 2018. Lacking big punch in its lineup with "Game of Thrones" taking a year off, HBO has weathered some uneven offerings like the second season of "Westworld" and the most recent season of "Silicon Valley." "Sharp Objects" got people talking and brought a level of notice and prestige to the network's summer slate, which has to be considered a win. But as a viewer, I didn't totally take to the story or the way it was presented.
Overall Season Grade: C

Yellowstone (Paramount)
About: The other biggest offering of the summer had to be the Paramount Network original "Yellowstone," which came from writer Taylor Sheridan, who directed all 10 hours of the nine-episode first season. (The show has been renewed for a Season 2 already). It stars Kevin Costner and has a story that reminds folks of the set up to "The Godfather" in terms of being about a powerful patriarch and his children fighting to hold on to their kingdom. In this case it's a ranch that encompasses a fair amount of Montana. His children (Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley and Luke Grimes, among them) have to help him fight off enemies in the form of a wealthy developer (Danny Huston) seeking to bring progress to the region and a new local tribal chief (Gil Bermingham) seeking to boost the profile of his tribe. There's also a mess in local politics and other challenges that John Dutton (Costner), his children and his right-hand man (Cole Hauser) have to handle. I liked the pilot and the set up, and I still like the basic premise of the series. The performances are strong and Sheridan knows how to tell a story. He's the screenwriter who gave us "Sicario," "Hell or High Water" and "Wind River." But I thought the first season of "Yellowstone" lagged in a few spots, and I'm not totally sure of where it's going. But it's been one of the highest rated cable dramas, and a legitimate hit this summer. That's something for Paramount (formerly Spike TV), which is trying to raise its profile. It had a decent hit in the mini-series "Waco," then a few misses and a big whiff in the re-boot of "Heathers" which was delayed and later cancelled before ever airing. So "Yellowstone" being a hit has brought a new profile to the network, which makes it a win. And it's a series that seems poised to run for a couple seasons with a strong cast and a decent premise, which is also promising. I'm hopeful to see where the story goes in season two, and hopeful that it can make better use of some of the excellent cast members that didn't have great storylines throughout the season.
Overall Season Grade: B-