Recent TV Series

 


There were a handful of TV series that kicked off in November and December of 2023 that didn't finish their seasons. Since the criteria for my Best of 2023 was a complete season, these shows didn't make the cut despite a promising start. But most have wrapped up here in January, so it's time for a quick catch up. Let's dive in. Shows appear in alphabetical order.

The Curse (Showtime)
About: The series comes from Nathan Fielder and Bennie Safdie, who star in the show along with Emma Stone. It had a 10-episode season, with the final two dropping in January. It had a cringe-worthy comedy style that was meant to make you uncomfortable. Despite that, Stone and Fielder, in particular, were quite good with their performances. But this definitely sought to push the envelope. That was true of the finale, which was unlike anything I'd seen on TV. That wasn't actually a good thing. The finale was absurd in the worst ways for me, ultimately providing something of an unsatisfying resolution to a weird series. I struggled with the tone throughout, so I was even more disappointed but what I felt was an under-whelming finale. It likely won't make a Top 10 list.

Fargo, Season 5 (Hulu/FX)
About: It's been a few years since we got a season of this anthology series, but I loved what I saw from this new installment. Noah Hawley does a great job crafting a tone and a story. Juno Temple, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Lamorne Morris and Jon Hamm were all strong in this series. The first seven aired in 2023, with the final three coming in January. I loved the home stretch of the series, with the final two episodes in particular delivering some excellent production and some deep emotional moments. More than once I felt a great swell of emotions in the finale, including a final sequence that was nothing short of brilliant. This series delivered from start to finish, and currently it's the top of the heap for me on my 2024 list.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Apple TV+)
About: This one, meant to fill in some gaps in the modern monsterverse, got its start last November. But the final two episodes of the season came here in 2024. The initial hook was Wyatt and Kurt Russell playing different versions of the character Lee Shaw. But there ended up being something of a strong emotional core to the show and an interesting final couple episodes. I didn't love this one as much as others, but I felt like it was a strong season and a solid expansion of the world.

Reacher, Season 2 (Prime Video)
About: This one got a start in December but finished up with its final few episodes in 2024, ending on Friday. Not everyone enjoyed the second season, which admittedly had something of a different style. But I enjoyed the season-long journey. However, the violence and ultimate actions of our "heroes" in the finale itself gave me some pause. The season started strong but I wasn't as taken with the ending. Still, it was ultimately a satisfying journey and I'm excited to see where Alan Ritchson takes this character next.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more