I am “all in” on traditional TV. Bought a new set. Got a new cable box. Even got new eyeglasses. And yet I’ve been watching an awful lot of Netflix shows, go figure.
LOVED
Big Mouth (Netflix) This animated series got better and better as it went along. Nick Kroll and John Mulaney, our pals from Broadway’s Oh, Hello, voice the two main characters, pubescent nice-suburb nerds. (Kroll is also a creative force behind the show.) It’s a sweet reminiscence of those awkward years, but is also riotously funny, loaded with excellent comedic voice talent. By the episode where they inserted an unexpected Seinfeld spoof, I knew I was hooked.
The Vietnam War (PBS) I learned more about the Vietnam War from Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s documentary miniseries than I had in my entire life. It was so discouraging to watch the White House transition from policy blunders to outright deception of the public, and fascinating and inspiring to see soldiers transform into protesters. The segment on Kent State will haunt me always.
LIKED A LOT
Mindhunter (Netflix) My buddy Jimmy recommended this one. Watching the opening credits of the pilot, when the director’s name came up, I actually said aloud, “Ooh, David Fincher!” That first episode was weirdly slow, perhaps because the series is based on a nonfiction book about the early days of criminal profiling in the FBI. Great to see Holt McCallany from the overlooked boxing drama Lights Out. He’s the gruff, slightly jaded head of Behavioral Science. But his partner, Jonathan Groff, is the real star here. In the pilot, he seemed so wispy, with an Andrew McCarthy-like voice, that I worried he might float away. But as the show progresses, the character gets more and more complicated, and it’s compelling viewing.
Detectorists (Netflix) My pal Frank hipped me to this one. The British series was created by and stars Gareth from the original Office. He’s buddies with fellow metal detectorist Toby Jones, totally redeeming himself in my mind from that trainwreck Wayward Pines. Gently funny, with a lot of grey-day sweet sadness.
Toast of London (Netflix) Matt Berry was hilarious in Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace and The IT Crowd. So I was very pleased when this show, recommended by my friend Kate, finally became available in the U.S. Berry plays Steven Toast, a self-important, unsuccessful actor with a bit of a Larry David approach toward life. Running gags abound, things skew absurd, and it’s very, very funny. Yes, Clem Fandango, I can hear you!
Better Things (FX) I missed the first season and can’t catch up because it’s only available on Hulu, you bastards. But Louis C.K. has produced yet another winner, starring his frequent foil Pamela Adlon. There are many shades of Louie — she’s a performer, she’s a single parent, the half hour is occasionally broken into unrelated segments — but Adlon makes it her own, thanks to the tense but loving relationship with her daughters.
LIKED
Ghosted (FOX) I don’t dislike Craig Robinson, but he’s never been a particular favorite. And sci-fi isn’t usually my thing. But I am a big fan of Adam Scott (despite the last couple of seasons of Parks & Rec being tiresome), so I decided to give this a shot. Turns out it’s a lot of fun! Scott and Robinson have an easy rapport, and the sci-fi works because it’s handled with a very light touch.
Ozark (Netflix) Another Jimmy suggestion. You can’t go too wrong with Jason Bateman and Laura Linney, and I was real happy to briefly see Mike from Ed, a long ways from Stuckeyville. The premise is a bit contrived: Drug cartel money laundering goes bad, so Bateman must relocate his family from Chicago to the Ozarks and try to generate piles of cash in a hurry. But the building tension is palpable, and the setting is intriguing, even if the series was filmed in Georgia. WTF?
The Gong Show (ABC) The return of this childhood favorite brought a big smile to my face. Though no one can replace Chuck Barris, Mike Myers gives it his all, never breaking character as British personality Tommy Maitland. The show was consistently entertaining, and as opposed to so much competitive reality garbage, Tommy lets us know this is “just for funsies.”
The Deuce (HBO) This started really strong — I felt like David Simon had truly rebounded from Treme and was back to Wire-level work. But as the episodes wore on, like Treme, it seemed that recreating an era was more important than delivering drama. (Psst, how about a villain?) Still, the cast is quite good — kudos to Simon for bringing aboard many familiar faces from his previous shows. And in yet another example of an actor playing two roles, James Franco is twin brothers, the “bad” one being a highlight of the series.
Room 104 (HBO) What if you let normcore kings the Duplass brothers make the Twilight Zone? You get this. I liked the conceit of this anthology series: All episodes set in the same shitty motel room, in different eras. Was hit-and-miss but more often good than not.
DIDN’T LIKE
Battle of the Network Stars (ABC) I was impressed at first: The show was very respectful of the original series, and even brought back the Wide World of Sports intro. Because there are now a bajillion networks, instead of ABC vs. CBS vs. NBC, it was now “themed” teams: cop shows, doctors, kids, etc. An hour felt too long, and it gave off a slight “reality show” whiff. Then the star power dropped off significantly in week 2. I soon found myself just checking who was on each week, maybe fast-forward through a competition or two, and then deleting.
Brockmire (IFC) I meant to trash this in the previous installment, and I apologize. The Brockmire short, on Funny or Die, starred Hank Azaria and was quite funny. Adding the charming Amanda Peet and turning it into a series, set in a minor league town, seemed promising. But the tone was really off somehow and it just wasn’t very much fun.
ONE AND DONE
Young Sheldon (CBS) I had some loyalty to the early years of Big Bang Theory, so figured I’d sample this. My verdict: Chuck Lorre is attempting to make a “quality” series but doesn’t know how. Also, why are “Walk of Life” and “Higher Love” in a show set in 1989?
Me, Myself & I (CBS) Likewise, I had loyalty to Bobby Moynihan from SNL. The high concept here is that it’s the same guy at three different ages in his life. I absolutely couldn’t buy that they were the same person (i.e. No way does Moynihan grow up to be John Larroquette).
Real Rob (Netflix) I like Rob Schneider. I saw Deuce Bigolo in the theater. But this was cheap looking, his real-life wife cannot act, and it simply wasn’t funny. Nobody will be “makin’ copies” of this show.
DELETED AFTER 11 MINUTES
The Good Doctor (ABC) Loyalty can be a cruel mistress, can’t it? Monday nights wouldn’t be the same without Freddie Highmore in Bates Motel, but here he was back on Mondays as an autistic doctor! But his character was really annoying, and everybody else seemed phony.
THE SIMPSONS
Perhaps I’m getting soft in my old age, but it’s maybe seemed a little better this season?
THANK YOU AND GOODBYE
Broadchurch (BBC America) The third and final season was a nice blend of a new investigation and closure of the original case. I’ll miss David Tennant and Sophie from Peep Show.
Vice Principals (HBO) Danny McBride totally came through again with another blowhard character who wasn’t quite Kenny Powers, with Walton Goggins hilariously egging him on. One story arc split over two seasons was very effective. Finale this weekend!
LOOKING FORWARD TO
The return of Baskets. The Winter Olympics. Roseanne? Yeah why not.
SHOWS I USED TO WATCH AND IN MANY CASES STILL DO
Links to Edition I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, and XIII.
Jack Silbert, curator