August in Review - TV edition:

An overview of all the TV I watched this month.

Best in Show:

The Bear:

Series 2 - DisneyPlus

The Bear is a phenomenal show, and they somehow made series two even better. Series two follows Carmy and the gang as they remodel the restaurant, turning it from a grimy sandwich shop, The Beef, into a Michelin-star restaurant, The Bear. Like in series one, The Bear delivers the chaos we crave; it is stressful and overwhelming but executed perfectly, so you can't look away. But what makes this show so unique, and most notably in series two, are the moments of tenderness it affords its characters. In this series, we get a deeper insight into each of the characters; we find out about Marcus's ailing mother and see him flourish working in a bakery in Copenhagen, Tina and Ebra are enrolled in culinary school, Richie discovers his flare for waiting tables in one of my favourite episodes of the whole series and in the chaos of it all the moment which outshines the rest is the simple act of making an omelette for someone you care about. I could wax lyrical all day about this show, but to save you from reading a dissertation, let me tell you about Richie. In series one, Richie was a frustrating character; he was loud, abrasive, and fought against all the changes Carmy was trying to make. This hadn’t changed at the start of series two. He thinks he knows best when it comes to repairs and in a constant battle with Fak, but it is in these quiet moments that we see Richie's vulnerability. He feels lost, like a spare part with nothing to add to the world of Michelin-star dining, and he believes that he is going to be fired by Karmy. But things change when Richie is sent to work at one of the most prestigious Michelin-star restaurants. At first, Richie believes Carmy has sent him away as punishment, as all he seems to be doing is polishing forks 24/7. But as he slowly begins to understand why people work in these environments and appreciate the art of it all, he too finds his purpose and passion and realises Carmy doesn’t hate him but believes in his potential. Richie is a better man and honestly turned into one of my favourite characters. It’s hard to quantify and articulate how good The Bear’s storytelling is, but know that it is some of the best on TV at the moment.

The Crowded Room

Series 1 - Apple TV

The Crowded Room Stars Tom Holland in a career-defining role as Danny Sullivan and Amanda Seyfried as psychologist Rya Goodwin. At the start of the series, Danny has been arrested after the failed assassination attempt of his friend's abuser, and Rya has been drafted in to give Danny a psych evaluation. The best thing to do with this show is avoid spoilers, which I failed to do by watching the opening credits. This may sound stupid to say, but the show is loosely based on a true story, and the less you know, the better. So, only be curious about the story's origin once you have watched the whole show. The Crowded Room opened to bad reviews, which seems like a sore point for Holland given he poured his heart and soul into his performance, so much so he is taking a break from acting to decompress, and he also executive produced the series. However, I think the reviews are harsh. Depending on embargos, I think most reviewers only saw the opening episodes, which is true the show doesn’t get off to the greatest of starts. The opening episodes are not bad; they just struggle to hook you in and are too overly concerned with superfluous character development. But once the show gets into its stride, it is really great, so stick with it. And if that isn’t enough, then watch the show for the title sequence alone; I love title sequences, and The Crowded Room sequence has entered my list of best of all time. The title music has a haunting hopefulness about it, and the visuals are like oil paintings that shift and morph constantly, creating a dream-like state. The more of the show you watch, the more of the sequence comes alive with significance. It feels like a piece of art. There is very little I can say about the show before we reach spoiler territory, but The Crowded Room is an intriguing crime thriller with excellent performances and a killer twist.

Hijack:

Series 1 - Apple TV

If it wasn’t clear from the title, Hijack is about a hijacking. The one in question is of a UK-bound plane from Dubai. Idris Elba stars as Sam Nelson as a corporate negotiator, and as the hijackers take the plane, Nelson steps up to the plate. Across seven episodes, the series plays out in real-time hour by hour during the 7-hour flight. The series is enjoyable, tense, and gripping. I don’t know how accurate the events are, and I am sure there would have been pilots and air service personnel screaming at the inaccuracies, but as someone blissfully unaware, it felt realistic and plausible for want of a better word. I know that events had to have been exaggerated for entertainment purposes, and at times, it may have taken too many creative liberties, but I stand by the previous statement. There are twists and turns along the way, keeping you on your feet; the best kind on television leaves you not wanting to look at your phone, and this is precisely one of those shows. I hugely enjoyed this show; as this review is published, all episodes will have been aired. However, the best way to watch is through weekly instalments; most episodes end in a cliffhanger, and the anticipation for the next episode adds to the viewing experience. I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers, but I do want to address the ending. I have heard reviews that argue that the show didn’t stick the landing, pun intended. Some have argued that it should have ended 10 minutes before Sam and Stuart, one of the hijackers, had a final altercation. I understand why some felt it unnecessary, which I agree with to a certain extent. I think to have pulled the ending off better, some plotting in the previous episodes would need some tweaking. But the show doesn’t want to hand us an easy fairytale ending, and I like that it kept us on our feet to the very end, but I agree that the treatment of the final scene was a bit ham-fisted. Although this didn’t ruin the enjoyment of the series, it is still a must-watch.

Honourable Mentions:

Lincoln Lawyer:

Series 2 - Netflix

Lincoln Lawyer feels like a classic network show. It's excellent family viewing, with interesting plots and likeable characters. Although certain plot points sometimes seem like awkward attempts at keeping the audience engaged, the show is excellent for a relaxing, low-stakes viewing experience.

Fifteen Love:

Series 1 - Prime Video

The series highlights the sexual abuse that often occurs between tennis coaches and their players. Starring newcomer Ella Lily Hyland as Justine Pierce, a former tennis star who accuses her former coach of sexual abuse. Hyland does a fantastic job portraying a very complex character. Although I found her character annoying at times, I think it is a testament to her performance and the writing that they can keep the audience on side until the whole picture is revealed. From what I understand, the screenwriter Hania Elkington was inspired to write the show based on an article she read. This may be redundant to say, but the show feels extremely grounded and realistic; it doesn't feel like any plot elements are romanticised and overly fictionalised for the purposes of entertainment. The show is a great ensemble piece, and to avoid spoilers, all I will say is they stuck the landing for the end of the show.

Only Murders in the Building:

Series 3 - DisneyPlus

I love this show so much. The previous two series were so enjoyable to watch, and series three doesn't disappoint. Paul Rudd plays a deplorable douchebag so well, and ironically, Meryl Streep is playing an out-of-work actor, but it is refreshing to see her do something a little different and doing it expertly. Of course, the trio of Gomez, Martin and Short are still fantastic company. Like similar story formats, they need to shake things up a bit when the third one comes along. Thankfully, the trio are not on a European trip and suddenly need to solve a murder in their hotel. Instead, things have changed, and the group dynamic is a little different. It's nice to see some character growth among Gomez, Martin and Short and, consequently, how that affects the plot. As of writing this, only four episodes have aired; I must admit because of the slight plot change, the story is moving more slowly than the previous series and is a bit too preoccupied with musical numbers for Short's play. But I am still enjoying the lovable romp and interested to see where the series goes.

Secret Invasion:

Series 1 - DisneyPlus

Secret Invasion is another number in a long line of Marvel content. I am a fan of Marvel and like to keep in the loop with their cinematic universe. But I must admit their output quality has dove off a cliff. The first couple of episodes were intriguing, and it was interesting to see the story try to tackle the immigration issue through their lens. However, like most of Disney's catalogues, they shy away from anything too controversial, and in the end, everything is all surface; it seems that they like to play with the social strata to look interesting and altruistic, but in the end, they don't have much to say. Having said this, it is still enjoyable to watch but not wholly entertaining. The cast is star-studded; Kingsley Ben-Adir plays a quasi Welsh Villian who, like most Marvel villains, has the proper morals and, in other circumstances, would be the hero but has the wrong approach. Emilia Clarke is the daughter of the opposing side's leader in a role that is trying to seem complicated but isn't that compelling. The show's highlight is Olivia Colman, who is being full-on Olivia Colman as a quirky Senior MI6 agent. The DNA-splicing plotline is the show's lasting legacy for the future of the MCU. The universe now contains characters who possess the super abilities of multiple Marvel heroes. I don't know how this will play out, but I can only see it ending badly. Now, they no longer need an Avengers film, just one Avenger. All the jeopardy will be removed from any confrontation because these characters can't lose as they can win simultaneously on several fronts. Overall, Marvel fans probably need to watch to keep in the loop, but as a stand-alone series, it's nothing special.

Best Interests:

Series 1 - BBC

Best Interests is a 4 part drama written by Jack Thorne about a family fighting for the right to keep their disabled daughter on life support. Inspired by these events, the show depicts the effects of the court proceeding on each family member: the mother, played by Sharon Horgan; the father, played by Michel Sheen; and the daughter/Sister, played by Alison Oliver. Each provides a unique perspective on the situation. Sharon Horgan is spearheading the fight for her daughter, Marnie. Since Marnie's birth, her world has revolved around Marnie's care; she stepped down from her job and feels guilty and terrified whenever she leaves Marnie in case something may happen, including leaving Marnie in her father's care. Sheen plays the joyful always ready with a playful comment to lighten the mood. But when Marnie becomes seriously ill, he wants to take the doctor's advice and remove Marnie's life support; he can no longer see the spark of life his daughter once had and believes keeping her alive is prolonging her pain, which is in stark contrast to Horgan's stance. From an impartial viewpoint, it is easy to side with Sheen. It's the level-headed approach, but in reality, when faced with choosing to let your daughter die, we can relate and emphasise the mother's willingness to fight to keep her alive even if her prospects are severely limited. Oliver, the eldest daughter, is caught between her feuding parents and highlights the struggle to be the sibling of someone differently abled. They are never their parent's top priority; they never want to become a burden for their parents as they already have enough to deal with, and although they desperately love their sibling at times, they imagine what it would be like if things were more typical. Jake Thorne is known to advocate for the rights of differently-abled persons and handles the material with such care. Best interests is a genuine and intimate insight into the lives of families who look after those with limiting conditions, the strain it can put on their lives and the effects of the devastating decision some have to make about ending care. It can be a difficult watch at times, but it is still a compelling viewing experience that highlights how hard families have to fight to get the same quality of care more easily afforded for those who are non-disabled.

The Sixth Commandment:

Series 1 - BBC

Based on a true story of how Ben Field charmed his way into the lives of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin. Field manipulates the two elderly people into believing they love Ben; they ultimately change their will, leaving everything to him. And when he got what he wanted, Ben killed Peter and Ann. There is a lot of conversation around the true crime genre and the morality around recreating events for entertainment. Films and TV series about Dahmer, and Bundy and shows like Mindhunter cater to the public's fascination with serial killers, wanting insight into their psychology. But when writers solely focus on the crime and those who commit it, the victims and the impact their brutal murders have on their friends and family are entirely ignored. Often, the victims' families are not contacted during the making of the series and are hurt when their trauma is used as a twisted source of entertainment for the masses. However, The Sixth Commandment is victim-focused. The series focuses on their story; we are placed in the victim's point of view of how Ben comes into their lives rather than witnessing how Ben chose his victims. It is difficult to watch in the first episode but keep with it, it is well worth the viewing time.