The television season is about to go into hibernation. So now is a great time to binge on some great shows you might have missed.
‘This is Us’ (NBC)-
NBC’s new hit drama is an engaging, heartwarming exploration of one family’s journey told through several decades. In flashbacks to the 1970s, we meet a young couple (Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia), who having just lost one of their triplets during childbirth, agree to adopt an abandoned African American baby born the same day. The story then jumps to the present, where now in their 30s, the kids are tackling complicated life issues of their own. Kevin (one twin) is a handsome, sweet but somewhat dim actor trying to grow beyond a limiting sitcom role. Kate (the other twin) is a severely overweight woman whose negative self-image is suddenly challenged by an interested suiter. While Randall’s (the adopted sibling) search for the father who abandoned him, leads him to question his own identity as a black man. The flashbacks showcase the challenges their parents faced in raising three children, and give the audience a chance to witness the moments that shaped the adults we see in the present. So far the show has tackled two subjects rarely dealt with as sensitively and intelligently on television. Randall’s confusion and isolation growing up as an African American kid in a white family and community, and Kate’s obsession with weight loss and feelings of inadequacy. Anyone longing for the hanky, warm fuzzy drama of ‘Parenthood’, will love ‘This is Us.’
‘Westworld’ (HBO)-
HBO’s newest thriller, based on the 1973 sci-fi classic film, is science fiction at its best. Intriguing, thought-provoking and visually stunning, the show examines the most vile and most virtuous elements of human nature. Set in the future, the show centers on a theme park populated by incredibly life-like androids. Here visitors can immerse themselves in an incredibly detailed reenactment of the old west. Guests or humans are allowed to play out any fantasy and fulfill any desire whether sexual, violent, or heroic in a consequence free environment. The hosts or robots, who are programed to be incapable of harming humans, are killed, raped and tortured on a daily basis. Then they are simply repaired, reset (memory wiped) and sent out again the next day. After an update, some of the hosts start remembering their past horrific experiences and begin searching for answers and the meaning of their existence. What will this mean for the violent and unsuspecting guests? The intentions of the mastermind of this fantasy world (played by Anthony Hopkins) remain unclear, but we may be witnessing the awakening of an artificial consciousness that could have a devastating effect on humanity. Steller performances by Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Anthony Hopkins and Ed Harris enhance the surprising twists and turns of the plot. With layers of meaning built into the storytelling and plenty of mysteries to unravel, ‘Westworld’ is a savory treat for all kinds of fans.
‘Atlanta’ (FX)-
Created by and starring Donald Glover (Community), Atlanta is a smart, funny, slice of life look at one man’s attempt to follow his passion, put a little more money in his wallet and do right by his family. Earnest “Earn” is broke and homeless (he rotates between living with his parents and his friend/ baby mama). Earn’s cousin “Paper Boi” is an up and coming rapper whose career Earn desperately wants to manage. “Atlanta’s” setting and characters have a refreshing authenticity that helps ground the show’s adroit use of satire and humor. The storylines cleverly dissect serious issues like police brutality, transphobia and racial differences. Some of the funniest moments on the series are Paper Boi is being interviewed on a Charlie Rose-like show about the rap community’s insensitivity toward transgender people, and Earn going to a Juneteenth party at a wealthy interracial couple’s home where the likable, white husband has made a “hobby” of black people. Glover’s astute storytelling skewers hypocrisy and finds the absurdity at the heart of most of society’s conflicts. Glover will assuredly win some awards for the brilliant, original voice this show brings to the television landscape.
‘Better Things’ (FX)-
FX’s other new comedy is just as humorous and offers another rich, unique viewpoint. The show centers on Sam Fox, played by Pamela Adlon, a forty-something divorced actress raising three daughters in Los Angeles. Sam’s life consists of juggling her daughters, a rebellious teenager, a tomboy who chooses to dress and act like a boy, and an anxious 6-year-old and her mother, an annoying, critical presence who may be mentally deteriorating and living next door. Meanwhile, Sam is struggling to keep her career afloat and have some kind of personal life (she finds herself googling middle aged lady porn one night). Created and written by Adlon and Louis C.K., the show’s dialog is sharp and dirty, and Adlon’s harried mom is utterly relatable. Adlon is known for her performances in ‘Californication,’ ‘Louie,’ and as the voice of Bobby Hill on ‘King of the Hill.’ She brings these experiences into the show. Adlon herself is a divorced mother of three and ‘Better Things’ has an honesty and tartness to it that makes it well worth a viewing.
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