These days, on broadcast television I mainly watch news and political programs. For entertainment, it's almost entirely streaming shows that appeal to me. Here's five recent offerings that I liked a lot, or at least enough close enough to a lot that I was eager to watch all of the episodes in the series.
They're ranked in the order of my liking, with (1) being my favorite.
(1) The Veil - Hulu
Amazingly, this was my first real introduction to Elisabeth Moss, who does a terrific job playing an intelligence agent tasked with finding out whether an Islamic woman in a refugee camp on the Turkish/Syria border, if I recall the countries correctly, is a relatively innocent member of a terrorist organization, or the mastermind of a plot that could kill many thousands of people.
The relationship between the women is fascinating. Each is adept at showing themselves to be someone who may or may not be who they really are. I was so taken by Moss, I finally have gotten around to watching The Handmaid's Tale, a series that I passed on because it seemed too disturbing. Yes, it is, but Moss is so good in it, I'm enjoying the first season, which I've almost finished.
(2) Hacks (season 3) - Max/HBO
My wife and I have enjoyed the first two seasons of Hacks. Season 3 is just as good, maybe even better. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder have great chemistry together. It's a pleasure to have a series about an aging female comedian and her bisexual young writer be both so funny and so touching.
Good comedy really goes a long way toward making life seem more bearable, because it lightens and brightens my spirits. It turned out that a couple of days before I was scheduled for a colonoscopy I watched an episode where Smart joins a group of elderly men who have an annual party where they drink and have a good time, then all go together to get a colonoscopy. Not exactly realistic, but the jokes made me feel better about my own procedure.
(3) Franklin - Apple TV+
An entertaining and informative look at Benjamin Franklin's efforts to entice France to enter the Revolutionary War on America's side. Michael Douglas is totally believable as Franklin. Even though we know how history turned out -- we won the war and gained our independence -- this series shows how things could have gone quite differently.
The dialogue is crisp and well-written. Franklin's wit and personality come though loud and clear. We did some Googling of the historical accuracy, and it appears that this series is mostly based on fact, though naturally there's some fiction mixed in.
(4) Sugar -- Apple TV+
Colin Farrell plays John Sugar, a Los Angeles area private detective who drives around in a classic convertible, loves old movies, and has secrets that eventually are revealed in what for me was an unsatisfying conclusion. But I still enjoyed the intrigue as Sugar tries to find a missing woman who is a member of a famous acting and movie-making family. Lots of twists and turns, as there should be in this sort of show.
(5) The Sympathizer -- Max/HBO
This tale of a double agent who was a communist sympathizer in the South Vietnam army, serving as an intelligence agent who rooted out North Vietnamese spies, appealed to my love of spy thrillers. And it was interesting as a reminder of the Vietnam War that was so instrumental in my baby boomer generation's formative years (I escaped being drafted by a high enough number in the "birthday" lottery).
But the episodes had too many ups and downs for me to love this series. I finished it, but more because I was curious to see how it was going to end than because I adored watching the series. Robert Downey Jr. plays several roles, none of whom looked like Robert Downey Jr. to me, so kudos to the costume and makeup people. The Sympathizer is worth watching for the Asian stereotyping back in this country during the 1970s, which thankfully has improved a lot.
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