2. Masters of the Air - I'm just going to say it - I hate this show. I'm on the 4th episode, actually maybe the 5th? I've lost track between my naps, because I literally have fallen asleep during every episode. It's mind-numbing and I couldn't care less about every single character. The most interesting part is Barry Keoghan's accent because it's hilarious hearing him pronounce every single word ("heees onda controwles"). I made a comment about it on Twitter, and was told by an Austin Butler fan account very matter-of-factly that his accent is "New York Irish", as if I'm not from NY and my grandfather's family weren't Irish immigrants from Shannon, County Clare, and he wasn't in the army during WWII. But these things are all true, and I can tell you very matter-of-factly that he sure as fuck didn't sound like that. LOL. I love Keoghan, though, so he'll always get a pass from me. Butler on the other hand is wearing on my last nerve. I praised a lot of his performance in Elvis. But what the fuck has happened to him? What's wrong with his voice? He claimed that he got stuck in his Elvis voice and had to have a voice coach help him (*cough* bullshit *cough*), but in this he's so mumbly, I can barely even understand what he's saying. And he's also really stiff. Like, not a single emotion has appeared on his face, it's sort of creeping me out. I also don't like Callum Turner and I'm annoyed that he just *happens* to start dating Dua Lupa when they both have big projects to promote (I can smell a fake romance/publicity stunt a mile away). I'm sort of fascinated by my dislike of this because I usually love stuff like this (Band of Brothers, Dunkirk, etc.). I will say that it looks *very* good.
3. Expats - This series has its ups and downs - and some of those ups are sky high, but overall, the series isn't great. First, I think Nicole Kidman needs an escape from these types of series (every single series she's been in over the last few years have been about privileged white women - this, The Undoing, Nine Perfect Strangers, Big Little Lies...I'm tired, Nicole, move on! Please, I beg of you!). The show follows the lives of 3 women after a tragedy has occurred, but Nicole is given the more interesting role and the other women are sort of awful. The pilot and second episode that set the whole thing up are very interesting - and I love that it seems like it's going to be about the people who "cause" tragedies. Sort of like A Good Person, which I really liked. The emotions and guilt that never go away after shattering someone else's life (by accident) is something I would definitely like to see explored more. The tragedy that occurs is also set up in a really interesting way because this little boy that goes missing is clearly a child that misbehaves and is hard to take care of - it shows his mother (Kidman) losing track of him twice in the episode leading up to his disappearance. And yet, she trusts a young woman who she doesn't know to watch him in a very busy outdoor market (KNOWING that he's a wanderer and not warning the girl of this fact). I don't really blame this girl at all, but I understand why she blames herself. However, instead of focusing on that - they have this girl sleep with the neighbor's husband (because he's "nice" to her), destroying another life in the process. I don't normally blame the woman when a husband cheats, but I do question this girl's life choices. Anyway, the third woman that the story focuses on is the neighbor who is a miserable woman who is given no likable qualities whatsoever (of course your husband is going to cheat if you're a miserable shrew all the time...). It's a shame because Sarayu Blue is the highlight of the show, acting-wise, but the character is just...UGH. The show is also just filmed really well - beautiful shots all around, the pace is slow - but in a good way, it presents a sort of loneliness that occurs, even when you're surrounded by people, that I think a lot of people can relate to. There's just some stuff in there that isn't explored enough - like how the neighbor's husband is a suspect at some point??? But they never explain why or what kind of motive he would have? And he's never really given any character development at all. AND it took me two WHOLE episodes to realize that it was Jack Huston in the role! He looks very different. I would have also appreciated some insight into Kidman's husband - who is barely in it - but seems to forgive the whole situation a little too easily?? If my husband LOST our child, that forgiveness would be hard to come by (and interesting to explore!). I think there's an attempt to focus on these 3 woman and have the men around them used as props (how women have so often been portrayed in the lives of complicated men), but I find it frustrating.
4. Criminal Record - I'm only 4 episodes into this, but so far, I really like it. I LOVE Cush Jumbo (from The Good Wife and I've just finished the first season of the spin-off, The Good Fight - it's so good!). Peter Capaldi is really good too - and they have really solid energy together (it's not exactly chemistry - it's like an anti-chemistry, but it works so well for the story). I like the story that is set up in the first episode - basically she finds out that someone is in jail for a murder they may not have committed, and she's trying to figure out how/why it happened (and it's all leading to Capaldi's character being a slimy, corrupt police officer - he's a bit too good at covering his tracks though.). It moves very quickly and has some surprising twists (although as soon as they said the woman was on the 9th floor - I knew exactly how that scene was going to play out. I still winced, though). I always forget that police in the UK don't carry guns, but...uh...it would have been quite useful in multiple situations she gets herself in?? I'm not a gun advocate by any means, but police should have them (and also face consequences if they use them incorrectly or unjustly). ANYWAY, I'm excited to watch the rest of this series! And I think it's going to be a series and not a miniseries?! That would be great! I feel like producers are too scared to invest in tv shows anymore so they make miniseries' and if they are successful, they go "ohhhh okay, we'll make more!" (*ahem* Beef *cough*). But it is kind of left on a cliffhanger (I don't mind if that's the end though - life is a cliffhanger!).
5. Mr. & Mrs. Smith - This is FAR better than I was expecting. First of all, I'm ecstatic that Phoebe Waller-Bridge (is it Bridge or Bridges? Don't care) dropped out (she would have definitely ruined the show for me). I'm not sure that I like the new woman much better (again, lazy, don't feel like looking her name up but I think it's Maya something), but she does do this role of cold, introverted assassin very well. But I love Donald Glover so much. He's one of those actors that can be outwardly hilarious, but also maintains a subtle, dry humor in smaller scenes. I definitely remember liking the movie version with Brad and Angelina, but I don't remember much about it - just that they are sexy as fuck and that they are assigned to kill each other. This series explores more of the "how they got there" story, and it's just a whole lot of fun. The guest stars are incredible (PARKER POSEY!! Literally, when they ask the question if there's anyone who "got cooler as they got older", I screamed "she's right there! Her name is Parker Posey!". She's the coolest!), even if some are too short-lived. I laughed quite a bit in every episode - some of my favorite lines are: when he refers to the young white guy as "American Psycho" for no real reason other than he's young and white. When she's describing how he eats and he says "like Stomp" LOL. But my favorite is when he says "I can be cool, too" and then pulls his hat to the side - it's such a dumb dad joke, but Glover pulls it off in such a funny way. I do feel like they move too quickly between each episode - like they meet in the first episode, but by the third, they are a full-blown bickering couple. And then a few episodes later the relationship is already dissolving. It's never really clear how much time has gone by. But I could also argue that it keeps it moving fast, which is interesting. I do hate the bickering, though. I just don't find it entertaining at all (and why do they always make the woman character the bitch in these situations? She's awful to him, even making fun of how much he cares for his mom??? That's like the biggest GREEN flag there is, bitch!). The ending is really action-packed and a ton of fun (even though *spoiler* THEY KILL HER CAT! WHAT THE FUCK!). This is rumored to have a second season, too, so I'm crossing my fingers that it's true!
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