Reviews
This Town (2024)
This is EVERYTHING!
It's music it's racism, it's immigration, it's political, it's oppression, it's religion, it's addiction, it's neurodivergence, it's coming of age, it's family obligations and independence, it's heartbreak and redemption... Everything! And it's done superbly. This show sucked me in and still hasn't spit me out. This was nothing like I expected and I just might re-watch it immediately after I finish it. The acting was on point with only a few moments that were awkward but every show has that. Nicholas Pinnock and Michelle Dockery shine. Watch this. You won't regret it. I laughed, I cried, I cheered and I loved.
Three Pines (2022)
Good promise but way too predictable
It's a decent show but I had every perpetrator figured out as soon as the crime occurred. My preference for whodunits is 1 crime being solved. Not multiple crimes. But that's personal preference. I had the daughter, the hotel guy, Pierre... You name it. That and the female lead, Isabelle, isn't strong. She's a mediocre actress with most of her emoting appearing forced and inauthentic. The show also lacks nuance, like it's trying to make it seem that the still waters are deeper than they truly are. That being said, I love the indigenous theme running through, that everything is connected. But even those connections are too obvious. I think I'll keep watching to see if I can keep figuring it out of nothing else is on.
DNA (2019)
I just can't...
In one episode, there are so many clichés, it's painful. As soon as the idiot cop brought his daughter to work, I knew it was going to be bad. Then, when he left her on the deck of the ferry, alone, in the howling wind and rain, while he went to puke, I was out. Even though he "put the brakes on...". I mean, come on! That's like the girl in the horror movie that runs upstairs - just dumb.
Shtisel (2013)
This shiksa needs more!
This show is so well done and enthralling that I burned through 3 seasons in a week. I couldn't wait until I could find out what happens next with Kiva, Shulem, Giti...all of them! Now, is this show a 100% accurate portrayal of orthodox life in Jerusalem? I'm going to say probably not since no show is. It's called dramatization and it's a necessary evil. But I would bet that it's somewhat close.
The writing and acting is way above par. It's excellent in many areas and nothing less than good in all others. Some storylines make escaping clichés impossible, but I am more than willing to forgive those sins since it can't be helped.
The themes are universal and done in a way I haven't experienced before. Granted, I'm an English speaking American watching a foreign Yiddish, orthodox show and things will be new to me simply for that reason alone. But watching how a specific group navigates universal themes manifesting themselves in a constricted, rigid environment is what was new to me. The tradition crashing into new, the timeless tale of unrequited love and desire, the sacrifice of self for something greater believed in. But then also the oppression of women by men, the ostracizing of those who dare to rebel, the prejudices against others of different faiths (I'm sure they wouldn't love me, a gentile, as much as I love them, but that's ok). The love and happiness. The sadness and despair. The celebrations and the grieving. It's all there, it's beautiful and I need more!
De dag (2018)
Amazing! Except for this one ridiculous scene...
Episode 1 started and I never moved after that. I couldn't! This show sucked me in immediately. Sure, there are the obligatory very cliché moments that are in every drama, but I didn't seem to mind them as much with this show. I also expect things to not add up or make much sense, too. EXCEPT...
It was the scene when the elderly man with dementia shoots the cop that the show almost lost me. It was RIDICULOUS! Who would keep a gun in the house when someone has dementia??? You're telling me the elderly guy didn't know it was a cop on the balcony? But he was lucid enough to go get the gun, presumably load it (if it's a loaded gun on the house of someone with dementia... I just can't!), come back to where he saw the "intruder" (i.e. REMEMBER where the "intruder" was) and then shoot him??? Oh, and before that, he had to lift himself up in his hospital bed by a trapeze!! I literally LOL'd when the guy came back with the shotgun - that's how insane it was.
But I'm glad I got past that little bit because it's a pretty sick show!
The Widow (2019)
Meh...
I thought this show had potential with a cast consisting of Kate Beckinsale, Charles Dance, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, etc., and there were definitely a few bright spots. But all in all this show was just... meh. I found myself looking at my phone and texting others while the show was on and I didn't feel the need to rewind what I had missed.