Alias Grace
Quiet, slow-paced miniseries that tells the story of a convicted murderess in the mid 1840s. Told in flashbacks, the story leaves us wondering, did she, or didn’t she?
Channel: Netflix
The Crown
The first two seasons series details the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s marriage and ascension to the throne. Claire Foy and Matt Smith play the Queen and Prince Philip respectively for the first two seasons. The second two seasons cover the 1960’s and early 70’s with Olivia Coleman and Tobias Menzies taking on the …
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Made for children. When a mysterious fire kills their parents, the Baudelaire children are sent to live with their evil uncle Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris). They soon learn that he is after the family fortune, and leave him to live with a series of other relatives. This series is quirky, highly stylized and funny …
Lucifer
What if the devil got tired of Hell and decided to take a break in Los Angeles as a nightclub owner and then amateur detective? Lucifer is charming and intent on punishing evil (remember that not only does the devil tempt people into sin, he also punishes sin). The tone is generally tongue in cheek …
Bridgerton
Adapted from a popular series of romantic novels, this series as adapted by Shonda Rhimes integrates Black characters (almost) without comment. A cheeky interpretation (many of the scenes are backed by “classical” versions of modern pop songs. Intrigue and romance, love thwarted, scheming mamas, gamblers and opera singers and innocent ladies – all narrated by …
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
The story of an irrepressible optimist who was kidnapped at fifteen and held in an underground bunker until she was saved when she was in her twenties. Once out of the bunker, she moves to NYC where she finds a flamboyant roommate, a crazy landlady and a self-involved boss. So funny. Season 2 was funny …
Sex Education
British teen comedy centers on Otis, a teenager whose mom is a sex therapist with some serious boundary issues played by the great Gillian Anderson. At school, Otis discovers that he HAS been paying attention to his mother and he starts a business, assisted by his new friend Maeve, dispensing sex and relationship advice. Very …
Grace and Frankie
I wasn’t sure whether to call this a comedy or a drama, but decided it is intended to be more humorous than dramatic and it has some funny moments. Polished Grace (Jane Fonda) and bohemian Frankie (Lily Tomlin) are thrown for a loop when their husbands, long term best friends and law partners, reveal that …
Home for Christmas (Hjem til Jul)
This Norwegian romantic comedy follows the travails of Johanne, a thirty-year old nurse whose family is unusually fixated on her having a boyfriend. Johanne tries dating, with limited success and various ups and downs. Generally light, amusing and improbable. Particularly enjoyable for its depiction of winter and Christmas in a wonderful small Norwegian town.
Squid Game
A group of people in desperate need of money are invited to play a mysterious game to win incredible wealth. But it turns out that the stakes are higher than they realized. Often unlikeable protagonists, unlikely situations and deeply disturbing psychological drama – but that said, it is impossible to stop watching.