Derry Girls: A Review

Derry Girls is a hilarious show that I binged recently. It brought me back to blogging; it’s been a while.

Derry Girls is a Netflix Original that had me in stitches over 2 seasons, each with 6, 22 min episodes. It is a perfect amount to binge on. It is set in 1990’s Londonderry during “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. It centres around a group of Catholic friends. They attend an all girls high school run by nuns, under the watchful (sarcastic) eye of Sister Michael.

This is a very funny sweet coming of age story set during a difficult time. Each girl has a distinct personality. Tough Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell) has a foul mouth and a nose for trouble, cautious Clare (Nicola Coughlan) tries to be the voice of reason, romantic Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson) just goes with the flow as her vacuous cousin Orla (Louisa Harland) tags along. The group is completed by quiet James (Dylan Llewellyn), Michelle’s cousin who grew up in England. Although James is often relegated to the background, he never fails to pipe up with a novel perspective.

Each episode is a perfectly paced chaotic escapade that is set to a wonderful period soundtrack. The main characters are vividly portrayed. The acting is top notch. The secondary characters (parents and small town regulars) are also part of the fun and add heart to the show.

A word of caution, there is swearing. Also, the accents and slang can be a bit opaque. This was easily overcome with the help of subtitles. If you are looking for a funny coming of age series that is easily binged, look no further.

Umbrella Academy: a review

I am the first to admit to superhero TV/movie burnout. And yet in a matter of days, my husband and I binged watched Umbrella Academy season 1, a Netflix original production (10, 1 hour episodes). I was curious about it because it stars a few actors, Ellen Page (Juno), Tom Hopper, (Black Sails), and Robert Sheehan (Misfits), whom I simply adore. When I found out that the Rosebud Motel from Schitt’s Creek made an appearance as well, I was sold!

Umbrella Academy is based on a superhero comic book and centres on the Hargreeves family. They are an estranged group of adult adopted siblings with powers who reunite for their father’s funeral and to avert an apocalypse.

 

 

Over the course of 10 episodes we jump between the past via flash back (maybe a bit of time-travel too) and the present. We learn the strange circumstances that brought these 7 people together as infants. We discover what drove them apart years later. All this happens while the mysteries surrounding their father’s death and the return of their long lost brother (Number 5) are resolved.

I thought the pacing was leisurely but the stylistic touches to the sound design, the seemingly random insertion of dance numbers, quirky sets and skillful action sequences (of which there are plenty) held my interest.  There is good character development, wry humour, gracefully choreographed fight scenes, a bit of romance and a brilliant soundtrack.

I think the performances are great. I didn’t realize how much I missed Robert Sheehan’s character Nathan from Misfits until I saw echoes in his portrayal of Klaus (Number 4). Special mention goes out to Mary J. Blige and Cameron Britton as an odd-couple team of assassins, delightfully and respectively named Cha-Cha and Hazel, in relentless pursuit of Number 5.

I think super hero fantasy genre is a great way to frame what is essentially the story of a dysfunctional family. It was Tolstoy’s iconic opening of Anna Karenina (All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way) that put a spotlight to our societal fascination with this recurring theme. In Umbrella Academy, you get this and so much more.

This show is not particularly groundbreaking in its themes (X-men anyone?) or plots. Yet it combines so many familiar things into a great package. If you are looking for a show with a fun blend of characterization, stylistic action and plot threads with twists that are pretty easy to follow, then you might want to check this out sometime before Netflix releases season 2.

Schitt’s Creek: More Fun from CBC

 

I must be on a CBC comedy binge. This show has been on my radar for the last few years. I watched the first episode when it aired and was too busy at the time to follow up, despite enjoying it well enough. Being a huge fan of Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara kept this show at the back of my mind, so when I read Glen Weldon’s recent NPR review and realized that there were 4 seasons, available on Netflix, to catch up on, I figured it was now or never.

Am I ever glad I chose now. This show is a fun fish-out-of-water/dysfunctional family hybrid. The Rose family lands in the titular small town after their fortune is mishandled by their business manager. Father, Johnny (Eugene Levy), founder of Rose Video, a once leading video rental chain, tries to keep it together. He does his best to assure his family that a return to the life of luxury is still within their reach. His wife Moira (Catherine O’Hara), a faded soap opera star, is fueled by his assurance. Their adult son David (Dan Levy) and daughter Alexis (Annie Murphy) seemed resigned to their new circumstances and struggle to find a new purpose.

Watching the Rose family cling to their battered pride as they make 2 rooms at the local motel their new home is simply a delight. They are truly clueless to the extreme and yet the locals just take it in stride with minimal exasperation and loads of gentle patience tinged with compassion.

And before you know it, friendship and romance abounds with a comedic flair. This family has its problems but there are flashes of great love and understanding. Nowhere better is that seen than between David and Alexis. In a blink we see them pivot from pushing each other’s buttons to watching each other’s backs to guarding each other’s hearts. And we witness all this while they are sharing a room in a pretty bare bones motel.

The acting is outstanding. Eugene Levy’s Johnny is a slow simmer as he adapts to his new life, working in a motel. Dan Levy’s David is a basket of self aware insecurity struggling to find purpose in a world without a safety net. Annie Murphy’s Alexis is a party girl who always seems to land on her feet, despite a history of questionable choices. Catherine O’Hara’s not quite (but pretty darn close) over-the-top Moira is a walking affectation. It is her bizarre diction combined with her bold over-dressed fashion choices and multitude of wigs that shield her from the harsh new reality of life in Schitt’s Creek.

In addition to the family at the centre of this show, there is a strong supporting cast that includes my favourite, Stevie Budd ( Emily Hampshire), the perpetually amused and amusing motel clerk.  Her plaid shirts and faded jeans make her a kindred spirit to me but I truly love her hint of a smile as she kindly guides the Roses without indulging them.

Between Netflix and CBC Gem, It didn’t take long to binge 56 episodes (21 minutes each) and catch up with the current CBC broadcast of season 5. This show is a terrific example of how great Canadian TV can be. If you are looking for a fun wry comedy that offers quirky characters room to grow, I hope you give this a try.

 

Kim’s Convenience: a fond review

I am not sure why it has taken me so long to finally watch this wonderful, Canadian produced TV show. I think it was all the promo spots that I was seeing, in anticipation of the launch of Season 3, in addition to the endorsement of NPR’s Kat Chow (of my beloved Pop Culture Happy Hour and Code Switch podcasts) that finally got me to select this title on Netflix. In a matter of a week I watched all 26, 21 min-episodes of the first 2 seasons. In no time I was caught up to join the rest of Canada as CBC aired the Season 3 premiere.

Kim’s Convenience is equal parts work place and family comedy. Father “Appa” (Paul Hyung-Sun Lee) and Mother “Umma” (Jean Yoon) Kim are Korean Canadian’s who run a convenience store in a diverse Toronto neighbourhood. Their daughter, Janet (Andrea Bang) helps out when she isn’t too busy with school. She is a photography student at The Ontario College of Art and Design. And then there is her brother Jung (Simu Liu), who is estranged from his father. He seems to have outgrown his juvenile delinquency and works at a rental car agency with his best friend and roommate Kimchee (Andrew Phung).

This show rings true to the North American immigrant experience. It is based on a successful play of the same name, written by Ins Choi. Much of the humour in this series illuminates cultural in addition to generational divisions. As the Canadian born daughter of Eastern European immigrants, I can relate wholeheartedly.

Alongside the brilliant core of actors, who portray the Kim family, this show has a wonderful supporting cast of friends and community members/store regulars. In addition to Kimchee, I have particular fondness for Janet’s friend Gerald (Ben Beauchemin), Pastor Nina (Amanda Brugel), and Jung’s boss Shannon (Nicole Power).

If you are looking for a family friendly comedy that is gentle, kind, respectful, funny but by no means saccharine and gives space for character development, I would highly recommend Kim’s convenience.

Baroness Von Sketch Show: a Love Letter

It has been a while since I posted a blog. I guess I was waiting for something that I haven’t written about already to inspire me. Well, the launch of Baroness Von Sketch Show’s 3rd Season is reason enough.

Despite heavy promotion on CBC since its 2016 inaugural season, it took me a while to watch it. I finally gave it a try when the first 2 seasons were available on demand, just over a year ago. I binged all 13 episodes (22 minutes each) in a matter of days and wished there were more. Well now there are, hurray! I have been faithfully watching the current season and am still awestruck at the genius of this show.

This show is created by and features Carolyn Taylor, Meredith MacNeill, Aurora Browne, and Jennifer Whalen. These women are brilliant writers who speak to my soul. They take a commonplace situation (my favourite in S1E01 is the signing a sympathy card at the office, too bad that video clip is not readily available online), find the humour in it and push it to the limit. Their knack for timing ranks with some of the greatest sketch performances. They are brilliant actors. Their physicality ranges from nuanced facial expressions to pratfalls. Laughing out loud is a rare treat that is guaranteed with every episode I watch. And I am not the only one who thinks so. The Baronesses have been embraced by major media outlets such as The New York Times and The Walrus.

Words are insufficient, so I will let these brilliant women show you with some of my favourite sketches linked below. Or you can check them out on Netflix (at least in Canada) or CBC online or Youtube (A NSFW warning is required, some of the language and situations are crude).

 

 

Speechless: a review

It has been a very long time since I sat down and watched a family comedy with any regularity. Truth be told, I think that would have been Malcolm in the Middle’s inaugural season back at the turn of the century. In the current age of peak TV, with so little time, there is always something good that you are going to miss out on. My tastes generally lean towards dark comedy that is peppered throughout TV dramas such as Better Call Saul. So it may come as a surprise to see me gushing over Speechless.

Speechless is an ABC comedy that revolves around the working class DiMeo family. Maya (Minnie Driver) and Jimmy (John Ross Bowie) are parents to J.J. (Micah Fowler), Ray (Mason Cook) and Dylan (Kyla Kenedy). Eldest son, J.J. has cerebral palsy. He is non-verbal, wheelchair dependant and requires a personal aide worker, Kevin (Cedric Yarbrough), at school. Watching the every day struggles of this family with the added complications of advocating for people with disabilities in an atmosphere of love and humour is such a joyful experience. I wish I started watching this sooner, but better late than never.

I first heard of this TV show when the pilot episode was made available as a free download via iTunes. I downloaded it for a couple of reasons, it was free and I absolutely adore Minnie Driver (ever since my first big screen encounter, Circle of Friends) but I never got around to watching it. Then my beloved Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast featured it alongside This is Us. I liked what I heard about it; alas I had too much to watch at the time. Since everyone at work was talking about This is Us, I decided to jump on that band wagon (glad I did) first. Speechless remained at the back of my mind. Then came March Break and a long flight home. What should I find but the first 4 episodes of Speechless available as inflight entertainment. I binged it and was hooked. Since then I have caught up because 2 seasons worth of episodes (23+18) are replayed most evenings on Canada’s Family Channel.

Speechless has much of the quirky charm that made Malcolm in the Middle so endearing. I love that Speechless eschews a laugh track. The writing is super clever (as opposed to a string of cultural references that often passes as comedy) and it deftly manages to flesh out each member of this scrappy family beyond the usual TV sit-com formula. Sure Maya is a mama bear and Jimmy is pretty laid back but there is more to them than that. We see Maya bulldozing through as she advocates for her eldest son’s needs. She is often oblivious to the needs of her other children. Her forceful and flawed nature is tempered with humour and charm. Jimmy stands back and watches, most of the time. Yet in doing so, he sees all. His timely yet gentle interaction with each of his children, often 1-on-1, strikes a brilliant balance. Despite being non-verbal, J.J. is in no way non-communicative. With the use of a word board and laser pointer we hear him loud and clear. His personality is mischievous, sarcastic and the endless sibling rivalry is hilarious to watch. Youngest child Dylan seems to channel her anger and energy in athletics with a furious passion to win. Middle child Ray is such a nervous rule follower. He is constantly at odds with the rest of his family. We watch his pain as he gets roped into family schemes as they navigate a complicated bureaucracy of school administrators and insurance adjusters.

A part of me can relate to many of these characters. I have a soft spot for Maya, she’s an imperfect take charge kind of mom. I can also relate to Ray, as a young person striving for the things out of his reach due to stark financial hardship. The DiMeo’s make no secret of how expensive it is to have chronic health problems in the USA these days and yet this show never gets preachy about it. This show is often zinger after zinger, with some physical comedy thrown in that really cracks me up.

This show is the brainchild of Scott Silveri (best known as a writer on Friends) who modeled the DiMeo’s after his own family that included a brother with cerebral palsy. This show is nuanced in how it treats people with special needs. It deserves kudos in all its casting, bust special mention to Micah Fowler, who also has cerebral palsy, as J.J. If you are looking for a show that has depth in its characters and themes and will also make you chuckle, then this is definitely worth a try. I am eagerly anticipating its return this fall for a 3^rdseason and will have my PVR set for it.

UnREAL: a review

 

I recently binge-watched UnReal with my youngest daughter over a couple of weeks. I decided to take a chance when I saw season 1 on sale for $4.99 on iTunes. At 50 cents an episode, I could afford to take a chance. I was vaguely aware of it as a critically lauded series created by Marti Noxon (writer and executive producer of my beloved Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Sarah Gertrude Shapiro (former producer on The Bachelor). When I heard from a friend (who knows someone in the business) that this show is a very realistic depiction of reality TV “sausage-making“, I was intrigued.

I should be clear that I really can’t stand watching reality TV, so a peek behind the curtain was sheer schadenfreude. I should be ashamed. Truly, but I am not, because this show is so well-written, brilliantly acted and thematically layered. UnReal is a show about a Bachelor-like dating competetion reality TV show called Everlasting.  The heart of this show is a complex relationship between 2 women, the show runner Quinn (Constance Zimmer) and her frontline producer and protege Rachel (Shirt Appleby). These women are exceedingly good at their jobs. However, their jobs require them to be horrible. And yet, the TV audience can’t get enough! Unfortunately, normalization of their horrible behaviour takes a toll on their lives.

UnREAL is a very nuanced example of competence porn TV with more than a hint of soapiness. It is funny, sad, shocking, vulgar, abrasive and thematically rich. Shiri Appleby shines as highly conflicted and psychologically damaged Rachel, Everlasting’s top producer. Constance Zimmer’s portrayal of tough-as-nails Quinn is in a category of her own (Emmy nomination 2016 well deserved). We glimpse rare moments of frailty when Quinn pushes Rachel away. Their frequent separations are thankfully (for us) short lived. Rachel’s personal life is so dysfunctional, her only constant is her work. The themes woven into this workplace dramedy include, friendship, ageism, racism, feminism, romance, all with tons of mind boggling physcological manipulation.

My daughter and I can’t get enough of UnREAL. Thankfully, while binge-watching earlier episodes, I remembered to set the PVR for its return. So now we have added UnREAL, season 3 to our weekly TV watch. Waiting a week between episodes after watching the first 20 in such a short time is a struggle but we are managing. If you like dark TV dramedies with women at the helm, this show is worth a look.

 

Killjoys: a review

 

I don’t consider myself a space opera fan. Unlike 1/2 my family, I have no affection for Star Wars and Star Trek. I have tried but it just didn’t take. Despite this character flaw, I do find myself looking back on Firefly and the rebooted version of Battlestar Galactica (BsG) with longing. These 2 shows were set in space but heavily character driven with some philosophical depth and terrific action. Of course Firefly also had some memorably witty dialogue. Those shows have been off the air for so long and nothing has quite filled the void they left. However, Killjoys comes pretty close.

 

 

Killjoys is a space opera centred around a team of bounty hunters (aka Killjoys), Jaqobi brothers, Johnny (Aaron Ashmore) and D’avin (Luke Macfarlane) and their fearless leader Dutch (Hannah John-Kamen), . It is an original Syfy production created by Michelle Loretta. 3 seasons have aired (10 43 min episodes in each) and it has just been given a 2 season renewal.

This show is not as philosophical as BsG and doesn’t’t pretend to be. It is a fun action romp in space with a good balance of season long plot threads that are woven with episodes that stand as individual chapters. There is good character development, fun banter, kick-ass action and techy-nerd jargon that almost makes sense. As the series goes along we watch the killjoys expand their quest beyond simple warrants in order to fight political corruption that threatens their survival. Thankfully, the overall plot isn’t too complicated to follow.

This show films in Canada and the acting and writing are top notch. At times it feels like a Being Erica reunion. Many familiar faces from that beloved show have supporting roles. I especially enjoy the diversity in casting. And I simply love Dutch as an intelligent bad-ass in chic yet sensible footwear. Throw in some dysfunctional family/sibling rivalry between the Jaqobi brothers and I am all in.

So if you are looking for a fun space romp with some witty banter and good action, you may want to check this out.

 

 

 

 

 

GLOW: a review

Wow, over the course of 2 days, I binge-watched this Netflix original series (10 episodes, 30 min each) with my youngest daughter. It has been on my radar ever since it was featured on one of my favourite podcasts, NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour.

My daughter was bored, we were home alone together and she was willing to learn how to make home-made pizza with me but wanted to watch something while we flattened dough, chopped veggies and laid out toppings. I swear we would starve if we didn’t have a TV in the kitchen. So I suggested GLOW and she was game.

GLOW is a period (1980’s) drama with a healthy dose of wry humour about the formation of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. I should preface this review by saying that I have never actually watched wrestling, but have close friends that have (still do). In fact we don’t really watch sports in my house. Occasionally a big important game (Olympics, NHL or MLB playoffs) will grab my husband’s attention. This show’s strength lies in its ensemble of women who are figuring out their lives. Some of the struggles depicted involve their relationships with men but many of the best moments are when the women are helping with each other’s issues and forming their friendships. Each of the women are part of GLOW for different reasons. Season 1 is rather like an origin setup. Unfortunately, the short season means that some characters are better served than others. The ending begs for a follow-up season.

I won’t give away any spoilers for this character driven show. The main conflict of the first season deals with 2 ex-friends, both actors who are trying to grab a foothold on their stalled careers. Alison Brie (loved her as Trudy in Mad Men) plays Ruth (aka Koya the Destroyer) and Betty Gilpin plays Debbie (aka Liberty Bell). They are the most developed characters and we watch them struggle and grow throughout Season 1. This show has a pretty diverse cast of women, some whose life’s struggles we are also privy to.

I should mention that Marc Maron also stars as a down on his luck B-movie director. He is tasked with bringing GLOW to the small screen, with the spotty financial backing of Chris Lowell (Piz from my beloved Veronica Mars) as his man-child producer. I should also mention that I am not a Marc Maron fan either; I tried listening to his podcast a few times but it was not for me. But credit to him, he was just perfect for this sleazy role.

My daughter and I really were pleasantly surprised with the surprising developments of this show and its handling of sensitive subjects. We are hoping for a season 2. So if you are looking for a quick TV fix, love the 80’s (the hair, the makeup the fashion, and especially the MUSIC), crave a realistic depiction of complex female characters, you don’t have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy GLOW. It is worth a look.

13 Reasons Why: a review

 

A number of people have been asking me about this show so I thought I would blog about it. I watched this show with my youngest daughter (13 years old) when she expressed interest in it. Her interest was stimulated by the kids at school buzzing about it. I probably would not have started watching it otherwise, as there is so much else on my viewing radar (an almost complete list of shows can be found below). My eldest had no interest in the show at all.

 

13 Reasons Why is based on a young adult novel of the same title by Jay Asher. It centres around the life of Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) who has just killed herself. She left behind 13 audio tapes for her friends and acquaintances to listen to, in an attempt to be finally understood by those who failed to help her. There are voice over narratives and flashbacks interwoven with the present day depiction of a community devastated by the loss of this girl. We spend much of the time with Hannah’s friend Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) as he listens to the tapes and tries to figure out what he could have done differently. This show is a realistic depiction of many aspects of teen angst.  For this I applaud it. This is a far cry from the teen glamour soaps that that flood us (Pretty Little Liars, etc.). It is also quite stark in its depiction of physical and sexual violence as well as suicide.

The acting was convincing by the young cast. The dialogue was pretty realist as well. However, the suspense structure for dramatic effect seemed contrived at times. This show strained to fill 13 episodes (45 min each). I wanted to understand Hannah’s pain in the context of her extreme action but struggled to do so for much of the 1st season. My daughter had a hard time understanding her too. A somewhat better understanding was left to the end. Much of the earlier events seemed like ordinary teen stuff that she was emotionally ill-equipped to handle. That Hannah could not go to her parents for help was very difficult for me to watch. Her parents were depicted as loving and supportive in flashback scenes. Their devastation after her death brought me to tears. This show had little if any discussion about the mental health aspects of Hannah’s troubles. I found that problematic. It also seemed to simplify and externalize much of the responsibility of what is a very complex and very personal problem. Hannah’s isolation was probably realistic. Many kids live inside their own heads and do not know how to clearly ask for help. Their struggles can seem overwhelming in the echo chamber of their minds. Suicide is often described as an impulsive and desperate act, but as depicted in this show, it is usually associated with depression. I hope Season 2 will delve into this a bit more.

This is a Netflix original series that I admire but would have a hard time broadly recommending as must see TV. I think if you are a parent who is interested in pop culture and you want to know what kids are watching, it is worth a look. If your child is watching it, then I think you should definitely watch it too and discuss the themes which include financial struggles, social class, social media shaming, under age drinking, rape culture, friendship, crushes and sexual identity. This show has been renewed for a 2nd season. I will probably only watch it if my daughter wants to. I am grateful for the opportunity to have watched season 1 with her.

Curious about what else I have been watching? The list below is shocking.

The Americans ___ Archer ___ Better Call Saul ___ Black Sails ___ Call the Midwife ___ Catastrophe ___ Crashing (UK) ___ Crazy Ex-Girlfriend ___ The Crown  ___ Dr. Who ___ The Fall ___ Fargo ___ Fleabag ___ Girls ___ Glitch ___ Grantchester ___ Happy Valley ___ Humans ___ iZombie ___ Jane the Virgin ___ Jessica Jones ___ Killjoys ___ Last Tango in Halifax ___ Lovesick ___ The Magicians ___ Master of None ___ Mercy Street ___ Orange is the New Black ___ Orphan Black ___ Please Like Me ___ Poldark ___ Preacher ___ Scott and Bailey ___ Sense8 ___ Silicon Valley ___ Taboo ___ This is Us ___ Veep ___ Victoria