March 2020 – TV Quick Hits & Misses

Avenue 5 (HBO) – This was a tough one. Only kind of funny, but mostly awkward, uncomfortable, and weak. Hugh Laurie (“House”) plays Captain Ryan Clark, of the cruise liner star ship, Avenue 5. Josh Gad (“Frozen”) plays Judd, the ship’s rudely eccentric and philanthropic owner. Together, these two idiots, along with a host of ridiculously ineffective crew members and passengers must find a way to survive together when their cruise liner is knocked off its course. All things considered, it’s mostly, a waste of time.

Note: Produced, in part, by Will Smith, the series has somehow scored second season.

McMillions (HBO) – You remember the McDonald’s Monopoly Game, don’t you? Do you remember ever hearing that it was fixed? Probably, but I bet you don’t remember specifics regarding the conspiracy itself, or much, if anything, about the outcome of the whole situation. Well you can thank the 9/11 terrorist attacks for that…Say What? Yeah, get ready for a bit of a ride.

This limited six-episode series explores the multi-layered conspiracy, and ultimate FBI investigation, that saw millions of dollars collected illegally by a small group of interconnected winners. Interviews include a diverse cast of characters, including the most animated FBI agent I’ve ever seen, lawyers, investigators, security officials, conspirators (both happily and some not-so), family members of the accused, and even bystanders who got railroaded in the fallout because they were just too close to the situation. This is a surprisingly candid deep-dive expedition into an unconventional true story.

The series begins and ends interestingly enough, while some of the middle ground gets a little soft and slow but never feels lethargic. The noticeable fact than none of the interviews are done from a prison cell is so surprising that you almost feel bound to the series simply to find out how this motley crew ultimately met with, and/or escaped, justice.

Kidding: Season 2 (Showtime) – The second outing of this dark comedy is a more entertaining and emotional season than the first. The continuing story see Jeff Pickles coping mentally with the physical damage he inflicted in season 1 by way of musical interludes, time travel, divorce, and ultimately, moving on.

Note: The season’s 5th episode, “Episode 3101” is the best of the entire series. Surprisingly and effectively endearing, the episode plays out a full-length “Mr. Pickles” television show that discusses the nature of divorce.

Handmaid’s Tale: Season 3 (Hulu / DVD) – The third season of Hulu’s dystopian drama immediately reminded me, thematically, of the 2019 Oscar nominated documentary, “For Sama”, which sees a mother refusing to abandon her war-torn country, instead remaining within to “fight the good fight”. However, where “For Sama” refuses to ensure the safety of its youngest citizens, “The Handmaid’s Tale” at least sees the children cared for before it begins, in a slow “Godfather”-y earnestness, to tear the power away from those wielding it.

The season itself is not surprising is any unexpected way. Allowing instead for some evolution of character, and lite expansion of Gilead’s present and history. Peaks arriving in the form of background on Aunt Lydia and on reasons why the powerful of Gilead might be more shackled to their cause than they are in continued-favor of it.

For the audience, the issue of June’s continued public defiance remains questionable and reasonably tiresome in the context of the world the series creates; i.e. how is it that she, herself, should live so long while those around her are punished savagely for lesser crimes? Forgoing the point, in favor of a series worth lengthening, the show continues to be well done, albeit rough (to both watch and emotionally assimilate); it actually had me next to tears during the last 30 minutes of the season finale.

Quotes of Note:

1. “I guess you don’t know what you’re capable of till you have to do it.”
2. “Nobody’s talking about ‘Happily Ever After’, just…’After’.”
3. “The brain atrophies in isolation, and breeds despair.”

-m-