Best TV shows of 2022, so far (January-Mid-March)

So I’ve decided to break my TV watching recap into 2 or 3-month brackets instead of waiting till the end of the year. One reason is that my memory really is no longer what it used to be and another is that my end of year recap doesn’t include shows that maybe deserve a spot. Recapping what I’ve watched over the past 3 months allows me to have a fresh memory of the shows as well as it gives more room for more shows.

In all honesty, this beginning of the year was full of surprises! Shows I was convinced I would hate turned out to be favorites while shows I was waiting in anticipation to watch turned out to be duds.

Between January and mid-March, there’s been 5 show that deserve, in my opinion, a mention.

The Silent sea

This Korean scifi series is far from perfect but it has enough originality and intrigue for me to tune in for another episode and want to know more. The story takes place in the near future where Earth suffers from extreme water shortage and follows a space crew sent to the moon on a mission to retrieve mysterious samples from an abandonned research facility where five years prior, all the staff died in bizarre circumstances. Sure, there was some clumsiness in the writing and my first opinion after the first few episodes was that it’s probably an Alien rip-off, but they’ve managed to turn things around and some plot twists have made The Silent Sea a show deserving of more attention.

Archive 81

My previous comments about The Silent Sea’s clumsiness also applies here, for Archive 81. This is a supernatural horror series about a man who’s hired by a mysterious company to restore videocassettes belonging to a student who made, 15 or 20 years prior, a documentary about an appartment building in New-York. As he restores and watches the seemingly mundane footage, he quickly realizes that he’s getting pulled into an intrigue involving mysterious fires, disappearances, cults and conspiracies. Are there plot holes? Yes. Are there unnecessary jump scare techniques? Absolutely. But once again, the show has managed to bring enough to the table to catch the viewers’ attention and make them want to know more.

Suspicion

Suspicion premiered on February 4 and I’m only a few episodes in so my critique will only be about what I’ve seen so far. Four strangers, all ordinary British citizens, are accused of kidnapping the son of a high profile American media mogul. The kidnapping happened in a New York hotel, when all four characters happened to be there. As they desperately race to prove their innocence, one can’t help but wonder if they’re really telling the truth. I must admit that the 4 main characters are nor really sympathetic and I’m not really rooting for them, but curiosity got the better of me. I want to know what happened, who did it and why.

C’est comme ça que je t’aime

Being born and raised in Montral, Quebec, I’ve always been very critical of local TV shows. They very often lack creativity, borrowing from existing American shows, and/or lack nuances and subtility. I can literally count on the fingers of one hand all the Quebec productions I actually like : Rock et Belles Oreilles, Tout sur moi, La petite vie, Les Invincibles and Infoman. Last year, another series can be added to the list : C’est comme ça que je t’aime, a show about two couples who turn into murderous criminals during their kids’ stay at summer camp. The show is not constant but it’s got some killer hilarious lines! The second season has just begun to air and we binge-watched it in no time. Still pretty funny.

Peacemaker

Now this is a show I was sure I would hate! I didn’t even have the intention of watching it because I dislike anything about superheroes. What changed my mind was when I heard some hype about the opening credits and checked it out on Youtube. It was pure genius and convinced me to give the show a chance. I have to say that Peacemaker was a big surprise. Funny, silly, insightful and action packed, with a great ensemble cast and killer dialogues, this series is so different from the movie it’s supposed to come from! I saw bits of the Suicide Squad (1 and 2) and hated it. The TV series is nothing like the movies. The first half of the season is better than the second, but still, I can’t wait for season 2.

So that’s my top 5 series so far, but that’s not all I watched, though. I mentionned earlier that there were some shows I was waiting for with much anticipation. Well, when they finally aired, I was deeply disappointed. These are shows like Severance (too much emphasis on purposeless visuals) and The Afterparty (bad writing for such a talented cast). And then there were shows I just watched out of boredom, hoping to stumble on a surprise, like Dollface (season 2), The woman in the house across the street…., The girl before, Murderville, Shining Vale, Our flag means death. Unsurprisingly, they were disappointing. I also started watching the 4th season of Killing Eve but my interest wanes with each season.

Anticipated for the next months

Shows I’m excited to watch for the next few months include:

• The Larry David story

• Peaky Blinders (season 6)

• Stranger things (season 4)

• Better call Saul (season 6)

Hopefully, I’ll discover someting new as well!

Favorite TV shows of 2021

Hey there, it’s been a while. I haven’t found the time (and energy) to manage this account until the Christmas break, but hopefully, I’ll get back on the horse and find a better way to handle my free time!

The year 2021 has ended already and I want to reflect on what’s been good entertainment. I know I should have released this before the end of the past year but lazyness kicked in during my Holiday’s first week off! But better late than never, I guess!

Sitcoms

Only murders in the building

Starting strong with a Martin Short/ Steve Martin/ Selena Gomez collaboration about 3 neighbors, obsessed with true crime podcasts, investigating a murder in their fabulous New-York appartment building while improvising their own murder podcast. Needless to say that Martin Short and Steve Martin are comedic geniuses, and though Selena Gomez’s performance is far from being able to equate that of the legendary duo, her youthful presence does provide some very necessary balance to the show. Only murders in the building is as suspenseful as it is hilarious. And although some episodes are at times over the top, Martin Short and Steve Martin are always a pleasure to watch and I cannot wait for the second season!

Kevin can f**k himself

This show is like nothing I’ve seen before and I cannot believe more people are not talking about it. Definitely the most underrated show of the year! Set half in the stereotypical wife/husband sitcom, half in a dramatic show about an unhappy marriage, Kevin can f**k himself is a dark comedy about a wife who wants to regain some control in her life, after 10 years with a selfish, manipulative, child-like husband. Funny, smart and at time very frustrating, this show was a lot of fun to watch. Also, what a pleasure to see Annie Murphy in a role so opposite to the one she had in Schitt’s Creek!

Schmigadoon

Now this came as a surprise to me. There is nothing I hate more than musicals, and yet, when we played Schmigadoon (almost by accident), I was enthralled! We binge-watched the whole season in no time and the musical numbers never bothered me, quite the contrary. They were spectacular, actually.

Made for love

The season is unequal but the good moments were brilliant. This is a show about a woman trying to regain her independance by escaping the grips of her controlling husband, a tech genius billionnaire who implented a tracking device in her brain to monitor her movements as well as her physical and emotional data. Though Cristin Milioti and Billy Magnussen are amazing as the feuding couple, Ray Romano really steals the show as Milioti’s father.

What we do in the shadows - Season 3

I was certain that after 2 seasons, they’ve pretty much covered everything and the series would become somewhat repetitive, but I was dead wrong. The third season made me laugh as much as the first two.

Drama

Succession - Season 3

I’ve become obsessed with Succession! Each season is better the last and I cannot get enough of this dysfunctionnal family’s downward spiral, banter, infighting and disconnectedness. This show has managed to beat The Office and Curb your enthusiasm in terms on cringe (think of Kendall singing, cousin Greg in general, Shiv and Tom’s marriage, and so much more!), all the while displaying an incredible visual aesthetic, and not to forget killer dialogues. The third season ended so incredulously that I need to see season 4 right away. Unfortunately, no release date has been revealed yet…

Squid Game

Speaking of incredible visual aesthetics, Squid Game is one of the rare cases of “believe the hype”. It’s probably one of the most talked about shows of the year, and it’s also one of the best. I’m not sure a second season is the best idea, but I’ll watch it for sure. I don’t have anything to add to the multitude of things that have been written about this show, except that if you haven’t watched it yet, what are you waiting for?

Yellowjackets

The season is still ongoing so I might be getting ahead of myself here, but so far, it’s one of the best dramas I’ve seen this year. Set in two timelines, the present and 30 years ago, when the characters were teenagers, this show is a mix of survival epic, psychological/supernatural/horror and coming-of-age drama. In the 1990s, a plane carrying a team of high school soccer players to their national tournament crashes in the Canadian wilderness. The survivors held on for 19 months before being rescued, but what actually happened during these harrowing 19 months remain a mystery as all the survivors swore to secrecy. However, the events will come back to taunt them decades later. Though the series reminds me a lot of Lost at times, it is intriguing enough for me to want to continue watching and learn what happened.

Docuseries

Get back

I wouldn’t call myself the biggest Beatles’ fan (I don’t hate them either) but I found this series illuminating as it debunks a lot of preconceived ideas I had about the Beatles and their break-up. It’s also fascinating to be a fly on the wall and observe as one of the greatest band in history created from nothing some of the most significant classics of modern music. There are 3 episodes overall, each averaging 2 hours, detailing the days leading up to the band’s legendary roof-top performance.

Pretend it’s a city

This series of conversations between Martin Scorsese and Fran Lebowitz is a continuation of sorts of Scorsese’s 2010 documentary, Public Speaking. Fran Lebowitz is quick-witted, hilarious and opinionated, and listening to her vent about everything and everybody is a true pleasure!

Honorable mentions

• Ted Lasso - Season 2 : The second season was nowhere near as good as the first but there were some very good moments. However, the level of saccharin errs dangerously towards the tacky, while Nate’s story arch feels unnecessary.

• Mythic quest - Season 2 : my previous comment about Ted Lasso’s second season not being able to level up to its first applies also to Mythic Quest’s second season. It’s good, but nowhere near as good as season 1.

• Physical : Rose Byrne is amazing as an unhappy housewife who finds aerobics as a way to regain control over her life. However, the series kind of lost its way after a while and it’s hard to see where the story is headed. That being said, I’ll watch season 2 if there is one.

• Mare of Eastown : Interesting series all thanks to the amazing cast, but underwhelming story and extremely poor use of Guy Pierce.

• Queen of the south : I’m putting it here only because the first seasons were so good. The final season, which aired in 2021, was, in my opinion, terrible. Too many twist and turns, with an unrealistic happy ending. That being said, rare are TV series where viewers get to witness such incredible showdowns between two powerful female characters, especially when set in the drug trafficking world. While Teresa is the hero, I find that Camilla is a formidable antagonist and the most interesting character.

• It’s always sunny in Philadelphia : Officially the longest running live-action comedy in history with their 15th season, It’s always sunny in Philadelphia is still extremely funny but their 12th season is by far their best. This season is great, with the first episode being the funniest, but it’s very uneven.

I think that’s it for 2021! Hopefully 2022 will be just as good or better!

Favorite TV shows and movies of 2020

When I need an escape, I usually turn to my TV for comfort, and 2020 was no better time to do so. There have been quite a few interesting finds, but because of COVID, there were also a lot of delayed releases and several highly anticipated shows and movies could not be finished properly, or saw their production halted. Hopefully, we’ll get to enjoy them in 2021! I’m especially really looking forward to finding out what happens in the third season of Succession.

I must admit, although I tried to look for new things to watch, this year has been more about making myself feel good and get a laugh. There’s been a lot of Golden Girls, Friends, Community, Archer playing on repeat. There were also a lot of highly talked about shows I chose not to watch, like Tiger King, because they did not resonate with me or intrigued me as much as they did everyone else.

But I digress. Here’s a list of my favorite shows and movies of 2020, in no particular order.

Television

Better Call Saul (season 5)

The fourth season was a disappointment and I even went as far a wondering if I’ll watch season 5. I’m thankful I did because they got right on track with what turned out to be the best season since season 2. The tense story line between Nacho and Lalo, who, by the way, turned out to be a formidable villain, kept me on the edge of my seat, and I’m glad something is finally happening with Kim.

Best episode of the season : Bagman (episode 8)

Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet (season 1)

Mythic Quest was one of those shows that looked so silly in their trailer that I held off for a while. As huge a fan as I am of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, I was pretty much disappointed in all the creators’ and actors’ side projects (The Cool Kids, A.P. Bio, The Mick, etc), which made me a bit reluctant to give Mythic Quest a chance. Silicon Valley had just ended and I felt like Rob McElhenney’s new project was a bit too similar a show. How wrong was I! Mythic Quest ended up being one of the highlights of the year.

Best episode : Quarantine (special episode filmed during, you guessed it, quarantine)

What We Do In The Shadows (season 2)

That show was a revelation. Season 1 aired in 2019 but I didn’t start watching it until this year, mid season 2. From that episode on, I was hooked. I saw the movie the series is based on a few years ago and it was OK. There were some very funny bits but as a whole, the film was just alright. So when they announced a TV adaptation, I was nonplussed. Turning movies into TV series usually dilutes the story, but I have to say, in this case, it’s false. The series was created and written by the same people as the movie, Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, and it appears that they saved their best ideas for TV. Following a different set of vampires, the TV version is more diverse, wittier and way funnier! The idea of Colin Robinson, an energy vampire is pure genius!

Best episode : Colin’s Promotion (episode 5)

Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun (season 1)

This American-Australian sketch comedy show is silly, weird, chaotic, absurd and it’s exactly what we all need right now. Their comedy reminds me of Monty Python, and I dare you to watch their show without cracking a smile!

Best sketch : The Mr Gentlemen's Barber

Truth Seekers (season 1)

Every time Simon Pegg and Nick Frost team up, they hit comedy gold. This time they co-created a paranormal comedy TV series for Amazon about two engineers working for an Internet provider who, in their spare time (and during work hours) also investigate paranormal activities. The series is at times funny, spooky and endearing, and is, as a whole, pretty entertaining.

Best episode : The Haunting of Connelly’s Nook (episode 1)

Also noteworthy:

• The Queen’s Gambit : Loved the outfits, liked the story as a whole but hated the finale.

• C’est comme ça que je t’aime : there were some inconsistencies along the line but as a whole, I pretty much enjoyed this show about 2 bored couples getting into organized crimes and killing sprees.

• Schitt’s Creek and The Good Place : the final season was nowhere near as good as the first ones, but it’s the last season of one of the best and funniest feel good series we’ve had in a while, so they deserve a mention.

Stand up specials

Only four specials stood out, in my opinion, and were memorable enough to be mentioned below.

Jim Jefferies : Intolerant

I haven’t seen a Jim Jefferies special I haven’t enjoyed and his latest is no exception. This time, he tackles his newly diagnosed lactose intolerance and as someone who suffers from the same ailment and who chooses to ignore it, I feel seen! His own special spin to a very straight forward story is what makes him stand among the elite.

Jerry Seinfeld : 23 hours to kill

Speaking of elite, Jerry Seinfeld dropped his first special in 22 years, called 23 Hours to Kill. Was it predictable? Yes. Did he take any risks in his content? No. But the risk comes from his reemergence after such a long time and doing a special when the expectations are so high. What 23 Hours to Kill provided was classic Jerry Seinfeld wit, self-assurance and timeless humor. He doesn’t need to take any risks and we don’t expect him to. As Brian Tallerico, from rogerebert.com so well puts it, “If anything, “23 Hours to Kill” is like catching up with an old friend, something all of us wish we could do in person in 2020 more than we can.”

Bert Kreischer : Hey Big Boy

Bert Kreischer’s jolliness is infectious. His specials are usually about his life as a dad and husband, and so far, I’m not tired of hearing about it, because he’s one hell of a good storyteller.

Dave Chappelle : 8:46

This is not so much of a comedy show but an important one nonetheless, where he addresses all the violence and police brutality taking place in the US.

movies

Horse Girl

Co-written by and starring Alison Brie, Horse Girl is by far one of the weirdest films of the year. This psychological drama about a shy young woman slowly dripping into madness (or is she?) is superbly well acted.

Invisible Man

This is another remake of the story we all know too well, but with a surprisingly interesting twist, making the film worth a watch. Elizabeth Moss plays the traumatized and abused girlfriend of a deceased tech giant, who is convinced her boyfriend is not only still alive, but that he’s harassing her by being able to become invisible.

Save yourselves!

We were looking for new movies to watch on Halloween and stumbled on a few comedic horror, including Save Yourselves! This film about a couple deciding to reconnect with themselves by retreating to a cabin and unplugging their phones and computers, only to find out they’re in the midst of an alien invasion is original and pretty funny. They have no survival skills whatsoever and must fend for themselves against an army of murderous, furry pouf-like aliens.

Extra Ordinary

Save Yourselves! was good, but Extra Ordinary was better. This is a movie about a shy driving instructor who reluctantly uses her supernatural talents to help a widow save his daughter’s soul from a has-been rock star who practices black magic to regain fame. A bit of over acting from Will Forte, but the highlight of the film is Maeve Higgins as Rose Dooley, the psychic driving instructor, and the chemistry she has with Barry Ward, who plays the distraught father.

The King of Staten Island

Even though his movies are all about 30 minutes too long, I am a huge fan of Judd Apatow and his body of work. Starring Pete Davidson and loosely based on his life, The King of Staten Island is nowhere near Judd Apatow’s best film but an average Judd Apatow movie is still a pretty good one. The highlight of the film, though, are all the supporting cast, which includes Bill Burr and Marisa Tormei, as well as all the amazing actors portraying Scott Carlin’s (Pete Davidson) friends.

Palm Springs

Yes, it’s Groundhog Day but with 2 (actually 3) people instead of one, but we can forgive this little detail since the film is actually very well written and acted, as well as being very funny. I was actually reluctant to watch this film, the reason being what I mentioned in the previous sentence, and I never really liked any of Andy Samberg’s work (Digital Shorts being the exception). But I must say, he and Cristin Milioti are fabulous as the the two main characters stuck in a time loop, and though his role is small, J.K. Simmons is amazing, as usual. All things considered, Palm Springs may be the best comedy I’ve seen this year.

documentaries and docuseries

The Go-Go’s

I knew the songs but I knew nothing of the band behind them. This documentary revisits the meteoric rise (and eventual break up) of one of the most successful all female bands of all time. The testimonies from the band members are candid, heartfelt and at times, humorous, while the film makes us remember how good the Go-Go’s songs are.

Beastie Boys Story

Instead of a straight forward documentary with an off-camera narrator, the Beastie Boys Story, which was written, directed and produced by Spike Jonze, takes the form of a live stage performance by the surviving members of the band who, in front of an audience, tell the intimate story of their careers and friendship.

The Comedy Store

This is the series to watch for any fan of stand-up comedy. This docuseries recounts, through the testimony of countless comedians, the history of one of the most legendary comedy clubs in the US, The Comedy Store.

The Bee Gees : How to Mend a Broken Heart

I was never a fan of the Bee Gees but this documentary made me one. I had no idea they had such an incredible career and how talented they were!

David Foster : Off the Record

This is another documentary that made me discover the depths of an artist’s career. I vaguely knew who David Foster is and was superficially aware of his body of work, but this film allows its viewers to witness his work process and his evolution through time. Quite an interesting watch.

American Utopia

Not a documentary, but I’ll put it here nonetheless. This has got to be one of the best shows ever. Directed and produced by Spike Lee, from a screenplay by David Byrne, the film is a live recording of a Broadway performance of a modified version of the album American Utopia. An absolute must.

Also noteworthy

• I’ll be gone in the dark : the fascinating story behind writer Michelle McNamara’s obsession with figuring out who the Golden State Killer is. Her book was published a few years after her sudden death, but her indispensable work has allowed the police to finally catch the criminal. The docuseries’ topic is captivating, but it’s a few episodes too long, dwelling a bit too much on unnecessary details.

• Spaceship Earth : the topic alone makes the film worth a watch. The story is so unbelievable that it’s hard to believe such an experiment actually took place!

Alright, I think that’s it for 2020! Give these series and movies a try if you haven’t seen them already, and here’s to hoping for more new amazing things to watch in 2021!

Enjoy and have fun!

Bingeable TV shows

There is nothing I love more than turning my brain off and lie on the couch, in front of my TV, for hours of binge watching. I’ve been doing that since I was a kid and it still remains my favorite activity to this day. A few weeks ago, I made a list of reading recommendations but if TV shows are more your cup of tea, you’re not alone! I’m currently out of new stuff to watch so I decided to revisit some personal favorites and binge watch them. If you’re also looking for something to watch, here is a list. Hopefully there’s something you haven’t seen yet, or something you forgot about and would like to watch again. At the moment, I am way more into comedies than drama, so my list is a bit lopsided!

Sitcoms

Community

By far one of the most brilliant, creative and unique sitcoms ever, Community recently made a return to Netflix (all 6 seasons!). I don’t know how many times I’ve binge-watched this show but I never get tired of it. It has gained a cult following but remains pretty much unknown to the mainstream, which is unfortunate. Their paintball episodes are my personal favorites. They were so good that season 2’s paintball episodes directly led to its directors, the Russo brothers, being hired to take the helm of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Season 1’s paintball episode was directed by Justin Lin, known for the Fast&Furious movies as well as Star Trek Beyond. I’ve lately started researching about the show (its cast and creators) and I sincerely hope that a documentary or a book be made about Community’s behind-the-scene action. The show itself is smart, hilarious and perfect for all pop-culture fans, but what happened behind the curtain also deserves to be documented. Except for season 4 (when Dan Harmon, the show’s creator was fired) and the final season (when half the main cast had left) seasons 1 to 3 and 5 are nearly perfect. I truly hope the movie gets made, with all of the original cast!

The Golden Girls

A classic! On the air between 1985 and 1992, The Golden Girls is a pioneering show on so many levels! This sitcom dealt with deep, edgy and oftentimes serious concepts like sexuality, dating, death, and so much more, while managing to be extremely funny. It’s Sex and the City before it was even a thing! The humor, the banter between the characters and the quality of the writing make the Golden Girls a must for everyone. We watched it again not so long ago, and though the clothes and decor are outdated, the humor wasn’t. It made me laugh out loud then and it still does. Not that many sitcoms have managed to be timeless!

Silicon Valley

After 6 seasons, Silicon Valley’s series finale aired on December 8, 2019. This is one of the best, funniest and most accurate TV shows about tech culture and it has managed to be great from beginning to end. Watching the characters and their pet project, Pied Piper, progress while at the same time slowly implode was a true pleasure!

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

With 14 seasons, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is now tied with The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet as television's longest-running live-action comedy. It’s just been renewed for a 15th season, which will officially make it the longest running sitcom on the air! This show is not for everyone. It’s irreverent, its characters are horrible human beings with no moral compass who have done despicable things to each other and to other people, but it is also one of the funniest and smartest shows on the air right now. Definitely worth a watch. It’s very hard to find a clip that best represents the show so I included here a scene from one of my favorite episodes.

Life in pieces

I loved that show I cannot understand why CBS would cancel it when its programming was so lacking. That’s a real shame because Life in Pieces, which is way better than Modern Family by the way, had a stellar cast and was really funny. All four seasons are now available on Netflix.

Archer

I’m not a fan of animated series but Archer is one (out of 2) exception. With 10 seasons available, Archer is an incredible series rife with great humor, pop-culture references and Easter eggs. It’s The Office meets James Bond. Yes, we sometimes see Duchess (Archer’s code name, named after his mother’s dog) out on a mission, but most of the action takes place in their headquarters where the spies have to file expense reports and deal with HR. The last few seasons are a bit weirder because they take place in comatose Archer’s mind, but they remain nonetheless very entertaining. The series was supposed to return for an 11th season on May 10th but the release date was pushed back because of the pandemic.

People of Earth

Another great show, funny and original, that was cancelled too soon. After only 2 seasons, TBS decided to pull the plug for some reason. Half The X-Files and half The Office, People of Earth takes place at 2 different places : on Earth, in Beacon, New York, where a group of abductees (they prefer to be called Experiencers) meet up in a church basement to discuss their alien abductions, and in a spaceship, where 3 aliens of different species work together, abducting humans. Smart, different and insightful, it’s a shame that this show was not given more rope.

Fleabag

This show has been a revelation! It’s brilliant, emotionally charged and hilarious. There are only 2 seasons, the second being the best one, but what awesome seasons they are! No more can be said about this show.

Dead like me

Another cancelled too soon show. Dead like me was a truly original and different dramedy about a young girl, George, who was killed by space debris and became a grim reaper, collecting people’s souls before they die. Since grim reapers don’t get paid, she must also hold down a job in order to pay for rent, food and anything else. And, as it turns out, there is as much bureaucracy and paperwork in death as in life. In a Vulture article, Margaret Lyons perfectly explained why Dead Like Me resonated as much to its audience : “Dead Like Me isn’t about George finding herself through the gentleness and thrill of romance – it’s about her finding herself through the cruelty and randomness of grief.” Shit happens but we must find a way to power through anyways. Or else, what’s the point? Funny, witty, real, Dead like me deserved much better. Only 2 seasons aired before the show was cancelled. There was also a movie but it’s so horrible, no one should watch it.

Drama

The Americans

I still can’t believe a show as amazing as The Americans did not get the recognition it deserved. A lot of people still haven’t seen this series yet, and they are missing out on what I consider among the top 10 best TV shows ever. The series ended in 2018, after 6 seasons, with a series finale that will probably go down history as one of the best. Based on actual events, where KGB agents infiltrated the US government while pretending to be American citizens, The Americans follows two such agents, Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, during the cold war. The show is not entirely about espionage. It’s also about one’s sense of identity, morality and loyalty.

Star Trek - The original series

Don’t mind the over acting and pay attention to the themes. Then, you’ll realize that this series from the 1960’s is far superior and more forward-thinking than most current sci-fi shows and that without it, most programs would not have existed in the first place.

Hannibal

This TV show based on the characters from Thomas Harris’s books, Hannibal mainly focuses on the relationship between the iconic cannibal psychiatrist and Will Graham, a gifted profiler with some dark issues of his own. Hannibal is mainly a police procedural where some very disturbing murders are being investigated. It is visually captivating and unsettling at the same time. The discomfort stems from the brutality of the murders but also from the fact that cannibalism kind of makes us hungry. We are aware that human flesh is the main ingredient in Hannibal Lecter’s meals but they are all so beautifully plated and look so exquisitely appetizing that a part of you sort of want to taste…

Succession

I watched the first season with a detached interest but was captivated during the second season. There is something about watching the filthy rich make terrible decisions and self-destruct that is incredible mesmerizing. This saga about siblings and their father fighting over the control of the family’s media conglomerate, willing to do the worst to each other and to other people, becomes an addictive watch. It is over the top and it is soapy, but it’s also extremely well written and acted.

Dark

This German mind-bending show about time-travel is fascinating. Watch as many episodes as you can in one sitting so you don’t get too lost in the story line. It is confusing at times, but it’s also definitely worth it. A bit slow at the beginning, but once the pace picks up, it doesn’t stop! A third season was recently released, where they’ll tackle time-travel as well as inter-dimension travel!

one day binge

If you don’t want to spend more than a day watching TV shows, there are a bunch of great 1 season series that you could watch.

• Lodge 49 : there are technically 2 seasons of Lodge 49 before it was cancelled by AMC, but you could only watch season 1. That first season was magical; they expertly managed to walk the fine line between tragedy, comedy and the fantastic but for some reason, they failed to recreate that particular mood, the quirkiness and eccentricities, for the second season, and for that reason, it fell flat and felt a tad over the top. That being said, even though season 2 was a bit disappointing, I still believe that Lodge 49 was cancelled too soon.

• Good Omens : this adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s classic has a lot of flaws but we’re willing to see past them because there is also a lot of positive, starting with the incredible chemistry between the two main actors, Micheal Sheen and David Tennant.

• Russian doll : this special take on the Groundhog Day concept is a lot of fun to watch. I thought I’d quickly get tired of the repetitiveness (every time she dies, she wakes up again, in her friend’s apartment, during her birthday party) but they’ve managed to make it interesting.

• Mythic Quest : Raven’s Banquet : Despite the fact that it was created by Rob McElhenney, co-creator of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, one of my favorite shows, I still was so reluctant to give this show a chance because it looked so ridiculously over the top. It turned out to be a whole lot better than expected! I’ll even go as far as saying that it’s very good! Their quarantine episode was pure genius.

• You, me and the Apocalypse : This is a British/ American mini series about a group of people who struggle with the inevitable apocalypse after it is discovered that a comet is on a collision course with Earth. The series as a whole is a bit uneven but there are some pretty funny moments that make it worth while!

• Police squad : before there was the Naked Gun franchise, there was a TV show called Police Squad, also starring Leslie Nielsen. Unfortunately, no one understood the Zucker brothers’ sense of humor then and the project was quickly thrown away. It’s hard to believe what made the Naked Gun so legendary is also the reason why Police squad was cancelled.

That’s about it for the moment. There are, of course, a ton of other watch-worthy TV shows, but these are the ones I liked best.

Have fun!

Best TV shows of 2019

It’s that time of the year where I recap my favorite TV series of the past 12 months! Truth be told, 2019 was an OK only year in terms of television shows to watch. I must say that this year, there was a lot of shows I really enjoyed watching but was infatuated with very few of them. Also, I am pretty convinced I missed out on a few gems since I cannot afford to subscribe to all streaming services…

Anyways, the shows below are my top tens, the ones I enjoyed watching the most this year and they really did stand out amongst all those very average programs out there. In a separate post, I’ll be discussing my favorite episodes of the year.

Dark

This German science-fiction series is fascinating and visually beautiful. Taking place in the fictional town of Winden, Dark weaves an interesting intrigue about child abductions, dark hidden secrets, time-travel conspiracies, spanning generations and different time-lines. Two seasons are currently available, with a third one on the way. A bit slow at the beginning, but once the pace picks up a bit, it’s hard to stop watching!

Stranger Things

I must admit that I really hated Stranger Things’ second season, and was really not interested in watching the third season. Thank goodness that it was released in July, when there is literally nothing else to watch! Otherwise, I definitely would not have given it a chance, despite how much I loved the first season. The third season has managed to give a more defined role to secondary characters, as well as write a better story line. Fun, touching, funny, gripping, the third season of Stranger Things made me fall in love with the series all over again.

Russian Doll

I’ve often mentioned that I’m usually very weary of Groundhog Day types of stories. It’s been done so many times before that it’s hard to imagine how anyone could make it original again. Russian Doll did make it interesting. The story is about Nadia, who dies the night of her birthday party only to wake up at her birthday party again. Every times she dies, she wakes up at the party again, and must find how to fix this weird time loop. Funny , witty and weird at the same time, Russian Doll was actually fun to watch!

Silicon Valley

The series recently ended with a perfect finale, encapsulating everything that made the show great, closing all story-lines and staying true to the mood of the sitcom as well as its characters. This is an absolutely amazing TV series that must be watched from beginning to end to be truly appreciated. Watching Pied Piper evolve throughout the past 6 seasons has been a blast.

Good Omens

Good Omens is a fantastic show about the unlikely friendship between an angel and a demon who must join forces to prevent the apocalypse from happening. It was a joy to watch David Tennant and Michael Sheen, two brilliant and charismatic actors, interact. Though the series felt a bit long at times and some plot lines a tad unnecessary, it’s a great adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s book by the same title and its wry humor really makes the show fun to watch.

The Movies

This docuseries by CNN and co-produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman is a must watch for any cinephiles out there. Expertly made, this series showcases cinema’s history, decade by decade, with testimonies from film critics and directors alike. Like its series about the history of television, music and social history, The Movies is absolutely brilliant.

Chernobyl

On to something less fun but no less great. Chernobyl has been dubbed one of the best horror series ever and I would say that’s accurate. Acclaimed for the depth of their research and the quality of the reenactments of the events, Chernobyl was a very difficult series to watch but also a fascinating one as well. Every episode is like a punch in the gut, but it’s so well done and acted that we cannot look away. Like The Handmaid’s Tale, it is an important show to watch so we do not forget what happened and hopefully, we’ll prevent such catastrophic events from happening again.

Schitt’s Creek

I cannot believe I waited so long before giving Schitt’s Creek chance! I must admit that I usually have a certain prejudice about Canadian shows which would explain my initial disdain against Schitt’s Creek despite its stellar cast. It’s also the vulgarity (or lack of subtlety) of the title that was a major turn off for me. But, after having seen only one episode, the first one, I binged watched the rest of the series in no time and cannot wait for the sixth and final season to begin, this January! Superbly played and written, Schitt’s Creek, a riches-to-rags show about the Rose family who lost everything except for Schitt’s Creek, a small town they bought ironically a few years back, has taken a special place as one of my all time favorite sitcoms. Hilarious, sometimes sweet and endearing and other times utterly mean, this show guarantees a good time.

Succession

Succession has been a guilty pleasure of mine. It was at first a show I like to hate-watch (season 1) but with the second season, it became an epic series with which I am totally obsessed. None of the characters have a moral compass. Blood is not thicker than water, and these characters, who already have all the money, all the riches in the world, are ready to stab anyone’s back, step over anyone who stands in their way and perform the most despicable acts, and for what exactly? Be the head of the family’s multinational conglomerate or be daddy’s favorite? Even they are not even sure but watching these underprivileged individuals crash and burn as they try to fight each other is just so much fun to watch! Is it soapy at times? Yes. But the series is so well written, the dialogues are so smart and witty and the actors so expertly portray despicable human beings that Succession truly is a pleasure to watch.

Fleabag

Fleabag, especially the second season, is my absolute favorite show of the year. Brilliantly entertaining and funny, Fleabag is refreshing. With Schitt’s Creek, it is one of the very few comedies this year that have managed to make me laugh. Hilarious, sometimes heart-breaking and other times just cringe-worthy, the second season of Fleabag has been perfect. Too bad there won’t be anymore seasons of this absolutely brilliant comedy!

Runner-ups

Other great shows of 2019 include the following:

• The End of the f***ing World : though very good, the second second could not match the first one. The story line felt very heavy at times but the two amazing main actors have managed to carry the series.

• Afterlife : Ricky Gervais was absolutely brilliant in this show about a grieving husband not caring anymore about life and everything that comes with it. He created, produced and directed this dark comedy and deserves all the credit in the world. Though extremely sad and touching at times and hilarious at others, this show is considerably uneven. I lost interest at times and had to force myself to continue watching, which I did not regret.

• Rick and Morty : the cult favorite returned for a much-awaited fourth season in 2019 and though not as strong as the previous seasons, the show was extremely entertaining to watch! Still just as smart and rife with cultural references, Rick and Morty remains a must to watch!

• Punk : this docuseries co-produced by John Varvatos and Iggy Pop is a fascinating dive into the world of punk music, its history and evolution. The only reason why it’s not in my top ten list is because I’m not that big a fan of the genre, so it did not reach me as much as it would have if I were a fan, but I found it nonetheless very interesting.

• Street Food : for food lovers, this series by Netflix will make you drool and want to travel the world. It tends to dwell a bit too much on human interest and melodrama, but all the meals look amazing and mouth-watering!

That’s all for 2019! I cannot wait for what 2020 has in store for us to watch!

Best TV episodes of 2018

So I previously wrote a post about the best new TV shows of the year and for a while, I wanted to discuss the best overall TV shows of 2018, but I realized a bunch of watch-worthy series would be left out. So, I decided to go with the best TV episodes of the year.

Some of the series I’ll be discussing bellow started off great (amazing, even) but failed to pan out. That being said, some episodes were so astoundingly good that they deserve to be mentioned and watched.

Babylon Berlin - Season 1, Episode 2

Babylon Berlin is a tour de force. Co-written and co-directed by Tom Tykwer, Achim von Borries and Henk Handloegten, this German crime drama set in pre-World War II Berlin is incredibly ambitious, visually stunning, and probably the most expensive German TV show ever made. The visuals are breathtaking and they alone make Babylon Berlin worth a watch. In my opinion, there were some major plot holes that I find a bit too distracting after a while, so my interest waned towards the end, but I must say that the nightclub scene in the second episode was in-cre-di-ble! One of the best TV moments ever!

Maniac - The chosen one (Season 1, Episode 1)

Every once in a while, you watch a TV show and immediately fall in love with it. You watch it, cannot keep your eyes off it and know you will be watching every single episode until the end. That happened the first time I watched Breaking Bad and it also happened the first time I saw Dexter and Lost. Breaking Bad was good from beginning to end and never let me down. Dexter and Lost, on the other hand… Maniac falls in the same category as Dexter and Lost. I was instantly drawn as soon as it started playing. It was unbelievable! Where does the show take place? And more importantly, when does it take place? This visually extraordinary series about two social outcasts (played by Jonah Hill and Emma Stone) who participate in a beyond risky drug trial was written by Patrick Somerville and directed by Cary Fukunaga. It started out fantastically (the first episodes being the best ones) and ended on such a weird note that I did not know what to think of it. As soon as they entered the dream sequences, they began to lose me. There were too many of those. Thumbs up, though, for all the visual designs and effects.

The Haunting of Hill House - Two Storms (Season 1, Episode 6)

I am a horror maniac. But lately, I find that horror movies lack imagination and creativity, but most importantly, they lack the understanding of what is scary and why. I can’t stand watching another “horror” where a character is dragged by the leg by an unseen force. That is not scary. It was scary once in Paranormal Activity and that is it. Horror deals with psychology. It plays with your mind. I was glad when we started watching The Haunting of Hill House. I would not go as far as saying that it was scary but it was at least different. It was dark and slow, and did not stoop so low as to use cheap tricks. The story is intriguing , we the viewers are emotionally invested in the characters and the build-up is engaging. It all culminates with Two Storms, a masterfully produced episode that looks like one continuous traveling shot. Some critiques have even called the episode a technical marvel. The making-of of the episode is showcased in the clip above. Unfortunately, the show went downhill from that episode on, in my opinion… Still worth a watch though!

The Americans - START (Season 6, Episode 10)

One of the best series finales EVER! That garage scene will be talked about for the years to come. I still think about it. That and the whole episode. WOW. They have managed to write an episode that no one had anticipated. Who ever said they saw it coming, lied. When The Americans ended, I was left both heart-broken and satisfied. I have seen so many amazing shows end with horrible finales, I feared that would also be the case for one of my favorite series of all time. But, they did not disappoint! I am so surprised that The Americans does not have a bigger following. Though critically acclaimed, it does not have the fan base it is supposed to have, that it deserves to have. It’s been great from season one to the very end, and will go down history as one of the greatest shows ever.

Little Drummer Girl - Episodes 1 and 2

Little Drummer Girl is a superb 6-part mini series directed by Park Chan-Wook that was aired as three 2.5-hour movies. Adapted from John le Carré’s novel by the same title, this series is visually captivating. The first episode sets the tone and wheels the viewer in with its beautiful bright colors, out-of-this-world art direction and wonderfully played characters. Once you saw movie 1 (episodes 1 and 2), you won’t be able to turn away from the following ones.

Westworld - Akane No Mai (Season 2, Episode 5)

I fell in love with Westworld last year. I have always been a sucker for series about enigmas, conspiracy theories, hidden games or messages, or the likes, and it has been a while since we were treated to a good show of that kind. Then Westworld happened. And to think that I was reluctant to watch it in the first place! I remember the movie and was convinced they will not be able to adapt it to modern times. To my amazement and great joy, Westworld exceeded by far my expectations. When season 1 ended, I wondered “what now?”. How will they be able to follow up such a strong and powerful season? I was convinced season 2 would be a disappointment. I was certain they will not be able to write a strong enough story line that can measure up to that of season 1. Once again, I was wrong! And I am glad I was. What worried me the most about season 2 was hearing they will explore other worlds. There were rumors about a samourai world and I was seriously concerned they will be spreading the story a bit too thin. As it turned out, the episode covering the samourai world, Akane No Mai, was my favorite episode of the season. It was brilliantly written and beautiful to watch. If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? And if you have, watch the making-of, above, and you’ll want to see the episode again!

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia - The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem (Season 13, Episode 6)

Alright, changing range here! I only discovered It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia very recently, around the time they finished airing season 12! We binge watched all 12 seasons in no time and laughed so hard the whole time. I still cannot believe it took so long for me to give this show a try! The 13th season aired this year after a brief hiatus and though weaker than the previous seasons (season 12 was the absolute best!), it had some pretty good moments. Episode 6 was one of the funniest of season 13. I did hesitate, though, between episode 6, The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem (shown here), and episode 7, The Gang does a Clip Show, where the cast recreated to perfection an iconic scene from Seinfeld’s episode, The Contest. Both episodes were hilarious but episode 6 was funnier overall, but regardless, I must say that these guys are comedic geniuses!

Future Man - Pilot (Season 1, Episode 1)

Future Man’s first episode was so great! It was packed with references to a bunch of time-travel movies and TV shows that any movie and/or TV buffs would surely appreciate. I was so enthusiastic after having seen the first episode because there was finally something different, smart and funny to watch. However, the rest of the season was highly irregular, with a few good jokes here and there. The overall result was mediocre. The few good episodes they had, as great as they were, could save the whole season. That being said, the pilot as well as the episode in James Cameron’s house are definitely watch-worthy!

The Good Place - The Worst Possible Use of Free Will (Season 3, Episode 7)

I hate that I could not find a proper clip for this episode! But it doesn’t matter. The Good Place if one of the most underrated sitcoms out there and it should not be. A lot of people see its quirky, bright and almost slapstick-y exterior and shy away from watching it but truth be told The Good Place is one of the smartest series there are! How many shows do you know tackle philosophy in an approachable and unpretentious manner? And here, not only did they achieve that but they also manage to make it funny! You learn while laughing, without realizing you are learning! How great is that?? The Good Place is so smart and absurd at the same time that it is just a joy to watch. Episode 7 is about whether our actions and decisions come from free will or are they already predetermined (in which case, we cannot escape who really are), but most of the episode takes place in the Tostitos Presents A Public Library Brought To You By GoDaddy, and two of the main characters, Eleanor and Michael, debate it while referencing books like “Philosophy for Dingdongs…For Morons” and “Roses are red…and so is my neck!” by Jeff Foxworthy. It’s brilliant!

Runner-ups

• Killing Eve: Nice face (Season 1, Episode 1) - The series started out great but there were too many distracting plot holes and Sandra Oh’s character, who was so likable in the beginning, ended up annoying the crap out of me.

• Game of Thrones: Beyond the Wall (Season 7, Episode 6) - Viserion… I am still devastated.

• Silicon Valley: Fifty-One Percent (Season 5, Episode 8) - The last few seasons of the show struggled to stay relevant and funny but the fifth season really pulled the show back together! Getting rid of Erlich was a gamble that paid off and really set the series and the remaining characters free. The season’s finale is my favorite episode of the season solely for introducing us to “kiss my piss”! Don’t think for a second that it’s vulgar; it’s actually one of the weirdest, lamest, most awkward and unexpected clap backs ever!

I am racking my brain to think of another episode worthy of being mentioned in this post. I hate it when I leave something out. It’s also during moments like these that I realize how much TV I actually watch… Not being ashamed at all, but it’s a lot, so something is bound to be forgotten!

If you haven’t seen the episodes or the shows mentioned above, I really hope you give them a try. They are worth it.

Best new TV shows of 2018

TV-wise, the year 2018 hasn’t been particularly exceptional. There were a lot of shows like The Terror or Succession that showed great promise but did not live up to expectations. It’s also becoming harder and harder to find great series, now. Not because they are not being made anymore but because they are aired on so many different networks or streaming services and I cannot afford to pay for a membership to all of them. That being said, among the new shows I’ve seen this year, there were a few gems here and there that really stood out. Since the year is almost over, I decided to make a list of what I consider to be 2018’s best new TV series. Here they are, and again, in no special order.

SMILF

SMILF is a dramatic semi-autobiographical comedy created, written and directed by Frankie Shaw, who also plays the starring role. The show takes place in a part of Boston known as Southie, and follows the daily struggles of Bridgette Bird, a young failing actress and single mother who’s trying to make ends meet.

SMILF pretty much flew under the radar and really deserves to be watched. Without being too obvious, it tackles a lot of themes like mental illness, body image, mother-daughter relationships, failed hopes and dreams, friendships or dating with a refreshing but depressing honesty that is rarely seen on TV. Most shows would rather go for cliches that we’ve all seen time and time again, but SMILF stuck to realism. And it’s sometimes painful to watch.

Though Frankie Shaw is great as the main character, Rosie O’Donnell really steals the show as Bridgette’s mother Tutu, who suffers from severe depression. She is amazing in her role, not shying away from anything. Tutu was mesmerizing to watch!

The first season only has 8 half-hour episodes and thankfully, it’s been renewed for a second season!

Cobra Kai

Growing up, I hated the Karate Kid movies with a passion. I despised Mr. Miyagi’s character because he was so stereotypical and I was tired of all my classmates asking me if I could catch flies with chopsticks, I found Daniel LaRusso to be incredibly annoying and the guy won a tournament with an illegal kick, and everybody was fine with it? It made no sense. So, I was less than enthusiastic when I heard that YouTube made a sequel to the movies in the form of a small series called Cobra Kai. But, to my surprise, the show was very good! I still hate the movies, though.

Cobra Kai takes place 34 years after the fateful tournament, and the 2 main characters, Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, are now grown men. The story, this time around, allows us see things from Johnny’s perspective and as it turns out, he’s not the evil, entitled jerk that we all thought he was while watching the movie. Johnny’s life is far from great: he has a serious drinking problem, was fired from his job, is divorced with a seriously strained relationship with his son. Daniel, on the other hand, became a very successful car salesman who still capitalizes on the fact that he won the karate tournament (his tacky ads where he karate kicks the competitions’ prices or offers a bonsai tree for every purchase are everywhere from giant billboards to TV).

Johnny decided to turn his life around and re-open the Cobra Kai dojo after having helped Miguel Diaz, a young teenager who lives in his neighborhood, overcome his bullies at school. His dojo became a sort of haven for bullied kids who, at first find self-confidence only to push it a bit too far, as his tutelage needs some fine tuning. The reopening of the dojo also reignites the rivalry between Johnny and Daniel, who is ready to do anything to shut Johnny’s business down.

Shot with a good mix of drama and humor, Cobra Kai is, to my amazement, an extremely entertaining show. The story line can be, at times, pretty soapy but the characters are all very complex and well written, which is not the case for the movies!

The End of the F***ing World

The End of the F***ing World is a dark British comedy/drama adapted from a comic book of the same title, by Charles Forsmann.

James is a 17 year old student who believes he’s a psychopath. As the series began, he decided it was time for him to stop killing small animals to evolve into killing humans. One day he meets Alyssa, an impulsive fellow student with deep-rooted issues of her own, and made the decision to kill her. She will be his first human kill. Alyssa hates her life and has a difficult relationship with her mother and controlling step-father, so she decided to run away towards a more carefree life filled with adventures and invites James to come along. He, in turn, accepts, with the idea that he will at some point find the proper time to satisfy his need to kill her. Together they embark on what turned out to be a very strange road trip across England.

The show only has 8 episodes but what is great about it is that there a no cliches. The characters, despite their disturbing flaws, are endearing and we want to root for them.

Kidding

Kidding is a dramatic comedy starring Jim Carrey as Jeff Pickles, a Mister Roger-esque kids show host, whose life and sanity are falling apart after having recently lost his son in a car accident. As his universe spirals out of control, Mister Pickles struggles with existential questions about mortality, honesty, loss, and forgiveness.

Created by Dave Holstein, directed and produced by Michel Gondry, this show is so many things at the same time: heartbreaking, reassuring, funny, grim, disturbing and visually stunning.

I am not going to dwell too much about the show because one must watch it to feel it, and then understand it. I will say this, however: the cast (Catherine Keener as Jeff's sister, Frank Langella as his father and boss, Judy Greer as his estranged wife and Cole Allen as both his twin sons) is absolutely stellar. Michel Gondry’s distinctive style gives the show this extra edge that makes it really stand out above the other series. The opening credits (a new one every week) alone deserve to be watched, acknowledged and praised.

Mindhunter

If you’re like me and have a fascination for psychopaths and serial killers, then Mindhunter is the show for you.

Based on real-life events and on the true crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, written by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, the show takes place in the 1970s, at a time when the term “serial killer” doesn’t exist yet. Two FBI agents and a psychologist set out to interrogate the worst killers currently incarcerated in US prisons in order to understand how the mind of the criminally insane functions, with the hope that their study will help them prevent further massacres. The serial killers that the characters interact with were modeled on actual convicted criminals and their prison scene dialogues were taken verbatim from real interviews. Chilling.

Though very slow at times, Mindhunter is, simply put, just fascinating.

Lodge 49

I must admit that although Lodge 49 is probably my favorite new show of the year, I find it a bit difficult to explain what it is about because it’s probably the weirdest show currently on television. Roughly, the story takes place in California, and is about a surfer named Sean "Dud" Dudley who joins a fraternal lodge, hoping to find some meaning or purpose to his life after his father’s mysterious death. That is only the base line. To that, add conspiracy theories, alchemy, a housing crisis, and bunch of other weird stuff and characters.

It is extremely hard to categorize Lodge 49. At its roots, the show is dramatic : all the characters are struggling to deal with a very painful personal drama but, at the same time, the situations are pretty light and played out comically. But all in all, what the show is about doesn’t matter all that much, the adventure is what counts!

Seriously, Lodge 49. Check it out!

Ok. I know I kinda suck at summarizing, but these shows are really good and deserve to seen. I have witnessed too many good shows being cancelled because not enough people notice them or give them a chance, and I really hope that it will not be the case for the 6 above. Check them out and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

In an upcoming post, I might tackle a specific topic: shows of 2018 that started out amazing but ended up being utter disappointments. We’ll see.

The Americans

In 2010, the FBI made a startling announcement: after several years of investigation, they uncovered what they called the "Illegals Program" and arrested 10 Russian sleeper agents. These agents were trained in Russia, spoke perfect English and were planted in the US by the SVR (successor to the KGB), posing as regular american citizens, in order to gain access to American intelligence through any means possible. They entered the United States, usually through Canada, assumed the identity of already deceased individuals and lived seemingly normal lives for several years. Some of these agents even had to marry each other for efficiency and realism, had kids together, held regular day jobs, all the while carrying out deep-cover operations.

If I wasn't aware of this bit of news, I would say that the plot of The Americans was way too far-fetched to be believable. But, as it turns out, the 2010 arrests were the inspiration behind FX's spy-drama. The series premiered in 2013 and its sixth and final season began last week, on march 28.

Instead of setting the story in the present time, Joe Weisberg, a former CIA operative and the show's creator, decided that it should take place in the 1980s, in the midst of the Cold War. The stakes were higher then and the relationship between the 2 nations could not be any more tense.  This gives place for more drama and suspense in the story line.

The real-life sleeper agents or "illegals" were not successful in gaining access to valuable american intelligence (at least according to the FBI), but that is not the case for Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, the series' 2 main characters, who have manipulated, tortured and killed people in order to send crucial and top-secret information home.

Elizabeth and Philip are both undercover agents trained by the KGB to become illegals. They were paired together to be planted in the United States posing as a young married couple. They are not in love, they are colleagues who, when the time came, had kids to be shielded from suspicion and to further their cover. The 2 of them and their 2 unsuspecting children, Paige and Henry, were the perfect all-american family, living in the suburbs of Washington D.C. During the day, they run a travel agency and they spend the rest of their time raising their kids and carrying out operations and orders sent to them by Directorate S, the department of the KGB responsible for the Illegals Program. 

The series began as Stan Beeman, an FBI counterintelligence agent, and his family moved next door to the Jennings. The 2 families quickly became friends and the Jennings use their relationship with Beeman to stay one step ahead. And Stan Beeman, on the other hand, specializes in investigating and hunting down Soviet spies on American soil. He's actually looking for two illegals who are wrecking havoc, without even realizing that these two illegals are his best friends.

Espionage aside, The Americans is also about family dynamics. The Jennings may be spies but they are also two parents who are trying to raise their children to the best of their abilities. How are they going to instill their set of values to their children without blowing their cover? How can they fight western culture and its way of life when their own children are growing up in it? Husband and wife rarely ever see eye to eye about anything. They disagree about how to raise their children, how to carry out operations, how to deal with issues, and they also disagree about their purpose, thus straining more and more their already fragile relationship. 

I don't want to reveal any spoilers but I'll say this: The Americans is the best cat-and-mouse TV drama since Breaking Bad. Will there be an epic showdown between Stan Beeman and the Jennings like the one between Hank and Walter White? Will the already strained relationship between Philip and Elizabeth finally take its toll?

Personally, I believe that the final showdown will not be between the Jennings and Stan Beeman. Instead, I think it will be between Elizabeth and Philip: they have diametrically opposing values. He wants peace when she wants war. He doesn't believe that all the sacrifices they've made for their missions are worth it while she thinks they don't do enough. He wants to stop and leave espionnage behind, she can't seem to be able to exist without it. They'll probably both keep pushing each other further and further away until they ultimately find themselves in opposing sides. That's my opinion but who knows, really, what will happen! The show runners have been masterful, so far, at keeping the plot unpredictable and the viewers on the edge of their seats! Can't wait to see how it all ends but at he same time, I'll be sad the show's over...