June 29, 2022 – Everyone’s got an opinion. Here’s mine. Why these shows? These are the ones I want to rewatch from time to time.
New information sheds light on a 1995 murder case for two estranged homicide detectives. I’m not a huge fan of McConaughey or Harrelson, but here they are spot on. This is their best work. Season 1 might be the best TV ever.
Creator: Nic Pizzolatto (The Killing)
Series Director: Cary Joji Fukunaga (Season 1)
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Monaghan
IMDb: 9.0
Where: HBO Max
This might be the best show you’ve never seen. It came out in 2013 in the UK, but is finally available to U.S. audiences via Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime funded an American version (which was terrible) in 2020, then decided to offer the UK version as well. Sounding a little too familiar these days, the plot is this: there is a worldwide pandemic orchestrated by big pharma. We follow a ragtag band of heroes fighting against big pharma. This is a quirky, eerie tale with quirky, eerie characters. You’ll either love it or hate it.
Creator: Dennis Kelly
Cast: Adeel Akhtar, Paul Higgins, Neil Maskell
IMDb: 8.4
Where: Amazon Prime
A new show, but becoming one of my favorites. Spy yarn focusing on a special MI5 department whose employees are MI5 rejects and has-beens. Oldman packed on extra pounds to play the department's scruffy, grouchy leader.
Cast: Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Olivia Cooke, Kristin Scott Thomas
IMDb: 7.8
Where: Apple TV+
A sassy gangster family that runs a gambling empire is hunted by a detective dispatched by Winston Churchill. Set in Birmingham, England after the end of World War I. How has Cillian Murphy not won an Emmy for this?
Creator: Steven Knight (Taboo)
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Paul Anderson, Helen McCrory
IMDb: 8.8
Where: Netflix
Each season brings a new tale of criminal desperation and human oddities. In Season 1, a mild-mannered insurance salesman meets a from-out-of-town hitman, setting off a chain of violent events. I like this neo-noir TV show even more than the movie version.
Creator: Noah Hawley (Legion)
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, Ewan McGregor
IMDb: 9.0
Where: Hulu
An anthology crime series where each season is one long case. The main detectives stay the same throughout the series, but each season has a popular actor playing a key, guest role. One British outlet called this show the “king of the crime dramas.” Another called it “the decade’s best British drama.”
Creator: Jed Mercurio (Bodyguard)
Cast: Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, Adrian Dunbar
IMDb: 8.6
Where: Hulu, Acorn TV, BritBox
Lisbeth Salander, a hacker with a difficult upbringing, works with journalist Mikael Blomkvist to solve crimes, including those within her own family. This started out as a Swedish TV series called Millennium. Then three movies were made from that series. The three movies seem to be everywhere, but I can’t find where to stream the original TV series. On Blu-ray and DVD, it’s available under the title Dragon Tattoo Trilogy: Extended Edition.
Directors: Niels Arden Oplev, Daniel Alfredson
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Nyqvist, Lena Endre
Original Title: Millennium
Language: Swedish, English
IMDb: 8.4
Where: (the movies) Amazon Prime, Sundance Now
Raylan Givens, a throwback to the Old West, is a gunslinging deputy U.S. Marshal in Kentucky whose unconventional tactics are not appreciated. The series modernizes the Western but maintains some of its basic elements. Deserves its high IMDb rating. The role Olyphant was born to play.
Creator: Graham Yost (The Pacific)
Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter
IMDb: 8.6
Where: Hulu
Account of the years of Elizabeth II’s reign. Beautifully shot, impeccably produced, and expertly acted. Winner of many Emmys. This is high quality, intelligent TV. I like the first two seasons the most, and wished they’d kept the same actors for the lead roles, using old-age makeup.
Creator: Peter Morgan
Cast: Claire Foy, Matt Smith, Victoria Hamilton
IMDb: 8.7
Where: Netflix
LA detective yarn with solid performances and storylines. Based on books by Michael Connelly.
Creators: Michael Connelly, Eric Ellis Overmyer
Cast: Titus Welliver, Jamie Hector, Amy Aquino
IMDb: 8.6
Where: Amazon Prime, Freevee
Notable in their time: