LOVECRAFT COUNTRY (2020) – My rating: 8.5/10

Lovecraft Country is a television series developed by Misha Green based on the continuation of the 2016 novel of the same name by Matt Ruff. The series is produced by Monkeypaw Productions, Bad Robot Productions, and Warner Bros. Television Studios and is considered a horror drama. I love how this series educates folks about the Black plight; despite the “crazy” that’s going on, it never loses the original focus.

Lovecraft Country follows a Black man named Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors), a Korean war veteran, as he joins up with his friend Letitia “Leti” Lewis (Jurnee Smollett) and his Uncle George Freeman (Courtney B. Vance) to embark on a road trip across Jim Crow America in search of his missing father Montrose Freeman (Michael K. Williams). This begins a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the discovery of dark secrets, which include terrifying monsters plaguing a town on which famous horror writer H. P. Lovecraft supposedly based the location of many of his fictional tales.

From the start of episode 1, rightfully called “Sundown”, you will agree Lovecraft Country is mind-blowing.  I guarantee you won’t be able to press your remote buttons fast enough to start the 2nd episode.  While in my heart of hearts, I cheered-on the end results of this episode, I felt relieved that justice appeared to be served. However, this is a fantasy, albeit applied to real historical situations. By episode 2, “Whitey’s on the Moon”, a cast of wildly misplaced characters are introduced into this crazy environment of 1950 rich Whites vs 1950 lower-income blacks. While you might think this is a typical racist situation it’s surprisingly the opposite.  William (Jordan Patrick Smith) a master of many things along with others living in an oddly placed mansion called Ardham Lodge, explains the connection between the two families.  Magic is released and the death of many ensues.  Each episode reveals the integration of fantasy and realism that ends with a conclusion you won’t see coming.  This has to be the most unusual series I’ve seen and that’s saying something after seeing The Umbrella Academy.

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, this series holds an approval rating of 90% based on 108 reviews, with an average rating of 8.31/10. The site’s critic’s consensus reads: “Anchored by Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Jonathan Majors’ heroic performances, Misha Green’s Lovecraft Country is a thrilling take on Lovecraftian lore that proves the Elder Gods aren’t the only thing that goes bump in the cosmos. There are 10 episodes in the first season and is streaming on HBO.  The acting is brilliant which means this series is totally believable even though it’s mostly fantasy — Check it out if you dare!

 

HUMANS (2015 – 2018) – My rating: 8/10

Humans is a science fiction television series.  Written by the British team Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley and is based on the Swedish science fiction drama Real Humans, the series explores the themes of artificial intelligence and robotics, focusing on the social, cultural, and psychological impact of the invention of anthropomorphic robots called “synths”. The series was produced as a joint effort by AMC in the United States as well as Channel 4 and Kudos in the United Kingdom.

Humans start out with a couple of men wheeling, what looks like mannequins, into a warehouse filled with row after row of synth, which is short for synthetic and is the name given to  AI’s, which are sold as household maids.  AI is an acronym for artificial intelligence. The mannequins are shown to be unlifelike, wearing nothing more than underpants (men and women alike). The next scene takes us to the Hawkins family, which consists of husband Joe Hawkins (Tom-Goodman-Hill), wife Laura Hawkins (Katherine Parkerson), oldest daughter Mattie Hawkins (Lucy Carless), son Toby Hawkins (Theo Stevenson), and youngest daughter Sophie Hawkins (Pixie Davies). Joe is trying to manage his home, children, and a wife who is overworked as a lawyer.  Overwhelmed with his overflowing plate, Joe goes shopping and purchases a synth.  When his wife returns home after five days away, they argue because Laura is opposed to having a synth because of past circumstances.

Five weeks earlier, five synths who are low on charge, are traveling as they look for a place to settle, charge-up, and regroup.  A couple of synth poachers kidnap synth, Anita/Mia (Gemma Chan), and deliver her to a scientist named Hobb (Danny Web).  Leo Elster (Colin Morgan) and synth Max Elster (Ivanno Jeremiah) conduct a fierce search for her, to no avail.  synth Fred Elster (Sope Dirisu) and synth Niska (Emily Berrington) also befell to the same fate.  So far, Anita is the only one who hasn’t been in touch with Leo and Max, causing Max to believe the two have been destroyed or reprogramed.

I really liked Humans, the subject was a lot like “Better Than Us” except the synths are motivated by different circumstances. George Millican (William Hurt) as a retired artificial intelligence researcher and widower who suffers memory loss and physical disabilities is a special and brilliant addition to the series. George forms a special bond with his malfunctioning and outdated caregiver, synth Odi (Will Tudor).   The synth goes into hiding, some are reprogrammed, some are discovered, some take on proving they are more human than the world thinks, and some live to fight the good fight.  The liaison between the synth and the life they are fighting to live is Humans.  There are a host of characters introduced into the series with many plots and sub-plots.  You’ll find Humans exciting and somewhat emotional.  Eight episodes were produced for the first series which aired between 14 June and 2 August 2015. The second eight-episode series was broadcast in the UK between 30 October and 18 December 2016. A third series was commissioned in March 2017 and aired eight episodes between 17 May and 5 July 2018. In May 2019, Channel 4 announced that the series had been canceled. The series is now streaming on Prime Video. If you like fantasy and science fiction, you will probably love Humans.  I recommend you binge-watch this one — Check It Out!

BETTER THAN US (2018) – My rating: 8/10

Better Than Us is a Russian science fiction television series created by Andrey Junkovsky. It was produced by Yellow, Black, and White in cooperation with Sputnik Vostok Production for the Russian state channel C1R. Netflix purchased the series under the English title “Better Than Us” and it is the first Russian series presented as a Netflix Original. On August 16, 2019, the first season was available to stream on Netflix markets outside of Russia and China. While the “stay at home” has been in effect, I’ve gotten to see many, many television and cable series — this was one of the better ones, even though it’s been voiced over from Russan to English. I hope there’s a second season.

Better Than Us opens in Russia, in the year 2029. Advanced androids are sold to help serve humans in various work positions. These AIs are also replacing humans in many menial jobs. China’s one-child policy has led to a critical shortage of marriageable women, so an engineer designed an advanced AI and named her Arisa (Paulina Andreeva). She is programmed to be a wife to a man and mother to adopted children. Arisa does not abide by Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics, she is designed to protect her family, which includes herself. Since her creator died, Arisa is sold to the Russian robotics firm called CRONOS, in England. Her first day there, Arisa accidentally kills a man who tried to use her as a sex robot. Robots are not supposed to have the ability to kill, so she flees from CRONOS. Having gotten very far, she encounters a little girl named Sonia Safronov (Vita Kornienko) and automatically bonds with her and makes herself the child’s guardian. Later Arisa meets more of Sonia’s family, which includes her father Georgy Safronov (Kirill Käro) a pathologist as well as a former surgeon and Sonia’s brother Egor Safronov (Eldar Kalimulin).  

The series follows three storylines: that of Arisa and the family whom she adopts; the family’s son Egor Safranov and his girlfriend Zhanna (Vera Panfilova) who is part of the anti-droid militant group called the “Liquidators”; and the secrets of Viktor Toropov (Aleksandr Ustyugov), the head director of CRONOS, as he tries to hide the fact that they cannot make another Arisa.  The story also features the children’s mother and Georgy’s ex-wife Ella Safronov (Olga Lomonosova).

Better Than Us was a delightful thrill ride and a quality series.  I was especially excited over the fact that Arisa was so human that no one would think to accuse her of all she was capable of doing.  Arisa would not lie or hurt anyone who she reported to as her family.  She is also quite the eye candy as she is very pretty.  Things got so complicated as Arisa became more and more human and empathetic toward her family.  This series takes us on an adventure that is hard to forget.  Better Than Us is streaming on Netflix.  There has been 1 season of 16 episodes aired.  I can’t wait for season 2, Check It Out!

 

NEW AMSTERDAM – My rating: 8.5/10

New Amsterdam is a new medical drama about a hospital that is breaking all the rules to service it’s patients, NOT by the book.  New Amsterdam is based on the book, Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital by Eric Manheimer. 

Its opening episode is an attention getter when the hospital’s new director and Chief of Medicine, Dr. Max Goodwin (Ryan Eggold)  fires the entire cardio-thoracic surgical department because of their statistics.  Max’s aim is to reform the neglected facility by tearing up its bureaucracy and provide exceptional care to patients.  Dr. Floyd Reynolds (Jocko Sims) becomes the new head of cardio-thoracic surgery and is in a semi-quasi relationship with Dr. Lauren Bloom (Janet Montgomery).  Dr. Iggy Frome (Tyler Labine) who is the chief of psychiatric is dealing with a teenage patient who feels completely abandoned.  In the meanwhile, Dr. Goodwin has a secret that he puts into the hands of the Chief of Oncology, Dr. Helen Sharpe (Freema Agyeman). Lastly, Dr. Vijay Kapoor (Anupam Kher) is a seasoned physician who is called upon often to help resolve unknown or rear deceases.  Max has a pregnant wife, Georgia Goodwin (Lisa O’Hare) who is having a difficult time with carrying their baby to full term, not to mention they are not fully seeing their relationship eye to eye, thus had been living apart.

As time goes on, the episodes get better and the plot also enjoys a more seasoned flavor.  I have read many of the critic’s reviews of New Amsterdam and the results were not good.  Some were down right cruel.  I disagree with the critics, as I really like this new and exciting medical venture.  Most critics agree Freema Agyeman is wasted in a boring, mediocre part where I think she is the most exciting character casted.  I’ve been enjoying each episode as they air hoping for a home run because I really like Ryan Eggold from the Blacklist and Freema Agyeman from Sense8.  I’m hoping to see a lot more of them.  It’s also interesting to see what the writers have in store for this hospital.  Most of the critics don’t think New Amsterdam will make it past the first season but NBC has ordered a full 22 episodes.  I recommend New Amsterdam, so check it out!

CODE BLACK – My rating: 8.5

Code Black is another hospital series with trauma and drama that takes you beyond the norm.  In it’s 2nd season, Code Black continues to hold it’s own in the ratings.  Grant you, there’s nothing earth shattering happening that doesn’t happen in other medical series, save maybe one, but like the other medical series, it’s exciting, insightful and quite informative.  Over the last two seasons, Code Black has featured many actors. Currently, three main doctors that were featured in season one have been replaced.

Each week after showing short excerpts from last week’s show and a quick lead in to the current show, Code Black displays the following statements to your screen: 

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When there are more patients than resources [in the emergency room]. 
An influx of patients so great, there aren’t enough resources to treat them.
The average ER is in Code Black five times per year.
Angels Memorial hospital in Los Angeles is in Code Black 300 times per year.

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After displaying their customized definition of Code Black, the action begins.  Like ER and Grays Anatomy, Code Black features mini stories about the patients that have been brought into the ER, with running stories about the staff of their permanent doctors: Residency Director, Dr. Leanne Rorish (Marcia Gay Harden),  Attending ER Physician, Dr. Rollie Guthrie (William Allen Young), Chief of Surgery, Dr. Will Campbell (Boris Kodjoe) four resident interns: Dr. Malaya Pineda (Melanie Chandra),  Dr. Mario Savetti (Benjamin Hollingsworth), Dr. Angus Leighton  (Harry Ford), Dr. Mike Leighton (Tommy Dewey) and senior head nurse of Angels Memorial:  Jesse “Momma” Salander (Luis Guzmán).

SEASON TWO:
Angels Memorial welcomes Dr. Ethan Willis (Rob Lowe), a U.S. Army colonel attached to the U.S. military’s prestigious Combat Casualty Care research program. He joins the ER staff at Angels Memorial after the Army pulls him from the battlefield in Afghanistan.

Dr. Will Campbell (Boris Kodjoe), this highly regarded surgeon from season one, has become the new Chief of the ER as well, in order to save money.

Elliot Dixon (Noah Gray-Cabey), a new intern.

Dr. Amanda Nolan (Kathleen Rose Perkins), a new psychiatrist.

Noa Kean (Emily Tyra), a new first year resident in the ER.

Code Black is exciting and entertaining.  I enjoy watching it and I think anyone else who watches it will like it as well.  Code Black currently airs on CBS.

 

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DESIGNATED SURVIVOR – My rating: 9.3/10

They’ve done it again.  The producers of 24 have come up with another hit series, Designated Survivor.  It’s every bit as exciting as 24 was.  I am having a real blast watching this new drama with a more mellow character.  No fighting, torture, jumping and running from building to building, just plain old fashion deceit, devious plots, murder, terror attacks and plenty of cover ups.  Oh, and lets not leave out brains, meaning cleverness, logic and street smarts.

Imagine all the heads of state, thrown in with some VIPs from other places meeting somewhere in Washington D.C.  Let’s say a bomb were to hit that meeting place and kill every single person there, including the President of the United State of America.  Well, that is just what happens in Designated Survivor.  That is why there is always one man left behind in case such a catastrophe should happen, thus eliminating an argument as to whom would run the country.  In this case, Tom Kirkman, (Keiter Sutherland) U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, was also appointed as the “designated survivor”.  He ended up becoming the new President after the explosion claimed the lives of the President and all of his Cabinet at a State of the Union address. Needless to say, Tom was not welcomed with open arms, as no one felt he was really qualified to fill the shoes of the former President, so Tom was met with lots of resistance.  As the series moves on, we find there is something a lot more sinister going on than an explosion.  President Kirkman is under pressure to prove himself worthy, as well as resolve the ongoing problems of the country and punish the rightful terrorist of the attack on the US.  Following another unprecedented attack, the suspense is heart thumping, as we wait for the series to resume,  after the Winter break on Wednesday, March 8th.

Jason Atwood, (Malik Yoba) is the Deputy Director of the FBI who works closely with Hannah Wells, (Maggie Q) his most dedicated agent and closest friend in the FBI.  Together they are trying to unravel, what Hannah expects is a sinister plot, that may involve the newly appointed Vice President, Peter MacLeish (Ashley Zukerman).  Chuck Russink, (Jake Epstein) is an FBI technician who aids Hannah in her investigation.  President Kirkman’s wife, First Lady Alex Kirkman, (Natascha McElhone) is also an attorney, employed at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  Their two children Leo Kirkman, (Tanner Buchanan) and Penny Kirkman, (Mckenna Grace) have suddenly been uprooted from their everyday routines to come and live in the White house while also dealing with personal issues.  After an awkward encounter with President Kirkman,  Seth Wright (Kal Penn), who was the former speechwriter for the late president, initially harbored strong doubts about Tom Kirkman’s abilities to lead the country but quickly becomes one of his closest advisors and the White House Press Secretary.   Aaron Shore, (Adan Canto) who was the former White House Deputy Chief of Staff  became the new White House Chief of Staff and a close friend to President Kirkman along with Emily Rhodes, (Italia Ricci)  who happened to be Tom’s former Chief of Staff but is now his Special Advisor following his ascension to the presidency.  Mike Ritter, (LaMonica Garrett)  is Tom’s personal Secret Service agent, tasked with ensuring the Kirkman family’s safety in the wake of the attack.  Kimble Hookstraten, (Virginia Madsen) is a Republican Congresswoman and the designated survivor for the GOP who supports Tom’s authority while secretly harboring her own agenda. She is later elected Speaker of the House by the new Congress.

In my opinion, Designated Survivor is well done and before the winter break, it left us panting, with our minds racing and our thoughts running rampart.  The suspense in unbearable.  Reminds me of Dallas in the old days when everyone wanted to know “Who Shot JR”?  This time we want to know “Who Got Shot”?  Well I advice everyone to check it out on FOX where Designated Survivor is currently airing.

 

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PURE GENIUS – My rating: 9/10

What a refreshing new series. While it’s not perfect, it is different enough in the category of  hospital series to consider Pure Genius a keeper. I’m willing to bet most people feel when one is faced with a fatal disease, the FDA’s bureaucratic rules only stand in the way when there’s a potential treatment out there they won’t allow you to participate in because they haven’t done the years of testing they feel is necessary for approval. When you only have a few weeks or months or even just year to live, does it matter?  If it does, say no, if it doesn’t, say yes.

Pure Genius is about the cutting edge of technology. Originally called Bunker Hill, it’s not about defying the FDA, it’s about thinking outside the box and saving lives. The staff is often at odds with the FDA, trying to get them to approve treatments using new techniques that shows promise toward a cure for a patient that has some awful, otherwise incurable disease. James Bell, (Augustus Prew) who just so happens to have a fatal, degenerate disease (GSS) only one doctor knows about, is dedicated to saving lives and has a heart bigger than anyone you’ll probably ever meet, is also a  Silicon Valley tech billionaire and the founder of Bunker Hill.  Dr. Walter Wallace (Dermot Mulroney) has come on board since getting fired for administering a non-FDA approved procedure on a dying 8 year old in order to save his life, except the child died anyway.  Dr. Talaikha Channarayapatra, (Reshma Shetty) is a brilliant Neurosurgeon and a former Miss Indiana.  Dr. Zoe Brockett, (Odette Annable) is a double board-certified doctor of pediatrics and critical care.   Dr. Malik Verlaine, (Aaron Jennings) is head of the Ehub, which does remote monitoring of patients.  Dr. Scott Strauss, (Ward Horton) is also a Catholic Priest.   Angie Cheng, (Brenda Song) can build almost anything, be it on a 3D printer or just a mechanical device made by hand.   This staff actually goes out scouting for rear cases — the harder, the better.

The ratings are not so high on this series, which means it may not be around for long.  I read somewhere, the personal stories surrounding the supporting characters was not strong enough to develop the concept and message being created.  Despite what critics say, I really like Pure Genius.  It often gives me warm fuzzes and new information about the latest technology.  Pure Genius is currently airing on CBS.  I urge folks to at least, check it out.

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GOOD BEHAVIOR – My rating: 8/10

Good Behavior is a sign of an excellent actress. The star role is a far cry from the famous “Lady Mary Josephine Crawley” role from Downton Abbey, the popular BBC series that ended in 2016. When I heard Good Behavior was going to air in 2017, featuring a British actress from the Downton Abbey series, I was thrilled. After watching the first couple of episodes, I was amazed. Good Behavior is about a drug dependent, alcoholic, thief, con artist and single mom, who will do what is necessary to get what she wants. Estranged from her son, Jacob Raines (Nyles Steele) because of her lifestyle and absence, due to bouts in jail and prison, Litty Raines (Michelle Dockery) is on a conquest to get her son back from her mother, Estelle (Lusia Strus) since she is fresh out of prison. In this series, Litty meets up with an assassin, Javier Pereira (Juan Diego Botto) who is both good and bad for her — so the journey begins.

There are various characters that support Good Behavior and it has the best rating out of all the new series introduced in 2016.  The story is different, adding humor, drama and OMG moments.  Litty has an unconventional parole officer Christian Woodhill, (Terry Kinny) who brings all kinds of smiles to your face.  There’s also an FBI agent, Rhonda Lashever (Ann Dowd) who needs a therapist as much as Litty.  Together, Christian and Rhonda are quite the  addition to the series.  The first 10 episodes have aired and were received with high ratings, which means Good Behavior will probably be around for a while.  I personally love the show and highly recommend it to all adults.  Good Behavior currently airs on TNT.

WAYWARD PINES – My rating 7/10

So far I’m not impressed with Wayward Pines. It’s not the acting I have a problem with, it’s the story.I guess there hasn’t been enough episodes to connect the dots. (I’M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS, AS I AM STILL PIECING THIS TOGETHER — It seems corporation(s), who are members of this secret conspiracy, are sending chosen people to a town called Wayward Pines to either be murdered or be banished from the rest of the world.) Wayward Pines has it’s own set of rules, and everyone there is watched and monitored. A couple of the rules, that will get you killed is, never speak about the past before you arrived there and never try to leave. Sheriff Arnold Pope (Terrence Howard) is the first and last word of the law. There has only been three episodes aired and things are very mysterious. Beverly (Juliette Lewis) a bartender, is the only person currently trying to escape along with the town’s newcomer, Ethan Burke (Matt Dillon), a US Secret Service agent investigating the disappearance of two fellow agents.  Another mysterious thing is about time.  Even though a person may have only been in Wayward Pines a couple of weeks, they think think they have been there for many, many years.  I will revisit this critique again before the season ends and give my final verdict on Wayward Pines.  It may turn out to be very good, or not!

AMERICAN CRIME – My rating: 7/10

American Crime is focused on a crime committed against a married couple in their home.  The husband was killed and the wife beaten and possibly raped.  As she lies in a coma, an arrest is made.  This story gets pretty complicated as we learn more and more about the victims and those accused of the crime as well as the parents of the couple.  Felicity Huffman plays Barb Hanlon and is easy to dislike as she plays a prejudged parent with a cold heart and a vengeful agenda.  American Crime is racially and politically charged with a lot of truth and a lot of falsehoods.  Each episode does not stand on its own.  You have to follow the story in order to know what’s going on.   There are several families that make up this drama, the surviving victim and her parents Eve Carin (Penelope Ann Miller) and Tom Carin (W. Earl Brown),  the estranged parents of the dead victim, Barb Hanlon (Felicity Huffman) and Russ Skokie (Timothy Hutton), the Hispanic, single male parent/father Alonzo Gutiérrez (Benito Martinez), one of the accused and Alonzo’s son, Tony Gutiérrez (Johnny Oritz) and his daughter, Jennifer Gutiérrez (Gleendylis Inoa), Aliyah Shadeed (Regina King) the sister to another of the accused, Carter Nix (Elvis Nolasco) plus his Caucasian girlfriend, Aubry Taylor (Caitlin Gerard) and lastly, the actual guilty person who is also the witness and accuser, Hector Tontz (Richard Cabral).  The series looks like it will get better and better.  American Crime is a look into the justice system through the eyes of the victims as well as the guilty and accused.  Let’s see where this one goes.  So far it’s off to a somewhat, slow start.