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!
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.
Power is a very intriguing story of a young Black male who is struggling to end his double life style. Ghost played by Omari Hardwick, is a Wealthy, successful Manhattan nightclub owner by night and a drug kingpin 24/7. Although he is suspected of being a drug dealer, it’s been hard for the FBI and police to pin him down, especially since his name, “Ghost” is renowned but no one has ever seen him, except his wife and a couple of friends. Before he is found out, Ghost who goes under the name of James St. Patrick wants to dump his ghetto wife, Tasha St. Patrick (Naturi Naughton) and life style upon opening a new night club in California. In the mean while, unbeknownst to Ghost, he’s having an affair with (Lela Loran, played by Angela Valdes) the very FBI agent who has been trying to find out what Ghost looks like and make the bust.
After watching two episodes, I don’t really like The Leftovers. For so long, we were bombarded with trailers and hype about this series. Now that it’s a reality, I feel let down. The Leftovers may turn out to be really good but so far I’m not feeling it. It seems slow, and down right boring. 1.4 million people, world wide have disappeared alluding to the Rapture. One town is targeted in this series where 100 of all those who went missing were residents. Husbands, wives, children, mothers and fathers are gone without explanation. There are a group of people who dress in white, smoke cigarettes, and don’t speak but recruit others who have lost love ones. They say (in writing) that they are there so that we don’t forget. Maybe the show is too new but I don’t get what this group is really all about. I always thought when the Rapture happened, everyone would believe in Christianity. I’m not sure The Leftovers is about the Rapture. This just might be a Science Fiction series. Right now, it’s pretty lack luster and weird. The Leftovers currently airs on HBO. I will update this critique to reflect what I think after a few more episodes have aired.
Starz has adapted the untold story of Leonardo Da Vinci as a series. It tells of his genius during his early years in Renaissance Florence
Every time I sit down to watch this HBO series, I brace myself for the introduction theme which I think is totally evil. I tell myself once I get past the start up, things will get better. I really enjoy True Blood even though I don’t like the lead in. I think I like the series because of some of the hot characters and because it’s written so you’ll have some compassion for their situation due to no fault of their own.
The Newsroom is an excellent series presented on HBO about just that, a newsroom and the goings on that go on. Jeff Daniels, one of my all time favorites, plays Will McAvoy, the Head Anchorman and Emily Mortimer plays Mackenzie McHale, the Program Manager and former girlfriend to Will. Sam Waterston plays Charlie Skinner, the General Manager of the whole news team and Jane Fonda plays as Sam’s boss. This is a well put together cast and the dialogue is absolutely brilliant. I’ve been glued to my seat since it started. It is fascinating to watch what it takes to put on a news show and be politically correct while pleasing the public at the same time.
House of lies is about Marty Kaan, played by Don Cheadle, who now leads his own consultant firm. Marty is cut-throat and clever and will stop at nothing to get a high paying client. His team, formulated from his former company worships his antics and will stop at nothing to get the job done. It’s all about the money. The team consists of Marty, Genie (Kristen Bell), Clyde (Ben Schwartz) and Doug (Josh Lawson). Marty has an estranged wife, Monica (Dawn Olivieri) who’s not so estranged, a wanna be gay son, Roscoe (Donis Leonard Jr.) and a semi-quasi dying father, Jeremiah (Glynn Turman). Marty has more sex than a hooker and strikes up more meaningless relationships than “The Bachelor”. To complicate matters, Marty and Genie managed to sleep together and are now so uncomfortable around each other they can barely be civil. The fast talking, cleaver team is something to watch. Marty is a legend and together with his team are unstoppable. This series is aired on Showtime and is only 30 minutes an episode.
Not since Sleeper Cell have I seen a more compelling series about terrorist. Homeland shows us how dangerous the world has become. Intelligence Officer Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) who is bipolar, lives for her job. Her hunches are usually spot on and her methods of carrying through her assignments are impeccable. Homeland starts out telling the story of Nicolas Brody, a Marine hero returning home after eight years of being labeled MIA in Iraq. Agent Carrie is the only one who suspects that he may have been “turned”. The story goes in depth telling how and why Brody turned and how Carrie was able to prove her theory. Brody becomes an agent for the United States, tricking his former captures into believing he is still working for them. The story unfolds with a sharking season finale making the audience thirst for more. I am hooked on Homeland and suspect you will be too. Homeland currently airs on Showtime.
Downton Abbey is one of my most favorite series. I love period pieces. This one is before World War I and is brilliantly told. The series revolves around a British, aristocratic family and their servants. The family presently includes Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham, Lady Mary, Lady Edith and Robert’s mother, Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. The major servants include Head of all servants, Mr. Carson, Mrs Hughes, Head of kitchen staff, Mrs. Patmore, John and Anna Bates, Valet to Lord Grantham and Lady Maid to Lady Mary, respectively. The personal stories that take place between the staff and the Crawley family and friends makes for a fascinating series. I’ve been mesmerized by Downton Abbey since it first started. Just to see how the upper crust behaves in Britain — one wonders whose idea was it to have maids dress you every day. The whole setup is rather complicated, so I’ve displayed a couple of charts that show the actors, characters they play and the positions they hold at Downton Abbey. Just perusing the charts, gives you an idea of how the story flows. Learning the positions and hierarchy of the staff will be challenge. Overall, Downton Abbey takes you away to a world we don’t really know but can find entertainment and fun in watching.
CAROL's WORLDS 