Category: Netflix Original Shows

Grace and Frankie starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen & Sam Waterston (Netflix)

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Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie (Lily Tomlin) mourn their former lives at the beach.

NOTE: This review contains MILD SPOILERS for Season 1.

Sometimes the friend you DON’T want is the one you get… and realize you NEED!  This is the set-up of the Netflix comedy series starring former 9 to 5 co-stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.  The show is funny (BUT w/ serious undercurrents), smart, sensitive- a MUST-SEE!  After their husbands, Robert (Martin Sheen) and Sol (Sam Waterston), leave them for EACH OTHER (becoming NOT only law partners), WASPy perfectionist Grace Hanson (Fonda) is thrown together w/ Jewish hippie Frankie Bergstein (Tomlin).  These ladies had dealt w/ each other over the past 30 yrs, BUT never been real friends until BOTH refuse to leave the SoCal beach house that their families invested in together. 

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The two opposites share a lovely beach house.

Grace is VERY angry/embarrassed by the situation- how could Robert so something like this to HER!?  What will PEOPLE think, she often wonders?  Eventually, she realizes that there WERE clues around that he might’ve been gay.  Grace goes about creating a new life for herself, which includes online dating (MANY viewers of all ages will relate to this)!  

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Grace has lunch w/ an overeager online suitor.

Frankie, on the other hand, is sad and retreats into herself.  She burns incense, meditates, and creates vlogs about how she’s feeling.  Frankie keeps in touch w/ Sol; they seem like a couple that was best friends (unlike Grace and Robert).  Of course, above these strong/capable women’s heads is the (VERY real) possibility of living their remaining years alone.  

Robert and Sol are VERY much in love, live together, and plan to wed soon. They don’t want to hide anymore.  Their four grown-up children are surprised, BUT also have dramas of their own to deal w/, as we eventually learn.

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The younger gen doesn’t have it ALL figured out either!

Grace and Robert’s daughter Mallory (former model Brooklyn Decker) has some serious history w/ Frankie and Sol’s eldest son Coyote (Broadway actor Ethan Embry).  There is also Brianna (June Diane Raphael), who has taken over Grace’s cosmetic line.  Coyote’s younger brother Bud (up-and-coming comedian Baron Vaughn) is ALSO a lawyer and has his life together; he is helping out Coyote (recently got out of drug rehab).

With such a GREAT leading cast, you’re bound to also get some FAB veteran actors as guest stars: Corbin Bernsen (LA Law),  Sam Elliott, Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), Christine Lahti, Joe Morton (most recently on Scandal), and Craig T. Nelson (Coach). 

Bloodline: Season 1 (Netflix)

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NOTE: This review contains MILD spoilers for the first season of Bloodline (Netflix).

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The leads: Kyle Chandler and Ben Mendelsohn (USA Today)

Blackmail, drugs, lies, and more…. it’s ALL in the family!  Who CAN’T relate to family drama?  We know that parents can play favorites, we have roles w/in our families, and some have a harder time than others as adults (though raised in the same environment).  Can we let go of long-held grudges?  How far would we go to protect what we built?  

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John Rayburn (Kyle Chandler) basks in his father’s praise at a family party.

I began watching this show w/o any prior knowledge, so had no expectations.  I saw one ad and knew that the parents were being played by GREAT actors (Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard).  I ended up getting REALLY into it after the first 3 eps (it’s NOT for the impatient viewer), and watched all 13 eps in one week.  (Season 2 will be out in 2016.) 

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Danny (Ben Mendelsohn) knows JUST how to win over his mom (Sissy Spacek)!

The tight-knit Rayburn family, headed by Sally (Spacek) and Robert (Shepard- still trim and striking at age 70), are respected/well-liked members of the community in a small beach town in the Florida Keys.  They run a lovely inn that is their pride and joy, aside from their grown children.  The second oldest son, John (Kyle Chandler- huskier than before but still handsome), is the sheriff w/ gorgeous wife Diana (Australian actress Jacinda Barrett) and two adorable teens (a boy and girl).  Another son, Kevin (noted Broadway actor Norbert Leo Butz), is fiercely protective of the little marina that he runs and deeply in love w/ his wife Bonnie.  The baby of the family is the also the only girl, Meg (Linda Cardellini from ER fame- looking better w/ age), a lawyer who helps her parents with their business.  Meg’s long-time boyfriend is Marco (Enrique Murciano from Without a Trace), a tall/handsome deputy working under John, and hailing from a big family of Cuban-Americans. What could upset their (seemingly) happy/ comfortable lives? 

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Danny at the bar- escaping from his family for a BIT.

Into this picturesque scene comes oldest brother Danny (Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn in a breakout role), the black sheep of the family.  All the sibs wonder why he has returned; Kevin doesn’t hide his disgust and disapproval.  Sally is overjoyed to have her firstborn home, especially when he takes an interest in the business (giving tours on the family boat, taking visitors fishing, and sharing his knowledge of the area in general).  It turns out that Danny has a way w/ kids.

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Father-son beer summit (Episode 4)

John, at first, is cautiously optimistic- he and Danny are very close in age and used to be tight as kids.  He is also wary, b/c Danny has been in trouble w/ the law before.  Robert is distant and cold, and it takes SOME time to figure out exactly why.  (There are innovative flashbacks and flash forward scenes which give us bits and pieces into the conflicts w/in the family.)

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Sally (Sissy Spacek), Meg (Linda Cardellini), and Kevin (Norbert Leo Butz) wait in the hospital.

Danny also gets close to his old/best friend, Eric O’Bannon (character actor Jamie McShane), who’s into making easy money.  Eric’s little sister, Chelsea (Chloe Sevigny- recently on The Mindy Project), begins to flirt w/ Danny- the guy she probably had a crush on as a young girl.  However, there is more to Eric’s schemes than what we first see.  (This is a thriller, NOT only a family drama.  There are some gruesome scenes that could be difficult for some viewers.)  I recommend this show to those of you who like to a good book, or those who want to get a sense like that from a series.  Is Danny a villain?  Or is he an antihero?  Well, he’s certainly a complex/mysterious guy!  I especially liked the scenes between Danny and John; the actors must’ve developed a LOT of chemistry before/during filming.  Character dramas are SO rare (in network TV), but I find them VERY appealing!         

House of Cards (Season 3)

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NOTE: This review contains MILD spoilers for the latest season of House of Cards (Netflix).

HoC_S3_AirForce1 Frank & Claire in front of Air Force One

Well, those two crazy kids FINALLY made it… to the White House!  However, it’s NOT all easygoing at the top for Frank (Kevin Spacey) and Claire Underwood (Robin Wright), or very exciting (as MANY viewers, including ardent fans, have commented).  A FEW eps were a BIT tough to get through- a rarity for this series in seasons 1 and 2.  There is less scheming, fewer asides to the audience (by Frank), and more talk re: policy changes (this is NOT The West Wing).   

HoC_S3_Doug Surprise: Doug survived the attack at the end of S2!

This is a BIT of a spoiler- Doug (Michael Kelly, slowly being revealed) survived the attack in the woods at the end of Season 2.  A LOT of time is spent on his recovery in this season- TOO much IMO!  Yes, Doug has a lonely life, sleeps w/ pros, and lives for his work (even when President Underwood has NO time for him).  We get to meet his older brother, his wife and kids, and learn more about that aspect of Doug’s life.   

HoC_S3_Frank_RussianPrez Frank reaches out to the (Putin-like) Russian prez- a FUN adversary!

I really liked the scenes between Frank and the tough-as-nails Russian president, who is like a taller version of Putin.  This guy is NOT intimidated easily by Frank- GREAT to see!  The actor did VERY well w/ the role.  Forget boring/wimpy adversaries like President Walker and even Raymond Tusk, this prez won’t back down easily!

HoC_S3_portrait Frank & Claire sit for their official portrait

This season is MAINLY about the (worsening) relationship between Frank and Claire.  They’re even sleeping in separate bedrooms (GASP)!  Robin Wright continues to shine, BUT we wouldn’t expect less.  Claire has a new role (aside from First Lady) this season, as you will learn.

HoC_S3_E7 Frank drinks & talks w/ his (potential) biographer.

Frank recruits a novelist to write his biography, BUT the writer goes off on his own direction.  Sorry, but he’s a boring character.  There is a journalist (played by Kim Dickens) recently the detective on Gone Girl) that is a BIT more interesting, BUT  thought she’d have more to do. 

hoc_ps3_157_h.jpgHeather Dunbar is a VERY strong counterpoint to Frank!

I LOVED seeing Heather Dunbar (played by the statuesque Elizabeth Marvel) as the total opposite of Frank in her demeanor, morals, tactics!  She takes on Jackie Sharp (Molly Parker, seems underused) in a debate scene (which is quite dramatic).  I’d seen Marvel on several eps of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.  Is Dunbar really as clean (moral) of a candidate as she seems?  What’s going on w/ Gavin?  Will Remy be back?  And how will Rachel be dealt with?  You’ll find out… IF you make it through the season.     

Spoiler-Free Review: Top of the Lake starring Elisabeth Moss

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Three of the ensemble cast: Thomas M. Wright, Elisabeth Moss, & David Wenham

I really wanted to like this show, but alas, it was not to be!  I read a BIT about it’s ardently feminist viewpoint (it was co-written by Jane Campion, the New Zealand-based director who gained much acclaim in Hollywood with The Piano).  I was interested in seeing David Wenham (also a New Zealander), who many of you know as Faramir in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.  Here, he plays a detective who somehow manages to dress well, live in fancy house, and sail on a boat. 

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A group of women set up a sanctuary (named Paradise) by the lake.

The premise is interesting- Tui Mitchell, a 12 y.o. pregnant girl, leaves home w/o a word or note for her family.  Detective Robin Griffin (Elisabeth Moss from The West Wing and Mad Men), who is visiting her ailing mother from Australia, gets on board this case, having special training w/ youth.  Moss is simply miscast here- she’s the opposite of what I’d expect a cop to be, but she has a few nice scenes with Tui and her mother. 

Top of the Lake has been compared with The Fall and Happy Valley, but it falls short for several reasons. Though the remote New Zealand setting can be beautiful, mysterious, and captivating, it doesn’t make up for the one-dimensional supporting characters and dialogue that often seems removed from everyday life.  The presence of the guru-type figure, GJ (Holly Hunter), and her group of rag-tag followers doesn’t add much to the story.  

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GJ (Holly Hunter) is a willing ear for a group of diverse/troubled women.

As for those looking for romance, you’ll be disappointed, since Robin and her main love interest, Johnno (Thomas M. Wright, who is Australian), have very little chemistry together.  We learn that they dated in high school; he’s also one of Tui’s older half-brothers.  About 15 years ago, Robin and Johnno went to a dance together, shared a kiss, but then the night took on a horrible turn (especially for her).  Robin’s personal history w/ a few of the (not so straight-laced) inhabitants of this insular community cause complications during the investigation.

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Matt Mitchell (Peter Mullan) lives by his own rules… and gets away w/ it!

Tui’s father, Matt Mitchell (Peter Mullan), is probably the most troubled/complicated characters of the series.  You JUST don’t know what he’ll do next!  Is he a villain or simply a hothead?  Mullan (who is Scottish) is a talented actor, but I got the sinking feeling that he was TOO good for this show.  As a few critics have written, men are NOT heroes in this story, or even tolerable.  Almost every teen boy or man is a coward, violent domestic abuser, rapist, or potential rapist!  There is a sense of foreboding throughout the episodes that just gets boring after a while.  Worst of all, I just didn’t care about ANY of the characters!  I guess this is what happens when a writer’s/director’s “vision” gets in the way of the story. 

House of Cards: Season 1, Chapter 3

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SPOILERS: Don’t read this review if you have not yet seen, or don’t want to know, details from this episode.

Since Steve suddenly took ill, Frank gets a young new driver/body man, Edward Meecham (Nathan Darrow, who was part of the company of Richard III w/ Spacey).  Darrow has a tough job, communicating w/o saying much, as his position requires.

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Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) at the pulpit.

Truth be told, I never really knew him… or what his dreams were.  He was quiet, timid, almost invisible.  …The man never scratched the surface of life.  Maybe it’s best he died so young…  –Frank talks about his father (in an aside)

This ep takes us to Frank’s hometown of Gaffney, South Carolina-shooting was still done in Maryland.  (Yes, the peach statue is real!)  We see a different side of Frank, as he talks w/ regular folks: the mayor, town council, a pastor, and the grieving parents of a teen girl (who died while driving and texting about the statue).  The speech in the small, simple church was both self-serving and compelling!

Frank still conducts meetings (via phone) with Marty Spinella (Al Sapienza), lobbyist for the teachers’ union and various others.  The education bill Frank wants to take to Congress needs some revisions.  Controversial issues like performance standards and teacher tenure come up.

Zoe is praised by the owner of the newspaper, much to the dismay of Tom.  He doesn’t like Zoe’s (ungrateful) attitude, plus the fact that she’s becoming a media darling.  

I know what it’s like to be beautiful and capable and ambitious…  What I see in you is a woman I admire, which doesn’t happen often.  I want to enable you.  I want to clear the way, so that you can achieve what you want to achieve, on your own terms.  -Claire says to Gillian

Claire uses a soft sell to recruit Gillian Cole (Sandrine Ho), the founder of her own start-up (World Well).  Gillian is smart, young, and idealistic, but lacks health insurance (coughing through the job interview).  Claire insists that Gillian see her GP.  Though she’s still a bit skeptical, Gillian agrees to a trial run at CWI.

Peter dumps out the little bag of cocaine (great bit of nonverbal acting from Stoll), and gets to work, even on a Sunday.  Christina is surprised, pleasantly.  Though she got a great job offer, Peter needs her more, we can sense. 

What did you glean from the scene with Claire jogging through the graveyard?  That old woman’s comments affected her somehow.