What's Good on TV? So. Much.
With the dog days of summer behind us, there's a plethora of good TV to dive into this month.
So much TV, so little time…but we always make time for a good show, don’t we? And we’re fortunate that there are plenty of solid dramas and comedies these days…even some from the past that are worth a rewatch or (gasp!) maybe you never got around to Breaking Bad? (If that’s you, head to Netflix and fix that NOW!).
Here are a handful of shows I’ve watched early (the perks of being a TV journalist) but are either coming soon or already rolling out. Let me know which ones you’re excited for or already loving in the comments!
Nobody Wants This (Netflix, September 26): I’m not an ideal TV binger in that I’m good for two, maybe three, episodes but then I need a break no matter how something is. But darn it if the pairing of Kristen Bell and Adam Brody in this romantic comedy series didn’t pull me in and made me break all my rules. The comedy follows sharp Joanne (Bell), a podcaster who, along with her bestie/sister Morgan (Succession alum Justine Lupe), talks about relationships and sex for the masses even when their own romantic history with the opposite sex is less than stellar.
Having watched Bell and Brody in so many other shows and films over the past two decades, it’s a wonder to see them come together with so much chemistry. More to come on this one but make sure to add this upcoming comedy to your queue now.
My Brilliant Friend (Max; new episode every Monday): Since its debut in 2018, this drama gem has been quietly (so quiet I forgot it was returning this month!) telling a compelling Italy-based story of the enduring but tumultuous long friendship between fiery Lila (now played by Irene Maiorino) and the more reserved Lenu (now played by Alba Rohrwacher). Starting with their days as kids, the show, based on the novel by Elena Ferrante, moved along through the girls’ teens and early adulthoods as the lives of the two different women drifted in different directions while still managing to come back together over the years.
As we head into the fourth and final season, I admit I’ll miss the terrific performances in the first three seasons from Gaia Girace (Lila) and Margherita Mazzucco (Lenu, aka Elena) but it was inevitable for the series to age them up as the characters grew older. The fourth season premiere has just dropped on Max so I cannot wait to dive in. And, a bit of advice, if you haven’t watched My Brilliant Friend, trust me that you should and that you should start from the beginning. It’s a beautiful series examining life, love, family and friendships that ebb and flow over our lifetimes.
Pachinko (Apple TV+, new episode every Friday): I can’t think of a richer scripted series on the air right now than the emotional drama that is Pachinko. Based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Min Jin Lee, season two is proving to be as powerful as its incredibly strong first season. As before, the narrative in the series jumps back and forth between the 1930s and 1940s to the more contemporary late 80s/early 90s. The center of both time lines is Sunja (played as a younger woman by Kim Min-Ha) as she faces life’s hardships and, of course, many trials and tribulations of the heart, usually involving the wealthy and complicated Koh Hansu (Lee Min-Ho). The more contemporary cast features the now elderly Sunja (Youn Yuh-Jung from Minari fame) as well as her ambitious grandson Solomon (Jin Ha, who can also be seen in this season’s Only Murders in the Building!). I’m a sucker for a good family drama and Pachinko has that sweeping epic feel about it as the years pass but the storytelling keeps getting better and better.
And, an added bonus, Pachinko boasts one of the best opening credit sequences of any series with the main cast dancing around a Pachinko parlor to The Grass Root’s “Let’s Live for Today.” The show is very much a drama but the opening sequence will always bring a smile to your face. I did a TV Theme Song post again but if I ever do a follow-up, Pachinko will be on it!
Bad Monkey (Apple TV+, new episode every Wednesday): I wasn’t fully sure what to make of Bad Monkey when I first started watching it. I was bingeing all 10-episodes of the comedy mystery (based on Carl Hiasson’s book of the same name) since I was doing the press junket and wanted to ask season finale questions. Like I said earlier, I’m not the best binger but, again, like with Nobody Wants This though on a lesser scale, I found myself wanting to get to the next episode as soon as one ended.
I’ll give credit to sharp writing (the show is developed by Ted Lasso’s Bill Lawrence) that draws you into the quirky South Florida setting where former detective turned health inspector Andrew Yancy (Vince Vaughn) is drawn into a mystery involving a fierce monkey named Driggs (Crystal the Monkey), a severed arm found by a fisherman and a lot of duplicitous characters all seeking their fortune. The supporting cast is solid (Vaughan has a great chemistry with Yancy’s romantic interest, Rosa, played by Natalie Martinez) with fun performances by Rob Delaney, Zach Braff, L. Scott Caldwell, Meredith Hagner, Ronald Peet, Jodie Turner-Smith, Michelle Monaghan and John Ortiz. Also, while some shows with narrators don’t work, the crusty, sardonic voice-over by Tom Nowicki (who plays Captain Fitzpatrick) is as appealing as the entire show is.
Only Murders in the Building (Hulu; new episode every Tuesday): Yes, season four is jam packed with more big name guest stars and there are times I’d rather the story just focus on our core characters (played by Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short) and the mystery. But then I forget all that because Meryl Streep shows back up and is just a delight. Then there’s Molly Shannon. And, since I’ve seen a good bulk of season four via press screeners, Melissa McCarthy is beyond wonderful when she shows up. (I can’t say more….but just wait). Overall, it’s not a perfect season but, come on, how I could not be invested in the mystery of who killed Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch)? Bring on the twists, turns and laughs!
Emily in Paris (Netflix): The Netflix series inclusion here is more because I know people seem to really love this show but, like Bridgerton (#sorrynotsorry), I just don’t get it. I tried. I have tried more than once. It’s just a show that isn’t for me. But tell me in the comments below - what do YOU love about it? I’m still interested in what keeps people watching and I can only guess it’s more than the Paris of it all, right? I mean, I love Paris but it still didn’t keep me watching the show. But if you’re a fan, the second half of season four drops September 12 on Netflix.
BL dramas: Living in Bangkok has kept a steady rotation of BL (boys’ love) series active as I watch one after another with my husband. We just finished the heavily dramatic Century of Love (Netflix), are still working our way through Wandee Goodday (slowly since YouTube has a glitch that’s keeping us from watching one episode after another) and also started the engaging time-jumping comedy, Be My Favorite starring Perawat Sangpotirat (aka Krist) and Gawin Caskey (aka “Fluke”). There is a formula to these shows but if it’s a chemistry-filled pairing and the story doesn’t have too many holes, it’s been fun to watch so many of these Thai series. (And since I’m learning the Thai language - like counting to 20 - I’m understanding more of the dialogue without relying entirely on subtitles). Here’s the trailer for Be My Favorite:
Throwback recommendation: Breaking Bad (Netflix). I was texting with my brother and a mutual friend recently and of the three of us I am the only one who has watched one of the best dramas on television ever. Our friend says he’s just not interested in watching Breaking Bad, which maybe is the case of so much hype turning someone off, which I can relate to with some shows or movies. My brother, I’m convinced (and he’s probably reading this) is not watching out of spite for me not helping him hang the Christmas tree lights one year or maybe multiple years (I was busy…probably watching TV!). To coax them to watch mild-mannered Walter White (Bryan Cranston) go from Mr. Chips to Scarface, I have even said “your life will be better once you’ve watched” but even that bit of melodrama - true as it is - hasn’t worked. So I will recommend the show to you, my less stubborn and infinitely wiser reader. I honestly can’t this of a TV drama that never hit a bum note, never had a lackluster season and always kept us on the edge of our couches.
I’m due a rewatch and since attempts at rewatching Lost and Mad Men never fully took hold (I’m not abandoning either but also not making them a priority). Like those two shows, Breaking Bad is on Netflix as is its very worthy prequel series Better Call Saul which lives in the timeline before BB and starts with a very different vibe but as it catches up to the start of BB in later seasons, you’ll be reminded how good BB was. VERY IMPORTANT : watch BB first and then dive into BCS. Unlike my brother and our friend, you can thank me later.
You may have noticed that all these shows are on streaming networks so, in honor of Fall TV, next week I’ll look at some of the new and returning shows on broadcast TV that you should pause your streaming app to check out.
I love Pachinko season 1; need to watch season 2. I've been depressed lately though. I discovered Nobody Wants This too and am really enjoying it.
I have to try Pachinko, Only Murders In The Building and Bad Monkey