When I haven't been writing or reading, like most people during lockdown (two now and counting) I've been watching a lot of TV. Most of it was pretty good, so I thought maybe I might try this again and give you a flavour of what I've been watching. These are in no order.
Gangs of London (crime, thriller, action)
If you want action, you got it. If you want suspense, you got it, if you want violence, oh man you got it. If you want touching romantic scenes and complicated relationships, you don't got it: look elsewhere. Chronicling the lives of a London gang family after the patriarch is killed (Colm Meaney, in his shortest role ever)
Gangs of London sets a new bar for ultra-violence but the story very much demands it and is really well written. Renewed for a second season, and I can't wait.
Verdict: 10/10
Public Enemy (Ennemi Public) (Crime, thriller, mystery)
A Belgian production that follows the release of a paedophile from prison, who is taken in by monks, and whose presence in the town is clearly unwelcome. Almost as soon as he arrives kids start turning up dead. Is he up to his old tricks already?
The twists and turns and unexpected ending in this series makes it for me, one of the very best I have ever seen, in any language. Harrowing, unapologetic about its subject matter and bleakly realistic, it should be required viewing, and it's only a pity that, as a subtitled programme, it will not be seen by as many people as it should be. Hopefully nobody though gets it in their head to do an updated, English-language version because I feel it would be very hard indeed to capture the spirit of the original, and any copy would suffer. Try and see it; you won't regret it. Though you might have some trouble sleeping.
Verdict: 10/10
Spiral (Crime, mystery, thriller)
Actually in its seventh season, though I could only get the one, being the seventh, so have probably missed out on a lot of the details of relationships between characters, previous cases etc. An excellent French crime drama which seems to wrap up a long-running story arc, a pity I can't get the rest of it.
Verdict: 9/10
Before We Die (Crime, mystery, thriller)
Exposing police corruption in the Swedish police force, another powerful crime drama with engaging leads. There's a second season I have yet to watch, but I certainly enjoyed the first.
Verdict: 9.5/10
Alex (Crime, mystery, thriller)
I wasn't so impressed by this one; maybe it's that I had watched the two previous series before it and this then fell a little short, but it's still good. Another Swedish offering, about a cop I think on the run. Self-contained but as I say I found it a little disappointing.
Verdict: 7/10
Thou Shalt Not Kill (Crime, mystery, murder)
A sort of Criminal Minds or FBI-style series, with different stories in each episode but an overall arc running through most of the series. Very impressive.
Verdict: 9/10
Gomorrah season 4 (Crime, murder)
I'm sure most people by now know or have heard about this Italian crime drama, if not then quickly, it focuses on the rise to power of Genarro Savastano, scion of one of the major crime families in Naples, and his friend Ciro di Marzio, who becomes his mentor. Violent, unapologetic, gripping, it has earned its place in mainstream TV and season 4 is the current with another, final season in the works. There is also a movie,
L'Immortale, which chronicles events between season 3 and 4. Highly recommended.
Verdict: 10/10
Hitmen (Comedy)
Mildly amusing series about two, well, hitmen - or I should say hitwomen - trying to carry out their assignments and usually bungling them. Not as funny as it sounds, or as it should have been. Weak, but worth a look.
Verdict: 6/10
Trust (Drama)
The true story of the godson on John Paul Getty, who arranged his own staged kidnap in 1973, only for it to turn into a real one. Pretty gripping; Donald Sutherland shines, but then you'd expect that. Self-contained.
Verdict: 9/10
Succession (High finance, drama)
The story of a family (perhaps somewhat modelled on the Trumps) who believe winning is everything, and as they wait for their father to pass on the reins of power a struggle develops within the family as they jockey for position. Sharp, funny, often sad, with plenty of twists; makes you glad sometimes that you aren't rich, if you have to be like these people!
Verdict: 10/10
Prodigal Son (Crime, murder, mystery)
An interesting premise, where a convicted and jailed serial killer's son must seek his father's aid in solving murders which appear to copy his style. Probably copied from
La Mante, a French series, and which was probably better, but definitely this one is enjoyable. New season has been authorised.
Verdict: 9.5/10
The Outsider (Horror, mystery)
Superb story from Stephen King about a creature who can assume anyone's shape, and thus manages to have people blamed for horrible crimes they have no part in, and even have alibis for. Just stunning. One season, self-contained. Based, of course, on his novels.
Verdict: 10/10