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maychild1961
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Death and Other Details (2024)
Nice nod to the classic locked room murder
First of all, the scenery is magic. A beautiful ship, filled with beautiful people in beautiful clothes. Then everything goes sideways. The only despicable character gets killed, but we find out, unfortunately, he Wasa nice guy. On board, besides two questionable millionaire families, about to merge their business interests, is a washed up detective, played by Mandy Patankin and a young thief Violet Beane, traumatised by the violent death of her mother 20 years ago. Episode by episode more people die and more backstories are revealed. Unfortunately it takes too long and it is too much. And to top it all off, the ship is rigged with explosives and entered by a paramilitary group. It is all a bit much. And for nine episodes, everybody looks for the mysterious Victor Sams. Less would have been more. Still it's well worth watching, if you have the time.
Criminal Record (2024)
Six episodes would have been sufficient
Apart from the brilliant acting of Cush Jumbo and Peter Gabaldi, this crime drama is full of stereotypes. Which is sad, it could have been much better, if the series wouldn't have been so dragged out. The once good, turned bad white copper who (under duress) framed a black man for murder stands against the young, feisty and determined black female police officer. Guess who sits on the longer end of the rope, in the end? Also there are too many backstories which make no sense at all. Watching it, I was torn between the riveting performances of the main characters and the very thin storyline. Anyway, it is absolutely watchable and if you have a lot of time, by all means go for it.
Vinyl (2016)
Brilliant....
First of all, I cannot understand all the whining about "oh, it's so cliché", too much drugs, too much sex, too much violence. Wake up - we are talking the 70s here. Things were not politically correct and almost everybody was as high as a kite. Deal with it. I am especially miffed, that some of the self proclaimed critics didn't even bother to watch the first episode to the end.
I think that it is not only brilliantly written and executed but it is also full of great talent. And I love the long music sequences. I was still a teenager in the 1970s and nothing seemed more desirable for me at that time than being in the music business. So much was happening at that time and that is exactly what this series captures. Of course it is not the usual TV junk food, where you watch and don't have to think (no complaints here, we all need that too), this one is fierce, it is powerful and it is frightening at some points. Bobby Cannavale does a wonderful job as a drug riddled, maniac record producer with a conscience. The interweaving of truth and fiction is fascinating and makes it all more interesting. So hang in there people - it is a great show, with great music as one of the main characters.