The way I grouped yesterday’s series–Man in the High Castle, Fleabag, One Mississippi, Sneaky Pete, Patriot–may have felt more than a little random, but today has a distinct theme: anti-heroes. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, I actually enjoy even the weakest of these series during their worst episodes more than most series. Even if “Hand of God” or “Mad Dogs” aren’t very good series, they are always at least partially interesting, and conjure up worlds that feel immersive, even addictive.
Hand of God…The biggest “WTF?” question mark of a series I’ve ever seen, as I’ve now watched the entire series (Amazon cancelled it after the second season which was recently posted) and am still not sure if it was trash, treasure, good, bad, or even if I enjoyed it. This series about a judge who feels God is talking to him, telling him to punish those responsible for the death of his son and rape of his daughter-in-law is unlike anything else I’ve ever seen, and at this point, that’s enough to recommend it. Cons: On the one hand, “Hand of God” is wildly over the top, ridiculous, and has some of the most unlikable lead characters (Ron Perlman and Dana Delaney) in recent memory, and several supporting characters—like a cash-hungry preacher—aren’t much better, leaving you with the feeling you’re in a nasty, cynical world you hope to escape. Pros: But many of those cons now feel deliberate as several characters we initially think are good are revealed to be rotten, and the unlikable characters stumble towards breakthroughs. It’s a great allegory for the topsy-turvy worldview of the mentally insane or a world God has abandoned. We’re supposed to believe sunny San Vicente is a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah complete with dirty cops, punished innocents, and—most nefarious of all—a sinister tech company that may be run by a data mining lucifer. It’s ballsy-stuff for an Amazon series to portray the bad guys as obviously Bezos-esque and perhaps that’s why the series was cancelled right when it was getting somewhere? Also, any chance to see the radiant Emayatzi Coreinaldi or always-excellent Garret Dillahunt (in the series best role of ex-con-turned-religious enforcer) is good. Best Parts to Skip: Almost any time Perlman’s daughter-in-law Jess is on-screen, and some of the preacher’s scenes. Grade for First Season: ???…Grade for Second Season: No seriously, is this series good?
Mad Dogs…Amazon cancelled this series after one season and that’s probably for the best as too many of the first season’s episodes were more than a little aimless. It’s a show that starts strong and ends strong, but has a few too many filler-eps in the middle (a common problem with binge-TV series). Also, two of the four guys (who go to their buddy’s retirement party in Belize only to get involved in a drug conspiracy and murder) really irritated me, while only Steve Zahn and Michael Imperoli gave me characters to root for. I wouldn’t necessarily go back for a second season even if I had a choice, but the stunning Belize location and focus on complex male “friendships” certainly made this series stand-out. And I’m a sucker for stories of ordinary citizens caught in criminal or spy webs. Best Parts to Skip: Whenever Ben Chaplin is complaining or the first half of a middle episode where the guys are stuck in a quarantine tent. Grade for First Season: B…Although the season premiere and finale are closer to an A-
Goliath…I love a good lawyer series and this is the most realistic lawyer show David E. Kelly will ever have his name attached to. Watching Billy Bob Thornton face-off against William Hurt’s deliciously sick corporate lawyer and his army of goons is undeniably enjoyable. Plus, it’s the rare anti-hero series that has a roster of great roles for women, excluding Molly Parker’s one-note villainy as an opposing lawyer for the Goliath-like law firm, there’s Maria Bello’s conflicted ex-wife, Nina Ariande’s feisty co-counsel, Tania Raymonde’s prostitute-turned-paralegal, and Olivia Thirlby’s rising junior attorney. Best Parts to Skip: Although many of Parker’s scenes are tediously over-the-top and unlikable, most are essential to the plot, so I would more likely skip Thornton’s scenes with his daughter, although they are among the most mellow in the series. Grade for First Season: B+
Bosch…I love this series, a police procedural with soul, as old-school, determined detective Bosch solves two season-long crimes (the first two seasons combined two separate Harry Bosch-novels each) that may or may not overlap. Although it’s technically the most straightforward and old-fashioned of all the series reviewed here, sometimes the classics can be satisfying, especially if done with the skill pulled off here. And while most anti-hero series may have their lead tough guys with a teenage daughter (like Goliath’s Billy Bob Thornton), Harry Bosch’s scenes with his ex-wife and daughter are much more than just filler, it’s the “Bosch” dynamic that actually helps flesh out the hero, kind-of what these scenes are always supposed to do but rarely accomplish. And “Bosch” has hands-down the best title credits of any series currently on air, a kaleidoscopic, mirrored tour of L.A.’s underworld set to “Can’t Let Go” the perfect song for our relentless detective. Plus, it’s great to see the long underrated Titus Welliver break-out with a lead role. Maybe his “Deadwood” co-star (and “Hand of God” stand-out) Garret Dillahunt can be Amazon’s next leading man. Best Parts to Skip: There aren’t any. Grade for First Season: B+…Grade for Second Season: A-