Reviews

There is no shortage of new dramas this time of year, so it’s nice when new comedies pop up just when we need them the most. Hulu’s new series Deli Boys is a welcome respite from the seriousness of Emmy season, despite the fact that creator Abdullah Saeed’s show is set against the backdrop of the Philadelphia gangster underworld. Even with a setting as dark, foreboding and, yes, murder and crime-filled as this, Saeed’s fresh take on some familiar tropes makes for one fresh, funny, and thoroughly entertaining new show.

Deli Boys’ story arc will feel quite familiar: head of a mob family dies unexpectedly, leaving his two ill-prepared sons to take the helm. They must navigate the complicated world their father left behind, which includes rivals who want to take over their turf, family members who want to take over the family, with their own lack of experience and, frankly, incompetence, being their biggest obstacles to success. But they slowly figure it out, despite their worst intentions, eventually coming into their own.

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I’m the first to admit that I’m not a Shonda Rhimes person. That’s not to say I wouldn’t enjoy any of the shows that have come out in the past twenty years under the famous writer/producer/showrunner’s name, it’s just that I haven’t been necessarily drawn to any of them. But I’m clearly in the minority–at least for my gender. Among the shows Rhimes is credited with bringing to American audiences are Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder and Bridgerton, each one a huge hit, especially with women. Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and Scandal were so big, in fact, that Rhimes became the first woman to produce three separate TV dramas to each reach the magic 100- episode milestone, a true achievement, for anyone, not just a woman. Netflix lured Rhimes away from ABC and inked an exclusive multi-year deal with her, and the first series she gave Netflix was none other than Bridgerton, which became a massive hit for the streaming service. But, like her previous shows, Bridgerton still seemed to aim at the same audience (not me).

Well, Netflix is hoping that Rhimes’s second original scripted series, The Residence, will have a wider appeal and, so far, so good, because it’s the first show from “Shondaland” that I actually wanted to check out. And guess what? I love it.

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I’ve found that some of my most delightful discoveries have been the result of recommendations from friends. These are shows that I would never have given a second look to or even knew existed if it hadn’t been for the persistent—nay, annoying—nagging of friends and family members who would insist, “you HAVE to watch this show,” and wouldn’t give up until I did. And, most of the time, I am the one ending up offering up bountiful mea culpas to their wisdom.

Such is the case with the show Resident Alien, a show I had never even heard of until an email from my friend Bob, who ended a correspondence a year or so ago with “Have you seen Resident Alien? I think you’d like it.” When I responded that I hadn’t even heard of it, he reiterated how great it was and that I should give it a try. Knowing how many shows I already had on my list, I humored him by telling him I’d look into it. But I knew I wouldn’t.

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A year ago, Netflix dropped the series Baby Reindeer, a disturbing yet captivating story of obsession that everybody was talking about. It seemed to really hit a nerve, as its twisted mix of loneliness, narcissism, abuse, self-degradation, compassion and stalking seemed to resonate with a lot of people—and it was really well-made, proven by its haul of awards. It was the one show that you had to watch, in order to be in on the conversation.

Well, Netflix has struck again a year later, with another new series that has everyone talking, is just as relevant in today’s world, but this one is even more disturbing, is even better—and has a unique twist that makes it truly unforgettable.

The series is called Adolescence and even though there is a special filmmaking technique that makes it stand out, what truly makes it unforgettable is the story, in all its terrifying, harrowing and heartbreaking reality. While it may not be a specific true story, it does reflect the society we all live in, and that is horrifying enough.

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