Reviews and more!

  Here’s a look at university life from a professor’s point of view. The talented Sandra Oh (playing Dr.Ji-Yoon Kim) has just been named chair of the English department, and with that title comes way too many nasty responsibilities. Dean Larson has tasked her with cutting corners and revamping the department to bring it into the 21st century, but that job is incredibly complicated. There’s the old guard, a popular professor (and grieving widower), an untenured Black professor, and Dr. Kim herself, the first woman of color named as a department chair, all of whom have issues that she must deal with. She also has to contend with her way-too-precocious daughter and her father. And David Duchovny appears as himself, a self-important actor who has agreed to take over for the errant grieving professor, who has become the center of an anti-Nazi protest. It’s an interesting take on the politics of campus life.  🎥🎥🎥

  Mike White has come a looooong way from School of Rock! His new series is darkly humorous, kind of creepy, but darned addictive.  Set in Maui, the story follows wealthy clients vacationing at the White Lotus, a beautiful resort. There’s the dysfunctional Mossbacher family, newlyweds entitled Shane and clueless Rachel, and severely depressed Tanya. And then there’s the staff of the hotel: manager and recovered addict Armand and spa manager Belinda, along with Kai and Lani in pivotal smaller roles. There are a few really cringe-worthy scenes as well as some unlikeable characters in this mix. From the opening moments, you’re slightly unsettled, and that undertone continues throughout. Thought-provoking. 🎥🎥🎥+

  The final season of this show dropped this summer, and it’s a fitting ending to a really fine show. Sam and his family and friends are just so interesting and fun to watch. He’s on the autistic spectrum, and his mom has been his protector for most of his life.  Now he’s in high school, and the strategies he’s learned to deal with his condition are being put to the test — Mom can’t be with him forever. We watch him grow from season to season, from learning how to be more empathetic to being able to live somewhere other than at home and finally to discovering how to translate his penguin obsession into real life. His sister Casey, girlfriend Paige, best friend Zahid, and his parents, along with other characters throughout the seasons, learn and grow as well. Have tissues at the ready: there are many poignant moments along the way. 🎥🎥🎥🎥 +

  A gem of a movie, this story is set in Gloucester, MA, where Ruby is the only hearing member of her four-person family. She’s a senior in high school, and her day often starts by going out on the family fishing boat with her father and brother, with Ruby singing as they ride the waves looking for the day’s catch. She’s been the family’s interpreter for years, and she’s getting tired of that role. When her friend urges her to join the drama club, Ruby instead signs up for the choir club.  At first shy, she soon finds her voice as a singer, and what a voice it is! There’s also a romance, a fight to get out from under the large fishing corporation, and a preparation for a hoped-for audition. Deaf actors, including the supremely-talented Marlee Marlin, play the roles of Ruby’s deaf family members. Get out your tissues and enjoy this inspirational film.  🎥🎥🎥🎥

  What a rollercoaster ride of a show! Set in Northern Ireland, the plot revolves around the anti-corruption  investigation team, AC-12, that investigates its own. Ted Hastings, Steve Arnott, and Kate Fleming are the sometimes flawed, sometimes heroic main members of the team. From one season to the next, the viewer is never quite sure who the bad guys are, which makes for tension-filled episodes.  Sometimes we do know who the corrupt cop is, and we watch in fascination as the team tries to catch that person in its web.  And sometimes team members are exposed as well. It’s an extremely popular show in the UK for good reason.  🎥🎥🎥🎥

I just finished watching the final episode of the final season of this excellent police procedural show. The characters in this show grow with each season, and the city of Los Angeles sparkles as well as scares. Bosch lives in an amazing house; he has an intriguing ex-wife; he has a daughter he absolutely loves; his cases are always complicated and often get him into trouble. Sometimes a hero, sometimes a pariah, always fascinating, Bosch and his partner J. Edgar travel the mean streets of LA to make the city safe for its inhabitants. And it doesn’t hurt that a number of actors from The Wire have prominent roles in this show.  🎥🎥🎥🎥

  I’ve always enjoyed Guy Pearce in his many and varied roles. He’s a lawyer in this show, which was filmed before Mare of Easttown. Jack experiences many ups and downs, from the murder of his wife to a relationship with an attractive journalist. Into the mix is a bar owned by a friend, where a number of elderly gentlemen (who knew Jack’s father) reminisce about the good old days on a daily basis. And there are Harry and Cam, horse racing aficionados who, along with Jack, play roles designed to fool other bettors into wagering money on the wrong horses. Brendan is part of the cast of characters as well, someone who can be counted on to help Jack in any situation. At times funny, sad, and exciting, this series is well worth watching.  🎥🎥🎥🎥