Reacher Series

Just started to watch a series based on the movie film that features Tom Cruise. I must admit that i was a bit weary of watching a new player on this role. I am a little accustomed to seeing a shorter and often despised Tom Cruise turn the tables on his foes who usually out number him. But Alan Ritchson really pulls it off. He gives us anotjer angle to this character. 

While it might be exhasting to watch another show that gives you an unlikely hero and has a scene where the president and his men pour through a redacted file where they find details about a war hero and multi-skilled trained operative. The series is nonetheless enjoyable. The dialogue is a masterwork of witty Southern phrases rich in expression. There is also an exploration of the protagonist’s life prior to this dilemma in Margrave and a look at his life with his brother. Some of these conversations and scenes help the viewers gain a better understanding of the thinking behind this chunk of man. 

Willa Fitzgerald (who plays Roscoe Conklin) does an amazing job and reminds me of Julia Garner (who palys Ruth Langmore in Ozarks). The two take on roles of Southerners complete with accents and knowledge of obscure facts such as the type of grass that grows in the fields as well as weeds and cow feed. 

The interactions between the new entrant and the detective from the north are also great to observe as is the Northern/Southern racial conflict in the background of all the convesations that are taking place. It is unusual to see a guy this big being portrayed as intelligent. Often the stereotype of chucky guys is that they play sports and are not particularly smart but Reacher is different. He is observant…to an almost neurotic level. This makes his initial meeting with his new boss quite entertaining. 

There seems to have been a gaff in Season 1 Episode 3. There is a conversation between Finlay and Roscoe where the latter defends the former after an embarrasing incident at the local jail. Her reaction is animated and includes a few expletives. He urges her to take it down a little. Later on, Finlay has an exchange with Kilner Sr. his reponse is far from diplomatic. On leaving the premises Reacher reminds Finlay about a previous conversation-only what Reacher is reminnding Finlay of is a conversation that he was not a part of :)

Euphoria Season 1

People who are smarter than me and that studied literature (read my sister), tell me that romance and eros is often used in literature in critical parts of the story to draw the audience’s attention to particular subjects or ideas. I say this because accross the series Euphoria after someone on twitter mentioned it but emphasized that it was ‘porn’. If you view it through this narrow lense you will miss the point. 

It is a deep dive into the complex lives of teen and pre-teen students in post 911 America. The parents of these children were witnesses of the tragedies of September 11th 2001 and so the series serves as an exploration of these young people. 

First off, the narrative style is really appealing and we have Zendaya (Rue Bennet) of Spiderman fame to thank for that. Everything about this season revolves around her and those who form her inner circle. She is cast as a tomboyish slightly troubled (mentally) young person who goes through life trying to make sense of all the difficulties that she has gone through after the death of her father. In her household is her younger sister played by Storm Reid (Gia Bennet). Gia adores her sister and has every hope of becoming just like her. The trouble is that her ‘mentor’ is really troubled and struggling with addiction challenges. We have a single mum managing the affairs of this household with Nika King (Lesslie Bennet) handling that well. She is supportive and firm performing spot checks (read piss tests) on her daughter but the younger version of herself is often much too smart for mum in that regard. 

Throughout this work, i am amazed at least the writer (Sam Levinson) wants us to realise just how informed this generation is about the medications that exist and what each can provide in terms of fixes. 

The drug related problem is aided in part by two individuals. One surprisingly young and imaginative, is nicknamed Ashtray (played by Javon Walton) but the muscle of the operation is a sentimental and on the surface weak minded Fezco (Angus Cloud). In later parts of the first season there is a sad confrontation between supplier sand addict where name calling and abuse is exchanged but a calm keen minded Fezco responds with maturity in a scene that almost brings you to tears. 

Later one we are introduced to other characters that will make the season as exciting as it is revealing. We have the family that is supposed to have it all together (The Jacobs Family with Eric Dane and Jacob Elordi). The new girl (Hunter Shaefer) from out of town who comes in to shake things up. Her backstory is heart wrenching with neglect and abandonment from noneother than her mother. Later issues she faces will stem from this one incident. 

Then we have the slightly ovwerweight young girl who evolves into a confident person after realising that she has quite an audience online keen to gaze at her semi-dressed pictures and sessions. The writer also labors to read into the psychology of a generation that is getting used to leaking and or sharing nude images in a sense pleading with his audience to be more gentle with our judgements. 

The rest of the season is animated by some difficult but well acted scenes of blackmail and arm twisting that leave you asking for some divine power to intervene in the lives of these young victims. 

All in all a thumbs up for me!