Pasckie Pascua's Nerdy Squirrel Reviews: TV Series.

“Black Rabbit” (Netflix) crime thriller . Premise: When the owner of a New York City hotspot allows his chaotic brother back in his life, he opens the door to escalating dangers that threaten to bring down everything he's built.         Jude Law is Jake, the club owner; Jason Bateman is his erring older brother Vince. Before I type up more, be forewarned that this series, like other Hollywood-made series/movies these days, is annoyingly dimly-lit. The usual rationale is “artistic” blah, of course. If it's okay for you to squint your eyes all through the 8-episode nonstop drama and thrill ride, go ahead.         This series isn't bad at all. Of course the Law/Bateman stress duo interplay is fun to watch. The story is credibly exhilarating, the character responses are believable, the sound editing is effectively jarring, and the production design fits the sentiment (irrelevant of the irksome lighting). And the en...

“Paradis City” (Amazon Prime) Swedish futuristic crime/drama. Swedish Minister of the Interior Eva Basarto Henriksson is abducted during a speech in Järva, a lawless "special area." Amid chaos and gunfire, police retreat. Officer Fredrika, blamed for the failure, seeks redemption by enlisting Emir, an ex-MMA fighter and criminal. During the rescue attempt, a tunnel collapses, trapping them beneath the rubble.        Scandinavian political thrillers are cool. Fast-paced, tight scripting, engaged acting. No frills, no chasers, no soap operatic gloss--all “business.” Such as this fine series, which I hope, would spawn a Season 2.         The synergy of Julia Ragnarsson as Fredrika and Alexander Abdallah as Emir also keep the thrills unpredictably palatable. I want more. 🎥💻📽 "Victory or Death" (Amazon Prime) Chilean historical drama set during Augusto Pinochet's regime , focusing on a group of young people who cho...

“Untamed” (Netflix) drama murder mystery . In the vast expanse of Yosemite National Park, a woman's death draws a federal agent into lawless terrain, where nature obeys no rules but its own.        The star in this series is the stunning Yosemite heights, not Eric Bana , whose park special agent Kyle Turner is as lifeless and unexciting as his world trapped in the dark of a deceased son.         Life and excitement are provided by Lily Santiago as Naya Vasquez, a rookie park ranger who moved to Yosemite from Los Angeles and is assisting Kyle with the alleged murder victim.         The series is renewed for a second season, hoping Mr Bana's character gets some light somehow. 🎥💻📽 “Love Rat” (Amazon Prime) drama. Recently divorced Emma enjoys a whirlwind holiday romance with hotel proprietor Niko on the paradise island of Cyprus. When she realises Niko has scammed her out...

“The Gilded Age” (HBO) Season 3, historical drama set in the United States during the Gilded Age , the boom years of the 1880s in New York City . The story is centered on aristocratic husband and wife George Russell and Bertha Russell, played with alluring relish and contemptuous deceit. The characters are based on the Vanderbilt family.         At the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards , the second season received six nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series and acting nods for Carrie Coon as Bertha and Christine Baranski as Agnes van Rhijn. The diversity of the characters make for a compelling watch, and the stunning costumes! Of course. The costumes were designed by Kasia Walicka-Maimone. She led a team to create over 5,000 costumes for the series, aiming to capture the lavishness and complexities of the Gilded Age fashion. 🎥👍📽 “The Bear” (Hulu) Season 4. P sychological comedy-drama . First of all, I don't think this weirdly popular series...

“Dope Thief” (AppleTV) crime drama based on the 2009 novel by Dennis Tafoya. Two Philadelphia friends who pose as DEA agents to rob drug dealers face the consequences of their actions when they steal from an organized narcotics operation under surveillance by the actual DEA.        From the Pilot episode, directed by Ridley Scott, this thriller, photographed in grim and grey tone, is no let up adrenaline ride. Acting is stellar. Brian Tyree Henry as Ray Driscoll, a recovering addict and former drug dealer; and this friend Manny Carvalho, his conflicted and panicky accomplice, portrayed by Wagner Moura.         Mr Henry is no steely Denzel Washington's banger or inventive Idris Elba's slick player. Brian is a trapped rat, in denial of his vulnerability but not giving up. And Wagner's Manny is right there to complement the dead-end run.         A revelation is Marin Irela...

“The Bondsman” (Amazon Prime) action horror series. Hub Halloran is a backwoods bounty hunter who comes back from the dead with an unexpected second chance at life, love, and a nearly-forgotten musical career — only to find that his old job now has a demonic new twist.        Hub is Kevin Bacon . And that's the show for you. Jennifer Nettles (of country duo Sugarland) as Maryanne Dice and Beth Grant as Hub's mom Kitty + perennial bad boy Damon Herriman as Lucky and  Jolene Purdy as Midge, who fell in the same fate as Hub--all deliver fine performances. But this is all a Bacon Dinner Show. 🎥💻📽 “Passenger” (Amazon Prime) British dark comedy-thriller. Centers around a close-knit community in the fictional town of Chadder Vale, where a series of strange and increasingly shocking crimes begin to unfold.         The series follows former Met Police detective Riya Ajunwa, who has moved to the town seeking...