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“The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox."

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“The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox” (Hulu) true crime biographical drama , based on the true story of Amanda Knox and her wrongful conviction in the murder of Meredith Kercher .         The uneven, shifting tones of the narrative confuses and muddles the entire point of the feature, which is essentially to show Amanda's innocence. But we are not presented with a clinical investigative navigation (of the crime). Only choppy, piecemeal installments. What is projected is more of Ms Knox's emotional torment; none about her friendship with Meredith or the third person in the story, Rudy Guede. Or what about a “reenactment” of the night's events that led to the brutal killing. I wanted to get at least a glimpse of that dark episode.        Meanwhile, the last episode--Amanda meeting prosecutor Giuliano Mignini–is uncalled for. Hard to believe that it ever happened. But this series is supposedly based on Ms Knox's memoi...
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CRIME DRAMA: “Mayor of Kingstown.” / “Task.” / “His & Hers.”

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“Mayor of Kingstown” (Paramount+) Season 4. C rime thriller .Kingstown, Michigan , is a fictional company town where incarceration is the top business.         This addictive series certainly has no shortage of rage, gloom, and “live or die” survival gravitas + a flood of “f” in each sentence. But do I care as I sit and indulge? Nope. Like most Taylor Sheridan projects, this series weaves around a tightly, coordinated script and strong characterizations. The production design is a wasteland of greyish funk, as though another dive is about to blow up again or an inmate's throat will slashed in the next 5 minutes.        Violence is aplenty and language is eerily smashed into your face. Repeat: I don't care. This is TV although the deadly realism portrayed in the prison system and criminal drug world is hard to dispute. Those can even be tamed compared with the real deal.        ...
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POLICE PROCEDURALS: “Blue Lights.” / “Boston Blue.” / “Agatha Christie's Seven Dials.”

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“Blue Lights” (Amazon Prime) Season 3. Northern Irish police procedural television drama series set in the present day and based at the fictional Blackthorn police station in Belfast , Northern Ireland .        Season 3 follows PSNI officers Grace, Annie, and Tommy a year after season 2 as they confront a massive, sophisticated criminal conspiracy flooding Belfast with drugs, extending into Dublin.         This is an apparently low-budget police procedural that heavily relies on outstanding ensemble acting, smart scripting, and tight, no-chasers direction. Definitely a magnetic binge-watch distraction.          But this is not all about an edge of your seat thrill ride or high-drama crime pursuit. The police characters are not the tough-guy peeler or “don't mess with me” copper. These dedicated men and women are as vulnerable and touchy as a grocery clerk, hospital ...
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DRAMA THRILLERS About The Missing: “Girl Taken.” / “The Lost Station Girls.” / "Inspector Rojas.”

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“Girl Taken” (Paramount+) British crime drama, based on the novel “Baby Doll” by Hollie Overton. A family living in a quiet English rural town are impacted by the actions of a seemingly respected local teacher.        This 6-episode series commands a daytime soap magnetism that keeps you glued. Plot twists cut through the drama and, despite the implausibility in the final sequences, we knew how'd the end game be.        Still, the ensemble acting is involved or engaged. Hence, the show's binge-watch allure. 🎥💻📽 "Inspector Rojas" (Amazon Prime) Season 1. Chilean crime drama about a police captain investigating the disappearance of 12 young girls in the late 1990s.        Anchored on Francisco Melo's icy but involved Inspector Rojas, this true-crime thriller has enough intrigue and allure to keep us engaged. Not daytime soap sudsy but more police procedural earnest. Not so complex. ...
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“Save Me." 2 Seasons.

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“Save Me” (Amazon Prime) British drama . 2 Seasons. Nelson "Nelly" Rowe is a down-and-out man whose life is turned upside down when Jody, the estranged daughter he fathered thirteen years ago, mysteriously disappears.         This absorbing series deservedly won the 2021 BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series . On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes , 100 percent of 16 critics gave the first season a positive review. This 2-Season, 12 episode thriller has no “dead time” moment, instead the twists and revelations keep you glued on the couch.         “Save Me” is a harrowing tale of teenage daughters snatched by the evil claws of sex trafficking. And how a community comes together to find the missing as they grieve together, led by Nellie, aided by a disgraced, largely distrusted friend, Melon.        Lead actor Lennie James also created and wrote this riveting series. The always...
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BRITISH DRAMA: “Somewhere Boy.” / “Run Away.” / “Little Disasters.”

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“Somewhere Boy” (Hulu) British drama, focuses on teenager Danny, who since his mother's fatal accident, has been isolated from the outside world by his father. When Danny realises that monsters do not exist, like his father has claimed, he questions his entire existence.         This a fine, sensitive series with a heart-wrenching premise (only 30 mins per episode), anchored on Lewis Gribben as the mentally challenged or confused Danny. A powerful performance yet restrained and controlled. Lisa McGrillis as Danny's aunt Sue also delivered character grip without hysterical fits. Add Samuel Bottomley as cousin Aaron. All good. Editing, scripting, sound, minimalist production values.        Until the last two episodes when the drama is manipulated into another, uhh, check it out yourself. 🎥💻📽 “Run Away” (Netflix) British crime/drama, adapted from a novel by Harlan Coben . A father searches for his runaway daught...
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“Landman” (Paramount+) Season 2. Created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, and inspired by the latter's podcast series “ Boomtown ,” the series is set within the world of oilfields in West Texas . Billy Bob Thornton 's Tommy Norris is a petroleum “ land man” and operations VP (later President) at M-Tex Oil.         In Season 2, Andy Garcia enters as Danny "Gallino" Morrell, the Cuban American head of the Gallino drug cartel who presents publicly as a legitimate financial investor. Sam Elliott also joins the cast as Timmy's dad, Thomas or “T. L."         Clearly, the life of Season 1 was Tommy's cool dawg swagger and easy sarcasm. Billy Bob carries that cowboy coolness in Season 2 but although Mr Garcia's Gallino offers a plot trajectory and Demi Moore's Cami goes up-front as the Boss, the fate of M-Tex stays a redundant dialogue fodder. Nothing significant really moved.     ...
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