Pasckie Pascua's Nerdy Squirrel Reviews: TV Series.

“The Guest” (Paramount+) British thriller . A cleaner becomes captivated by her wealthy employer's charismatic influence. As their intense friendship grows and secrets emerge, their relationship spirals into a dangerous psychological game where nothing is quite what it seems.         Featuring the sterling performance of Gabrielle Creevy as Ria (house cleaner) and Eve Myles as Fran (rich entrepreneur), this 4-episode drama thriller is a binge-watch bet. ( Siôn Daniel Young , who was outstanding in 2021's “Deceit” as real-life character Colin Stagg is here but this is not his show.)        The plot is rather predictable but the timely placement of twists add to the excitement. But still the end game was a downer (no spoilers though). 🎥💻📽 “Lazarus” (Amazon Prime) British horror-thriller . A forensic psychiatrist investigates cold case murders after returning to his family home following the death of his fathe...

“Monster: The Ed Gein Story” (Netflix) biographical crime drama about the convicted murderer, graverobber, and suspected serial killer Ed Gein . Mr Gein (1906-1984) was an American murderer, serial killer , and body snatcher . His crimes, committed around his hometown of Plainfield, Wisconsin , gathered widespread notoriety in 1957 after authorities discovered that he stole corpses from local graveyards and fashioned keepsakes from their bones and skin.         Charlie Hunnam absolutely gave his all. A very involved, focused performance. Credits as well to Laurie Metcalf in a shorter, intermittent role as Ed’s domineering mother. Undoubtedly, a well-crafted noir cinema although I don’t dig the overkill in graphic violence and, at times, cheesy dialogue. Also, I don’t ride with the Alfred Hitchcock or “Psycho” bit, not needed. That subplot took away a deeper navigation of the mom/son relationship. BTW, I am baffled by the Finale episode. Weird....

“The Night Manager” (Amazon Prime) Season 2. British spy thriller based on the 1993 novel by John le Carré . Jonathan Pine is now working a mundane MI6 role as "Alex Goodwin," until a chance encounter with a former associate pulls him back into the dangerous world of international arms dealing, this time targeting a charismatic Colombian arms dealer.        Unlike other spy/political thrillers on streaming these days, “Them Night Manager” stands out because it isn't indulgently replete with multiple back/side stories and pretentiously talky sequences yet it stays lucidly cerebral and easily navigated. And thrilling, of course. True with most LeCarre books.         Meanwhile the tour-de-force triumvirate of Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman is flawless and unfailing. Clearly, with the way Season 2 concluded, we are expecting a Season 3. 🎥💻📽 “Steal” (Amazon Prime) British crime thriller about a hei...

“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...

“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.        ...

“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 ...