MY SHORT TV REVIEWS (FALL 2026-UPDATED)
I watched several shows over the last month. Most of these are available on Netflix or Prime. Here’s my updated “reviews” on a few programs and current series you may have also seen, or you might have missed:
THE GENTLEMEN (Season 2) — Was thrilled to see a Season 2 released all at once in September, but after viewing the first four episodes, I stopped watching. I even wrote a scathing (incomplete) review about my disappointment with the Guy Ritchie series and figured it was a great first season that couldn’t sustain the witty, dark, comedic British gangster formula he’s perfected to an art form. Then, I was persuaded to continue, thanks Fruchter, and watched the final four episodes (8 in all). Wow — glad I did. Marvelous turnaround and brilliantly crafted. Episode 6, which is the wedding in Italy is near Godfather-esque. Then, the second season wraps up with enough momentum to leave us gasping, and laughing, and shocked all at the same time in the show’s final scene. Slow start on Episodes 1-4, but riveting in the remaining Episodes 5-8. Grade: A-
SLOW HORSES (Season 6) — Similar reaction to the unconventional British spymaster series…..loved the first few seasons, then it became shark jumping. Almost gave up. Then, Season 6 debuted last month (4 episodes have been released, to date) and my enthusiasm was rekindled. To be clear–this series has multiple annoyances, and I could list several things I dislike about it. However, Gary Oldman as the lead along with Kristen Scott Thomas are enough to keep me glued. Very unusual series of anti-heroes, and difficult to recommend to others, unless you really like offbeat stories and quirky characters. Most of the humor is very subtle, which perhaps is its appeal. Can be frustrating, but when all the parts hit, the dark humor nails it. Grade: B
EAST OF EDEN (Series) — I made it through half of the first episode. Seven parts, Steinbeck’s famous novel, original movie was James Dean’s debut. Wonderfully crafted, masterfully done remake — I just didn’t like the subject matter and lost interest. I never liked the original movie either, but it’s been at the top of the Netflix rankings for awhile. Grade: C-
WHAT’S EATING DAN — Netflix series of rapid-fire shorts on all kinds of foodie subjects — how to shuck oysters, the best way to cook corn on the cob, how to tell if a pepper is too hot, etc. I love this show. Packs a powerful punch, and if you don’t like one episode, it’s only 10-15 minutes long, and you can FF on to the next one. I found all off them entertaining (and often very funny). Great host. Grade: A
THE CHARLES MANSON TAPES — Late one night, bored, I had to watch. Sick, I know. I mean, don’t we know enough about the Manson murders, already? Well, apparently not. I ended up feasting on the entire thing like a smut addict. It was worse than a half gallon of cheap on-sale ice cream–you just devour the whole thing. When’s the next Mason documentary? “Manson! Manson! Manson! We want our Charlie fix!” Movies, books, multiple TV series–this guy is more popular than the Beatles. Grade: B
BIG CHICKEN: A FAST FOOD CONSPIRACY — Here’s another scare bomb warning us about the food we eat, and how we basically torture hundreds of millions of animals for the tasty bucket of KFC. It’s all factual, of course. Trouble is, these docs have become somewhat repetitive. Perhaps that’s the point. Everything is an assembly line of exploitation and cruelty, delivering cheap hamburgers and designer delicacies. I can’t knock the noble intent of the filmmakers nor deny this is important. Perhaps I’m just burned out on being told everything is bad for me. And if Chicken is bad for me, then full confession–I’m much more bad for the chicken. Grade: B-
STOLEN: HEIST OF THE CENTURY — Pretty good documentary about an actual diamond-stealing caper in Europe. Well done, if you enjoy true crime. As with many organized heists, the fun part of the show is finding out which *small detail* the perpetrators forget about, leading to the crime being solved. Grade: B+
THE IDAHO MURDERS — This is the short series about the sicko psycho who senselessly drove across the country for no apparent reasons and killed five students in Idaho. The mystery here is — WHY??? For this reason, the series (3 parts, I think) holds our attention. Message to the Idaho killer: You’re no Charlie Manson (need about a dozen more docs to catch up). Grade: B
EAGLES (HISTORY OF THE) in two parts — Watched this a few nights ago. Wow, I didn’t realize how LITTLE I knew about the Eagles—the music group (not the bird, that’s another series). Extremely well done, with full cooperation from the band, including all members deceased and living. Don’t gloss over the scandals and divisions, shows warts and all, which makes it much better than most rock exposes. This was a more intriguing music doc than I was expecting. There’s also a Part 2, which is about the reunion, also good, but not up to the story of Part 1. Grade: A
TIRES (series) — Received rave reviews as an offbeat comedy (“The Office,” but in an auto shop). I just couldn’t get into it and gave up after a couple of tries. I could be wrong, as I noted before other shows when I stopped watching ended up actually being quite good. Grade: D
THE LINCOLN LAWYER — Finished Season 4 over the summer, but I forgot to write about it, until now. I don’t think this season was as nearly good as the others, but still enough twists and turns and a charismatic cast that has real chemistry to maintain my enthusiasm. Solid formula of connected episodes which usually builds to a thrilling season conclusion (and often a surprise ending). Well crafted, this will keep me interested as long as it continues. Grade: A-
DEPT. Q — Done by “The Queen’s Gambit” writer and director, this is a very dark but intense crime series, which ended Season 1 (Season 2 should be coming soon). I believe it’s 6-7 episodes and starts with a disappearance and the season consists of investigators trying to solve the crime and rescue the victim, assuming they’re alive. I won’t give anything away, but several of the scenes stuck with me, haunting at times. Great villains. Powerful stuff, though dark and somewhat troubling–as in nightmare possibilities. Grade: A-
MAYDAY –– Lengthy series (20 seasons, lots of shows!) about plane crashes. Documents the anatomy of all the famous air disasters in history, plus quite a few we’ve never heard of, or we have forgotten. Extremely well done, in a detective sense (why did that plane crash, then the NTSB decipher the clues of each crash). Only scary thing is….knowing there were enough plane crashes TO FILL 20 SEASONS OF A TV SERIES! Wife got hooked on this, then said, “I never want to fly again.” Makes you fear a tiny $3 bolt falling off the cargo door could bring down a packed jumbo 747 into the Atlantic. Gee–who knew hydraulic fluid was so important? That sort of bad-luck mystery and apparent randomness of life is the hook of the show, and disturbing but also mesmerizing. Think CSI for air crash fetishists. Grade: A
I’ll do more of these *short* reviews is people are interested. Feel free to share your own, including best and worst. Maybe I should do my own “awards” at the end of each year.