I haven’t read any of the 33 books by Harlan Coben. The American writer of mystery thrillers has 75 million books in print around the world. His stories share common themes: multiple twists, offshoot plot lines, secrets, resurfacings of the past, and dead bodies. The books, filled with cliffhangers, certainly make for binge-worthy TV. In 2018, Coben signed a deal with Netflix for 14 of his novels to be developed into TV series. The British eight-episode thriller, The Stranger, was the first one, debuting in January, 2020.

The Stranger

We’ve seen it before…suburban tranquility is about to get rocked. A mysterious young woman in a baseball cap (Hannah John-Kamen, Game of Thrones) approaches Adam Price (played by Richard Armitage, The Hobbit) and tells him his wife has faked her pregnancy. The wife discovers that her husband has found out and she quickly disappears. This is the central mystery in the series, but multiple characters, side stories, twists, and secrets abound.

The Stranger is an eye-catching enigma. Adam isn’t the only one she surprises with life-changing information. Veteran actors Stephen Rea (The Crying Game) and Siobhan Finneran (Downton Abbey) bolster the solid British cast. There’s a lot going on, including a dead alpaca? It’s far-fetched, but you can’t just watch the first episode. No way.

D² Rating ◼◼◼◩☐

The Woods

The Netflix deal will include several foreign productions of Coben’s stories. The first of such is the six-episode The Woods transposed from New Jersey to Poland. In 2019, Warsaw prosecutor, Pawel Kopinski, identifies a murder victim. The murder scene is linked to a 1994 summer camp where Pawel was a chaperone during which two people were killed, and two others, including his sister, went missing without a trace. A couple of side plots include another investigation in 2019 for Pawel and his reconnection with a former girlfriend.

The Woods is intriguing, complex, and pushes the boundaries of reason. (I think it’s safe to say that some suspension of reality will be necessary at varying degrees in these Coben shows.) The cinematography is noteworthy with its depiction of the summer camp forest environment and the distinct atmospheres of the time periods. The Polish cast delivers, both its young and older actors. It’s refreshing sometimes to not recognize any of the actors and the preconceived notions that come with familiarity. The Polish language was also interesting and unusual to hear. The only other Polish-language show or movie I can remember seeing was 2019’s Oscar-nominated Cold War.

D² Rating ◼◼◼☐☐

Safe

The eight-episode Safe series was created for TV by Coben, but is not one of his novels. It has some star power with Michael C. Hall (Dexter), in the main role of Tom Delaney; a pediatric surgeon and widowed father of two daughters. He’s struggling to connect with his daughters one year after they lost their mother to cancer. His 16-year old daughter goes missing and Tom uncovers a network of secrets as he and his best friend, Pete (played by Marc Warren, Flack) search for her. Tom’s dogged pursuit has him running ahead of the Police investigation, headed by Detective Sophie Mason (Amanda Abbington, Sherlock).

Michael C. Hall’s British accent has garnered much attention, mostly negative. Let’s just say that it’s clear that the Brits do a better American accent, than the Americans pull off an English one. With that said, it’s not that bad and shouldn’t be a distraction. You’ll be hanging off the cliff, anxious for the next episode. And the cavalcade of secrets…well, the skeletons need a bigger closet.

D² Rating ◼◼◼◩☐

Next on the Coben Netflix train is The Innocent; a Spanish-language series that premiered in April, 2021. An unintended killing leads a man on a dark path until he finds love. Of course, it’s too good to be true as his past comes back to haunt him.

Trivia ? – What is the name of the award-winning Harlan Coben 11-part series?

Answer: Myron Bolitar. There’s also a three-part Mickey Bolitar series.

Famous people getting into trouble and the “fixers” who get them out of it. Fixers from the political world of Veep (Mike McClintock, played by Matt Walsh) to the Hollywood of Entourage (Shawna Roberts, played by Debi Mazar) to the criminal violence of Ray Donovan (played by Liev Shreiber), fixers find themselves in comical dilemmas and life or death situations. The publicists of Flack go to extremes to protect the reputation of their clients. So extreme that you may have no sympathy for anybody.

Season 2 of Flack has recently been released on Amazon Prime Video. It stars Anna Paquin (The Piano, True Blood) as Robyn, the publicist who is unraveling before our eyes dealing with her entitled celebrities and personal demons. Anna Paquin is superb in portraying the train-wreck Robyn. You may even pity her despite her reckless behavior. You feel her pain. Caroline, the boss (Sophie Okonedo, Hotel Rwanda), is over-the-top and controls the lives of her employees. Eve, Robyn’s assistant, is fashionable, unapproachable, and has some of the best cutting lines on how she really feels. Melody, the naive young intern, is the one sympathetic character who wants to be in the game, but knows deep down that she’s not cut out for it.

This show was hard to stick with after the first few episodes. These “fixer” situations can be hilarious, but Flack pushes the limits on how far they go to fix things. Nothing is off limits no matter who might get destroyed in the process. Representing people who may be fabricating stories of sexual assault? Check. Faking a sex tape? Let’s do it. Having a famous footballer pretend he’s gay? Got a better idea? Concealing illegitimate children? It’s our only choice. And, the all too common covering up affairs. Of course.

Season 2 is more engaging and ramps up Robyn’s anguish and loss of direction in life. In the first season, while still dealing with her mother’s suicide, she slept with Eve’s boyfriend, told her boyfriend she wanted a child, but took birth control, and took lots of drugs. In the second season she takes more drugs. Some “cleaners” flush evidence down the toilet; Robyn snorts it up her nose. Responding immediately to her client’s messes anytime day or night under Caroline’s demands is taking a toll on her. Her sister, the one person Robyn can turn to, is not talking to her. Just when you think she’s hit rock bottom, the ending of the season takes Robyn down another notch. This seemed to be piling it on to me.

Robyn’s spiral makes her unable (or unwilling) to respond quickly to the never-ending constant tribulations of her clients. This allows the other characters to develop in season 2. Caroline, Eve, and Melody all have time away from the celebrity-world madness with their family, and in Caroline’s case former lovers (a welcome Sam Neill).

No matter how you cut it, Caroline and her team are enablers. They’ll do anything – never mind the collateral damage – to protect their client’s image. It’s comical, but so cynical. It would be dismissive if it wasn’t so close to reality these days where for many people life is content. If your every movement is documented for your followers, it’s going to be more and more difficult to avoid screwing up in the public eye. In fact, I see many job opportunities in the public relations field ahead. Despite my misgivings about the show, it definitely has its entertaining moments and at six episodes per season (about 45 minutes each) the show is not too much of a time commitment. I’m still rooting for Robyn and hope there’s a season 3 of Flack.

D² Rating ◼◼◼☐☐

Trivia ? – Anna Paquin is the second youngest person to receive an Oscar winning Best Supporting Actress at age 11 for The Piano in 1993. Who was the youngest?

Answer: Tatum O’Neal won the Best Supporting Actress Award at age 10 for Paper Moon in 1973.

The early trailers for Kevin Can F**k Himself were…interesting. A turn-off, yet enticing at the same time. Is it a show within a show, a mash-up, or a dark sitcom? The picture is a little more clear now that AMC has aired the first three episodes (the first four if you have AMC+), but much remains uncertain. How far will Allison McRoberts go to escape her miserable life with husband, Kevin? Try to change him? Ha, that’s a good one. Run away? Nowhere to go. Kill him? Hmm…

Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek) plays Allison. Let’s get this out of the way right now. She is the reason to watch Kevin Can F**k Himself. I’m sure many of us were curious to see her again in a new role after smiling along with Alexis and the Rose family for six seasons. She shines as Allison, the sitcom wife, and as Allison, the wife in a real-life nightmare. The former is lights, laughs, and silly humor – a slightly exaggerated multiple-camera setup of the classic American sitcom. It’s a satire of the sitcom, and as cringe-worthy as it is, it’s not that over the top. The lights are a little brighter, the laugh track a little louder, and the comedy a little more inane. Kevin (played by Eric Petersen) is one of the most annoying characters we’ve seen on TV. He’s a 40-year old teenager whose life revolves around beer, pranks, and Boston sports (Wade Boggs rookie card, Bill Belichick sweat shirt with the sleeves cut off, and Tom Brady look-alike contests). All this in cahoots with the doofus next-door neighbor, Neil. It’s no wonder she is seriously contemplating murder. (Remember, it’s a dark comedy.)

The second Kevin leaves the room, or Allison leaves the house, the show morphs into a drama – darker, serious, no laughs, and life’s struggles. The single-camera setup associated with prime time dramas and movies. Allison finds solace in Patty; the next-door neighbor and brother of Neil. Patty (Mary Hollis Inboden, The Real Oneals’) almost seems content with life in the frat house next door. She is wary of Allison’s friendship and has a secret life of her own. Allison might be about to divulge the evil thoughts that are keeping her up at night. It’s a stark contrast to the sitcom life with Kevin.

D² Rating ◼◼◼☐ ☐ (Kevin Can F**k Himself is on AMC Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m. (PST) (episodes are available to stream a week early on AMC+).

Trivia ? – Schitt’s Creek was the first TV show ever to do this at the 2020 Emmy Awards?

Answer: Win all four acting categories: Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress and Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress

The Serpent is the true story of Charles Sobhraj; a French serial killer who drugged, robbed, and killed numerous young travelers in South Asia in the 1970s. The victims were primarily Westerners with no more than a backpack on them (and lots of traveler’s checks) traveling through Bangkok on their way to Katmandu or other exotic locations; the so-called hippie trail. He stole their passports and identities to travel the world and sell stolen gems. A Dutch diplomat investigates the deaths of two of his countrymen and begins a life-defining mission as he discovers that are many more similar, suspicious deaths. The Serpent is a BBC production now airing on Netflix with 8 one-hour shows.

Tahar Rahim plays the lead role. At first, I wasn’t sure he was dynamic and charismatic enough to get all those young people so quickly under his spell. But it’s his calm, cool authority that comforts these travelers in a strange land thousands of miles from home. (I wasn’t familiar with him, but I plan to watch The Mauritanian with Jodie Foster soon for which he received a Golden Globe nomination.) Doctor Who fans will know Jenna Coleman who plays Charles’ girlfriend and accomplice. In her stylish clothes, shades, and French accent, she looks the perfect partner for a international gem dealer. The Dutch diplomat (Herman) and his wife (Angela), along with Charles’ right-hand man (Ajay) and neighbor (Nadine) all play compelling roles.

One aspect of the show must be discussed – the jumping back and forth in time and place frequently. Chyrons (the electronically generated captions we’ve all grown accustomed to) announce these changes for us. You will see immediately that this show overindulges in non-linear storytelling. It’s quite something to get used to as it jumps from “six months later” to “three months earlier” to “six months later” sometimes in quick succession. It appears that this trait alone ruined the show for many viewers. I would suggest sticking with it. As the suspense grows you get used to it. Here are some more good reasons to keep watching:

The Chase: The show picks up tension as Herman’s investigation gets deeper and other players enter the story, particularly neighbor Nadine and her brave evidence-gathering missions. The cat and mouse game between Herman, Charles, and the local authorities is tense.

The Sights: The series was filmed on location in Bangkok and Hua Hin, Thailand until March, 2020. The filming finished in England after a five-month shutdown due to COVID-19. You can feel the heat, sweat, bugs, and chaos of a tropical urban environment. The clothing and hair styles of the ’70s looks authentic and not costume-y.

The Sounds: The soundtrack by French musician Dominik Scherrer is a contemporary take on traditional Thai instruments. It sets the mood of the time and place. So do the rock and roll tunes: Joni Mitchell’s “Coyote,” Harry Nilsson’s “Jump into the Fire,” James Gang’s “Funk #49,” Rolling Stones’ “Fingerprint File” (perfectly edgy here), and the maybe too obvious, but still apropos, Bob Seger’s “Katmandu.”

The Story: This is a true story! You can’t make this stuff up. It’s tragic. It’s bizarre. It highlights the remarkable dedication of Herman. And it leaves us with many questions. How many people did Charles kill? 15? 20? What happened to Ajay? Why did Charles go back to Katmandu in 2003?

The End: Epilogues are always interesting to me. What happened to them, where are they now, and what did they really look like? This is a good finale as it confirms that we may never know the answer to many questions and highlights the interesting lives of key people. All set to the tune of the Stones’ “Moonlight Mile.”

D² Rating ◼◼◼◼☐

Trivia ? – Part of The Serpent takes place in this area of India known for its beaches.

Answer: Goa

For pop culture fans best-of lists are our bread and butter. We love them. We love it when when one of our favorites is highlighted as a “best” and find it hard to believe when our favs are left off the list or placed too low. Best-of lists are also good to discover something you’ve never heard of, or something that you are aware of, have heard great things about, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. This new list from Rolling Stone magazine will check all those boxes. The top 50 is available in the glossy print magazine while #51-60 is on their website. Here’s some that stood out to me…

• # 100 – Schitt’s Creek – Wow, right off the bat, a head-shaker for me. I know this is an all-time list, so maybe it’s not top 10 or 20, but 100? Night Court, Buffalo Bill, and Frankie’s Place are just below in the 90s. Seems like the Roses deserve better.
• # 90 – Big Bang Theory – Believe it or not, I’ve been catching up and watching this for the first time over the last year. Not bingeing, but watching an episode a couple nights a week. TBS runs the show all evening long a few times a week. It’s a perfect, light TV nightcap.
• # 84 – Modern Family – This was one of my favorites as far as a network sitcom goes. It holds the Emmy record with five consecutive Most Outstanding Comedy awards.
• # 69 – Flight of the Conchords – Funny Moment Flashback: Manager and Deputy Cultural Attache Murray calling roll at each meeting with only the two band members in attendance.
• # 66 – Get Smart – Funny Moment Flashback: Maxwell Smart and the Chief in the Cone of Silence
• # 61 – Catastrophe – This was a surprise to see on the list. Man goes to London on business trip, has a one-week stand, goes home, woman is pregnant, man goes back to London, marries her, and starts a family. Love, hate, sex, life, and vulgarity ensue.
• # 45 – Broad City – Abbi Jacobson Ilana Glazer trying to make it in New York based on their real-life friendship and they aren’t afraid to try anything.
• # 44 – Veep – Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the trash-talking VP and her staff of misfits would be higher on my list.
• # 42 – Brockmire – Hank Azaria as the washed-up baseball announcer had its highs and lows, but is a worthwhile journey with Brockmire from his raging alcohol and drug days, through sobriety, to being Commissioner of Baseball.
• # 39 – Blackish – Dre Johnson (Anthony Anderson) aims to keep black history and cultural ethos alive in his family as he navigates the suburban lifestyle. Good cast all around.
• # 38 – Friends – The reunion special set for HBO Max is filming as we speak.
• # 36 – Sex and the City – Same as above, except this reunion is a sequel series and will not include one of the original stars (Kim Cattrall).
• # 29 – It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – This is one I’ve never seen and it’s been on since 2005! It always shows up on lists like this, so I think I’m going to check it out, but 154 episodes and counting is a lot to commit to.
• #22 – South Park – This would be way higher on my list. Just looking at them still cracks me up. Whether it’s Cartman assuming his “Au-thor-a-tay” as hall monitor, showing up at Butters’ house as Awesome-o, the cardboard box robot, or going to extremes to attend Casa Bonita, after 24 seasons it’s just as timely, hilarious, and offensive as ever.
• # 21 – Fleabag – Talk about sweeping awards. Phoebe-Waller Bridges seemed embarrassed after accepting her 10th award for this show.
• # 20 – BoJack Horseman – I need to see what all the fuss is about with this one. I haven’t watched it.
• # 15 – Arrested Development – I’m finally just watching this now on Netflix. I’m on season 2 which puts me in 2004. The show has held up well over time. The entire Bluth family has me laughing.
• # 12 – Curb Your Enthusiasm – One of my all-time favorites. Larry David arriving into a social encounter of any kind, at any place is a cringeworthy hoot waiting to happen.
• Now the Top 10 to speak for themselves
• #10 – The Larry Sanders Show
• # 9 – Parks and Recreation
• # 8 – The Honeymooners
• # 7 – Mary Tyler Moore Show
• # 6 – Mash
• # 5 – All in the Family
• # 4 – I Love Lucy
• # 3 – Seinfeld
• # 2 – Cheers
• # 1 – The Simpsons – As Rolling Stone says, “there is no other choice.” “D’oh!”

Trivia ? – How and when did The Simpsons get its start on TV?

Answer: As a series of animated short sketches on The Tracy Ullman Show in 1987 prior to its debut on Fox in December, 1989.

Lupin is the most watched Netflix show in many countries of the world, including the U.S. Many people in the States are unfamiliar with the tales of Lupin; I know I was. In France, however, the fictional character Arsene Lupin is a Sherlock Holmes-like popular figure created in 1905 by Maurice Leblanc with 17 novels and 39 stories to his credit. The character has been brought to life in lots of productions on the big and little screens (including a Hollywood take in 1932 with John and Lionel Barrymore).

Omar Sy (Intouchables) plays Assane Diop, an immigrant from Senegal who is out to avenge the death of his father. It’s 25 years after that fateful event and Assane becomes inspired by a Lupin book his Dad had given him on his birthday as a child. He becomes the honorable thief as depicted in Lupin’s stories and takes on aliases based on anagrams of the name Arsene Lupin. There’s an element of Robin Hood here as he steals from the very wealthy and morally questionable, all part of the overall plan to make the man who was responsible for his father’s death pay. The show also has a James Bond flavor at times, however, Omar’s heists are decidedly low-tech and he is a family man, or at least tries to be. His ex-wife and son are a big part of his life (and yes, once again, we have a main character so caught up in their mission that he misses family occasions).

This is Assane’s show. You marvel at his charm. He’s a master of disguise and deceit sometimes vanishing in plain sight like when he becomes a janitor to gain entry into a facility. His ploy of delivering food on his bike is hilarious and the ultimate example of his trickery. No guns or violence, just outsmarting his pursuers. His confidence knows no bounds, such as breaking into the Louvre to steal a treasured item or getting himself intentionally into jail while never worrying about the getting back out part.

This is not your dark and gritty revenge thriller. It’s slick, shiny, and lighthearted. Almost comical at times in a good way. Some of the dialog and situations he finds himself in, and gets out of, are eye-rolling. Sometimes that would bother me more, but I could overlook it this time due to the show’s fun patina and charismatic swindler. The show doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Netflix automatically runs Lupin in English, so switch to French with English subtitles. The dub sounds lame, particularly with Omar, and hey, the show is French, about a beloved French literary character, and filmed in beautiful “par EE.” It’s a two-part series with five 45-minute episodes each. Part One is available now with Part Two available this summer. The cliffhanger ending of the first part is a great setup.

D² Rating ◼◼◼◩☐

Trivia ? – Omar Sy will reprise his role as Barry next year in the second part of this movie trilogy?

Answer: Jurassic World

This is a first take post on the premier episode of HBO’s new Sunday night drama, Mare of Easttown. Kate Winslet (Titanic, Sense and Sensibility) plays a small-town detective. It’s clear from the first episode that her “complicated” personal life will pose additional challenges, particularly under the small-town lens where everybody knows everybody.

The limited series (7 episodes) was created by Brad Ingelsby (The Way Back) set in a fictionalized version of Easttown, PA where he was born. Other key cast members introduced in the debut are Kate’s friend played by Julianne Nicholson (August: Osage County, Law & Order), mother played by Jean Smart (Fargo, Legion), and love interest Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce, Memento).

Mare investigates small crimes, such as prowlers and robberies, as well as an unsolved murder. The end of the episode reveals that another major crime has been committed. Her Mom lives with her, and she has a daughter, and grandson. Some holes in the family tree need to be filled in. She’s divorced and her ex-husband has found new love. Richard (Guy Pearce) approaches her at the bar while she’s at a high school reunion and he hears the old “it’s complicated” line. As she vapes and drinks Rolling Rock, she seems lost – lost in the town, job, and life. As Pearl Jam says, “small town predicts my fate.”

So, an interesting set up, but pretty standard fare out of the gate. How many times have we seen the story of a cop with a messy personal life? Several things give me hope that this could turn out to be a worthwhile series, however. First, it’s a HBO Sunday night drama. The pedigree of The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wire, Boardwalk Empire, Six Feet Under, and many, many more leads me to check it out. Also, it’s cool to see Kate Winslet on TV. While it’s not her first such role (she did star in HBO’s limited series Mildred Pierce), her filmography is dominated by movies. Lastly, there’s enough here to continue watching and see what happens. There’s more to learn about Mare and her family. We need to find out more about the characters, such as young mother Erin, and how they all fit within the tapestry of Easttown. After the conclusion of the series, I’ll revisit this and compare notes with my first impression.

D² Rating ◼◼◼☐☐

Trivia ? – For what movie did Kate Winslet win her only Oscar (Best Actress)?

Answer: The Reader

A doctor runs a medical clinic in the bowels of the London subway system (at Temple station) to find a cure for his terminally ill wife, Beth. To keep the operation afloat he takes on criminals or others who need medical attention and don’t want to go through the established medical system. Temple is based on the Norwegian series Valkyrien, starting as a Sky One production in the U.K., and in the States, it’s a Spectrum Original series. A second season is in the works.

The series stars Mark Strong (Kingsman movies, Imitation Game) as Daniel Milton. Assisting Daniel is Anna Willems (Dutch actress, Carice van Houten), a medical researcher and friend of Beth’s. The third main character is Lee Simmons (Daniel Mays, 1917), a transportation worker who is a coordinator of sorts for the clinic.

In addition to the medical proceedings, there is a criminal element to Temple. Daniel’s first patient, Jamie, is shot by the Police after a busted robbery attempt, his mates are captured, he escapes with the money, and before long a sordid couple is seeking revenge and the cash from Jamie.

It all makes for a twisted affair. The setting in the subway caverns is dark and moody. Daniel’s actions to save his wife are shocking, extreme, and over the top. Some may think it’s too much. For me, I suspended my belief and went along for the ride. The ambiance of the clinic, the characters, and the WHOA moments all make for an enjoyable, quirky show.

D² Rating ◼◼◼◩☐

Trivia ? – Carice van Houten earned international acclaim for her role as Melisandre in what drama series?

Answer: Game of Thrones (her character became known as the Red Lady).

Bosch is indeed another L.A. cop show, but don’t let that stop you. With six seasons on Amazon Prime on the books and a seventh and final season due in 2021 now’s the time to check this series out if you haven’t already.

Titus Welliver (Lost, Deadwood, Sons of Anarchy) plays Harry Hieronymous Bosch. I didn’t regularly watch any of his previous shows, but he is a recognizable actor from many roles in TV and film. He shows here that he can carry the lead role in a series now going on 70 episodes. He is a tireless homicide police detective; a little gruff on the surface and relentless in pursuing and catching the bad guys. Bosch has a lot of life to carry around; a prostitute for a mother, an upbringing in orphanages and foster homes, a cop girlfriend (Annie Wersching, 24), an ex-wife (Sarah Clarke, the classic Nina from 24), and a daughter (Madison Linz, whose plays namesake daughter Maddie).

As good as Titus Welliver is, the show really comes together with the outstanding supporting cast. Among the many standouts are Jamie Hector (The Wire) who plays Bosch’s partner, Jerry Edgar, or “J” Edgar and the always formidable Lance Reddick (The Wire, Fringe) as Chief of Police and L.A. mayoral candidate. The veteran actress Amy Aquino (Picket Fences, ER) is Bosch’s direct supervisor, Lt. Grace Billets, who is challenged by his sometimes renegade tactics, but always has his back nevertheless. Bosch’s daughter (Madison Linz playing namesake Maddie) has it together. She’s smart, not prone to teenage drama, hasn’t let the divorce mess her up too much, and loves her Dad despite being let down on a regular basis. How many times have we seen this on TV… the work consumed Mom or Dad promises to attend one of the children’s school events and gets tied up late at work. Maddie puts up with a lot of that (and sometimes doesn’t). Lastly, there are a couple of cops on the team named Crate and Barrel. Gotta love it.

The show does the city of Los Angeles proud. The series is based on the Michael Connelly novels and the author’s past as a L.A. Times crime reporter shines through in the authentic portrayal of the city. The show weaves through the city’s suburbs, inner city, Hollywood, and the beach. You feel that L.A. searing sunshine and the constant traffic. The show is not reliant on the usual L.A. iconic landmarks, but season 4 incorporates the historic funicular, Angels Flight, as a key location in the crime (as does HBO’s Perry Mason).

Bosch’s house deserves a special mention. It’s insane! It’s in the Hollywood Hills with spectacular views of L.A. courtesy of an acrobatic form of architecture that hangs on stilts way down the hillside. You can’t look at it from below without some form of trepidation. Befitting Harry’s profession and style, it’s a small, simple two-bedroom.

Each season focuses on one case while taking side trips through Bosch’s personal life. The show is genuine and human as it focuses on Bosch, other character development, and the City of L.A. There’s no nudity, gratuitous violence, or nasty hip hop. Before you know it, you’re groovin’ to jazz along with Harry as he spins his cherished vinyl collection up at the hillside nest during rare downtimes (his dog’s name is Coltrane). The show will take you in, and if you grew up in L.A. like me, consider yourself hooked. If you’re all caught up, enjoy the final season.

This just in…Amazon Prime Video in conjunction with its streaming service IMDb TV have announced a Bosch spinoff featuring Titus Welliver, Madison Linz, and Mimi Rogers reprising her recurring role as defense lawyer, Molly Chandler. It seems likely the show will start airing next year.

D² Rating ◼◼◼◼ ☐

Trivia ? – In what show did Madison Linz play a tween named Sophie:

Answer: The Walking Dead