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  • Firefly Lane – Netflix Adapts the Kristin Hannah Book…or Does it?

    I was going to wait on this until season 2 of Firefly Lane airs, but that’s going to be some time (and Netflix has not officially renewed it yet, so who knows). Since this review focuses on the Netflix series and the differences between it and the book it is based on by Kristin Hannah, it is one big SPOILER. Let’s start with the most significant changes:

    1. Kate and Johnny get Divorced. Wait, what?! In the book they stay together through life which includes Johnny’s earlier love for Tully, three children, Johnny’s perilous overseas journalism duties, and Kate’s illness (not covered in season 1). I found their love and commitment kind of inspiring, so this major twist to the story was disappointing and dumbfounding.
    2. Tully gets Pregnant and Married. You Got to Be Kidding?! In the book, Tully is decidedly not the getting married or pregnant type. She’s fixated on becoming the next Queen of TV newscasters at all all costs. When she becomes that, she’s a famous star who travels in high society. Settling down is not in her plans. She does express some longing for Kate’s family lifestyle, but it is just not her. She hooks up with an EMT (Max, played by Jon-Michael Ecker) and instead of being just another fling she becomes pregnant and they decide to get married. Tully miscarries and the relationship ends soon after. Tully reaches out to Max to get back together. Mercifully, for all of us, Max holds firm and declines by saying the all so obvious, “no, we live in different worlds.”
    3. Kate does not Have Twins. Again, I don’t get it. The book chronicles how overwhelmed Kate becomes when the twins are little (the show does include the older daughter). She’s trying to do it all – the twins, the increasingly alienated tween/teen, husband, involvement in the children’s school, and her own career in journalism. Leaving out the twins takes away from Kate’s full story.
    4. Kate’s Mom has an Affair. Why change this story line? In the book, Kate’s Mom’s life is filled with her daughter and son, grandchild, husband, and a close relationship with Tully. She has a loving relationship with her husband. Yet, in the show, she has another man in her life along with the secrecy and lying that that entails. Another confounding plot switch. (Seeing Kate’s Mom on the screen the first time was one of those moments we all have watching TV (or movies), “where do I know her from”? In this case for me, it’s the actress (Chelah Horsdal) who played the memorable wife of the Reichsfuhrer in The Man in the High Castle.)
    5. Kate’s Brother has a Bigger Role. Kate’s brother is hardly in the book. In the Netflix show, he gets a full storyline from having a romantic relationship with a boy, to marrying a woman and having children, coming out later in life, and ending his marriage. The challenges of coming out (this is the 1970s) are an important story, but again, using the book as the baseline, this character wasn’t part of Kate and Tully’s world and doesn’t add to it in the adaptation.
    6. Tully Welcomes her Mom Back. Tully’s Mom, the aptly named Cloud (played by Beau Garrett) is a hippie, druggie train wreck. Worst Mom Ever. Tully tries to re-engage with her several times over the years to no avail. Cloud continues to take her daughter’s money and run away leaving Tully alone time after time. This is their fate. Yet, in the TV series, Cloud is welcomed back to the dinner table and re-joins the family. Ugh.
    7. Johnny is Australian. In the book, Johnny is American. We’ve all seen how well Australian actors can do American accents (Kidman, Crowe, Blanchett, and many more), but here actor Aussie actor Ben Lawson (Designated Survivor) gets to keep his native accent.

    As far as the casting goes, I never warmed up to Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) as Tully. Right off the bat, I was thrown by an actress I have in my mind as blonde, playing the brunette Tully (her hair is dyed). I couldn’t really buy her as the vibrant, take no prisoners, command the room, Tully. The girls playing the young Kate and Tully (Roan Curtis and Allissa Skovbye, respectfully) are a hoot and heartwarming as teens in the ’70s. Sarah Chalke (Scrubs) as the adult Kate was the highlight of the show for me by bringing to life the many sides of Kate lurking under her timid public persona. She’s socially awkward and cautious, and yet knows what she wants, is super smart, goofy, even wild and crazy sometimes, and the best best friend.

    I understand that taking some liberties with a book is a right of the Hollywood process but the changes here fundamentally undermine the story of the book. If I was watching the show with a clean slate and not the book in mind, I still don’t think I’d like it that much. For one thing, it jumps around A LOT, whereas the book is chronological (hey, one more to the list, #8). I’m so curious what Kristin Hannah thinks of her book’s adaptation. She was involved in the production so I’m assuming she approved of the rendition, or at least most of it.

    Up next for Kristin Hannah is the big screen adaptation of her powerful Nightingale; another sister story this time set in Nazi-occupied France during WWII. The daily terror of living under the Nazis is gut wrenching, including the harrowing experience of one sister’s ordeal of being forced to take a SS General into her home. Melanie Laurent is the film director and the Fanning sisters are set for the main roles. Let’s hope that the historic setting and horror of WWII prevents the film makers from re-writing the source material. Nightingale is in pre-production and expected for release in late 2022.

    D² Rating ◼◼☐☐☐

    Trivia ? – Katherine Heigl starred in what sci-fi drama about teen aliens living in a small town?

    Answer: Roswell

  • The Last Vermeer Review: Art and Deception in the Aftermath of WWII

    The Last Vermeer is yet another example of a remarkable relatively unknown true story. It’s set on the heels of VE Day, May 1945, in the Netherlands. The film is based on the book The Man Who Made Vermeers by Jonathan Lopez and directed by first-time director, Dan Friedkin.

    We first meet Joseph Piller (Claes Bang, The Square), a Dutch resistance fighter, who is looking into who sold a painting by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer to Nazi kingpin Herman Goering for 1.6 million guilders. He soon suspects flamboyant painter, Hans van Meegeren (Guy Pearce, The King’s Speech, The Hurt Locker) and puts him in confinement to uncover the truth. As more information comes to light, especially from the persuasive and captivating prisoner, Piller switches from accusing Hans of profiting from the enemy to believing his story. Could he really be an incredible forger who was not collaborating with the Nazis, but swindling them out of millions?

    Several of the other characters are not fully realized. There is the standard interjurisdictional squabble with the Dutch head cop looking like the bad guy in a James Bond movie. Piller’s assistant, Minna (Vicky Krieps) is part loyal assistant, part love interest, neither of which adds to the story. The same might be said for his estranged wife, Leez (Marie Bach Hansen), however her social engagements with the Nazis highlights the torment people experienced under Nazi occupation. The need to cooperate somewhat with the enemy in order to survive while still being able to live with yourself afterwards. There are other examples of this in the movie. Might the dashing counterfeiter have been a little more comfortable with the Nazis than he let on?

    The transition underway in post-war Europe is not overlooked in telling the story. The lavish Nazi parties, the little girl standing on a pile of rubble, and the public executions of traitors all portray the hardships and anxiety of surviving the Second World War. These depictions provide a vivid and powerful backdrop.

    The film culminates in the trial with a big reveal immediately after it ends. Hans preens and jokes, taking control of the courtroom, his curly mustache rising and falling along with the emotions of his story. It’s all a bit much, but entertaining in an exaggerated kind of way.

    I had not read the book or known anything about Johannes Vermeer. With that clean slate, I liked the movie and became familiar with yet another of the endless sagas that emanate from WWII.

    D² Rating ◼◼◼☐☐

    Trivia ? – In what Limited TV Series did Guy Pearce win the Best Supporting Actor Emmy in 2011?

    Answer: Mildred Pierce

  • Temple Review: You’ll Never Guess What Goes On Underground in the London Tube

    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).

  • Rock N’ Roll in the 2020s (cont.)- Wolf Parade and Pearl Jam

    As another Grammy Awards show has come and gone with nary a rock band anywhere to be found (although, hey, A Hero’s Death, by Fontaines D.C. highlighted in my first Rn’R in the 2020s post, got nominated for Best Rock Album), here’s a couple more rockin’ albums for you to consider in 2021.

    First up, Wolf Parade’s Thin Mind. I had heard of these guys and one of my friends really likes them, but had never really listened to them but for a few songs on the radio. I’ll have to admit that the album cover caught my eye first in the local record store. Comic book artists Simon Roy and Hayleyglyphs designed the album artwork. It’s colorful and cool with peasant warriors, treehouse dwellings, and aliens?

    Wolf Parade formed in Montreal in 2003 and also has roots in Vancouver B.C. Thin Mind, on the Sub Pop label, is the band’s fifth album coming after 2017’s Cry, Cry, Cry. They’re a trio now (former guitarist Dante De Caro does not play on the current effort) – Spencer Krug (vocals, keyboards), Dan Boeckner (vocals, guitar), and Arlen Thompson (drums). Current and former band members have been in other groups, notably Handsome Furs and Hot Hot Heat.

    The album starts with the rocker “Under Glass.” “Julia Take Your Man Home” shows that this guitar band can slow it down a little and incorporate some synths that add to the sound texture. “Forest Green” is another driving force with energetic guitar and keyboards. “Out of Control” contains my favorite line of the album, “take a rocket to that planet that they changed their minds about”. “Static Age” and the closer “Town Square” both take you to a moving cresendo. Since I’m a sucker for that tubular synth sound, my favorite song is “Against the Day.” Take a listen:

    I can’t help compare Thin Mind to the Districts’ You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere (see previous Music post). Wolf Parade’s album is a solid rocker by a guitar band that expands its sound with synths and other instrumentation. The vocals are strong with Krug and Boeckner both contributing equally throughout the album and together on “Against the Day.” The lyrics are thought provoking with a theme represented by the album’s title that the overwhelming amount of information in our society is giving us all a ‘thin mind.” It’s a consistent album with no weak songs, but also no real standout track. The more I listen to it, I discover a new nugget or two, so my feelings toward the album may grow over time.

    D² Rating ◼◼◼☐☐

    Instead of focusing on newer bands that I was not that familiar with, let’s go to Pearl Jam’s Gigaton. From 1991’s epic debut Ten, Pearl Jam has been at the top of the rock n’ roll world and for 30 years now of consistency still deserves that mantle. I have their complete collection of studio releases and have been fortunate to see them two times in concert. I enjoy most of their entire catalog, never fully embracing No Code or Binaural, although No Code’s “Present Tense” is a beautiful song. Gigaton holds its own against their other records and comes out ahead of recent releases Lightning Bolt and Backspacer.

    Gigaton starts off with rockers and ends with the mellower numbers. First up is “Who Ever Said”, a classic Pearl Jam number with the rousing chorus of “whoever said its all been said gave up on satisfaction.” “Superblood Wolfmoon” adds some keys to the Mike McCready’s guitar providing a surprising, fresh, and stompy melody. “Quick Escape” and the blistering “Never Destination” fit right in the Pearl Jam wheelhouse with Eddie Vedder’s vocals keeping pace with the dual guitars storm. Take a listen to “Whoever Said” here:

    “Dance of the Clairvoyants” is the song on the album that got people talking. It was the first single released and came with a different, unexpected sound. Lots of comments called it disco. While I can never put disco and Pearl Jam in the same sentence, the song does contain an electronic beat that is unusual for the band. To me, it’s not that wild a departure and the experimentation with keyboards and drum programs is still true to the Pearl Jam sound.

    The mellow songs are excellent, from the swirly keys and enchanting vocals of “Seven O’Clock”, to the solo acoustic “Comes then Goes”, to the moving vocals and keys on Retrograde.” The closer “River Cross” is one of those Eddie Vedder moments that gives you chills along the lines of the “I seem to recognize your face” intro of “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.” (Another one of those moments for me was Sonic Youth opening for Pearl Jam at the Santa Barbara Bowl on July 13, 2006. Eddie came out to introduce Sonic Youth and serenaded us with “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” with its opening line “here I stand head in hand.”)

    This time it’s Eddie on the organ and the opening line of “I always thought I’d cross that river.” This song was the highlight for me of Lady Gaga’s Global Citizens One World Together at Home Concert in April, 2020 (although the Zoom quadrant Rolling Stones with Charlie Watts on air drums doing “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” was pretty cool, too). Here’s that video:

    Gigaton is a group effort; all band members contribute writing and/or words along with their musicianship. It’s a good mix of rockers and some fine slower numbers. Let’s hope we can get through this damn pandemic and return to large scale concerts. These new songs in Pearl Jam’s dynamic hands calls for a celebratory show. And maybe we’ll get “Black”, “Corduroy”, and “In Hiding”, too.

    D² Rating ◼◼◼◩ ☐

    Trivia ? – What was the band’s first name before choosing Pearl Jam as their moniker?

    Mookie Blaylock, in honor of the NBA player at the time

  • Rock N’ Roll in the 2020s? – Try The Districts and Fontaines D.C.

    Rolling Stone Song of the Year 2020: “WAP” by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion. RS Album of the Year 2020: Folklore by Taylor Swift. Both lists contain Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Korean boy band BTS.

    How about a longer look back? RS song of the 2010s decade: Robyn, “Dancing on My Own,” followed by Kendrick Lamar, Adele, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift. RS Album of the Decade: Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, followed by Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, and thank you, #5 David Bowie Blackstar.

    If you want another beacon for rock, compare the classic and alternative rock dominated Coachella line-ups of the early 2000s and the more recent hip-hop, R&B, and pop acts at the California desert festival.

    So, what’s a rocker to do in the 2020s? Well, there are some bands – both new and old – that still play guitar and bring that rock n’ roll rhythm and spirit.

    I’ll focus this post on recent releases by Fontaines D.C and The Districts. First, The Districts and their 2020 release, You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere. High School friends formed the band in 2009 in Pennsylvania. After several EPs and full-lengths, this new release is their fourth. This album is my first introduction to the band after hearing the single “Cheap Regrets” on Sirius XMU radio. It was one of those songs that immediately got me going, and indeed, after giving the album a few listens is still my favorite. It’s a very catchy song (in a good way). They’re a guitar band, but broaden the sounds with synths, mellotron, and a little sax and violin. The album opens and closes mellow with “My Only Ghost” and “4th of July,” respectively. In between, are some swirling, rousing songs (“Hey Jo” and “Changing”), as well as the rollicking “Sidecar.”

    You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere is a good introduction to The Districts and should be a worthy addition to their body of work. It’s not exciting necessarily, but more of a solid rock album with vocals by Rob Grote that sound like an older soul than his 25 years, driving guitar, varied song pace, and a variety of instrumentation.

    D² Rating ◼◼◼ ☐ ☐

    And, it’s always nice when an album has at least one great tune and this one has “Cheap Regrets.” Take a listen to it:

    My first exposure to A Hero’s Death by the Fontaines D.C. was also thanks to Sirius XMU radio. I had heard of them, but “Televised Mind” was the first song I really listened to. Fontaines D.C. formed in Dublin, Ireland in 2017 and A Hero’s Death is their second album. It starts of with “I Don’t Belong” and “Love is the Main Thing” and the repetitive nature of their songs is immediately apparent. “Televised Mind” is the third song and again chants the song title over and over, this time in a more upbeat rhythm. Sometimes repeating the song title numerous times is annoying to me and seems like a lazy way to avoid writing more lyrics. But not this time. The Dublin accent of lead singer, Grian Chatten is hypnotic and in conjunction with the guitar creates an ominous listening experience. The title song is the standout and this time the mantra is “life ain’t always empty,” and reminds us to “tell your mother you love her and go out of your way for others.”

    A Hero’s Death grabs a hold of you and puts you in its trance. I’m not sure there really is such a thing as the sophomore slump, but if there is, this is not it. It’s a statement from a band who continues to define and expand its sound in a unique way.

    D² Rating ◼◼◼ ◩ ☐

    Trivia ? – Where did the band name Fontaines, D.C come from?

    Answer: A character in The Godfather, Johnny Fontane. The band was originally the Fontaines, but added the D.C for Dublin City to differentiate themselves from another group of the same name.

    Next Up: Look for an upcoming post on Wolf Parade and the new Pearl Jam as our search for rock in the 2020s continues…

  • Where the Crawdads Sing Review

    Marsh Girl, Feather Boy, High School Jock, and the coastal marshes of North Carolina. Those are the four main characters of Where the Crawdads Sing. I’m behind the times on this one as it’s been setting records on the New York Times bestseller list for some time now. Many people have loved reading this book and now I’m a member of the club.

    Delia Owens is an African wildlife expert and remarkably a first-time novelist. Where the Crawdads Sing is the story of Kya, aka the Marsh Girl, whose entire family abandons her leaving her alone in a run down shack to fend for herself. Her mother leaves her when she’s six, then her brothers, and when she’s ten, her father. She spends the rest of her life – 50+ years – in the marsh. She is the marsh and the marsh is her. She eventually becomes a well respected author and expert on the flora and fauna of the area.

    The heart and soul of the book is this relationship between Kya and the marsh. I remember a couple times in my life being bogged down by detailed descriptions of nature (was anyone with me as I slogged through Walden in college?). In this book, however, the marsh is the essence of the story and you are welcomed into its world of light, water, grasses, and gulls. When one gets really deep into the marshland, you are said to be where the crawdads sing. This is Kya’s territory.

    Where the Crawdads Sing also brings crime and love into the marsh; Kya’s involvement in the death of the High School Jock, Chase Andrews, and her relationship with childhood friend, Tate Walker, Feather Boy. Timelines collide between Kya’s solitude and isolation in the marsh and the discovery of Chase Andrews’ body at the base of the local water tower. I’ll admit that being taken into a courtroom drama while enthralled with Kya’s life in the marsh was a letdown at first. Kya’s involvement in Chad’s death, however, is suspenseful and keeps you guessing until the very end of the story.

    The author’s lyrical description of the marsh and of Kya’s feral upbringing within it are the beauty of this story. Reading the book is well worth it just for this. I suppose the whodunit part of Kya’s life does add another interesting element to the story, particularly if a movie is in the offing.

    Indeed, a film is currently in development under Reese Witherspoon Productions with lead actress (Daisy Edgar-Jones, Normal People) and other key roles already named. I liked Wild, Big Little Lies, Gone Girl and others that Reese has been a key part of, so I hope the author’s ideas are listened to and much care is taken to depict Kya’s lifetime in the marsh.

    D² Rating ◼◼◼◼ ☐

    Trivia ? – What landmark book of the environmental movement, authored by Aldo Leopold, contains a chapter called “Marsh Elegy.”

    Answer: Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There

  • First Cow Review

    First Cow takes place in the 1820s in the Pacific Northwest. Directed by Kelly Reichardt (“Certain Women”) it’s a slow moving film with subdued scenery that will not capture the attention of everyone. (It’s an indie film; in my local parlance a “Palm Theater” movie.) It has two things going for it: a tale of friendship, and yes, the cow.

    “Cookie” (John Magaro, Orange is the New Black) is the cook for a band of fur trappers. While out on the trail, he finds King-Lu (Orion Lee), a Chinese immigrant naked in the bushes on the run. After being clothed and fed by Cookie, King-Lu takes off down the river. The pair are re-united at a village bar and join forces. Join forces for what is unclear at first, as the two are from different worlds and cautious of strangers. They soon come to trust each other and realize together they can have twice as good a chance at surviving their world. They share a shack and food, as well as hopes and dreams of the future.

    The men learn of a dairy cow in the area; a big deal since it’s the only one for miles around. Cookie had once worked in a bakery and shares his dream with King-Lu of one day owning one in San Francisco. He says he could use the cow’s milk to make baked goods. They go out at night and milk the cow with Cookie performing that task and King-Lu keeping watch from up in a tree. They take the first batch of oily cake biscuits to town and start selling them on the street. It’s immediately apparent that the biscuits are a mouth-watering hit. While Cookie thinks the biscuits could be better, King-Lu knows that they are best tasting treats the locals have probably ever experienced. More trips to the cow result in people lining the street and the budding entrepreneurs running out of product every time. Alas, as in many a good caper, the old “let’s do it one more time” is one too many. The gig is up.

    The audio part of the movie is mostly two-fold: music by American musician, William Tyler and the sounds of nature. Tyler’s sparse, delicate acoustic guitar, mandolin and banjo are the perfect complement for the time period and deliberate pacing of the movie. Secondly, this is the first Kelly Reichardt movie I’ve seen, but from reviews of her earlier work she is known for incorporating the natural language into her stories. This movie is no exception. The birds! Really, as the pair tramp through the woods you become immersed and surrounded by the squawks and tweets of the forest.

    First Cow is a story of an unlikely friendship and the cow-inspired dilemma engulfing them. This central part of the story is the most engaging. The end left me wanting somewhat, though I don’t always have to have everything wrapped up nice and neat (I liked the ending of The Sopranos.) In this case, it’s not so much what happened, but how they got there that was left open.

    D² Rating ◼◼◼ ☐☐

    Trivia ? – What Canadian actor starred in the title role of of Meek’s Cutoff, another film directed by Kelly Reichardt, also set in Oregon in the 1800s?

    Answer: Bruce Greenwood

  • Another L.A. Cop Show?! Bosch Review

    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