Doctor Who
The shining moment of the season two opener is Varada Sethu as new companion Belinda. She’s a great choice for a new companion, someone who calls The Doctor out on the danger he poses to the companions but is having a great time with him in the first episode. Spending the first episode of the new season focusing on Belinda is a great choice and she’s written in a way that makes you relate and root for her right off the bat .
The Handmaid’s Tale
The final season of The Handmaid's Tale is filled with confusing, inconsistent and rushed character arcs that highlights the pacing issues within the season, more so with the first five episodes. June and Serena Joy feel like they have overstayed their welcome while more dynamic characters are pushed to the sidelines.
The Bondsman
Bounty hunter Hub Halloran (Kevin Bacon) comes back from the dead, resurrected with the instruction to track, trap and send escaped demons back to Hell otherwise he returns to the torturous fate. It’s a fun series with unique demon kills that never gets tired. In the eight-episode run there is never a dull moment. It's action packed, fun, gory and has heart with the potential to be another great series for Amazon if they renew. All characters are well developed and fun to watch but it is Kevin Bacon who brings more layers to Hub and delivers the cliffhanger of the series.
Mid-Century Modern
Without Matt Bomer’s natural charm and charisma, Mid-Century Modern would be a loud, tired stereotype. There are some moments where the show makes some natural attempt at humour, but it fails to land especially when delivered and helmed by Nathan Lane. There’s no variety to the performance, if you’ve seen Lane in one thing then the same character will be in every scene with little to no difference. Linda Lavin is a great addition that lifts the show up with her quick wit and delivery and is a joy to watch with Nathan Lee Graham but the series feels like it drags on too long even with the short run of 10 episodes
Deli Boys
Deli Boys is an instant favourite that is a close to perfect comedy with a bit of everything and a great cast that have exceptional comedy chemistry. The violence and comedy work together perfectly and used to elevate each other in some perfectly funny moments that so many sitcoms fail to do. It’s a great watch that easily brings you into the chaos with every character providing moments of humour thanks to the excellent cast and writing. Its original yet have moments of familiarity to ground the series in its more outrageous moments. Abdullah Saeed has created a great series that everyone will love. There are a few cameo appearances that, although brief, bring different styles of comedy and personality that make the show bigger and better.
Running Point
Running Point does everything right, a great cast, writing team and a plot that combines for an enjoyable watch. The sibling relationships and banter is a great part of the series with each of them having their own chaos and unique comedy stylings. It is fun and an easy watch but highly entertaining.
Clean Slate
Clean Slate is an easy watch with its light-hearted and accepting undertone mixed with the over-dramatic antics of the residents of Mobile, Alabama. Laverne Cox perfectly carries the glamours and over the top Desiree with extravagant moments of exaggerated comedy that fit her and the plot well, but the best moments come from Laverne Cox and George Wallace who, by contrast, is much more grounded and grumpier. It’s a classic combination that works well for comedy duos but updated with themes of self-discovery and change that make Clean Slate an easy comforting watch. The only thing letting the series down is the short eight episode count and twenty-minute runtime, more episodes would allow for the comedy to thrive more and make the series more memorable.
Paradise
Paradise tries to capture the cost of one’s choices, as well as the age-old question of what it good for humanity, but as it tries to juggle a lot of plots and some flashbacks that feel unnecessary, it struggles to find its identity. There are times when the show shines for its emotional performances, but these characters are lost in the bigger picture of Xavier Collins and his own goals.
American Primeval
American Primeval is visually appealing but has too many storylines simultaneously. The convoluted storylines could have offered rich, complex stories with a visually beautiful backdrop, with excellent performance across the board, but American Primeval’s focus lacks the depth in comparison to the rest of the ensemble.
Mayfair Witches: Season 2
Mayfair Witches fails to delve into anything interesting and quickly moves past anything compelling. There’s no focus or cohesive plot with characters that offer nothing to the story despite being leads. Ted Levine and Alyssa Jirrels are the best part of the series but a lack of energy from the rest of it makes for a dull second season. The season is at its best when it starts to go into the horror aspect, but it never commits to anything and results in a skippable mess.