Christmas is here!!!

Snug as bugs in a rug, our little family is tucked away in the sleepy village of Thornbury where we have been experiencing blizzard conditions for the last couple of days. Unfortunately, the road conditions have been so terrible that our daughter-in-law’s parents were unable to join us. In the meantime’s the stockings are hung, the presents are under the tree, and we opened our Christmas Eve gifts before bedtime last night, so we will all be wearing our black and red buffalo check pj’s when we gather around the tree later this morning. It’s baby Ethan’s first Christmas and I can’t wait to see his eyes light up when he opens his new toys!!! Anyhow, in the meantime here are some viewing suggestions for you:

CBCGem

My Salinger Year (1 h 41 m) a college grad takes a clerical job working for the literary agent of the renowned, reclusive writer J.D. Salinger. Stars Margaret Qualley, Sigourney Weaver, Douglas Booth, Brian F. O’Byrne. I snoozed through much of this, so if it’s a nap you’re after, give it a try. I love the subject matter. PS, Margaret Qualley is Andie MacDowell’s daughter and will be a big star some day.

Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas (43 m) In searching for family appropriate viewing, we had a look at this musical stop-motion adaptation of the well-known movie, Elf starring Will Ferrell. A human raised in the north pole, goes to NYC to find his family. Stay with the Will Ferrell version. Even though this features the voices of Jim Parsons, Mark Hamill, Gilbert Gottfried, Jay Leno, Fred Armisen, Matt Lauer, Edward Asner, etc. It’s a bit painful to watch.

WIA (from BBC, 15 episodes) I had only seen the first season of this which focuses on the London Olympics and just caught up with seasons 2 & 3 this past week. Ian Fletcher, formerly the head of the Olympic Deliverance Commission, has taken up the position of Head of Values at the BBC. Hysterically funny with dry British humour. An office comedy that captures the useless of corporate culture, incessant meetings, and predictable committee members. One episode in particular focussed on a recent project by the BBC to purchase and install a closed captioning system that routinely makes horrendous errors resulting in viewer outrage. Apparently, Hulu, has done much the same as you will see in my review of Menorah in the Middle below.

Crave

Menorah in the Middle (1 h 30 m) Hilariously crazy subtitles abound in the closed captions for this generic Hanukkah tale. Sarah is headed back to her hometown for Hanukkah with news of her engagement. Upon returning, she finds out that her father had a heart attack and things have gotten out of hand. It’s also a musical of sorts!! Stars Jonah Platt, Cristian de la Fuente, and Sarah and Laura Silverman!!! I can’t stop watching the Hanukkah themed counter programming to the Christmas movies. Just as predictable and stupid but with latkes (or as Hulu would caption, “locusts”).

George and Tammy (6 super painful episodes) A look at the romance between famed country musicians George Jones and Tammy Wynette. It’s full of hurting songs, the kind of songs that made me hate country music when I was growing up. Too painful for me. One episode was enough. Stars Jessica Chastain, Michael Shannon, Steve Zahn, Walton Goggins, Tim Blake Nelson, etc.

Peace by Chocolate (1 h 36 m) I was reading an article in the NYTimes about this story yesterday and was delighted that it was available on Crave. It’s a true story! After the bombing of his father’s chocolate factory, a charming young Syrian refugee struggles to settle into his new small-town life in Antogonish, NS. He is caught between following his dream of going to medical school and preserving his family’s legacy. With Ukrainian refugees so much in today’s news, cast your minds back to the diaspora from Syria. Also see The Swimmers about two refugee sisters. The is a feel-good film that is very suitable for family viewing.

Disney

Fleishman is in Trouble (8 episodes) Toby Fleishman knew what to expect when he and his wife of almost 15 years separated: weekends and every other holiday with the kids, some residual bitterness, the occasional moment of tension in their co-parenting negotiations. Stars Jesse Eisenberg, Claire Danes, Lizzy Caplan, Adam Brody. Fabulous, absolutely fabulous. I love this series!!!

The Banshees of Innisherin (1 h 54 m) Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one a raptly ends their relationship with alarming consequences for both of them. Stars Colin Farrell, Brendan gleeson, Kerry Condon. Lyrical and puzzling fable. Kind of like Ireland, itself.

Welcome to Chippendales (8 episodes) The origin story of Somen “Steve” Banerjee, an Indian American entrepreneur who started the stripper troupe, Chippendales. The great cast includes Kumail Nanjiani, Murray Bartlett, Annaleigh Ashford, Juliette Lewis, andrew Rannells, Dan Stevens, and Nicola Peltz Beckham. Not for those who might be disturbed by dancing boys in tiny thongs!! So dark…

Netflix

Fatale (1 h 42 m) After a one-night stand, a successful married man finds himself entangled in a cunning police detective’s latest investigation. Hilary Swank plays Sharon Stone’s femme fatale role, and Michael Ealy plays every other poor sap caught up in a downward spiral in this noiriest of noir stories.

A Storm for Christmas (from Norway, 6 episodes) Follows a group of people who arrive at Oslo airport, some to welcome their loved ones, some to fly home to their families, and others who want to fly away and escape Christmas. Watch for the baby Skarsgard in this one, Valter who plays Henrik the baggage handler who rescues a dog from its crate. This film just proves that the Norwegians can make Christmas schlock just as maudlin as Hollywood. For everyone caught up in today’s blizzard conditions across Ontario, it may be too soon to watch this one.

Glass Onion (A Knives Out Mystery)

Mortal Kombat

Streaming

1923

W

Hannukah on Rye

Bumper in Berlin

Closing Words

Our internet connection has been very wonky as of late, so much of my blog just disappeared. I’m sending you what remains. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year’s to everyone! Here’s a picture from our back door of the blizzardy conditions:

Countdown to Christmas…

With only 7 days to go, I must admit that I am always a little conflicted about Christmas. I didn’t grow up celebrating it although I love the lights, decorations, etc. I hate crowded stores in the Christmas shopping season. Frankly I don’t enjoy buying gifts that people don’t need and feeling pressured to do so. As a result, I approach the holiday with a fair amount of anxiety even though I know it will all turn out ok in the end. What I do love is preparing recipes that my family enjoys over the holidays including festive banana bread and Christmas morning casserole. The bananas are defrosting even as I write. In the meantime, here are some viewing suggestions for you:

ABC

Abbott Elementary (Season 2, 22 episodes) This very sweet mockumentary follows a group of teachers brought together in one of the worst public schools in the country, simply because they love teaching. Great characters and dialogue!

Jeopardy –  is back Mon – Fri, Ken Jennings is the permanent regular host, all is well with the world!!! The Tournament of Champions is over! Matt and Mattea have been eliminated, but Amy just won three games in the championship finals! The show continued with a new super contestant Chris Pannullo who won 20 games!! Spoiler alert: as with all champions, Chris coudn’t last forever and has since been followed by several other great contestants, including the current Scenic Designer from Toronto, who is actually quite likeable!!

The Good Doctor (104 episodes) I can’t look away from this autistic doctor. Every week a new set of diagnostic and treatment nightmares and relationship quandaries!!

Apple

Shantaram  (12 episodes, based on the 2003 novel by Gregory David Roberts) I read this book on my trip to India in 2009, and found it way too long, so I’m not surprised that this sprawling novel will take 12 episodes to spin its tale. Having watched the first three episodes, all I can say is that Charlie Hunnam’s dialogue coach should be fired for letting him use the worst faux Australian accent I have ever heard. The story briefly is of a heroin addict incarcerated for a robbery who escapes prison and reinvents himself as a doctor in the slums of Bombay; his ties to the crime underworld there lead him to Afghanistan where he partners with a mob boss locked in a battle with Russian criminals. Accent aside, Hunnam is a great choice for the role. Update: finished watching episode 12 yesterday and guess what, a cliffhanger ending calling for a second season. So if you haven’t had your fill yet, more adventures to come.

Slow Horses (Season 2, 6 episodes) Jackson Lamb is on high alert after a former spy is found dead. Stars Gary Oldman, Jai Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce, etc. Great spy stuff in the Le Carre vein.

Echo 3 (10 episodes) When Amber Chesborough goes missing along the Colombia-Venezuela border, her brother and her husband struggle to find her against the backdrop of a secret war. From the same production team as The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark 30. Echo 3 is adapted from the Israeli series Where Heroes Fly. I’ve seen the first 5 episodes so far and they have been thrilling subversive action entertainment. Michael Huisman, Luke Evans and Jessica Ann Collins star in the leading roles. If you long for a suspenseful series, this may be your show.

Mosquito Coast (Season 2, 10 episodes) The second season just began airing. We are still following the dangerous journey of a radical idealist and brilliant inventor, Allie Fox, who uproots his family for Mexico when they suddenly find themselves on the run from the US government. Justin Theroux and Melissa George star. Still very suspenseful and fast paced.

CBC Gem

The Passionate Eye: Britain’s Traitor King: Edward VIII (1 h) Startling details emerge about his treachery before and during WWII.

The Passionate Eye: My Old School (1 h) Stars Alan Cumming in a Docudrama recreation of a very unusual identity fraud case.

Sisi (German/Austrian coproduction, 12 episodes) My my. This past year has seen The Empress, and Corsage, both about Sisi. This brand new miniseries follows the extraordinary life of Sisi, Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Modern, honest, and authentic. Supposedly told from the perspective of her closest confidants, the series takes a new look at the empress’ life and reveals a multi-layered woman. Well, the costumes are gorgeous and the actors are very attractive. Don’t know anything about the authenticity of this but there is a scene where Sisi is crowdsurfing (yes, you heard me correctly) over the heads of a mob where the peasants are revolting in Vienna. Did they have crowdsurfing in 19th C. Vienna? It has to be seen to be believed. Still slogging my way through this and am up to about Episode 6.

HBO/Crave/HBO Max

The White Lotus (Season 2, 7 episodes) The resort is in Sicily now. Jennifer Coolidge returns with a new cast that includes F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hollander, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, etc.) Enjoy if you haven’t caught up with this show!!! Last episode this past Sunday!!! Ready for Season 3

The Sex Lives of College Girls  (Season 2, 10 episodes)  While grappling with their new status as campus narcs, Bela starts an all-female comedy mag, Whitney embarks on the soccer off-season, and Kimberly explores ways to make up for her lost scholarship – with unexpected help from Leighton. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this series last year which is a creation from Mindy Kaling’s production team. A great coming of age story. Loving it! Update: finished episode 10 of this season. Delightful cliffhanger ending leading to Season 3!

Merry Swissmas (1 h 28 m, but seems much longer) When Alex returns home to spend Christmas with her mother who now lives in Switzerland, she discovers that her ex-boyfriend and her best friend, who are now dating, are also visiting. There is such a weird air of unreality about this show that nothing seems accurate in its picture-perfect depiction of Christmas in Switzerland. Some Swiss viewers wrote into the IMDB website that some of the Christmas traditions shown are actually made up! I call BS on this somewhat dismal Christmas offering. Watch at your own risk! So predictable!!

Netflix

The Stranger (1 h 57 m) Two men who meet on a bus and strike up a conversation thatt turns into friendship. For Henry Teague, worn down by a lifetime of physical labour and crime, this is a dream come true. Based on a true story of undercover police work, this is very tough to watch. Great performances by Sean Harris and Joel Edgerton, but too painful for me to sit through the whole thing. I lasted less than 1 hour.

Prime

The Ipcress File (from AMC+, you can watch the first episode free on Prime, then you can subscribe for the rest) As the Cold War rages, ex-smuggler turned reluctant spy, Harry Palmer, finds himself at the centre of a dangerous undercover mission, on which he must use his links to find a missing British nuclear scientist. Fabulous! Still thinking about subscribing after one episode.

Three Pines (10 episodes) Following Chief Inspector Armand Ganache as he investigates cases beneath the idyllic surface of the Quebec village, Three Pines, finding long-buried secrets and facing a few ghosts of his own. Full confession: I slept through much of the first two episodes. Very disappointed at how stilted and slow this mystery series is. Willing to come back for more as I do like the lead actor Alfred Molina. Update: I so wanted to love this as it is so Canadian, but found it dreary and just plain awful as I tried to watch the third mystery(Episodes 5-6) this weekend.

Streaming

She Said (2 h 9 m) New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor break one of the most important stories in a generation – a story that helped ignite a cement and shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood.Great performances from Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, andre Braugher Jennifer Ehle, Loved it, but frankly found it a little long.

Yellowstone (5 seasons, maybe 4 too many) A ranching family ij Fontana faces off against others encroaching on their land. What can be said about this show that may have overstayed its welcome and become a Dynasty/Dallas type soap. The girlfight in a recent episode was so Crystal vs Alexis that it was hysterically funny.

New Category: Shows I just couldn’t get into and stopped watching at the 20 minute mark:

Netflix: The Recruit (snooze fest), Emily the Criminal (way too dark for me), David Letterman Interview with Zelensky (very worshipful),

Disney: Amsterdam (batshit crazy)

Special Mention

I still try to maintain my Sunday morning ritual of watching CBS Sunday Morning, the most enjoyable newsmagazine show on the air which has been airing since 1979. Now hosted by Jane Pauley, this venerable series never ceases to delight, inform and entertain with its stories about current events, celebrities, and human interest. I feel better each Sunday for having watched it. Kind of like 60 Minutes lite (which I also watch). I also regularly record and watch Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher (on hiatus), John Oliver (on hiatus) and Trevor Noah (who just departed after 7 seasons) to keep up to date with the news filtered through humour.

Closing Words

Good luck everyone who is frenziedly trying to get ready for Christmas!! I am taking the more laid back route and will gather with some friends this week to celebrate a friend’s pre-Christmas birthday. This week I am getting to enjoy my sweet grandson Ethan while we spend the holidays with our son and family in Thornbury. Still waiting for him to say his first words, but in the meantime, here are some other babies saying their first words:

Home again in Christmas town…

We got back to Ontario on Monday and are now in beautiful downtown Thornbury where we are celebrating the holidays with our son and his family, including new baby Ethan. We took him to see Santa yesterday at the town’s annual Old Fashioned Christmas and he was perhaps the loveliest Santa ever. It was kind of magical to see the main street (which is a charming century village anyway) thronged by families with kids running around in their snowsuits and everyone enjoying hot apple cider, mulled wine, etc. There were sleigh rides, the merchants were welcoming, and all was right with the world. Today there is some kind of snowpocalypse event happening, so it’s a perfect day to stay in your pyjamas and write an entertainment blog! Here are some viewing suggestions for you:

ABC

Abbott Elementary (Season 2, 22 episodes) This very sweet mockumentary follows a group of teachers brought together in one of the worst public schools in the country, simply because they love teaching. Great characters and dialogue!

Jeopardy –  is back Mon – Fri, Ken Jennings is the permanent regular host, all is well with the world!!! The Tournament of Champions is over! Matt and Mattea have been eliminated, but Amy just won three games in the championship finals! The show continues with a new super contestant Chris Pannullo who has won 20 games so far!! Spoiler alert: as with all champions, Chris can’t last forever! I can’t wait for the most enthralling show on TV to continue.

The Good Doctor (104 episodes) I can’t look away from this autistic doctor. Every week a new set of diagnostic and treatment nightmares and relationship quandaries!!

Apple

Mosquito Coast (Season 2, 10 episodes) The second season just began airing. We are still following the dangerous journey of a radical idealist and brilliant inventor, Allie Fox, who uproots his family for Mexico when they suddenly find themselves on the run from the US government. Justin Theroux and Melissa George star. Still very suspenseful and fast paced.

Shantaram  (12 episodes, based on the 2003 novel by Gregory David Roberts) I read this book on my trip to India in 2009, and found it way too long, so I’m not surprised that this sprawling novel will take 12 episodes to spin its tale. Having watched the first three episodes, all I can say is that Charlie Hunnam’s dialogue coach should be fired for letting him use the worst faux Australian accent I have ever heard. The story briefly is of a heroin addict incarcerated for a robbery who escapes prison and reinvents himself as a doctor in the slums of Bombay; his ties to the crime underworld there lead him to Afghanistan where he partners with a mob boss locked in a battle with Russian criminals. Accent aside, Hunnam is a great choice for the role. 

Slow Horses (Season 2, 6 episodes) Jackson Lamb is on high alert after a former spy is found dead. Stars Gary Oldman, Jai Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce, etc. Great spy stuff in the Le Carre vein.

Echo 3 (10 episodes) When Amber Chesborough goes missing along the Colombia-Venezuela border, her brother and her husband struggle to find her against the backdrop of a secret war. From the same production team as The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark 30. Echo 3 is adapted from the Israeli series Where Heroes Fly. I’ve seen the first 5 episodes so far and they have been thrilling subversive action entertainment. Michael Huisman, Luke Evans and Jessica Ann Collins star in the leading roles. If you long for a suspenseful series, this may be your show.

CBC Gem

Sisi (German/Austrian coproduction, 12 episodes) My my. This past year has seen The Empress, and Corsage. This brand new miniseries follows the extraordinary life of empress Elisabeth of Austria. Modern, honest, and authentic. Supposedly told from the perspective of her closest confidants, the series takes a new look at the empress’ life and reveals a multi-layered woman. Well, the costumes are gorgeous and the actors are very attractive. Don’t know anything about the authenticity of this but there is a scene where Sisi is crowdsurfing (yes, you heard me correctly) over the heads of a mob where the peasants are revolting in Vienna. Did they have crowdsurfing in 19th C. Vienna? It has to be seen to be believed.

Crave

Let the Right One In (10 episodes) Follows a 12-yeqr-old girl who lives a closed-in life after turning into a vampire, only able to go out at hight. Her father does his best to provide her with the minimal amount of human blood she needs to stay alive. Demian Bichire, aka Noni Rose and Grace Gummer (lookalike daughter of Meryl Streep) star.

Disney

The Patient (10X20 min episodes) Steve Carell and Domhnall Gleeson star. Hypnotic and addictive tale of a serial killer who consults a psychotherapist. Currently watching while all episodes are available, but this may have been very challenging to watch on a once a week reveal format.

HBO

The White Lotus (Season 2, 7 episodes) The resort is in Sicily now. Jennifer Coolidge returns with a new cast that includes F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hollander, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, etc.) Enjoy!!! Last episode tonight!!!

Sex Lives of College Girls (Season 2)  While grappling with their new status as campus narcs, Bela starts an all-female comedy mag, Whitney embarks on the soccer off-season, and Kimberly explores ways to make up for her lost scholarship – with unexpected help from Leighton. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this series last year which is a creation from Mindy Kaling’s production team. A great coming of age story. Loving it!

Netflix

The Swimmers (2 h 24 m) Heartbreaking true story of two Syrian sisters who flee war-torn Syria to make it to the Rio Olympics. Get out your hankies. Real sisters play the two main characters. You’ll never look at the refugee experience the same way again.

“Sr.” (1 h 29 m) Impossible to watch doc about Robert Downey Jr’s director father who made Putney Swope. It may shed light on Jr’s struggles with drug and alcohol abuse.

Prime

Three Pines (10 episodes) Following Chief Inspector Armand Ganache as he investigates cases beneath the idyllic surface of the Quebec village, Three Pines, finding long-buried secrets and facing a few ghosts of his own. Full confession: I slept through much of the first two episodes. Very disappointed at how stilted an slow this mystery is. Willing to come back for more as I do like the lead actor Alfred Molina.

Special Mention

I still try to maintain my Sunday morning ritual of watching CBS Sunday Morning, the most enjoyable newsmagazine show on the air which has been airing since 1979. Now hosted by Jane Pauley, this venerable series never ceases to delight, inform and entertain with its stories about current events, celebrities, and human interest. I feel better each Sunday for having watched it. Kind of like 60 Minutes lite (which I also watch). I also regularly record and watch Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher (on hiatus), John Oliver (on hiatus) and Trevor Noah (who just departed after 7 seasons) to keep up to date with the news filtered through humour.

Closing Words

Winter has arrived in the North. The view from our back door in Thornbury:

Last day in Paradise…

The packing must begin! We are off tomorrow to rejoin family and friends in Ontario. It’s a balmy 85 degrees Fahrenheit here today, and tomorrow’s forecast for Toronto will be hovering around 32 F (0 C). Change in mental attitude required. Of course we are looking forward to Baby Ethan’s first Christmas and spending time with our family. We have lots of get-togethers with friends planned as well including numerous Christmas parties and dinners. We will miss our Florida friends and did a delightful outing the other night to view the Christmas lights in the community of Victoria Park here in Naples. Here’s a link to put you in the Christmas spirit:

Meanwhile here are some viewing suggestions for you:

ABC

Abbott Elementary (Season 2, 22 episodes) This very sweet mockumentary follows a group of teachers brought together in one of the worst public schools in the country, simply because they love teaching. Great characters and dialogue!

Jeopardy –  is back Mon – Fri, Ken Jennings is the permanent regular host, all is well with the world!!! The Tournament of Champions is over! Matt and Mattea have been eliminated, but Amy just won three games in the championship finals! The show continues with a new super contestant Chris Pannullo who has won 20 games so far!! I can’t wait for the most enthralling show on TV to continue.

Apple+

Echo 3 (10 episodes) When Amber Chesborough goes missing along the Colombia-Venezuela border, her brother and her husband struggle to find her against the backdrop of a secret war. From the same production team as The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark 30. Echo 3 is adapted from the Israeli series Where Heroes Fly. I’ve seen the first three episodes so far and they have been thrilling subversive action entertainment. Michael Huisman, Luke Evans and Jessica Ann Collins star in the leading roles. If you long for a suspenseful series, this may be your show.

Slow Horses (Season 2, 6 episodes) Jackson Lamb is on high alert after a former spy is found dead. Stars Gary Oldman, Jai Lowden, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jonathan Pryce, etc. Great spy stuff in the Le Carre vein.

Mosquito Coast  (Season 2, 10 episodes) The second season just began airing. We are still following the dangerous journey of a radical idealist and brilliant inventor, Allie Fox, who uproots his family for Mexico when they suddenly find themselves on the run from the US government. Justin Theroux and Melissa George star. Still very suspenseful and fast paced.

Shantaram  (12 episodes, based on the 2003 novel by Gregory David Roberts) I read this book on my trip to India in 2009, and found it way too long, so I’m not surprised that this sprawling novel will take 12 episodes to spin its tale. Having watched the first three episodes, all I can say is that Charlie Hunnam’s dialogue coach should be fired for letting him use the worst faux Australian accent I have ever heard. The story briefly is of a heroin addict incarcerated for a robbery who escapes prison and reinvents himself as a doctor in the slums of Bombay; his ties to the crime underworld there lead him to Afghanistan where he partners with a mob boss locked in a battle with Russian criminals. Accent aside, Hunnam is a great choice for the role. 

BBCAmerica

Mood (6 episodes) Follow irrepressible Sasha, a 25-year-old wannabe singer and rapper, as she navigates the alluring world of social media and the fine line between liberation and exploitation, a story told through her original songs. Kind of a British Euphoria and very reminiscent of I May Destroy You. We watch her make some very bad decisions along the way.

HBO Max

The Sex Lives of College Girls (Season 2)  While grappling with their new status as campus narcs, Bela starts an all-female comedy mag, Whitney embarks on the soccer off-season, and Kimberly explores ways to make up for her lost scholarship – with unexpected help from Leighton. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this series last year which is a creation from Mindy Kaling’s production team. A great coming of age story. Loving it!

The White Lotus  (Season 2, 7 episodes) The resort is in Sicily now. Jennifer Coolidge returns with a new cast that includes F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hollander, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, etc.) Enjoy!!!

Netflix

Trevor Noah: I wish you would (1 h) Stand-up routine filmed in Toronto right after he announced his departure from The Daily Show. I loved him when he was new and fresh, but to me, he seemed really tired delivering his show here as he talks about learning German, speaking ill of the dead, judging people in horror movies, dealing with modern communication and ordering Indian food in Scotland.

The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem (from Israel, 21 episodes) I have been waiting to see this latest venture from the dreamy Michael Aloni (Shtisel) and was quite disappointed by this melodrama. A family living through the Ottoman Empire, The British Mandate and Israel’s War of Independence. It’s long and choppy and seems very low budget. Terrible English accents of the British. It’s quite soapy and the storyline is a little confusing with its flashbacks and jumps forward. For serious Michael Aloni fans only.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2 h 6 m) An unhappily married aristocrat begins a torrid affair with the gamekeeper on her husband’s country estate. I really enjoyed this umpteenth retelling of DH Lawrence’s classic tale of the aristocratic Lady who falls madly in love and lust with her gamekeeper. Both Emma Corrin and Jack O’Connell are wonderful in this and discerning viewers will enjoy Joely Richardson as the housekeeper as she played Lady Chatterley in the 1993 version that also starred Sean Bean.

Paramount

Yellowstone  (Season 5, 14 episodes) John Dutton is sworn in as Governor of Montana; as John settles into the powers of his new office, he takes bold moves to protect the Yellowstone from his opponents. All the soap opera elements are back as Beth is blackmailing Jamie, Kayce mourns the loss of a baby, Beth and Rip continue their inexplicable raunchy marriage, etc.

Peacock

The Calling (8 episodes) Guided by a deep sense of spirituality and religious principles, NYPD Detective Avraham Avraham is left to question his own humanity when a routine investigation turns upside down. Well, it’s a very new twist on police procedurals as this Detective is a devout Jew. From the production team of Michael Kelly, I quite enjoyed this fairly original series. Jeff Wilbusch is the lead actor and he is Israeli/German, so a very unusual choice to play the lead in an American series. It’s an unlikely choice for US Broadcast tv and is the type of series found much more frequently on Netflix or Prime.

Prime

The Confession (True Crime Documentary, 2 episodes) Docuseries examining the mysterious disappearance of British housewife Patricia Hall from her small Yorkshire town. True life story that will shock you with its ending.

Invisible History: Middle Florida’s Hidden Roots (originated on PBS, 1 h) This documentary sheds light on the invisible history of plantations and the enslaved in North Florida. Using visually compelling imagery it explores the history of a people who contributed so much to what the region is today and is a microcosm of the idea of how slaery shaped all of America.

Sachertorte (1 h 52 m) Karl puts his life in Berlin on hold, only to wait every day at 3 pm for the love of his life at Cafe Sacher in Vienna. But sometimes love happens to you, while you’re busy waiting for it… I discovered that the Germans can put together some very lame rom-coms! I didn’t last until the end, but you see it coming very early in this one.

Three Pines (10 episodes) Following Chief Inspector Armand Ganache as he investigates cases beneath the idyllic surface of the Quebec village, Three Pines, finding long-buried secrets and facing a few ghosts of his own. Full confession: I slept through much of the first two episodes. Very disappointed at how stilted an slow this mystery is. Willing to come back for more as I do like the lead actor Alfred Molina.

Streaming/Video on Demand

The Woman King (2 h 15 m) a historical epic inspired by true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries. Stars Viola Davis and John Boyega. I had the great pleasure of showing this film to my movie group and I believe everyone was knocked out by the realization that this was a true story. Viola Davis delivers her usual very strong performance and a newcomer to US screens, Thuso Mbedu, steals every scene she’s in as an up and coming warrior. A very powerful film that will stay with you.

Bowie: Moonage Daydream (Documentary, 2 h 15 m) a cinematic odyssey exploring David Bowie’s creative and musical journey. From visionary filmmaker Brett Morgen and sanctioned by the Bowie estate. A very artistic look at Bowie’s career and creativity. Not a conventional biography in any sense. I lasted about 45 minutes into this as you have to be a devout Bowie fan to love this musical tribute to him.

Special Mention

I still try to maintain my Sunday morning ritual of watching CBS Sunday Morning, the most enjoyable newsmagazine show on the air which has been airing since 1979. Now hosted by Jane Pauley, this venerable series never ceases to delight, inform and entertain with its stories about current events, celebrities, and human interest. I feel better each Sunday for having watched it. Kind of like 60 Minutes lite (which I also watch). I also regularly record and watch Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher, John Oliver and Trevor Noah (who ’s announced his impending departure after 7 seasons) to keep up to date with the news filtered through humour.

Closing Words

Enjoy the week to come wherever you are! In hrecognition of our returning to Canada tomorrow, I just thought I’d include a vocal clip from YouTube of a beautiful rendition of our National Anthem, O Canada. Enjoy!