The Missing (2014) – TV Series

Honored to be one of the best 5 mini series of 2015 in the Golden Globes, The Missing is truly a brilliant TV show in the making. Though Fargo (2014) was more popular and grabbed the award, for me The Missing was more heart felt and sensitive to the core. If I call The Missing as the most hauntingly emotional television experience I had recently that would be correct. 

When the English couple Tony (James Nesbitt) and Emily (Frances O'Connor) goes to France for a vacation their small boy goes missing. Devastated by their loss the couple seeks every angle to find their son but fails. After 8 years Tony obsessed with the idea that his son is still alive returns to France to find him pursuing a lead. There he discovers some unbearable truths about his sons disappearance. 

The Missing’s’ plot and set up is very powerful. It takes place in a small French town where the atmosphere screams of a certain emptiness that creates a mind boggling mood overall. This atmosphere mixed with the disturbingly emotional plot the viewer gets dragged in to the investigation of this small boy. And right from the first episode things becomes really tense and for the next 7 episodes its nothing but beautiful expression of cinematic quality television drama. James Nesbitt and Frances O'Connor deliver commanding performances in this show and they are supported by another set of very talented international cast. Everything about The Missing is well planned and well executed and they apply to even the sub plots that make strong sense at the end. 

To return to the shows emotional brilliance I believe The Missing makes a child abduction plot to go beyond the usual detective or crime stories and makes it feel so dearly. The plot run in 3 parallel timelines where the most significant events related to the investigation takes place and each timeline is given equal importance. This is where the beauty of writing comes to play and the job is very well done. Even at the time of the ending the viewer will be left with so many things in their minds and arguments to fight.  And just like the father of the boy the viewer will be doing a silent struggle in their minds to understand the events more clearly. Being so The Missing offers a strikingly good ending. 

If you are a parent you will certainly feel disturbed by this show and will shed tears more than few times along the way. But it’s certain that The Missing is one of the most brilliantly told story of parents love. 

Genre: Crime | Drama | Mystery

Director: Tom Shankland

Rating:  4.5/5

Fargo (2014)

If I phrase that Fargo is the most intensely satisfactory crime drama with a comedy twist in recent TV I don’t think my statement is wrong. With just 10 episodes it builds a brilliant plot, staggering performances, class A soundtrack that spread across the series right from the catchy first episode to the final show down. Created and written by Noah Hawley This show is inspired by the 1996 film of the same name written and directed by the Coen Brothers.

With clear similarities between the movie the TV show goes many steps ahead and roll out a larger and detailed plot given that TV has more space for being greater than a movie ‘if’ done right. I believe that Fargo (2014) is one of the best of that TV done right and no one can say otherwise. Fargo is brilliant from the start. You will not come across a single episode that slow things down or drags its overall progress backwards. This is very important especially for a mini series since there are only few episodes for the whole show and each episode has lot of weight. The director cannot afford to drop the ball in any episode as there will not be enough episodes to recover the damage. With Fargo the episode layout is fantastic no doubt.

Fargo has a gripping story line. It is based on crime and sometimes it’s gory yet the crime is based on a clever execution of criminal minds and police work alike. The viewers are given the opportunity to equally witness both sides of the blood trail and each side is equally interesting. To be honest there are times the dark characters seem to be winning and they appear to be more attractive. But ultimately the justice is served and the finishing is well knitted.

The quality of Fargo depends on many factors and performances are one of the key ones. Right away there are 2 good characters and 2 negative ones. All 4 of them pull off their roles with energy and persistence. With less dialogues as much as possible Fargo says a lot through action than with words. The actors make the journey a remarkable one.

Maybe the best thing about Fargo is its mood. The majority of the story takes place in the winter and there are a lot of whites and cold around. This atmosphere creates a challenging environment for the plot and as viewers we feel it. The feeling of isolation, abandons and insecurity are very well portrayed and they all fuel up this one of a kind story of hate crime. This is a must watch for TV lovers. 

Genre : Crime | Drama | Thriller

TV show

Rating 4.5/5

 

Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014) – 5/5

After 7 years of blazing glory Sons of Anarchy has now come to a steady stop. This crime loving outlaw biker club drama is rarely one of the unique shows the TV history have ever seeing and unquestionably cannot be compared with another show due to it’s own terms. While it is nearly impossible to go in to every detail of this brilliant show created by Kurt Sutter loosely based on the characters of Hamlet in a short review such as this, I’m trying my best to give credit to all the uniqueness it made us witness.

Being said that I have no doubt that this is the most violently dramatic TV show the world has seeing that actually made homage to outlaws, brotherhood, friends, big American motorbikes, people of all colors and races, guns, gangsters, prison mayhem, school shootings, eye popping like a pro with spoons, retribution without a regret, all kinds of love including transsexuals, burying up dead bodies and digging them up again, porno, baby snatchers from Ireland, body parts in boxes, crooked cops, random acts of violence, dragging handicapped people on streets tied to cars, mothers in laws killing daughter in laws, sons killing step fathers, kids injuring them selves to frame grandmothers and the list goes on. Though all this sounds so vicious and gory Sons of Anarchy is mind splittingly perfect in its script and performances that it was never felt neither irrelevant nor excessive.  This obviously makes this show to shrink to a certain set of devoted viewers and becomes completely inappropriate for the masses. Which is the reason we didn’t see internet braking hype for Sons of Anarchy in any year nor fans aggressively fought over it existence over a different show. But the Sons of Anarchy fans held up their end of the bargain and the creators gave their best to fans in return and it was wonderful.

Sons of Anarchy was brilliant in its story telling. While some may call some seasons silly and relatively uninteresting compared to a different season the flame never went out. Sons of Anarchy is not a show that evolves over the seasons in its drama. True it does up to a certain limit with it’s characters as they evolve but each season was full of equal drama and tension that every time one season ended it was almost like some great movie came to a holt giving the promise of a sequel. For me I was hooked to Sons from day one to the finale episode and boy it was a joy. Seeing all those gritty mind blowing performances by the cast and how the whole plot elevated from episode to episode was truly a wonderful experience. And the thing with Sons of Anarchy was that it was full of energy and full of surprises and at one point I decided that I will not guess what’s coming up but rather let the story take over me.

Sons of Anarchy has won many awards including the Golden Globe for best performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Katey Segal) which proves the quality of acting it was equipped with. The cast was brilliant and though most of them saw the other end of the barrel of a gun or the sharp side of a blade and went out in a split second (most in completely unexpected ways in unexpected moments) the body count didn’t mean that they were forgotten. We saw amazing performances up to the last episode and some of them were the best the recent TV has to offer. If the fans were haunted by the faces of the actors and dropped a tear at their despair it was nothing to be amused of.

And Sons of Anarchy will be largely memorable for it’s choice of music. Episode after episode and at right times the sound tracks were mixed in a way that they were completely aligned with the mood and story of the show. When I look back at the set of beautiful music throughout these 7 years I have no doubt that Sons of Anarchy delivered it so powerfully in par with the shows emotional chemistry. For me I cannot think of Sons of Anarchy without its sound tracks and I’m sure for many it will be equally memorable.

All in all with fantastic writing and direction of Kurt Sutter as the creator of the show Sons of Anarchy was one hell of a ride. These characters and the ideology they represent will always be remembered though how cruel and violent they were just because of the fact that this show made them all looked so great. But the final message Kurt Sutter sends out so loud is that there is no crime that goes unpunished and no lie that will not be revealed for it’s truth. And if you believe in it Sons of Anarchy is a modern day tale of Karma disguised in leather jackets. I will miss this show dearly and salute the creators for making such amazing TV time.

Genre: Crime | Drama | Thriller

Creator : Kurt Sutter

Mad Men (TV show | 2007 to present | 5 Seasons)

Mad Men (TV show | 2007 to present | 5 Seasons)

Drama

 

If I list down the reasons why I love this show that list can have several pages and over 100 items. But this short review will carry only the top of that list and why you should watch it if you still don’t.

 

Number one reason I like it because of the historical corporate factor which is the core plot takes place. How an advertising agency did operated back in 1960s and how did the employees and clients were treated and business was conducted. I can relate so much of it to today’s businesses and still I get amused with each episode. Secondly the historical accuracy of people, environment, technology, literature, habits, entertainment, fashion, transport, views, attitudes etc etc that runs under the main plot. This is the life of 60s USA and presented with details for us to fathom it. Thirdly the plot and the script that works so well hand in hand just bring the best. The story is dramatic and fantastic. It puts twist over twists but still doesn’t distract you or confuse you and flow like a calm river in each episode. And then the wonderful cast and their contribution to make this magnificent series go live. Don Draper steals the whole pot while the rest adds the heat and spice to boil the soup. Without those strong performers this show will not go anywhere.

 

It is unfair to write few lines and rate this show in a jiffy. Yet words can say so much but experiencing it is the best deal. Mad Men is one of a kind show that makes TV a place in heaven amongst the crappy shows that rules it. This is nothing else that terrific and genius. Long Live Mad Men!!

5/5

 

 

Synopsis: A drama about one of New York's most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm's most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper.

Missing (2011) TV

Drama | Action

 

I knew there was something wrong right from the first episode. It does have an interesting plot but the story is too fast phased and too good to be true. Especially a former CIA lady agent who has being out of touch for over a decade with a teenage son suddenly going ballistic like some special ops navy seal is hard to buy. I knew the show is gravely going wrong when she effortlessly get inside the Interpol HQ and check some data from a computer like she was working there for some time. Duh! Agent or hacker or genius it will take weeks of pre planning to pull out something like that. It’s not the only thing worries me. Overall if it goes like this it will lose to make another season. And I’m already out.

 

2/5

 

Synopsis: After Rebecca Winstone's son, Michael, goes missing under suspicious circumstances, she will do anything it takes to find him. Becca isn't just a mother looking for her son; both she and Michael's father were CIA agents. But if Becca wants to find her son alive, it will take all of her resourcefulness, skill and determination, and she'll have to rely on old friends and reopen old wounds. A mother's love knows no limits.

The Walking Dead – Season 2 (mid) review

2010 on going

Created by Frank Darabont

 

This series is so good that just like the zombie plague it entered the blood of the viewer so fast and made them numb to other feelings when the show is in the air. I have being eagerly watching this series from the inception. And it forced me to read the comic as well. And now I’m fan of both the TV and comic alike.

 

What’s great about Walking Dead apart from its wonderful and eerie cinematography and the mind blowing work of zombie make up is the human emotions. The story is centric towards a group of survivors led by good hearted police officer Rick Grimes and their struggle to survive in a world full of dead people who wants to eat them all day. The story is more human centric than just a plain apocalypse related thriller.

 

All these were bygones in the first season. It was filled with more thrilling episodes and somewhat fast phased story telling. When it came to Season 2 the things slowed down a bit. It becomes more human and emotional based while zombies become a bit distant. Yet on and off an ugly creature falls on their door step for the pure fun of killing it. But as the season progress it becomes stronger and steady with its main object, survival. The season 2 finale is now weeks away and already the rumors of season 3 have started to spread. And they are not just rumors but facts of new casting for few of the most demanding characters yet to appear in the show.

 

If your still not a fan of the show its time to start. There are only 2 seasons to catch up!! But be aware this is one of the most graphic shows on TV right now. And it gets uglier by the episode. 

Breaking Bad – TV series

2008 on going

Crime | Drama

Created by Vince Gilligan

This is going to be my first ever review of a TV series on this blog. And I’m certainly glad that it’s ‘Breaking Bad’. Obnoxiously disturbing at some episodes and filled with drugs, drugs and more drugs this series at times will make you disgust. But yet the plot is so strong that you will hold on it no matter what.

The plot goes like this – When an 50 year old overqualified chemistry teacher Walter White is diagnosed with terminal cancer he realizes that all his future expectations is about to end in a jiffy. And that by being a good father and a husband and a loyal citizen has not made him to save anything for the family once he perishes. By luck or by fait he makes a drastic decision and a dramatic change of attitude. He decides to produce high quality Chrystal meth. His partner in this crime is a drug addictive and pathetic yet loyal and kind hearted small drug dealer named Jesse Pinkman who was once a student of Walter. 

The story starts right there and the series spread wide and fast just like the cancer in Whites lungs fast and furiously. There are so many twists and turns the duo faces and close calls they ditch in their illegal drug business. Without a doubt each and every episode is a new and exciting experience for the viewer and White and Pinkman both. So far after 4 seasons it’s so gripping and run the charts like hell. 

And as a series its busting my ratings of some other good shows I have seeing. If you have the spare time and the guts to enjoy this show I’d say go for it. If not the regrets are on you.

4/5