Surprisingly decent reboot of the classic 80s private detective series remains faithful to the original while making it more diverse. In a world of cop and medical procedurals, a private investigator procedural also feels surprisingly fresh. The first episode is a bit too Fast and Furious for its own good, but fortunately, it settles down soon afterwards to become a solid piece of light fun.
Netflix original created by and starring Idris Elba. Charlie (Elba), a struggling DJ and eternal bachelor is given a final chance at success when he reluctantly becomes a manny to his famous best friend’s problem-child daughter. Also stars Piper Perabo, and features JJ Feild, Angela Griffin, Guz Khan, Jocelyn Jee Esein, Jade Anouka, Cameron King and Dustin Demri-Burns.
A semi-autobiographical piece written by and starring Pamela Adlon and co-written by Louis CK, there are good things in Better Things, although that’s more to do with some creative choices than the subject matter or anything especially interesting or funny that happens.
Ever wanted to know what life is like for a 50-something single mother with three daughters, who’s the daughter of a TV producer and who’s an actress living in LA who goes to a lot of auditions and has to deliver a lot of bad dialogue in a lot of bad TV shows? I can’t say I feel a desperate need to know myself, but maybe you’re different, in which case Better Things will be a big help bridging that empathy gap.
Maybe if you’re facing similar issues, you’ll find this funny in a gallows humour kind of way. Personally, I found it just a little bit too self-involved, a bit too much a female Californication but without much joy.
Les rivières pourpres (The Crimson Rivers) (France: France 2; UK: Channel 4)
Premiere date: Friday, January 11, 10.30pm
Based on the 2000 blockbuster of the same name, The Crimson Rivers follows conflicted cop duo Camille Delauney and Pierre Niémans. Niémans and Camille are called out all over rural France to solve complex cases which all involve a weird brutality far beyond the capacity of local police departments. The protagonists find themselves infiltrating folktale-like crimes with strong moral and mystic themes, dealing with cults, murder based on family tradition and human sacrifice. An unlikely match, Niémans is a reserved, pragmatic and pessimistic old school sleuth, whereas Camille is bold, brave and not afraid of over-stepping the mark, yet together they make a charismatic and driven duo who will stop at nothing to catch a killer.
The River (Elven) (Norway: TV3 ; UK: Channel 4)
Premiere date: Monday, January 14
Based on true events from the region bordering Russia, in northern Scandinavia, The River stars Espen Reboli Bjerke (Mammon), Ingeborg Raustøl and Dennis Storhøi (Mammon).
In the small village of Djupelv, which straddles the Norwegian/Russian border well within the Arctic Circle, the winters are long and dark. Everyone knows everyone and there are no secrets in this close-knit community, or so it seems. During one of NATO’S winter exercises a dismembered hand is discovered in the river by a local Sami girl.
Thomas, the local police officer starts investigating the grisly discovery, despite firm warnings from his superiors. When the girl disappears and is later found murdered by army officer Mia Holt he becomes even more suspicious that something sinister is afoot. Mia and Thomas continue together in their search for the truth and are forced to look at this small community in a new light. Why are the authorities passive? Why are the locals staying so tight-lipped? And what is hidden up there in the mountains?
Created by Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland, Russian Doll follows a young woman named Nadia (Lyonne) on her journey as the guest of honour at a seemingly inescapable party one night in New York City. Greta Lee, Yul Vazquez, Elizabeth Ashley, Rebecca Henderson and Charlie Barnett.
