June 17, 2024: The Return of the Crime Binge!

True Detective (2014 – ) Season 4

Anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law.

My thoughts: A middling mystery steeped in nonsensical mysticism.

3/5

The Gentlemen (2024) Season 1

When aristocratic Eddie inherits the family estate, he discovers that it’s home to a huge weed empire, and its proprietors aren’t going anywhere.

My thoughts: A little too overly-stylized, too self-consciously hip.  Unlike past Guy Ritchie productions, there is no dovetail ending of varied storylines.  Instead, it all concludes in clumsy fashion.

3/5

The Sopranos (1999 – 2007) Season 3

New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.

My thoughts: My favorite season of my favorite crime show.  Enter Ralphie, Christopher gets made, Jackie Jr. miscalculates, and one of the greatest episode of television The Pine Barrens.

Astrid & Raphaelle (2019 – ) Season 1

Autistic archivist Astrid Nielsen and impulsive inspector Raphaëlle Coste work together to solve crimes in and around Paris.

My thoughts: The autistic lead will inevitably draw comparisons to Broen’s Saga, and come up short.  The mysteries are clunky and, at times, implausible.

3/5

Fargo (2014 – 2024) Season 5

Various chronicles of deception, intrigue, and murder in and around frozen Minnesota. All of these tales mysteriously lead back one way or another to Fargo, North Dakota.

My thoughts: An improvement over a subpar fourth season, but not as strong as previous installments.  Still, a solid show.

4/5

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