Reviews

Bosch is a no nonsense detective series devoid of any of today's politically correct, cancel culture, lgbqt÷ influences.

Each season takes on a new case which gets more complicated over time. Bosch seems to be inherently ridiculed for his "thou shall not rush to judgment " pace and yet it's that pace that allows for the outside influences to make their way into the forefront - and that's when the personal attacks on Bosch make there way in to cloud the issues.

The series and it's pace is a welcome change to the few solid offerings available in the genre these days.

It's a series you'll want to stick with for its who Done it style.

Neuropsychiatrist, Dr. Eldon Chance, played by Hugh Laurie sees the world of violence spinning around him and his patients without recourse or solution and decides he wants to change the outcome. Actions to his patients should come with penalties. He becomes weary of the daily counselling without actual results for those affected.

Eldon wants those responsible held accountable. To him this means the ones dishing out the violence should feel a little retribution themselves. But he lacks the confidence (this is not HOUSE) and wherewithal to bring about that change. Enter "D" played by Ethan Suplee.

The circumstances are real world. The marital breakup. The patients, victims of abuse and the confidant who himself has suffered similar abuse. Season one's femme fatale has a psychotic break with reality which brings on a second personality prepared to deal with her corrupt police officer husband who deals humans in the sex trade. (Gretchen Mol played superbly). Season two is completely different and refreshing.

His Marital breakup creates a financial status that finds him selling some antique furniture whereupon he happens to meet "D" (Don't call him Darius "he who holds firm to good" for reasons learned later), a quiet, metallurgist and furniture restorer, whom as it turns out, decided long ago to never again be a victim. To D, there are only "Feeders and Receivers" in this world.

D is more than happy to mete out vengeance and shows Eldon Chance one such scenario as they walk down an alley. "Was that an audition !!" (Ethan Suplee award nomination here). D suggests to Dr. Chance that he could "Hire it done" in one episode and that he should be "the still point in a turning world" in another.

But it's not until later that we find that D himself has been a victim of abuse of long standing by family and cries for help ignored by his father. Calling him Darius only reminds him of that painful life, a life that led him to training himself to deal with these situations with equal or greater force.

Their are sub plots at every turn changing the course of action and forcing them to adapt. The two make for an interesting pair with each coming from different worlds and as Dr. Chance seeks to meter out vengeance to the guilty, it seems the criminals, aren't cooperating and some are dealt life changing blows themselves. Chance struggles with good and evil as he plays God and loses control over what's happening around him. Quite a contrasting role here for Hugh Laurie as he plays it with uncertainty and fear of the unknown.

The players involved go deeper than they appear on the surface, Corrupt police officer, a district attorney, CEO of a tech giant; deeper than Chance was prepared for and he finds many a twist as his own family is sucked into the scenarios.

Each season presents it's own set of circumstances that aren't the perfect solution Chance had originally sought.

Definitely a change for Hugh Laurie (Night Manager), House) and Ethan Suplee (insert accolades) shines in this modern day of Mental healthcare dilemma's gone awry.

With two seasons on the books one can only hope for more as the acting is that good and the scenarios of season one are all too real.

A psychodrama of the Hitchcock era that has plenty of room to grow as long as HULU gets the word out. If you're bored with the normal drama dribble on T.V. and enjoy a mystery with twists;This one keeps you coming back for more!

The FBI's BAU unit started in the basement after Hoover left and new thinking was needed to bring it into the 21st century (see Mind Hunters / Netflix) as this show with its cast has been at the forefront of my viewing since its inception. The cast chemistry has always been important to the shows success. That alone explains why the two spin off shows didn't pull through the ratings quagmire. However I must express that the cast changes these last 2/3 seasons is somewhat disturbing. Mandy Potemkin we understand, he didn't want to give criminals any ideas, although his headlining role on Homeland is similar if you ask me. The new cast of Tyler, Rodriguez from CSI Miami and Henney from the Criminal minds: Beyond Boarders, just doesn't work for me. Derek-Shemar Moore is Sorely missed as is mainstay Thomas Gibson as Hotchner but bringing back Paget Brewster was a smart move to steady the overwhelming changes. The show itself has handled the crimes and each other admirably over the years and has brought issues to the forefront that people just don't want to recognize is out there. Whether we're hearing about it more as a result of social medial is a point unto itself, the fact is that this show has always confronted these crimes in a logical format with a trust-able cast presentation that we all came to "trust" and that chemistry has been damaged by the three new cast members. My personal viewership has dropped since 2011 and the dismissal of Thomas Gibson (Hotch) and then Shemar Moore (Derek) Tyler is not believable to me and I didn't want nor need a CSI injection. While Henney was good on Criminal minds Beyond Boarders.

Kevin James retires from the Nassau County, Long Island Police force after twenty years (started at 21 this makes him 41). With his partial pension he and Wife Donna, played by Erinn Hayes, work through season one deciding how they'll make up some income by renting out their garage as an apartment (Common on Long Island). The chemistry was being built by wife Donna redirecting Kevin's mistakes along the way. The family was deadpan except for "Chale" the eldest daughters nerdy boyfriend in Country via a Visa and the retired friends were something that could of and should of been built upon. Chale fast became a season one bright spot as the chemistry between him and Kevin was wrought with tension and humor. THIS was something the audience expected would grow in Season Two, However show runner Rob decided the ratings were not up to par. The Ratings took a nose dive in season two as Donna was mysteriously killed off without explanation in the season two opener. Leah Remini was brought in to recreate the King Of Queens TV show, much to the viewers despair. The show needed to build on season one's characters of friends and family but has instead focused on Remini and James opening a P.I. agency. In short, the fun was taken out of the show, something even the canned laughter can't save as the ratings are showing. They left no room to bring back Kevin's wife Donna (Erinn Hayes) and the show is trapped in a corner. The friends and family are now all but forgotten as they were dropped from focus as a point of tension and laughter. Kevin James is likable and Leah Remini's old shtick doesn't work here. I don't see an out for this show to rebound and reconnect with the audience which is a shame. I liked season one but season two might just be it's downfall. It was a family show you could watch with your children (who know and love Kevin James) but that has been removed from the show in favor of the downtrodden banter James and Remini had in King Of Queens. If you want that, watch those re-runs, their still on.