MaryLand Series Review

Sometimes, the most complicated familial relationship is the one with a sibling. Being raised by the same parents in the same home does not always guarantee a harmonious exchange.

In the new three-part PBS/Masterpiece miniseries, MaryLand, sisters Becca (Suranne Jones, who is also a co-creator of the program) and Rosaline (Eve Best) are not on the best of terms. After their mother’s mysterious death, they look to her best friend Cathy (Stockard Channing) to unlock the secrets that were kept from them.

The first episode is really compelling. I immediately felt the conflict between Becca and Rosaline. Despite the disagreements between the characters, there was still a bond that kept them together. Adding to the tension was the lingering questions that only Cathy could answer.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

MaryLand airs on PBS on Sunday at 9Pm.

Mr. Bates vs. The Office Review

The conflict of David vs. Goliath is as old as humanity itself.

The new PBS series, Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office is based on a true story. In the UK, the postal system is run by the government with individuals sub-contracting the work on the local level. When postmaster Alan Bates (Toby Jones) starts to notice issues with balances at the end of the workday, he reaches out for help from the company that manages the computer program. What starts out as one man’s ask for help reveals that many are in the same boat.

Lives and reputations are ruined, and families are torn apart. Those who are affected band together to get justice and ensure that those responsible admit their error.

I am enjoying this series. While I appreciate period dramas, it’s nice to see a modern narrative. Though only two episodes have aired so far, the anger and fear of those affected. While this particular narrative is nothing new, this battle is another example of those in power taking advantage of the little person.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

New episodes of Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office air on PBS on Sunday at 9PM.

Throwback Thursday: American Experience (1988-Present)

A well-made documentary is a smart addition to any curriculum or out-of-the-classroom learning experience. It can add color and humanity to a historical event that can seem dry and distant.

American Experience has been on PBS‘s schedule since 1988. Each season, a series of documentary films are released. Each highlights a specific time or issue in American history and presents the viewer with the full story of the subject.

I don’t watch this program often. But when I do, I find myself both entertained and educated at the same time.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Nolly/Alice & Jack Series Review

Sunday nights have a certain amount of tension. The work/school week begins again. But there is one thing that can keep that tension temporarily at bay: appointment television.

Two new series premiered last Sunday on Masterpiece/ PBS: Nolly and Alice & Jack. 

Nolly

In the early 1980s, Noele “Nolly” Gordon (Helena Bonham Carter) is the face of the British soap opera Crossroads. On the air for nearly two decades, she is a national treasure. Then she is unceremoniously fired. Instead of just taking this abrupt change in employment, she decides to fight back.

Alice & Jack

After Alice (Andrea Riseborough) and Jack (Domhnall Gleeson) meet on a dating app, they decide to get to know one another in person. This leads to a fifteen year journey of questioning whether or not they should be together. Alice is living in the shadows of childhood trauma while building her career. Jack is a scientist who despite everything, has not entirely cut her out of his life.

So far, I have enjoyed both series. Nolly is not a woman to be trifled with. She knows her power and is not afraid to use it. The tension between Riseborough and Gleeson is fantastic. They are clearly attracted to one another. But their respective pasts keep them from fully opening up and jumping in with both feet first.

Do I recommend them? Absolutely.

Nolly and Alice & Jack air on PBS at 9 and 10 PM respectively on Sunday night on PBS.

Throwback Thursday: Margaret: The Rebel Princess (2018)

According to traditional fairy tales, a princess is supposed to be meek, submissive and wait for Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet.

The late Princess Margaret was the exact opposite of the stereotype. Her story was told in the 2018 two-part PBS program Margaret: The Rebel Princess. This biography tells the story of her life while reflecting on the cultural shifts of the 20th century. Unlike her elder sister, the late Queen Elizabeth, Margaret was not as duty-bound. She had freedoms and scandals that reflected how women’s roles and opportunities were finally starting to open up.

I liked this show. It allowed its subject to stand on her own two feet and step out of the shadow of her family and older sibling.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Little Bird Miniseries Review

History is full of injustice. What we in the modern world have to ask is if we will continue to remain silent or speak the truth.

The new PBS miniseries, Little Bird is based on the true story of indigenous children who were stolen from their families and given to Caucasian families to raise as their own.

In 1968,  Bezhig Little Bird (Keris Hope Hill) was five years old. Taken from her parents, she was adopted by Golda and Jacob Rosemblum (Lisa Edelstein and David Eisner) and renamed Esther. Eighteen years later, the now-grown Bezhig/Esther (Darla Contois) is in law school and engaged to an NJB (nice Jewish boy) David (Rowen Kahn).

Her future seems to be all set. Though Golda, a Holocaust survivor, tries to fit in with her soon-to-be in-laws, she still feels like an outcast. After hearing David’s mother making disparaging remarks about her, Bezhig/Esther starts digging into her past and the birth family she was torn from.

The irony of a Holocaust survivor who adopts an indigenous girl who was forced from her home is not lost on me. Though I have only seen the first two episodes, I am already invested. I want the lead character to find what she is looking for. I also have a feeling that the emotional shakeup that is coming will be life-changing.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

New episodes of Little Bird are available on the PBS app on Thursday night at 8PM and on television on Saturday night at 8PM.

Tom Jones Review

When a writer is looking for inspiration, they often look to works from the past. The issue is that some of these stories may contain characters or narratives that are archaic, outdated, or just plain offensive.

The new 4 part Masterpiece/PBS miniseries, Tom Jones, is based on the 1749 novel, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, by Henry Fielding. The title character, Tom Jones (Solly McLeod) was found as a newborn by Squire Allworthy (James Fleet). A widower without children, he raises Tom as if they were flesh and blood.

When we meet Tom at the age of twenty, he is like most of us at that age. He wants to do the right thing, but his efforts don’t always go as planned. He is also not anti-social when it comes to the opposite sex.

Nearby, Sophia Western (Sophie Wilde) is an heiress and the bi-racial granddaughter of a local landowner, Squire Western (Alun Armstrong). She is expected to walk in the footsteps of previous generations of women and “marry well”.

Their childhood friendship turns into adult affection and love. But he is considered unworthy of her. The only way to reach their happy ending is to fight for it.

I have to admit that I have never read the original text. This review is solely based on the television adaptation.

I enjoyed the first episode. The tale is compelling and the characters are fully drawn. I like that Sophia was reimagined as bi-racial. It highlights the issues that are still not fully dealt with. It also creates a bond between our young lovers while adding layers of conflict. Both are key to keeping the audience engaged and hanging on until the (hopeful) happy ending.

Do I recommend it? Yes.

Tom Jones airs on PBS on Sunday night at 9pm.

Some Things Never Change: How Saba Kept Singing Review & Justice for Joey Borgen

As much as things change, they stay the same.

In honor of Yom HaShoah earlier this week, PBS aired the documentary How Saba Kept Singing. The film followed David Wisnia, the late Cantor and Holocaust survivor.

Originally from Poland, David was the only member of his immediate family to see the end of the war. The only reason he walked out of Auschwitz was his singing. The audience travels with David and his grandson Avi as he talks about his past and visits the place in which he nearly died.

I loved it. I was in tears by the end. This was a man who had every reason to be angry and bitter. But he found the light and a reason to live. It is a message that anyone can relate to.

Back in 2021, Joey Borgen was attacked in broad daylight in New York City. His crime was being visibly Jewish and attending a pro-Israel rally.

His attacker (who shall remain nameless on this blog) was given a slap on the wrist: six months in jail and five years probation. Alvin Bragg‘s office claims that they did a thorough investigation. If they did, these men would have been charged with a hate crime and given a significant jail sentence.

The message is loud and clear: anyone who verbally or physically assaults a Jewish person in NYC will not be treated as the criminal they are. They will be told they were naughty and nothing more.

That is not the city I know and love. Shame on you, Alvin Bragg. You know better. You could have done better, but you chose not to.

Remember This Review

Groupthink is defined as the follows:

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon in which people strive for consensus within a group. In many cases, people will set aside their own personal beliefs or adopt the opinion of the rest of the group.

In Europe during World War II, while many went along with the antisemitic lies that led to the deaths of 6 million of my co-religionists, a brave few did everything they could have to save lives. Among them was Jan Karski. His story is told in the PBS/Great Performances program Remember This.

Playing Karski is David Strathairn in a one-man performance. He starts with the character’s early years, goes though the life-changing and heartbreaking experience during the war, and finally ends with his later years in America.

Stratharin gives a powerhouse performance. It took my breath away and reminded me that even when the masses speak hate, there are still a few who are not afraid to speak truth to power.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Remember This is available for streaming on the PBS app.

P.S. The #StandUpToJewishHate campaign (led by New England Patriots owner and philanthropist Robert Kraft) is unfortunately timely and necessary. My prayer is that it does some good before it is too late.

Flashback Friday: Victoria & Albert: The Royal Wedding (2018)

A wedding is something to celebrate. A royal wedding takes that concept and explodes it tenfold.

The 2018 PBS TV movie Victoria & Albert: The Royal Wedding told the story of the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert from the inside out. Hosted and narrated by Lucy Worsley, the viewer is given a micro view of the often unseen and underappreciated details that made the day what it was.

I find this topic fascinating. Though outwardly, it is straight out of a fairy tale, there is obviously much more than the happily ever after. The number of moving parts that could have ground everything to a halt is a topic that deserves the spotlight.

Do I recommend it? Yes.