Summer Watching!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Since we've all topped up our TBR piles with Lucy's What We're Reading post last week, I thought it was time we had a look at what's on the goggle box (as they say in the UK.) When we're worn out from gardening and barbecuing–or we just need some lazy air-conditioned evenings, it's nice to have a pocketful of suggestions. Here's what's been keeping us glued to the screen lately.

On our recent REDS & READERS Happy Hour,  I mentioned DEPT Q, the series adapted from the Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen's first novel featuring the irascible Copenhagen detective Carl Morck, THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES. The story has been moved to Edinburgh and stars one of my very favorite (as in huge crush) English actors, Matthew Goode, as Morck, with an otherwise Scottish and brilliant cast.  It's fairly gritty, but the writing is terrific and Goode and all the cast give fabulous performances.

Since then we've watched THE RESIDENCE, a charming (billed as mystery/comedy/drama) series about a world famous detective (Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp) brought in to investigate a murder in the White House. Aduba shines as Cupp, an avid birder, and the sets and models are amazing. 

We've also watched a couple of documentary series, Stanley Tucci's new TUCCI IN ITALY, and the new season of CHEF'S TABLE, which is called LEGENDS and features cooking legends Jamie Oliver, Jose Andres, Thomas Keller, and Alice Waters.

Oh, and boo, we're very sad the latest season of GRAHAM NORTON'S BEST BITS has finished.

Fellow REDS, what are your TV tips?

HALLIE EPHRON: There’s so much good stuff available right now. I loved THE RESIDENCE. Looking forward to the next season but it’ll be a while.

And also just started watching DEATH VALLEY with the wonderful Timothy Spall on Britbox. And I just started “PATIENCE which is on PBS (though the solution of the first episode is patently ridiculous).

All of them are recycling the trope of the wacky (damaged? Handicapped? Over the hill?) detective with a much younger, down-to-earth sidekick available for copious eye-rolls.

JENN McKINLAY: Loved YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS with Jon Hamm. Excellent storytelling and characters. Highly recommend. Another hit was FOUR SEASONS (an 8 episode show based on the movie of the same name) starring Tina Fey and Steve Carell - it far exceeded my expectations! Currently, we’re watching POKER FACE starring Natasha Lynne, who I adore. So many good shows for the summer! Next up for us is DEPT Q! 

DEBS: Rick watched YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS without me and really liked it. Maybe I'll make him watch it again!

LUCY BURDETTE: Oh dear, I’m in such a fussy phase. We watched one episode of FOUR SEASONS before deciding not to continue. John and I also watched one hour of BLUE LIGHTS and DEPARTMENT Q. Both too dark for me, though he continued. I’m eagerly anticipating the next season of THE BEAR as well as THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB, but I’ll see if John will try THE RESIDENCE with me. I also heard that Jeremy Allen White will be playing Bruce Springstein in an upcoming biopic, but that’s not until October! Can’t wait for that!

RHYS BOWEN:  I have absolutely adored LUDWIG ( and not because one of the characters was called my name. So clever and well acted). I find I spend most of my TV watching on Britbox these days, often revisiting favorite mystery series; SHAKESPEARE AND HATHAWAY, ROSEMARY AND THYME. Apart from those I’ve enjoyed David Suchet tracing Agatha Christie’s journeys. 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Well of course we binged THE BETTER SISTER–gotta support our writer pals, and I adore Alafair Burke. I was intrigued by SIRENS, and love the milieu, but my skeptical editor brain kicked in.

And yes, Jenn, I was incredibly surprised by how much I  enjoyed YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, the Jon Hamm series. It really was terrific, and much more layered that one would think. I know I am going to hate-watch THE GILDED AGE, it drives me crazy with how thin I think it is but it is somehow irresistible–it might be the dresses. And oh, we enjoyed I, JACK WRIGHT on Acorn or wherever. It was quirky and unusual.

I tried DEATH VALLEY, and THE RESIDENCE, I really did, but they are not for me. LUDWIG, on the other hand, was standing-ovation good.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I think I’ve mentioned this one before, but I’m very much enjoying MURDERBOT on Apple+. It’s another straight from the book show, and I know we all like those. DEPT Q is up next after everyone’s raves. I’d love suggestions for some good summer-novel-type shows like THE PERFECT COUPLE with rich folks in beautiful locations behaving badly. I also tried SIRENS, and it didn’t catch me. 

Oh, and I’m doing another themed movie week, with 1970s horror/thriller movies. I was inspired by the 50th anniversary of JAWS, and then went on to see two I can’t believe I’ve never actually watched - the 1978 version of THE INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS and Stanley Kubrick’s THE SHINING. Both amazingly stylistic films, with such clear visions by the directors. They really don’t make ‘em like that any more.

DEBS: Julia, we watched JAWS over the weekend, the Spielberg remastered version. I HAD NEVER SEEN JAWS! I've also never seen THE SHINING. Or THE GODFATHER... Although tops on my to-watch list is the series THE OFFER, starring Matthew Goode as Bob Evans and about the making of the film. Unfortunately this series, which got rave reviews, is on Paramount+ which we don't have. MURDERBOT is up there on the to-watch list as well.

DEBS: What have we missed, dear readers? Tell us how you're whiling away you summer hours!