#18 - The Affair
Who'd have thought that the much less stable and consistent Showtime series about affairs would actually be the one to come out on top the following year? In its second season 'The Affair' knew exactly how to expand its storytelling device in which we see the same events unfolding from different perspectives by adding two more sides to the story -- those of the two people Alison and Noah have left and hurt with their affair. It was a beautiful choice to up both Joshua Jackson and Maura Tierney to lead and give them their own voices. Not only does this provide the show with stronger flexibility for storytelling but in particular the show's best actress Maura has even more material to work with and continues to prove why she's so great. That being sad, all four leads have turned in some very great and consistent performances they should be applauded for.
The series as a whole didn't exactly improve and still had one or two significant lows just as it did last year. However, thanks to sticking to its determined storytelling, 'The Affair' still succeeded in most of what it tried and was a strong character study of four people's lives who even as they have aged started to realize that they are still as clueless as they were years ago because life and its circumstances change and you will continue to walk into untread territory and have to make unexperienced, impulsive decisions. All you can really hope for is that you're doing the right thing but it turns out that you never really know until it's too late. 'The Affair' perfectly embodies how tough and scary this can be.
Noah might be the most unsympathetic character on tv today which makes a strong case for him almost being a villain but the show still knows exactly what to do with him and actually becomes the most distinctive and intriguing when exploring his perspectives. There are times even he realizes what a monster he's been in a situation whereas his ex-wife remembers him peacefully and kind during a night out together. His novel in which he has processed many of his feelings and experiences concerning his affair with Alison seems to transform into reality - just like 'The Affair' as a tv show tells a story of different perspectives with no objective truth and that makes everything also feel strangely meta. In a way no other show has done this one takes on how reality and fiction can sometimes not only influence each other but even become one.
'The Affair's second season perfectly combined a dark, bleak atmosphere and themes while also remaining hopeful and being able to depict many different true layers of love. It's a weird mix but it works. Along with great performances and a storytelling device that unique it can even make up for its otherwise pretty bland and dull murder-plot that keeps slowing down some of the show's strong momentum. It's great to see that it was a pretty consistent season just like last year that definitely had some lows but also hit quite high when it wanted to. It's a show that provides some rare moments of genuine beauty and has an understanding of what makes love so special. At the same time, 'The Affair' is also a show with an interest of exploring the darkest side of people and at times that makes for cheap drama. At other times, however, it makes for something truly fascinating.
Best Episodes: "201"; "203"; "207"; "212"
2014 - #16
#17 - Wolf Hall
Although Emmy- and Globe-nominated and universally acclaimed, 'Wolf Hall' has not gotten far enough attention - certainly not as much as it deserves. It's not quite the best miniseries of the year (stay tuned) but nonetheless, it's still a very strong six-hour long period drama about the royal advisor, lawyer and minister Thomas Cromwell who has changed the course of British history with his actions. 'Wolf Hall' isn't completely historically accurate but that's actually good.
Cromwell has your typical underdog backstory: He comes from a poor background, has a deceased mother and a father who's a blacksmith and despises his son for what he's become (thoug envy definitely plays a part to that as well). However, Cromwell is also much smarter than his past would suggest and after being the counselor to one of Britain's most important heads of the church he soon finds himself being targeted as the new scapegoat for everything bad his master has done once he dies.
Cromwell, though, doesn't succumb to those reactions and with his sharp tongue, intelligence and wit and being in possession of vital but dangerous information about almost everyone with a name in Great Britain that he has collected by years of simply listening, he keeps working his way up to the royal family and becomes one of the most powerful men of the British Empire.
'Wolf Hall' tells a story that is much more than just a history drama, though. It's a story about how a small number of people, a bored society of class with a hunger that can't be satisfied, can affect an entire nation and it's also a story about how power and greed not only corrupt an individual but almost have a sort of infectiousness to them.
Mark Rylance who plays the show's lead gives an exceptional performance which has to be counted amongst this year's very best. He had a particularly great year, actually, and maybe you've had the chance to spy him in Spielberg's Cold War agent-thriller 'Bridge of Spies'.
'Wolf Hall's entire cast provides more than just solid performances, though. There's British tv staple Damian Lewis who captures King Henry's impulsive, extravagant and unpredictable nature in a greatly eccentric manner. Or the beautiful Claire Foy as his wife Anne Boleyn who's both icy cold and vulnerable at the same time.
What makes 'Wolf Halll' really great instead of "just good" is its awareness and knowledge on what makes for great television. A depiction of power and wealth in a past century could be very dry but the show conjures waves of powerful emotions and actually breathtaking, thrilling plot developments more than just once that make it so very exciting to observe this particular tale of the inevitable fall that follows after a steep rise.
'Wolf Hall' builds up with each episode to several momants packed with tragic sadness, intense and shocking surprises and even more than just a few laughs. Despite a period drama setting it really is a show made to be loved by everyone thanks to its intrigues, dramatics and quality. And you will come to see that many of its themes - greed, power, etc - are actually timelier topics than ever.
Best Episodes: "Anna Regina"; "The Devil's Spit"; "Crows"; "Master of Phantoms"
And Homeland is still on hold ( I must say that I was quite bored by this season's plot, but I blame myself for it, I usually watch TV shows before I go to school, early in the morning, so my mind isn't quite ready yet for all the heat that shows like Homeland throw 