THE LEGEND OF KORRA (2012 – 2014) Animation / Action / Adventure Seasons: 4 Janet Varney, JK Simmons, Dee Bradley Baker --------------------------- Following the storyline of Avatar: The Last Airbender (the good one, not the M. Night Shyamalan atrocity) we jump 70 years into the future, following the death of Aang and the birth of a new all-powerful Avatar in the eponymous protagonist. In a world greatly changed by the wars and politics of the previous installments, Korra embarks on a spiritual journey of her own across the 4 nations, uniting the elemental benders and facing unexpected foes that sometimes come from much closer to home than she expects. A perfect sequel to the original franchise and aimed at a much more mature audience, it’s as heartwarming as it is epic. THE BOLD TYPE (2017 – present) Drama / Comedy Seasons: 4 Katie Stevens, Aisha Dee, Meghan Fahy ----------------------------- Inspired by the life of “Cosmopolitan” editor-in-chief Joanna Coles, this light-hearted yet deeply insightful show delves into the lives of 3 millennial women living in New York and working for the women’s magazine “Scarlett”. Touching on highly relevant themes, namely from a modern woman’s perspective, and inclusive of characters from all walks of life – this show has been a consistent optimistic highlight and a wonderful source of socio-political education, especially in the recent political climate. RESCUE ME (2004 – 2011) Drama / Comedy Seasons: 7 Denis Leary, John Scurti, Michael Lombardi ---------------------------- Possibly the greatest unsung hero in television history, this dramatically hectic and darkly hilarious show comes right from the depths of the twisted mind of comedian Denis Leary. Set in post 9/11 New York, we follow the daily lives of a group of FDNY Firefighters who were present at Ground Zero, as they manoeuvre their chaotic daily lives, relationships and the hardships of the noble job they so bravely take on. The dialogue is razor sharp, the characters are exceptionally deep, and the storylines are sometimes so absurdly ridiculous that they just couldn’t NOT be true. A solid 10/10 from the opening monologue to the closing shot of the New York skyline, it’s inconceivable to even think that this show has never been considered as one of the greatest of all time. ELECTRIC DREAMS (2017) Sci-Fi / Horror / Drama Seasons: 1 Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Chaplin, Brian Cranston --------------------------- Also based on the works of Phillip K. Dick, this anthology series brings some of his more obscure short stories to life over the span of 10 film-worthy stand-alone episodes, each of which focuses on a different aspect of society, psychology, politics and technology. Futuristic dystopias, space tourism, alternate realities, Lovecraftian bodysnatchers, AI gone wild – all these classic elements saturate the bizarre worlds of one of Sci-Fi’s greatest pioneers, while backed up by stellar casts and masterful visual direction. For lovers of Black Mirror, this one is a must. HANNIBAL (2013 – 2015) Crime / Drama / Horror Seasons: 3 Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Lawrence Fishburne --------------------------- Possibly the best show of the mid 2010s, this sleeper was cut down in its prime and cancelled after a strange yet no-less intriguing 3rd season. Covering stories and themes from the classic Thomas Harris novels, this reimagining of the Hannibal Lecter storyline was perfectly cast, flawlessly written and sublimely executed, with some of the best twists and revelations a murder mystery TV show could possibly offer. The eternal conflicting dance between Mads Mikkelsen’s Hannibal and Hugh Dancy’s Will Graham will forever be one of televisions greatest love-hate bromances, and with Netflix now potentially picking up the show for a revival, one truly wonders what could happen next. Fingers crossed for “Silence of the Lambs”. THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE (2015 – 2019) Drama / Sci-Fi / Thriller Seasons: 4 Alexa Davalos, Rufus Sewell ------------------------------ Based on the novel by Phillip K. Dick, this dystopian thriller is set in an alternate reality where the axis powers end up winning the war, America is conquered and split in two halves – the Nazi East and the Japanese West. We center on protagonist Juliana Crane (Davalos) as she uncovers a vast conspiracy with the discovery of a film reel, which shows the outcome of the war that we know in our reality, and follow her on a mind-bending trip across America to discover the truth of the films creator, as well as what it all means for the reality in which they live. www.bahrainthismonth.com September 2020 39 film & tv
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