272. Web-series Reviews – 108

More web-series reviews…

The Night Agent – Came out in 2023. The Night Agent is a sophisticated, character-based, action-thriller centering on a low-level FBI agent who works in the basement of the White House, manning a phone that never rings -- until the night that it does, propelling him into a fast moving and dangerous conspiracy that ultimately leads all the way to the Oval Office.  Based on the novel of the same name by Matthew Quirk.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

One year after thwarting a terrorist attack on the Washington D. C. metro, FBI Agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) works in the basement of the White House monitoring an emergency phone line that never rings, for a intelligence program called Night Action jointly reporting to the FBI, and the President's Chief of Staff, Diane Farr (Hong Chau) who got him the position despite Sutherland's history of having a father who allegedly turned traitor that has made Peter a popular target for conspiracy theorist. When cybersecurity specialist Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) moves back with her aunt and uncle following the collapse of her startup, her first night she hears them discussing urgent matters in hushed whispers before their home is attacked by two assassins (Eve Harlow and Phoenix Raei). Before her aunt and uncle are killed they give Rose a phone number with a code phrase they tell her to call along with the words "Osprey was right". Retreating to the neighboring house, Rose calls the number which puts her in contact with Peter who helps her stay alive during pursuit until the police arrive. As Peter takes over Rose's protection, the two are thrown into a wide reaching conspiracy that reaches all the way to the highest echelons of power.

The Night Agent is an adaptation of the 2019 novel of the same name by Matthew Quirk and began development in 2020 under the stewardship of noted TV writer/producer Shawn Ryan. The show was picked up by Netflix and has recently debuted on the streamer and I'm happy to say it's an engrossing and thrilling 10 episodes of television.

From the opening metro bombing where we're first introduced to Peter Sutherland, the series immediately gets you hooked as it jumps to one year later and the unexplained bombing has been co-opted by liars and conspiracy theorists who try to smear Peter as complicit in the bombing rather than a hero. The show does a solid job establishing the high stakes of the series while also creating both Peter Sutherland and Rose Larkin as likable and engaging characters who you want to see put together the pieces. Gabriel Basso gives a really good performance as Peter and having been a fan of this actor since his days playing Adam Jamison on The Big C, it's nice to see he's developed into a capable leading man with a relaxed masculine charisma that gives him the same level of appeal Robert Redford had in Three Days of the Condor. Luciane Buchanan is equally good as Basso's co-lead sporting a sense of humor and spunky self-assuredness that makes her skillset complimentary to Peter's with both characters getting equal chances to shine.

The show also features some solid supporting performances with Fola Evans-Akingbola very good and charismatic as young but determined Secret Service agent who is paired with a welcome appearance by Lucifer and 24 alum D. B. Woodside as a more seasoned but damaged veteran. But most prominently we have Hong Chau who is very good as Diane Farr who gets to play with the conflicted nature of her character. Chau is quickly becoming one of those actresses I look forward to seeing having loved her appearance in 2019's Driveways and continuing her strong run with notable appearances in The Menu and The Whale in 2022, and I'm pleased to say Chau is no less good here.

The plot covers most of the major beats you know from this type of conspiracy thriller and if you've seen the British series Bodyguard or the movie Three Days of the Condor you'll have a pretty good idea of the plot beats that are struck in terms of what kind of story this is. However, just because this is well trodden ground don't mistake that for a lack of quality because you don't always need to be original but you should always need to be engaging and the movie does a good job of that. While The Night Agent takes itself seriously (in comparison to the more dramedy inclined The Recruit), it does take pauses for exchanges between our cast as well as moments of genuine humor that give the show a bit more personality than you'd probably expect upon first seeing it. This even comes down to the assassins played by Eve Harlow and Phoenix Rael (whose characters I don't believe are named in the series) as they have this quirky romantic relationship that's showcased in between the chases and shootouts. As with many conspiracy shows there are the occasional bits that do stretch disbelief, but for the most part the central mystery was keeping me engaged especially when it was complimented with engaging characters and performances.

I really enjoyed The Night Agent and think it's a solid 10 episodes of TV. The central mystery has a great hook and a pair of likable characters, there's a strong feeling of tension and paranoia during the investigation, and there's not a bad performance from the bunch. While the show does leave the door open to continuation, I'm pleased to say the series is mostly self-contained and doesn't brazenly "season bait" so if there is a second helping of The Night Agent I'll gladly take it if it can be kept to the same level.

My Take – Don’t miss it!  Fast paced thriller!

 

Waco American Apocalypse – Came out in 2023. The Netflix documentary showcases what happened in 1993 in Waco, Texas when cult leader David Koresh faced off against the federal government in a siege of 51 days.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

"For those who died and those who survived"...

... are the last words of this documentary. And I just wanted to honour that excellent statement by making it the title of my review.

Like many people, I of course had once heard of "Texas Waco". But when I now think of it, I have to admit that I actually never knew or understood what it really stood for. Yes, I had an idea that it had to do with some kind of cult where many people lost there lives. But, it was this documentary that made me aware for the first time of what actually happened there.

I think it is worth to mention that - after seeing this documentary - that I am amazed that Netflix even produced this documentary. This since it appears to be a really black page in the history of the USA.

The most impressive is to see that the team behind the documentary was able to get many important people included in the documentary. And this from all sides: ATF, FBI, media, and even more impressive, the "Davidian" people that were present in the location. So you will be able to hear the experiences from snipers, negotiators, "cult"-members, politicians, journalists ... and even one of the first ATF agents that entered the building, got shot and was brought to hospital.

This allows the viewer to at least create a "fair" opinion of whom was involved and responsible for the so-called "Waco Massacre". And mind you, even people of the FBI itself were critical of how the situation was handled with.

The documentary impressed me in such a way, that it even made me check on the internet on how the government commemorates the events that happened on that location. And it amazed me that - on a spot where over 80 people died - only one small memorial was placed: i.e. For the 4 ATF agents that died... The other 80 people that lost their lives - including 20 innocent children - seem to go lost. It in some kind of way is a continuation of denial of the ugly events that happened at the site.

And that is why I think this documentary is so important to watch. Because the government clearly doesn't come out unscathed. And the viewer is even reminded of that by showing some direct events that happened a few years later (not mentioning them to prevent spoiling it).

Concluding, I want to mention that I will not give a rating. Just out of respect of the many lives lost. Giving any rating - either high or low - will not do justice to how ugly the events are that you will learn of. I mean, how can I rate something either positive when I see so-called "hero-shots" of ATF and FBI agents poaching with their guns in front of tanks that were used in events where many people got killed. And how can I rate something negative when you see the way that many people involved - from either side - cry tears about the events that occured. And mind you, that's tears from the most hardened FBI agents... I can only say that this documentary deserves an Academy Award for how honest it is in displaying these ugly events.

As a final remark of my review, I want to say that I will not easily forget the words of an FBI person:

"I don't know what hell looks like..." (long silence) "... maybe that".

My take – A worthwhile watch!

You Don’t Know Me – Came out in 2021. A BBC production.  Based on a book.  A young man stands accused of murder. The evidence is overwhelming. But at his trial, this man tells an extraordinary story.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

It's a legal drama set in modern times in London, England. It follows the trial, with many flashbacks, of a young man accused of murdering a drug dealer.

Hero (Samuel Adewunmi) is a successful deluxe car salesman in London. He has a younger sister, Bless (Bukky Bakray), and mother (Natasha Bain). He's attracted to a young woman on the bus, Kyra (Sophie Wilde). She gradually warms to him and eventually moves in with him. She's a private person who escapes by reading. 

Hero comes into conflict with an old acquaintance, Jamil Issa (Roger Jean Nsengiyumva), a prominent local drug dealer. Hero is accused of killing Jamil; we enter the trial at the point that Hero has dismissed his lawyer and is making his own closing statement, during which he explains what really happened despite the convincing evidence against him.

During his statement, we learn about Kyra's background, including her brother, Spooks (Tayo Jarrett). Through the episodes, we learn Hero's explanation for all the evidence, and in the end, we know what happened. The movie's conclusion is appropriately inconclusive.

I like legal dramas; I enjoyed this one very much. Hero is the voice-over throughout. His relationships and interactions appear natural. The dynamic between Hero and Kyra is solid and believable. The plot unfolds at a reasonable pace.

My Take – Worthwhile watch!

Cheers till next time😊!!