386. Web-series Reviews – 201

More web-series reviews…

The Diplomat – Came in 2023 and has had 2 seasons so far. In the midst of an international crisis, Kate Wyler, a career diplomat, lands in a high-profile job for which she is not suited, with tectonic implications for her marriage and her political future.

A review from IMDB...

I had very mixed feelings about season one, the 8-part series that my wife and I just finished watching, streaming. On the one hand the actors and their characters play off each other in very interesting ways. I can say "Never a dull moment."

On the other hand, after building up the intrigue for 7 1/2 episodes, the last episode ends with several critical questions unanswered. That is why I usually prefer a movie, in 90 to 120 minutes you get introduced to the key elements of a story, you see everything that develops, then you see important elements tied up nicely by the end.

Not this one, in a way I feel the show runner and producers cheat the audience. I believe most of us want to know things like "will she get that next job" and "who really was responsible for the incident that cost 41 lives?" Plus a few other questions left hanging. It is hinted that another season would come but as of now, over a year after this series ended, there is no indication anything is in the works.

OCT 2024 edit: The second season became available and my wife and I just finished watching it, six episodes this time which I think works better than eight. It takes up where season one ends and things develop in more radical and more interesting ways. The last couple of minutes are tragic and set the series up for at least season three.

Keri Russell, who also produces, is Ambassador Kate Wyler. As the first episode runs along we learn that her new assignment in London is partly to evaluate if she is a good choice to replace the resigning V. P. She is extremely good in this role.

Rufus Sewell plays her husband, Hal Wyler, a former ambassador who still is often addressed as "ambassador." Kate and Hal are having a difficult time with their marriage, it seems she wants a split but he doesn't. It doesn't help that he can often be a loose cannon.

So all in all we found it to be a very interesting and entertaining series, although they do go a bit overboard with the profane language most scenes. Is that authentic to the people in those types of careers? I don't know.

My Take – An excellent series!

 

Murder Mindfully – Came in 2024. A lawyer attends a mindfulness retreat to restore work-life balance but unexpectedly becomes a murderer and mastermind for the mob.

A review from IMDB...

Murder Mindfully" is an entertaining and refreshingly unique series right from the start. At first glance, it might seem like a typical crime drama: a lawyer working for a powerful mob boss and getting entangled in the gritty world of organized crime. Yet, what makes this show stand out is how it takes that familiar premise and spins it into something both humorous and darkly compelling. Rather than simply being another lawyer-takes-on-the-mob tale, the story dives into the unexpected twists and absurdities that come with a man who decides to murder his mob boss and then cover it up in a hilariously unusual way. The fact that he tries to accomplish this by drawing on a 12-week mindfulness seminar he once attended gives the series a delightfully offbeat edge.

In many ways, the show is as much a comedy as it is a thriller. There's a brilliant contrast between the high-stakes world of crime and the calming, zen principles of mindfulness that makes for plenty of laughs. Even if "Murder Mindfully" doesn't have you laughing out loud in every scene, it will at least keep a smile on your face with its clever dialogue and ironic situations. Watching the main character navigate one mess after another with a surprising degree of poise (or, at times, hilarious panic) becomes a big part of the show's charm. He may be in over his head, but he's determined to stay afloat, and the audience is along for every tense yet comedic step of the journey.

What also makes the show enjoyable is that, beyond the laughs, it does offer a surprisingly thoughtful take on mindfulness techniques. While the series never dives too deep into the philosophy, it includes just enough mindful tactics to give viewers a taste of how such practices might apply to everyday challenges. In some cases, these techniques add to the absurdity, as the main character tries to use meditative breathing or "mindful awareness" to manage increasingly chaotic situations. Still, there's something to be said for how these methods genuinely help him stay centered (to a degree!) amid all the criminal drama. It's as if the show's saying that, even when life gets completely out of hand, mindfulness can be a tool to bring you back to focus-even if it doesn't fix everything.

The main character's personal life also adds another layer of depth to the story. He isn't just running from mobsters; he's trying to juggle family responsibilities and keep his marriage intact while all of this is going on. His relationship with his child becomes a real anchor, providing a touch of warmth and humanity that's often missing in crime dramas. You get the sense that, at his core, he's not a bad person-just someone who's made some very questionable decisions. This struggle to balance family life with his new, unintended role as a mob boss makes the character more relatable and compelling. We see a man trying to keep it together for his kid, even while dealing with questions from gang members who are beginning to wonder if their boss is dead, alive, or something in between.

Adding to the pressure is the fact that other gang leaders are now circling, eager to take advantage of any signs of weakness within his organization. This external threat ramps up the tension significantly, as our protagonist has to prove that everything is "business as usual" while working out his own survival. The other gang bosses are skeptical and relentless, and they're not above using violence or intimidation to get the answers they want. This aspect of the show keeps the stakes high and gives the viewer a real sense of urgency that builds with each episode.

The series is perfectly paced, keeping you on edge but never getting too heavy. The balance of humor and drama is well-executed, and each episode leaves you wanting more. It's not hard to get hooked and binge the whole thing in a single day, as I did, just to see how the main character will manage to escape the next crisis or talk his way out of the latest complication. By the end of the season, you'll be craving a second one, eager to find out where this unusual story will go next.

"Murder Mindfully" is more than just another crime drama; it's a clever, well-acted, and engaging mix of suspense and humor, with just a hint of life advice for anyone willing to pay attention. If you're looking for a series that can keep you entertained while also making you think, even if only a little, about the benefits of staying calm under pressure, this one's worth a watch. It's a fun, fast-paced, and ultimately satisfying show that doesn't take itself too seriously-and neither should you. So, grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready to laugh, cringe, and maybe even learn a little as you follow this lawyer's bizarre journey. Enjoy!

My Take – An excellent series!

 

This is the Zodiac Speaking – Documentary came in 2024. A shocking new series that points to Arthur Leigh Allen as the Zodiac killer, at the heart of the revelations is an unlikely family whose increasingly chilling relationship with Allen promises to connect him to the infamous Zodiac murders.

A review from IMDB...

The Zodiac Killer must be one of the most compelling cases in the history of forensics.

A monstrous being, ahead of its time.

When you read the stories you can't help but feel sorry for the victims, their families and the police. No one was prepared for a being of this magnitude.

This miniseries gives us a very interesting point of view.

Arthur Leigh Allen was always the number 1 suspect, all the circumstantial evidence, the fact that he had been in the area of several murders on the same days that they occurred and even his identification by the survivors.

However, he could never be locked up and died prematurely from his kidney disease.

In the Seawater stories there is so much pain, so much darkness lived, so many traces followed that it is impossible not to follow this conjecture. ALA was the Zodiac Killer, without a doubt. Egomaniac, narcissist, abuser, with extremely useful skills and talents... all the combo to do what he surely did.

It's a shame that David has passed away and will not be able to see the end of this story. I am left frozen by the bond with his mother and how she was/could have been an accomplice to this for so many years. A destroyed family, a sister who would clearly be one of the next victims and who was saved by a miracle.

Finally, the hope that the knife he gave to Connie's son will finally reveal that truth that has been awaited for more than 50 years...

My Take – A nice documentary!

Adios till next time😊!!