Seshadri's Musings

More web-series reviews… A Nearly Normal Family – Came out in 2023. Swedish series. The Sandell family is a normal family consisting of the priest Adam, the lawyer Ulrika and their 19-year-old daughter Stella. They live a seemingly perfect life in a polished residential suburb outside of Lund. One day, everything changes when Stella ends up in custody, accused of murder. Her devastated parents don't know what to do. What has happened? They want to help Stella at any cost, but do they really know their daughter? Or each other? A review from IMDB... Very psychological and strong. A lot of tension and suspense! In a few minutes many things happen, so some episodes are unnecessarily prolonged, but didn't bother me. The series is more from the family's point of view in my opinion, because the parts of judicial system here are not realistic. I have seen many Scandinavian series and in this one some forms and the rights ...

More web-series reviews… The Trial (Il Processo) – Came out in 2019. Italian series. A group of characters is implicated in the brutal murder of Angelica, a 17 yo girl involved into something bigger than her: the prosecutor Elena Guerra, who discovers to be indissolubly close to the victim; Ruggero Barone rampant lawyer who considers this trial the chance of a lifetime; Linda Monaco, the only defendant, who insists claiming her innocence. They all walk on a razor's edge searching for the truth, waiting for a verdict, which will establish, in a way or another, a new course for their lives. A review from IMDB... This Italian noir is crafted with the utmost finesse. Set against the palatial Renaissance backdrop of Mantova-a city still relatively untouched by tourists-Il Processo takes us on a ride through the Italian judiciary system without bogging us down in bureaucracy, detail and Amanda Knox. A refreshing change from Neo...

More web-series reviews… 3 Body Problem – Came in 2024.  During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, a young astrophysicist considered a political dissident is employed at a secret military radio station. Forty years later, a number of scientists all over the world start taking their own life. A nanotechnology expert starts having visions of an ominous countdown. The key to the mystery might lie in a strange VR game that uses advanced technology. A review from IMDB... A group of scientists discover a phenomena that threatens humanity itself, a sequence of events that were put into action some forty years ago in China. There's so much hype surrounding this series right now, it's one of those shows everyone is talking about, but I've been here before, this unlike many however is worthy of the hype. I have read the book (albeit some years back,) and was worried how on Earth they'd adapt it, such a complex story, bu...

More web-series reviews… The Mire – 3 seasons from 2018 to 2024.  The 1980s in Poland - the very center of a bleak landscape between martial law and the Round Table. In a small, forgotten city somewhere in the south-west of Poland, there is a brutal double murder: a young prostitute and a local communist activist. At the same time, teenagers also commit suicide. Witold Wanycz (Andrzej Seweryn), an experienced, slightly bitter journalist, is to write about the murder in the local newspaper. At the same time, a young editor is employed in the same editorial office: Piotr Zarzycki (Dawid Ogrodnik) - son of a high-ranking party activist. He begins his own journalistic investigation. The more involved in the case, the deeper sinks into the title royst - the swamp, from which it is difficult to get out. A review from IMDB... The first season of this Polish series opens in the mid-1980s with the discovery of two bodies in the fore...

More web-series reviews… Love Storiyaan – Came out in 2024.  Love Storiyaan is a captivating series showcasing the remarkable journeys of six couples from diverse backgrounds, highlighting the strength of love to triumph over differences and challenges. Through their unique narratives, the show celebrates the unifying force of love, illustrating its ability to conquer obstacles and foster enduring togetherness. A review from IMDB... Dropped appropriately on February 14, Valentine's Day. Though every day would be a celebration of love. Love Storiyaan is a celebration. No big stars or celebrities. But with something bigger - real people with their love stories; eventually triumphing against all odds. Like the TV series Modern Love, it's about relationships, love and human connections. But I found it more lovable and delightful. 6 episodes. 6 stories. Each one handled brilliantly by some of the finest directors - Hardi...

More web-series reviews… Candy – Came out in 2022.  Texas in 1980 and based on the true story of killer Candy Montgomery and her victim, Betty Gore. Jessica Biel plays Montgomery, who seemingly had it all - a loving husband with a good job, a daughter and a son, a nice house in the brand new suburbs - so why did she kill her friend from church with an axe? Same story as Love and Death series. A review from IMDB... There is an epidemic of streaming crime docudramas, they are inexpensive to make - a prewritten relatable narrative, a preexisting cadre of voyeurs and prebaked external tension. Often these preordained advantages breed laziness and produce sloppy television. This, though, is a strong setup, introducing the key characters and quietly building Hitchcockian suspense towards the revelation of this heinous murder. The cast is strong and Jessica Biel is fabulous, leading the line as the eponymous character. Candy i...

More web-series reviews… Back to Life – 2 seasons from 2019 to 2021. After 18 years behind bars, Miri Matteson returns home and stumbles back into adult life in the claustrophobic coastal town she once knew in this half-hour comedy series. Miri attempts to rekindle old relationships, make new ones, look for work and readjust to life outside, while desperately waiting for the world to forget about what happened on that fateful night. A review from IMDB... "Back to Life" (2019 release from the UK; 6 episodes of 30 min. each) brings the story of Miri, a woman in her late thirties who tries to adjust "back to life" after serving an 18 yr. prison term. As Episode 1 opens, we shift back and forth between a job interview Miri is doing (and trying to explain--or avoid to explain--the 18 year gap in her resume), and her release from prison, moving back home with her parents in the most awkward of ways (mom hurriedl...