Backstreets

What a surprise! When a friend recommended Upright to me, I had little idea of what to expect - even though he sketched the very basic premise of the show. But Season 1 started off fine and funny, and grew to be an even finer show as the two main characters were each fleshed out and as the chemistry between them grew. It's by no means non-stop laughs, but still qualifies as comedy, as well as a drama. And while it does have its dark elements, it's still light enough to offer some distraction and relief in these troubled times. Some very fine acting as well. Season 1 is highly recommended! My wife and I are very much looking forward to Season 2.

This is an excellent, extremely topical show. It starts off as a cop caper, and evolves in ways I won't give away for fear of spoilers. Suffice to say that the plot kept my wife and me very engaged, with twists and turns that in a few instances seemed confusing but that were ironed out in the end. If you do watch it, which I very highly recommend, bear in mind that the show was filmed back in 2018 (and released in 2019). I won't say more, again for fear of spoilers.

Suffice to say that this is an extremely topical, as well as excellent, show. It kept my wife and me guessing and galvanized about what's going on and what's coming next. It has so many twists and turns that it can get a bit confusing at times. But it all becomes pretty clear as the plot unfolds. And Season 2 is even better. (We haven't watched Season 3 yet.) If you watch the show, which I urge you to do, bear in mind that it was filmed back in 2018 (and released the next year). Sorry to be a bit cryptic with that comment. I'll leave it at that.

This crime drama, with some moving personal elements for the characters as the series evolves, started off fine and has gotten better and better as the plots and those characters have evolved. Part of the appeal of the show is that the plots can be complicated without (usually) being too confusing. Another is that the stories are usually much more about the detectives gradually figuring out what's going on rather than violent encounters with criminals (though a few episodes have gruesome elelements and there is occasional action). Yet another is that, while each episode is pretty-much self-contained to a specific crime(s) and solution(s), there are a few plot lines involving the main characters' personal lives that extend across episodes and even seasons. The acting is generally quite fine. Last but not least, the main characters in the crime-solving unit, starting with Detective Grace himself, are quite likable and appealing, A few minor drawbacks, though I emphasize minor: In some ways, most of the approximately 90-100 (commercial-free) episodes are formulaic. They start with a few different characters and scenes that don't seem linked to each other. Then, as the plot unfolds, those threads are woven together. It's occasionally implausably easy for the bad guys to escape capture, at least for a while. The action scenes are by no means the show's strong suit. By and large, though, the plots and characters capture attention in compelling and, for the characters, even endearing ways. Very highly recommended!