![]() Backed into a political corner, both Frank and Claire broke the proverbial fourth wall and fired the first shots of their rebellion that will surely be the focus of the upcoming fifth season. ![]() As the most recent season drew to a close, we witnessed the total eclipse of the Underwood Union. Underwood even dares to brag about his seeming immunity to Catherine Durant (Jayne Atkinson), “ because that’s how good we are.” Frank's comeuppance is seemingly imminent, and it will be glorious. Throughout the show’s arc, the Underwoods have been steadily driven apart, as they slowly turn into modern Macbeth-monsters with a dwindling supply of compunction. Frank himself is confronted with the specters of his murderous past, when his two most famous victims, Peter Russo and Zoe Barnes, besiege him in a hallucination of Shakespearean intensity. Season 4 also gives his wife Claire (Robin Wright) more autonomy than ever, which threatens Frank’s power while simultaneously providing avenues to enhance it. While the first season currently remains the series' best, the latest episodes have helped return the show to its primary selling point: getting inside the twisted and conniving mind of Frank Underwood (the inimitable Kevin Spacey). Political shows are a dime a dozen, but House of Cardshas redefined the genre. While countless live-action films have attempted to depict the emotionally barren world of Los Angeles (Damien Chazelle’s new La La Landdoes it admirably well), few can compete with the brilliant narrative of Bojack Horseman. The industry commentary is particularly incisive as Bojack rides a new wave of popularity through his attempted career resurgence. While the first two seasons established Bojack as a breakable horse-man who uses his celebrity to mask his depravity, season 3 is the undisputed apogee of the show. As a washed-up sitcom star, Bojack (Arnett) battles his crippling depression and stalemated career through the ephemeral antidotes of drugs, sex and alcohol. Instead, creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg and star Will Arnett have created a hard-hitting show that entertains viewers while shining a blinding light on the inner decay of Hollywood. From a distance, Netflix’s stellar dramedy may look like your average animated show: light on substance, heavy on crude jokes and eminently forgettable. In regards to war epics, The Siege of Jadotville may also be a taste of what’s to come, as Netflix prepares to release the upcoming Brad Pitt-led movie, War Machine.īojack Horsemanproves that horses can make men cry. Though not quite on the same cinematic level as Netflix's awards-darling Beasts of No Nation, The Siege of Jadotville recalls a similar aesthetic to Blood Diamond and provides an engaging portrayal of this lesser known conflict in the Congo. Led by their brave commander, Pat Quinlan (Jamie Dornan), the band of Irishmen (and the actors that portray them) show tremendous heroism and humor in the face of death (while under siege, they are rumored to have radioed, “ Could do with some whiskey.”). Thrillingly depicted in The Siege of Jadotville, the Irish fought not just against native soldiers but against Belgian, French and Rhodesian hired guns, surviving all manner of mortars and machine gun fire as they waited for backup. Despite being grossly outnumbered and low on ammunition, the Irish army survived a six-day siege before being taken captive by the Katangese. In 1961, an Irish outpost of United Nations soldiers were ambushed by thousands of Katangese soldiers in Central Africa. Due to the show's growing fan base, Netflix has doubled down on its commitment to comedy and recently renewed Lady Dynamite for a second season. It’s a bold piece of entertainment that, were it not for the golden age of television, might have never been made. Back in LA, Bamford resumes her mission of making it in showbiz, and through a series of deftly timed (and often hilarious) flashbacks, we learn more about her complex history and family. Having lost her way in the city of angels, Bamford took a six month-long leave of absence to combat her bipolar disorder away from the pomp and circumstance of Hollywood. A fearlessly autobiographical series, Lady Dynamite tells the story of the aspiring actress’ triumphant return to Los Angeles. Lady Dynamite is the comedian’s magnum opus, a one-of-a-kind story with a vibrant sense of humor matched only by the tenderness (and likability) of its characters. Maria Bamford deserved her own show many moons ago, but we’re glad she had to wait until now.
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