Lucifer's second season gets off to a nice start, building on the show's strengths while retaining some of the weaknesses. It remains an unapologetically sordid, demonically fun hour of TV.
Returning to IFC this fall is one of the most peculiar, inventive comedies on TV, the veritable documentary spoof factory Documentary Now! Created by SNL MVPs Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, and their ever-loving godfather Lorne Michaels, the show found its niche on the “always on, slightly off” cable network by spoofing some of the most popular documentaries of all time, appealing to the indie-minded set while providing enough surface-level humor to appease fans of their famous late-night shenanigans. The show’s first season goofed on classics like The Thin Blue Line, Grey Gardens, and Nanook of the North, and now the comedy triumvirate is back with a new lineup of 20-minute spoofs.
Luke Cage is a breakthrough for Marvel, a provocative, socially conscious crime drama that brings a fresh perspective to the ever-crowding superhero genre.
Queen Sugar, Ava Duvernay’s small-screen adaptation of the Natalie Baszile novel on Oprah's OWN, is a progressive force in the TV landscape on several fronts. The family drama’s predominantly black cast is anchored by strong female characters and views the world from their perspective; the male characters are defined by sensitivity and vulnerability rather than the typical malady of American faux-machismo; the storytelling sidesteps explosive, tearjerker sensationalism in favor of nuanced drama that unfolds organically.
Schamus' directorial debut is remarkable, capturing the male moodiness of Roth's work. The brilliant young leads only elevate the already rich material.
