Episode 31

BABY REINDEER( Netflix)-England- is a black comedy thriller based on the real life of comedian Richard Gadd. In the series Gadd plays Donny, a struggling comedian working as a bartender. One night into the bar comes Martha, a lonely woman who claims to be a lawyer. He offers her a free cup of tea. Big mistake. Martha, a large person also has large needs and desires which she focuses on the hapless Donny. Almost instantly she is obsessed with Donny and infiltrates every aspect of his life. Curiously Donny seems to become the somewhat willing object of this clever abuser. Escaping his demons and ridding himself of the persistent Martha becomes the focus of the series.

MAESTRO IN BLUE-( Netflix )Greece-This romantic drama/mystery is set against the backdrop of Paxos, a picture-perfect Greek island where a delightful classical music festival is to be staged. Arranging this event is Fanis, the head of a rich powerful family who’s running for mayor. Helping him is beautiful but discontented wife Sofia, their 19 year daughter Kleila, a talented pianist and Antonis, their teenage musician son with a secret. Arriving on the island is 40-something conductor Orestis who’s charged with pulling together the music festival. Soon we realize behind the gorgeous backdrop is big trouble. Someone has been secretly murdered. Who’s the victim? Whodunnit? And why? Don’t be fooled. Most of the series concerns the many illicit love affairs that develop.  Each causes a cascade of repercussions which are first played out against the backdrop of the island’s music festival and then continue when several characters move to Athens. If romantic murder mysteries aren’t for you, stick around for the music and scenery. You won’t be disappointed. 

UNDER THE BRIDGE-( Hulu)- Canada-This mystery is based on the 1997 murder of an East Indian teenage girl in a Vancouver suburb. Trying to uncover the murderer is Cam, a dedicated indigenous police officer who, having been adopted by the white police chief and his family, continually faces her own conflicts. Complicating the investigation is aspiring journalist, Rebecca, Cam’s former best friend, who returns to her hometown in order to unearth material for a book. Her search often finds her skirting the law and becoming too close to the troubled group of teen girls whose circle the murdered girl wanted to join. The frayed friendship between the policewoman and writer eventually finds a resolution as the murder investigation reveals the identity of the young girl’s killer.