BINGE WATCH BINGE WATCH
Catch up on these great series before the emergence from lockdown means sitting at home watching TV all day is no longer an option
Your Honor
One series, Now TV / Amazon Having wowed as Walter White in Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston went on to forge a steady career in films, but he makes a welcome return to the small screen in this drama about a prominent New Orleans judge whose son accidentally causes the death of another teenager. Tied to the law, he urges his son to report it to the police, until he discovers the dead boy is the son of a local Mafia boss, and instead uses his legal knowledge to try to cover up all of the evidence. Easier said than done, obviously, and as with Breaking Bad, watching becomes more and more tense the deeper Cranston gets himself into a mess that may or may not turn out so well in the end.
THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER One series, Disney Plus
Many Marvel Universe fans may have found the excellent WandaVision just a bit too weird, but this six-part series brings a welcome return to the thrill-a-minute escapades of the Avengers. Half the population of Earth was removed from existence by arch-villain Thanos in Avengers Infinity War, but his defeat meant these people have returned, and now millions have been displaced and face life in refugee camps across the globe. With this backdrop, Falcon, the best ally of the now-departed Captain America, takes centre stage to tackle a new threat from a group determined to create a world without borders, but who use extraordinary and dangerous powers to do so. Aided by the Winter Soldier, who has backstory troubles of his own, this series supplies the fights and explosions of any good superhero movie, but it is also underlined with a thought-provoking theme of what it’s like to stand for and represent a country that doesn’t represent or support your identity. Watch this series to see Marvel grow up.
FRANK OF IRELAND One series, All4 You can tell that the Gleeson Brothers Domhnall and Brian enjoyed making this very watchable sitcom about selfish but ultimately harmless idiot Frank (Brian) and his even stupider best friend Doofus (Domhnall). Set in Malahide and with all the recognisable landmarks in place, it’s a darkly funny series in which aspiring musician Frank tries his best to get through life while making everything worse for everybody else
– his mother who he lives with, his loyal best friend, and his long-suffering ex-girlfriend (played by Sarah Greene). While it’s not the most sophisticated programme on TV, it is crude and silly enough to bring out the laughs, and the guest stars (Brendan Gleeson, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Pom Boyd and Pat Shortt) look to be enjoying it just as much as its creators. If you want childish humour with adult language, look no further.
FIRECALL SUMMER
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