Claws

Rarely TV shows hold my attention, I get board with the plot and just shut the TV off. I started recording "Claws" because a few of my friends have worked on the production and I was just curious after hearing them talk about "Uncle Daddy" and the entire list of characters. I started watching the first episode only to binge watch the entire season to the current episode. I was hooked! I had to know what happened next and I have not done that since the days of Falcon Crest and Dallas when I was a kid! I HAD to tune in Sunday night when the current episode was to air because I just had to know what was going to happen. It is not a family friendly show by any means, it is directed to mature audiences. You will see T&A if you watch it so don't be shocked just hide your eyes. Again, I am hooked on the show! I think I need my nails done now too.

"TNT" has a new wild far out brash and bold crime series that involves five ladies who are just trying to make their way with life in the sunshine state. Set in Florida, "Claws" involves the life of a female mafia clan who run a nail salon, yet underneath the money involves blood, bullets, and scandal along with the typical bribes, loan sharking and just old fashioned get away fun! And the series is spiced up and blended nice with scenes of sex and clever plots that are a cover up to make the viewer think as to what type of mystery is going on. The ladies are lead by Niecy Nash in one of her strong and most blunt performances ever. Overall entertaining good crime drama series to watch that has plenty of sugar and spice.

The set up took about 3 episodes and then it launched. Dean was a bit annoying but he has developed into a far more interesting and believable character as an adult on the spectrum. 'The Girls' are all good with Dez the strongest but the real reason to watch is probably Roller a truly bizarre character, sort of Eminem if he did weights and steroids. Uncle Daddy is maybe the weakest character but this might be because I can't get the DEA character he played in Breaking Bad out of my mind. In my mind Uncle Daddy causes cognitive dissonance.

Very watchable.

TBT continues to dazzle. They promoted the hell out of this, somebody spent a lot of $ - and it shows, in a raunchy and engrossing noir comedy. But - a little puzzled that some seem surprised by the graphic (and witty!) vulgarity - "prurient"? yep, definitely! anyone who had seen a promo, or looked at the first 2 minutes - would know that this was not going to be Downton Abbey or The Good Wife. South Florida is a strange & wonderful place - and Claws is worthy of that milieu.

The cast: Niecy Nash has been a particular favorite since the wonderful Reno 911 - happy to see that she has found a perfect showcase. Carrie Preston, sometimes a bit too twee in her Good Wife stint. is letter-perfect,often raunchy funny but also deeply moving in her fragile gentility. Judy Reyes is always a welcome sight - a world away from her Carla on Scrubs. Great secondary characters -eg, the brilliant Dale Dickey, with her face for the ages. Dean Norris and the other males are all good, but the women rule here.

Nash's clothes, like her attitude, are magnificent, the stripper biker funeral in Episode 2 has to be seen to be believed, and Florida looks great.

A last note: "Tailored to a very specific audience" as the last line of a rather hateful 1-star review - really? Seems to be flirting with racism ... altho, I'm surely part of that target audience, and I'm a middle aged white man from the south, so yeah - target away!

It's like a comedy-drama that draws you in. It's Orange is the New Black meets Empire, meets Star, meets Breaking Bad, meets Power. Not for everyone, but I love it! Great acting and cast. Needs a bit more developing, but Empire did too in the first few episodes. The show definitely needs a chance. Claws could be a "sleeper" and I look forward to each new episode.