Government Cheese

Government Cheese is a vibrant, emotionally rich dramedy that manages to feel both nostalgic and wildly original. Set in 1969 San Fernando Valley, it follows the Chambers family with heart, humor, and a touch of surreal magic. As someone who grew up in the Valley, I can honestly say they nailed the feeling of the place-the streets, the energy, even the sunlight. It felt close to home in the best way.

What really sets this series apart is its fearless storytelling-dreams blend with reality, and the line between absurdity and authenticity is danced upon with style and purpose. At the center is Hampton Chambers, whose return home from prison throws his already unconventional family into a beautiful storm of love, conflict, and rediscovery.

The writing is sharp, the pacing bold, and the performances deeply human. Each character is layered and compelling, and the visual direction captures both the period and the whimsy of the world being built.

More than just a comedy or a family drama, Government Cheese is a meditation on resilience and the American dream-especially for Black families navigating a world that rarely makes space for them. It's imaginative, culturally rich, and speaks to the power of dreaming beyond your circumstances.

Highly recommend watching. This one lingers with you.

Loving the style and setting of this. Anything that has the music of Can in it is obviously a labour of love and this programme is swimming in love from the set design to costuming and the performances. Wonderfully cast and acted. As the title says it's very reminiscent of Greg Garcias work to if you enjoyed My name is Earl or Raising Hopeand most latterly Sprung, the style of this and choice of shots will feel very familiar. Having to enter extra words just to meet an arbitrary word count is both ridiculous and and wasteful. If you can say everything you want to say within a few sentences why prolong?

Had it in my watchlist for a while. Any show / movie PRE - cellphones i appreciate more and will give it a shot. And I am happy I did. A needed break from serious drama's - It won't get the recognition it deserves because majority of people like instant gratification and don't give things a shot. And anyone younger than millennials (IMO) tend to shy away from series set before the 90's (again, IMO) - I think the acting is solid all around, and takes a used base storyline and adds a great, unique twist. Parts of the storyline that are usually filled with predictable characters, stereotypical placement is not what you find. Even "the bad guys" have a unique and funny take. Highly recommend.

This is really good and has a lot of opportunity for character development. There will be many lessons to be learned here. I'm excited 😁 TV and entertainment with DEPTH and many layers.

I don't recognize any of the actors, meaning that the writing is spectacular. I like the cinematography, too, because the topics are HEAVY and quite sad, but they manage to keep it light and manageable and not laden and depressing. There are definitely some Wes Anderson vibes, but it doesn't seem like a ripoff.

These unfamiliar actors make it more interesting, too. And, the music isn't bad. The opening credits are cool, and I like how they nerd out.

I really did not expect to like this show based on the premise/aesthetic: surprised myself by watching all four episodes in one day. David Oyelowo's characters often come across as self-righteous, and it's interesting to see him in an edgier role where that attitude is not yet fully earned.

Comparisons to Wes Anderson and the Coen brothers will abound, but it most reminds me of Lodge 49. It's never really clear how much the religious/magical realist elements reflect reality vs. The characters' own sometimes questionable judgment. The whole cast is great: Simone Missick is always appealing, and Sunita Mani almost steals the whole show in what may be a one-off appearance.