Graves

In today's more crowded than ever TV landscape it's easy to miss some rare gems airing on channels like Epix not known for their original programming. "Graves," starring Nick Nolte and Sela Ward is one of those gems. The setup is that Graves, played by a gravel-voiced Nolte doing the best work in his career, is a former two term Republican president (a cross between Reagan and George W. Bush) lauded by conservatives for his regressive, anti-immigrant, anti-gay, anti-environment - basically anti anything good, policies which have wreaked havoc on the country.

Now, twenty years out of office, he has an epiphany where he realizes what a genuinely horrible president he was. Wracked with regret and on a constant verge of a nervous breakdown, he embarks on a whacked out odyssey of redemption all to the consternation of his respectable Republican wife, played by Sela Ward also doing the best work in her career. Who knew she was that funny? This show is one of the smartest and funniest political shows to hit TV in years. Unlike Veep, which though funny is completely cynical and cold, Graves is funny AND filled with genuine emotion. The humanity and vulnerability of the characters in "Graves" make the laughs much deeper and more satisfying than anything Veep has ever done. Graves also has smarter writing and better acting than any other comedy on TV today. One would have to go back to the "All In the Family" to find a comparable show that combines politics, social issues and comedy in such a brilliant way.

I'm really enjoying this show, I think Nick Nolte is fantastic and the rest of the cast getting better and better as the roles expand and the story-line becomes more convoluted.

Sadly, I think Ernie Hudson is under-utilized, as usual, hopefully this can change and we get to see more about "Uncle Jacoob's" service to the Graves family over the years.

My favorite so far is ep 5, "Lions in Winter". Great quotes from Shakespeare's "King Lear"!

Roll on season 2!

Although the show starts out as somewhat predictable with the family dynamics, it is when you get into the series that you see the true heart in the show. The laughs come from the crazy situations that family gets themselves into.

Anything with Sela Ward gets a 10, and then you work backwards.

Nick Nolte has become a caricature of himself and the days of "Affliction" are long, long gone.

Think of Bill Maher writing a series of acts of contrition for George W. Bush, spend no time editing them or inserting irony and wit, and you have "Graves".

The stereotypical characters, including the cameos of "real life" politicians, make you embarrassed to watch, and if you are looking for some nexus or meaningful connection to the current election campaign, do not hold your breathe.

Hard to figure out why it was not so much better. A group of professionals phoned it in.

Republicans are bad. Democrats are good.

[ yawn ]

Is there anything more tired than that old narrative? And aren't shows like this a dime a dozen? Alpha House was actually funnier and it's canceled.

I'll watch some more and perhaps change my review after doing so, but I'm not holding my breath that this sad little show will perform any better than the 1st episode did.

When will Hollywood learn that predictable is boring as hell?

The only reason I didn't give it 1 star is because Sela Ward's acting is actually pretty good considering the disaster that is this show's writing.