Claws

The first season of Claws was excellent. It was a well written, campy dark comedy about a nail salon crew led by the hilarious and over the top Niecy Nash. It follows her various small time criminal shenanigans and her ambitions to grow an empire. Sort of a mix of Breaking Bad, Weeds, and Pushing Daisies. And it worked.

Season 2 got a little weird. They started throwing in these completely random musical interludes, moderated presidential style debates between characters, just random nonsense. I can see and appreciate them trying to play around creatively, but I personally just found it unfunny and distracting from the actual storyline. If you skip those parts though, still pretty good.

Season 3, they throw in the politics. There's an entire episode that can basically be summed up as "Orange Man Bad." We get it. The orange man is bad. Just enough already, seriously. So many quality shows and movies have been absolutely ruined by this childish, vapid nonsense. Whether I personally agree with the positions or not is completely irrelevant. If I want to be disingenuously pandered to and/or pretentiously lectured to about irrelevant political topics, I'll sign up for Twitter. I watch TV to be entertained.

I don't even want to know the political leanings of the writers, directors, actors, extras, or whoever is holding the boom or serving the coffee.

Being that the worst of it was only one episode, it wasn't enough to completely give up the series yet. I'm just hoping it's like the bizarre musical interludes in that it's something they were trying out, they'll realize it's distracting and idiotic, and they'll get back to the storylines (which in a lot of cases are actually pretty interesting and well executed).

"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.

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.

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!

As someone whose favorite shows are X-FIles and The Sopranos, I wrote this show off from the moment I saw the previews. And wow do I apologize to the writers and the actors of this excellent, engaging tv show. Little did I know this gem of a show had a ton in common with my two favorite shows, strong female lead, lots of crime, and genuine comedic moments thru characters that have excellent development.

This show is one of a kind, dramatic, hilarious and heart-warming. The story line is completely unique and offers so much variety to viewers. The character development is excellent and really makes you as a viewer fall inlove with these unique characters. It's so binge worthy, and in the current season it brings me back every week.

I love these women! You did it right this time TNT, hope this shows has a long life with many seasons to come.