Get Shorty

Getting towards the late summer end of year, there's almost nothing worth watching of quality. Except this gem. Superb casting and throughly enjoyable story with lots of quirky humour.

Chris O'Dowd is superb as the movie obsessed thug trying to make his way in that other cess pool of deceit and treachery called Hollywood.

But I leave my applause for Ray Romano living a duplicitous life with the vicious drug dealing matriarch of the crime gang. As the producer of trashy B movies he's living in his own real life version of the trash he sells. A different drug for the masses. But he shows his vulnerable side by actually liking his murderous girlfriend and having some morals and ethics. Satire!

It's a great show. The only other show that's equally entertaining at the moment is Better Call Saul (BCS). I might even rate this slightly above BCS. If Queen of the South with a somewhat similar female led drug gang, was a tragi-comedy, while a great show in itself, would not even get close to Get Shorty.

I've given it an 8 as we're only a few episodes into Season 2. If it keeps going this way, I would be reviewing at 9+.

I genuinely enjoyed watching the first three episodes of this series and am looking forward to the rest. The acting is spot on and the cinematography is very well done. Found myself laughing out loud more than once.

It's annoying that I have to watch it online but that is for another day.

Get Shorty is a brilliant show. The characters are very well written, and this is supported by the fantastic cast. Chris O'Dowd does a great job of conveying a man willing to change but getting continuously dragged back into a life of crime. The show crafts fascinating characters who all have their own interesting backstories and quirks. A character that particularly interests me is Amara De Escalones: a female crime boss that is masterfully portrayed by Lidia Porto. It is refreshing to see a female antagonist written and portrayed in such an original way.

The storylines that unfold throughout the first series of Get Shorty are compelling. The relatable nature of the characters, interwoven with the commentary on the film industry is perfect! The comedic elements also work nicely to cement these two unlikely components. I similarly like the crime genre style of the series which pays homage to other films such as Pulp Fiction. One of my favourite storylines follows the character Louis Darnell, played by Sean Bridgers. I like this character and his storylines because I find the moral conscience and humour of the character, combined with his interactions between O'Dowd's character, to be very intriguing.

Overall, I would highly recommend Get Shorty as the series is a pertinent statement of the film industry wrapped up in a television series which is well written, directed and acted. I would give the series 8 out of 10. I look forward to seeing the character arcs progress in the follow up series which I will be watching.

This was a great kickoff to a new series that I'm confident will maintain the high bar set by its namesake, the film adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel "Get Shorty." That 1995 film remains one of my personal favorites, and the first episode of this new comedy was every bit as entertaining.

Chris O'Dowd is hilarious as a low-level mobster looking to do more with his life, and for his family. I only hope he can survive his efforts to extricate himself from his day job.

The initial writing is funny, and there are several interesting characters in the lineup. I can't wait to see how they develop the character of struggling TV Producer, Rick Moreland (Ray Romano). I'm sure his unlikely relationship with hit-man Miles Daly (O'Dowd) will leave him questioning his career choice.

It is shows like this that should be released as a full season, so we can binge watch it all the way through. I've already found myself checking the calendar anxious for the next installment.

Invest an hour of your time this week to On-Demand this first episode, and then block an hour on Sunday for the next. You will be glad you did.

I couldn't find anything else to watch Sunday evening, and saw this being advertised on Epix, and gave it a look. It was the first series episode named: "The Pitch".

I was drawn into this show slowly, but solidly, to the point where I couldn't leave the TV to use the restroom, or get something to eat until the last bell had rung. It was truly the best series opener by a network other than HBO, I personally have ever viewed.

Chris O'Dowd has found a home here as the mobster with a lot more on the ball than your everyday hit-man. The rest of the cast is perfect, along with the cinematography, directing, and locations.

If this show picks up an audience, I feel sorry for HBO come award season.

Put aside an hour and give this a look. I am extremely confident you will be very happy you did, and you'll be looking forward to the next episode as much as I am.