Good Behavior

I was not familiar with the books, on which this was based, so I was a bit stunned, early on, when this took a hard, right turn, into territory that you might not typically expect for TNT. I was stunned, not in a bad way, but simply because it was more like something I'd expect to see on HBO, where they can get away with sex, murder, and just about anything goes (all of which seems to be on the menu here, as well).

Suffice it to say that the main characters are a "bit flawed" (understatement, intended), but, of course, that's what makes it all so interesting. It didn't take more than about 10 or 15 minutes for Michelle to shatter her Downton Abbey image, and chart a completely different course in the acting universe, all of which she handles just as smoothly as she did the role that put her on our radar in the first place.

I'm only two episodes in (the two-hour pilot) at this point, so it is hard to fully judge the motive behind some of the character's actions, but at this point, all I know for sure is that I "really want to see more", and find out where this is all going.

Sorry, but in the effort to avoid any spoilers, I'm being intentionally vague, and leaving out any salient plot details. I'll simply say that this program, although having nothing similar in plot, seems to be in the vein of a program such as "Breaking Bad". You know that you ought not to like the main characters, but you just can't help yourself. Bottom line... I'm already hooked.

I'm not sure that another TV series or film about low life psychopaths is really needed. In just the first episode we've seen killing, shooting, stabbing, vomiting, robbery, prostitution, and drug taking. We've got a husband who wants to kill his clueless wife, a mother who lost all visitation rights to her child, a mother who hates her daughter, and a well-meaning but incompetent parole officer. Through it all the self-help tapes of the main character ask her to be all she can be.

Putting aside the dreary and depressing portrait being created here, there are a lot of things to recommend it. The main asset is Michelle Dockery who played Lady Mary Crawley in "Downtown Abbey". She is simply marvelous, playing a host of emotions like she was playing a fiddle. She gets good support from Terry Kinney as her parole officer, Juan Diego Botto as a hit-man, and Lusia Strus as her unforgiving mother.

The photography is excellent as is the direction. The story line is aggressive, bringing us in and out of all kinds of different environments, but it is effective.

This series reminds me a lot of "Rogue" the 2013 TV series about an undercover female detective starring Thandie Newton. It also has character elements of "Saving Grace" (2007-2010) starring Holly Hunter. If you're attracted to these types of series, this one will appeal to you.

It's very very sad that Good Behavior is no longer airing. This was the most amazing series I have watched in a very long time. Michelle and Juan are amazing people and I had the best time filming with them. Chad, please bring GB back.

This show is a roller-coaster ride going back and forth from the real world to the world we choose to hide in at times. Letty is out of prison, but falls in with "bad company", purely by chance. She is trying to make it in the world, but she still struggles with drugs, alcohol, thievery, and an emotionally abusive mother - for starters. She is incredibly likable - smart, tough, and incredibly brave- but can be vulnerable at times. She is deeply troubled with a compassionate heart - it is her heart that gets her into very large messes. All of the characters are incredibly convincing. This show has some humorous moments, but make no mistake - it is a rather intense drama. She wants very much to be "normal", but the people in the dark underworld she finds herself in treat her better than those in the real world. If you don't believe in second chances, this show isn't for you.

We have an enormous amount of choice, especially the last 5 or so years, we have goodies, baddies, bikers, zombies, serial killers, drug manufacturers/sellers, Kings, Queens, Vikings....Oh my the list goes on...So writers finding a part of the spectrum not exhausted is getting tougher...(in the voice of Jeremy Clarkson) Until now!

It is hard to describe this show, it is gritty, it is a bit wooahhh when you least expect, it turns from slow moving to racy in an instant, and turns normal scenarios to shocking as quick, I suppose it is similar to Weeds as a TV show, but it has it. The acting, aside from the odd moment, is extremely good, the story line is understandable, but sometimes slightly misleading/confusing till a turn reveals all, it has drugs, alcohol, the demons of and sex, a little too much sex at times, but then, I can live with that! Most importantly, it has a new twist on the story telling, with the viewer left with an urge for the next episode. That's not easy these days, we have our faves, breaking into that mould is quite tough...But Good Behaviour might just do it!

Well worth a watch, albeit be prepared for it being not what you expect, in a good way!