Top 5 TV: Kanye for President and ‘Hannibal”s Last Meal
The top two items on this week’s list aired on NBC, but since one’s already been cancelled and the other’s being quickly killed off, it’s feels wrong to call them “NBC shows.” Both have been relatively acclaimed, but when it comes to the programming of what used to be known as TV’s “Big Three,” prestige alone doesn’t sell. Those of us who favor the daring can be bummed about this, and blame the primetime broadcasters for not always backing their best. Or we can be glad these programs existed in the first place.
Because we’re celebrators by nature here, we’ll thank the Peacock Network for ruffling its feathers and taking chances occasionally. And while we’re at it, we have a few more kind words this week: for a popular reality show with a lurid name; for Netflix’s latest obsession-to-be; and for a yearly gathering of some of the music industry’s biggest celebrities. These three aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, which is good news — sometimes, the cunning and the beautiful can still survive.
5. Trafficking jams, Narcos (Netflix)
Is it wrong to enjoy a TV series about violent drug dealers? Netflix’s Narcos belongs to that shamelessly pleasurable subgenre of crime stories that mix a little history, a lot of action, and just enough caution to pass as “responsible.” Created by writer-producer Chris Brancato and director-producer José Padilha (best-known for the snazzy Brazilian Elite Squad action movies and the recent RoboCop remake), this torn-from-yesterday’s-headlines drama traces the rise of Pablo Escobar and the parallel story of how international law enforcement agencies tried to break the Medellín Cartel. Think colorful cops, crooks, and character actors like Luis Guzmán and Game of Thrones‘ Pedro Pascal, populating a narrative as brisk as it is dense.
To serve the rocketing pace, every episode sports wall-to-wall narration by Boyd Holbrook as a DEA agent who breaks down the drug trade’s ins and outs with a thoroughness that borders on excessive — and which might’ve been insufferable in a feature film. Here though, the constant explication helps transform Narcos into a combination of two addictive TV staples: the kinetic pulp adventure and the true-crime documentary. Ordinarily, a series with such a complex, era-spanning narrative might be confusing, but what makes this one so ideal for Netflix chain-watching is that the audience can just cruise along with Padilha’s nifty camera moves until Holbrook pops back up to explain what’s happening. It’s informative and entertaining, without being especially demanding. That alone makes it stand out from the the growing body of stream-only originals that skew heavy.