BINGE OR BOMB

In SLEEPING DOG, Mike Atlas, a once successful cop, is sleeping on the streets, estranged from his family and haunted by having been unable to prevent  a terrorist attack.   But something jumpstarts the traumatized Mike when the brother of a wrongfully accused convict tries to make sense of his brother's questionable prison suicide. 

 In RIVER, an emotionally withdrawn  detective  has recently witnessed his beloved partner’s murder. He’s determined to find her killer. And he’s helped by the fact that his beloved partner continues to speak to him, even though she’s deceased. 

In DEAR CHILD, a woman and young girl escape from what appears to be captivity imposed by an unknown man. The woman matches the description of someone missing for years. But it turns out it’s not her. Yet the daughter does belong to the missing woman. As does a still undiscovered young boy. Unraveling this mystery is a dark journey.

Queen of the South- La Reyna del Sur- In this Mexican action drama, a poor but gorgeous young woman falls in love with the wrong guy and winds up running from a drug cartel. Then using her wits, she becomes the head of her own drug cartel. Lots of over-the-top violence, treachery, romance and some gorgeous costuming. It’s a tele-novella with great production values.

Hijack-In a word. Idris Elba. He plays a tough successful business ‘fixer’
type who’s on a plane hijacked by a determined gang of lackeys for 2 imprisoned gang lords. At stake? Freeing the gang lords while tumbling Britain’s financial market. 

 Norsemen- Think a witty mocumentary look at a grubby 8th century Viking village. However, these tough warrior types tackle the day-to-day struggles of clan politics, romantic rivalries, and slave management with very 21st century style. There are malcontent slaves who go on strike and a chieftain’s pretentious brother who insists on creating an art installation using up the armaments of the entire village. It’s a Monty python-esque take on a culture whose idea of entertainment is pillaging their neighbors. 

GHOSTS OF BEIRUT-  a spy thriller about the US and Israel joint operation to eliminate a brilliant terrorist who was responsible for the murders of hundreds, if not thousands, of people, both citizens, diplomats and military alike, who he saw as combatants in the battle for control of, not only Israel and Palestine, but of the Middle East.

THE RESTAURANT- the saga of the owners and staff of an upscale  family-owned Swedish restaurant as both restaurant and personnel adjust to the changes starting  after World War 11, through the 50s and ending in the late 60s. it's a "Downton Abbey" format with characters who all must evolve as the world experiences  political and social upheavals.

A SMALL LIGHT- This heart-felt drama tells the real-life story of Miep Gies, the determined young woman who, for 2 years, successfully hid Anne Frank and her family and friends in the attic of Anne's father, Otto Frank's business. At its heart, it's the coming- of-age story of the resourceful Miep who takes on the dangerous task of  caring for the hidden group while she also finds love, helps run Otto's business and deals with the trauma of living in a Nazi-occupied Amsterdam

Sherwood is a murder mystery based on real events in Nottinghamshire England but the roots to the drama lie in the miners’ strike of 1983 which  created a bitter rift in the community. When the leader of one of the previously warring factions is killed, decades-old rivalries and resentment leads to a final reckoning for the entire town.

Drops of God pits a young man and woman against each other as they battle to win three contests created to test their wine expertise. The prize? A wine collection worth a fortune. The French woman is the estranged daughter of the contest creater, a now deceased wine expert. Her opponent is a wealthy young man who was the wine expert’s protegee. Set in Tokyo and the French and Italian wine country, the scenery is gorgeous and it’s a crash course in understanding what makes the business of wine, for many, so compelling.

Liasons-Two Syrian hackers uncover a plot to control the Western world through hacking into everyone’s security systems. It’s up to Gabriel, a French mercenary and his former lover Allison, now a political heavy-weight, to reunite and rescue the hackers who can help prevent the dreaded hack. But the ex-lovers also must uncover the powerful cabal who seek to control the politics throughout Europe. 

DROPS OF GOD-( French/Japanese Apple+)is set in the elite world of wine. A powerful wine expert, dies leaving behind a fortune and his valuable wine collection. But who inherits it? There is a 3-part wine challenge involving which pits the expert's  estranged daughter against  the heir to a diamond fortune who became Leger’s protegee. Set in glossy Tokyo and the lush wine country of both France and Italy, it’s part drama, part romance, part crash course in wine.

THE DIPLOMAT ( England, Netflix) is a dark political comedy/romance. Kate is a no- nonsense career diplomat married to wheeler-dealer diplomat, Hal. When Kate is posted as ambassador to England, suddenly the world is brought to the brink  when a British ship is attacked. Kate’s skill is going to save the day but she reluctantly needs her unscrupulous husband to help. They love each other. They hate each other. But the world needs them to save it from a potential major confrontation.

LIASON-(France, England-Apple+)  is a spy thriller featuring two ex-lovers trying to save the world from a a mpowerful security company whose goal is to  terrorize the whole world by controlling everyone’s security network.   Gabriel is a world-weary mercenary who must join forces with Alison, a powerful British political aide and with whom he was once an eco-warrier. Complicating matters will turn out to be the evil security company’s mole who is operating from the highest level of the British government. 

Money Heist- is an action-packed thriller which portrays how a gang of men and women pull off the robbery of the Royal Mint of Spain then come back to rob the Bank of Spain. The gang of compelling misfits is led by a brilliant master-mind called The Professor who concocts intricate schemes to pull off the heist.  But it’s the sophisticated plot, fascinating characters and sharp direction that make this a stand-out. 

 Am I Being Unreasonable- is a dark comedy about a feisty unhappily married mother whose long affair with her husband's brother ended when the brother was killed in a bizarre accident. This is not the only secret she's keeping. She finds solace with a new best friend who has dark secrets of her own. 

The Good Mothers- Based on a true story, this investigation thriller follows a criminal prosecutor who attempts to bring down a  Calabrian Mafia organization by reaching out to the wives, sisters and mothers who for years have lived alongside of, and in fear of, their vicious relatives. 

NEWS FLASH: We will now be sending you new episodes every two weeks. On those Fridays!
A SPY AMONG FRIENDS, an espionage thriller based on real events, is the story of a privileged Cambridge-educated British spy Kim Philby who secretly  worked for 3 decades as a Soviet double agent. It is a tale of spying and double-crossing but it is mainly a tale of two friends, Philby and his fellow aristocratic spy, Nick Elliot who,  is tasked with getting Philby to divulge his secrets about other members of the British government  working as Soviet agents.

MARIACHIS is the tale of a family which  includes two grown sons, a feisty mother and father Rosendo who, along with his arrogant brother Gavilan, was once part of a popular Mariachi group.  When Rosendo is diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s, his wife decides to enrich his life by jumpstarting a new mariachi group. A dark family secret and Gavilan's treachery complicate this new start.

SPIN is a political thriller detailing the rivalry between two French spin doctors who wield the power to elect officials and even influence policy. Simon Kapita is ruthless and effective but has a moral compass. His former buddy  Ludovic Desmeuze is equally skilled but ruthless. Behind the scenes they battle each other politically while the government is beset by variety of horrific crises from an assassination to the kidnapping of Kapita’s wife, a crusading journalist. 

LIFE ON MARS is both a time-travel fantasy and police procedural thriller. In 2006. Detective Sam Tyler is on the rise when he’s hit by a car.  He’s in a coma when, inexplicably,  he’s also vaulted back to 1973 where  he's still a detective solving cases. Tyler fights to uncover which is his actual reality. 

Quirky comedy ARDE MADRID is  set in 1960s Spain in the household of actress Ava Gardner where Franco's government  has enlisted a virginal teacher  and  a low level conman to pose as hired help and spy on Gardner.  Innocent Anna Marie's life is changed when she begrudgingly forms a romantic relationship with the charming, larcenous Manolo.   

KLEO,  a dark comedy, is set around the fall of the Berlin Wall. Kleo Staub, a delightful, young East German, is working as a lethally successful Stasi assassin when she’s thrown in prison.  When Kleo is released she sets off on a revenge tour to knock off everyone responsible for her imprisonment. 

In Derry Girls 4 teenage girls and a teenage boy band together to navigate the highs and lows of adolescence while growing up in Londonderry, Ireland in the Nineties. There are  predictable difficulties with parents and school but what adds another dimension is that they live in Northern Ireland during the political battle known as  “The Troubles” so their teen years are complicated by the chaos that comes with living in a political battlefield. 

 Tokyo Vice is based on the rea-life story of an American journalist who gets a coveted reporter job on a Tokyo newspaper. Adjusting to a new culture and workplace isn’t easy but he’s determined. He’s also determined to investigate several murders which lead him into the violent world of the Japanese Yakuza gangs. Complicating matters is the corruption that threatens the integrity of the Tokyo police. 

 In Three Pines, a big city detective arrives in a rural Canadian town. A wealthy woman has been murdered and there are more than a few suspects. Disturbing this seemingly peaceful setting is another series of crimes. A young indigenous woman has disappeared and while, so far, local police have not paid attention, the woman’s mother is doing everything she can to make sure the new detective gives the case his full attention.