TV Weekly Roundup Episode 2 — INCOMING

Fade in:

Back at it again bringing you episode No. 2 of the weekly TV roundup!

The theme of the week: THIS. JUST. IN! ‘American Gods’, ‘Dear White People’, & ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’

Let’s get started!

1. American Gods

I watched the premiere of ‘American Gods’ this week, and I can say with all sincerity that I have not a clue what is going on! I thought ‘Legion’ would’ve won the award for most “what the heck just happened?” pilot but honestly, American Gods might take the cake.

The show centers on a handsome gentleman named Shadow Moon, played by Ricky Whittle. Shadow has just gotten released out of jail and is kind of forced into working for this fellow he meets on a plane named Wednesday, played by the incomparable Ian McShane.

A whole bunch of weird stuff happens afterwards, and I don’t know how to make sense out of much of it. Creepy bone orchards dreams and an ox or buffalo with flaming eyes, who speaks.

I’m gonna assume that Wednesday is a god of some sort, and his henchman also has some sort of abilities/powers/whatever the case may be. There’s also new gods who are trying to take over for the old gods, which is how and why Shadow ended up in some weird virtual reality computer thing(?). They seem to be fighting for power or ownership or something. Who knows. I sure don’t.

Oh, there’s also some goddess who had sex with a guy and swallowed his entire body with her vulva. That’s about as a good of an example of what this show is than anything else I suppose. It’s also a good way to turn sex on its’ head (pardon the pun).

I’m going to keep watching, seeing that the cast is amazing and the one man I trust most — Bryan Fuller — is the show runner. I’ll keep you all updated on the show and if there’s any more vaginal vacuuming.

2. Dear White People

‘Dear White People’ is a show designed specifically for the people who would see the title, ‘Dear White People’ and not watch it.

The show deals with common issues of racism, while playing on stereotypes and criticizing various aspects of Hollywood interpretations of black characters.

Like other shows before it, Dear White People does not have any solutions to issues, but presents the issues as they exist. While it is crucial and vital for these issues to be presented for the group of people who will actually watch this show, most of us are aware of these issues. None of this is new. It’s all familiar ground that has been treaded on.

Although it does not have much to say in the vein of new racial issues, the show does offer a diverse representation of blackness, giving the audience the complexity of issues that exist within the black community itself. Light skin vs. dark skin, interracial relationships, being gay, and being a geek are all areas that are dealt with and examined, among others.

I found the show to be quite funny, albeit very graphic at times. I wouldn’t laud this show in the same category as ‘Get Out,’ but if the meter we are judging the show by is “woke or not woke,” then I suppose it leans more towards the woke binary.

Overall, I enjoyed Dear White People. I would watch a season 2 if they make one. But I didn’t get much substance from it, even if that was its intention. It was more of a relaxing comedy for me.

Okay. This one right here. This is the one. This is the show everyone is going to be talking about. If last year was all about ‘The People VS O.J. Simpson,’ this year is definitely all about ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (sorry ‘Big Little Lies’).

The Handmaid’s Tale is being released in batches, so I have seen the first 3 episodes as I’m writing this. And I must say — wow. Holy crap everyone. This is the show we needed. This has to be the one that opens everyone’s eyes as to what is happening around us.

The Handmaid’s Tale is a near-future dystopian society where a group of people have taken over America and instilled some pretty screwed up laws. What kinds of laws? Well, all LGBTQ people are hung and called ‘gender traitors.’ From what I can gather most non-white people are also dead, and women have been stripped away of pretty much all of their rights. Fertile women are kept and used as breeding stock. The rest are, well, killed.

Watching this show paints a painful picture for a reality that could very well be possible. With rights being stripped away, and more and more autocratic, dictatorial regime coming to fruition, a world where The Handmaid’s Tale is possible is becoming more likely.

I mean, I thought I’ve seen nearly everything on TV. But this show broke me. Just devastated me to my core. And it’s only been 3 episodes! I don’t know what’s to come next. I never read the original text by Margaret Atwood. I’m truly terrified.

They are going all the awards for this one. This show is a must watch. It’s a can’t miss. It’s one that will be heralded and spoken of for years and years to come. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss it.

Well, there you have it folks. Episode 2 of #TVWRUP. Remember to use the hashtag on social media and share the article with all of your friends. Sign up to get the newsletter in your inbox, and follow me to get my hot and fresh articles. It’s been a pleasure.