Whether you liked it or not, Game of Thrones finally ended last week. Never fear, however, there are lots of choices out there to whet your TV appetite. Here are five shows I have binged recently that are worth your time.
5) Lucifer (Netflix)
Where it airs: Netflix after three seasons on Fox.
Number of seasons: 4.
Why it's worth watching: Tom Ellis is amazing as Lucifer Morningstar. He leaves hell and runs a night club in Los Angeles and then starts helping with solving crimes. At its heart it is a detective story, and a little formulaic. But the acting and characters are amazing, and with the backdrop of the supernatural, it takes on a life of its own. No season 5 has been announced yet, but season 4 on Netflix was awesome and if there is no season 5, it ended very well. There is still room for more story, though. There are some annoying characters, but it's not Ellis, D.B. Woodside (Amenadiel the angel). Lesley-Ann Brandt (Maze the demon) and Rachel Harris (as a shrink). They are funny, poignant, unpredictable and the driving forces behind the show.
4) Hap and Leonard
Where it airs: Netflix after three seasons on Sundance.
Number of seasons: 3.
Why it's worth watching: James Purefoy, Michael Kenneth Williams are fantastic in this action-packed look at 1980s East Texas. (The villain in season 1 is one of the best you will find). It deals with racism, crime and violence and each season is terrific in its own right. Unfortunately Sundance canceled it after three seasons, but the ending works and the good news is Joe Lansdale is still cranking out novels and they are also well worth your time.
3) Sneaky Pete
Where it airs: Prime Video.
Number of seasons: 3.
Why it's worth watching: If you like con movies - the Sting, Diggstown, etc., this is for you. They have managed to keep it fresh (season 3 dropped this month). The acting is solid, especially Giovanni Ribisi. Everyone in this show has secrets, and they all have interesting stories to tell. Ribisi carries it well, and season 3 might have been every bit as good as season 1, which featured Bryan Cranston.
2) Bosch
Where it airs: Prime Video.
Number of seasons: 5.
Why it's worth watching: Titus Welliver is a Los Angeles detective who lives, works and does everything on the edge. He is always in trouble for something he has done, and always outsmarts everyone. He is not unlike an American version of Luther, which is one of my all time favorites. There are some other memorable characters, most notably Crate and Barrel (Gregory Scott Cummins and Troy Evans), but Welliver carries the show. Season 5 dropped recently and it is worth catching up. If you like police dramas, this is one of the best you will find.
1) Rake
Where it airs: Prime Video.
Number of seasons: 5.
Why it's worth watching: Make sure you get the Australian version. (There is also apparently an American version). Clever Greene is the ultimate degenerate lawyer, brilliant but self-destructive. No matter what, he always comes out on top. The last half of season 4 and first half of season 5 gets a little soap opery, but the finale of season 5 is perfect. Richard Roxburgh plays Clever, and he is easy to root for no matter how badly he screws up. Was a pleasant surprise and one of the most fun shows I have seen recently. Even though the story ended perfectly, I wanted more.
Some all-timers you might have missed
BBC has a couple brilliant shows, Sherlock (featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman) and Luther, which has Idris Elba. Sherlock might be done, but Luther just dropped a new season which will be available in the US in June. Firefly (14 episodes, one standalone movie) and Banshee (four seasons) are in my all-time top 5. And of course, the new Rick and Morty drops in November. The first three seasons were pure brilliance.
