Wolf Hall (2015,2024)

Almost a decade passed between the first series, covering the first two books of Hilary Mantel's trilogy and the second completing the trilogy. Perhaps most confusingly, some of the actors were switched out for new actors in season 2. But Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis are both superb, acting like no time has passed at all. Rylance plays Thomas Cromwell, a brilliant and ruthless political maneuverer, a commoner who rose up the ranks in King Henry VIII's court until his spectacular Shakespearean fall. Rylance plays him in an understated way very effectively. In contrast, Lewis plays the larger than life king, notorious for his six marriages. I perhaps didn't realize how his reign, and indeed the trajectory of British history, hinged so heavily on his consequential marriages. That's the birth of the Anglican Church and Cromwell is perhaps the biggest proponent of the English Reformation. The political intrigue is fascinating from a modern perspective and is executed really well. The music is similarly understated, kind of perfect for a period piece. The costumes and sets transport us to Tudor England. I visited Hampton Court a few years ago during a strike, which made it particularly difficult to reach the suburban neighborhood on the outskirts of London. Makes me want to read the books!

Asian Americans (2020)

Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! To celebrate, PBS released a five-part docuseries chronicling the story of Asians in America, from the California Gold Rush and the transcontinental railroad to today. It is both informative and emotional. It does an extraordinary job at covering a variety of stories. Asian American is an incredibly broad term comprising people as diverse as South Asians, East Asians and Southeast Asians and the documentary gives each group some screen time. The series zooms in and zooms out effectively, picking individuals to highlight the essential role of Asian Americans in building the fabric of America. Three Asian names in early Supreme Court jurisprudence help define America: Wong Kim Ark, Yik Wo and Bhagat Singh Thind. Hawaii sends a majority Asian American delegation to Washington. Filipino Americans in the California fruit fields go on strike. Students fight for ethnic studies. The Rodney King riots are a definitive experience in creating a Korean American identity. For over a hundred and fifty years, Asian Americans have contributed to American life. This wondrous docuseries should be required viewing for all Americans.

Abacus: Small Enough to Jail (2016)

This is a very interesting documentary about a community I care deeply about. It's in traditional documentary style; it was distributed by PBS Frontline after all. Abacus Bank in Chinatown, NY was the lone bank prosecuted following the 2008 Financial Crisis. And Ken Yu, a former loan officer at Abacus, was the lone person imprisoned. The rest of Abacus was exonerated. The crisis was obviously brought about by the failure of the major banks to care that they were endangering the world economy-yet no one has been imprisoned. The idea that little Abacus had an important enough role to really play any part in the take down of the world economy is laughably implausible. But Abacus was important enough to have an impact in Chinatown. It serves the Chinese community that typically cannot qualify for traditional credit. The bank is run by a successful and articulate Chinese-American family that makes for a good documentary subject.

Downton Abbey (2010-15)

Downton Abbey is a costume soap opera that started out with a phenomenal first season. And it kept it up for a bit, but then they fell into a lull in the fourth and fifth seasons. Gladly, they ended strong with an excellent final two episodes, tying nicely everyone's story lines in a touching and emotional way. As a big ensemble drama, there are a lot of characters. And admittedly, some characters have more interesting story lines than others. You try to equally invest in the upstairs aristocrats and the downstairs servants. The separation between the two spheres was distinct but I enjoyed watching their interaction as well.

The characters that last all 6 seasons maintain continuity in a world of change. The great estates of England are in decline by the end of WWI and we watch the times change and the family adapt. It is a period drama, and the time period always played an important part of the story as new technology was introduced and as events unfolded around the world. And time moves very quickly episode to episode. The music and cinematography of Downton Abbey is really pretty too. It takes place in the gorgeous Highclere Castle.

Mary was known for being mean to poor Edith. Their dynamic was always funny to watch. Mr. Carson and Ms. Hughes also had some great banter. But Dame Maggie Smith was was the star of the show with her never ending one-liners.