"Anne of Green Gables"

The real thing.  Having watched "Anne with an E" -- and having thoroughly enjoyed it, I had to go back to the books, which I somehow never read in school.  Which is weird, because I basically read everything.  So, here's my take:  The books are good.  In a literary way, in a real teen way.  There are whole sections describing Avonlea which are like pure poetry.  The seasons, the trees, the countryside.  As a young reader I wouldn't have appreciated all of this description as much as I do now.  And there are Anne's monologues -- her never-ending stories of events in her life and thoughts she has and feelings she expresses.  These are irritating, both in the book and in the streaming series.  But they are real and they do show the unique passion, the "verve", which makes her truly special.  Characters in the streaming series are combined and threads which are subtle in the book become more dominant in the televised series (this being the 21st century and the books having been written in the 19th century).  Most events are about the same with the exception of a couple of things which happen to her friends and schoolmates.  Why didn't I read these books when I was younger?  As a city girl, I didn't see myself in the setting of the idyllic countryside.  Which the story is, to a point.  My fear, that this book was a sanitized goody-two shoes kind of tale, is a little justified.  Anne is well-liked at school, a good student, a girl who is teased at first but in the book that all goes away within the first six months or so.  "Anne with an E" is better at making the story real -- of Anne making friends but sometimes losing them, of Anne continuing to be on the outside, of her pushing too hard and the people in her life calling her out on it.  In any case I would say that the characters of the streaming series are performed with a true respect for the written characters.  One thing I would have liked about Anne had I read the books when I was young?  Her spunk.  One thing I like now?  Her introspection.  She makes mistakes, a lot of them.  But here's the thing -- she says it herself -- she never makes the same mistake twice because she learns from every event.  And that's something you can hang your hat on.  Even a straw hat with flowers.  

"The Gilded Age"

A passion project for "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes this HBO Max series boasts a lot of stars and definitely makes you think.  It's a paradox.  You hate a character for focusing on nothing but social climbing, then love her for calling out the old biddies who won't let her into the club.  You love her husband for his work ethic and devotion to family, then hate him for his ruthless business practices.  You hate the snobby "old" set but then appreciate the times they are able to show compassion and give freely.  It's a credit to the producers that these are complex people in a complex time, even if the surface story seems predictable.  Unlike "Bridgerton" this is not race-blind casting and some nifty points are made by the single storyline focusing on a Black actor.  There isn't a lot of new stuff here but it kept me watching.  I blasted through the whole first season in three days.  Yes, you hate the entitled rich people.  Who cares about rich people being mean to other rich people?  But then we are a culture which embraced "Dynasty", so ...  In any case, this is very well made and opts for the subtleties rather than hitting viewers over the head.  Take the time and enjoy it.  Flawed humans and all.

"Julia"

Brava, Bravo to the creators of this HBO Max series.  Unlike the mis-conceived film, "Being the Ricardos" this really speaks to me.  There are big names aplenty in the supporting roles but they actually went with a lesser-known British actor for the lead, who ... wait for it ... embodies the character beautifully.  You really don't look at her and say "that's not Julia Child."  In series form, as opposed to film, there is the opportunity to really examine things deeply and the producers here don't miss a beat.  It is a show of subtleties, exploring everything from the complex relationship between Julia and her husband, the issues women faced in the male-dominant work-force of the early 1960s, where LGBTQ+ sexuality was at the time, you name it.  The show is kind of brilliant (and will make you hungry -- watch with a meal).  It's not just well-acted and well-written, it's also well-shot.  Clever use of the camera, edits and choices in portraying the events of a given scene make for a tale which really draws you in.  There are eight episodes in the first season, six of which are already out.  I watched those six in a single sitting.  Enjoy, or as Julia would say, "Bon Appetit!"

"The Orville: New Horizons"

I really enjoyed this show when it first debuted on FOX in 2017.  At first, it was kind of silly and a little rude but the cast was fresh and engaging.  Instead of being a Sci-Fi spoof, it turned out that it was a love letter.  As a lifetime Trek/Star Wars fan I appreciated every homage, every Easter Egg.  Season 2 got more serious -- which was good.  And then, of course, as FOX is wont to do, it was canceled.  Fortunately, Disney+/Hulu picked it up and with season 3 I would say that the series is better than ever.  With each episode going more than an hour, with the constrictions of broadcast TV being lifted, the whole thing seems to have blossomed.  It's not just deeper, the show has texture and a ton of layers (thank some very high-end writers for this).  Storylines from the first two seasons are continued but filled out to the point where they feel complete.  Political messaging is still there but is typically more subtle than the OG Star Trek.  It touches on a wide range of topics, including the complex issues of alliances between different cultures in a time of war, the use of weapons of mass destruction and working through loss and grief.  The diverse threads of this show weave into something which leaves you thinking.  All that being said it's not depressing.  So much of today's Sci-fi has leaned into the gore and the dark view of the world.  The Orville not only maintains mostly happy endings but something even more important -- hope.  In the midst of cool technology they focus on the people.  Brava, bravo.  Looking forward to season four.