At $18.72, Max is my most expensive streaming service, especially as it's really provided through Amazon Prime which itself is $7.04 (with my poor man's discount) and as such benefits from at least the convenience of availability through one Fire TV app as well as at least one at times essential feature, namely X-Ray. But when you tally up the number of hours of high quality entertainment I'm getting from this one provider, I think it's fair to say I'm well getting a dammed good value. But you know what? If I were as well-off as a member of this fucked up, but decidedly filthy, stinking rich Roy family, I guess I wouldn't be concerning myself one bit over some nickel and dime shit like digital media subscription rates. Plus, I'd be more busy worrying about which family member was out to fuck me over to even sit down to watch TV shows.
I'm, as usual when I binge these multi-season shows that have already had the day in the sun a few years ago now, trying ardently to avoid even glancing at any spoilers online so I'm purposely not looking at anything show titled or related. I was anxious even querying to get the above screen grab lest I accidently get something like maybe "the Roy family while all of them were still alive" kinda thing. I'm only just now through Season One and into the second episode of the second season so I have no idea what to expect next, especially as this has been such a freakin' roller coaster already. And, with all that's gone on so far, it kinda looks like they may be setting the stage for a big todo when, and if, dear old daddy finally kicks the bucket.
I neglecting taking a gander at this show back a few years ago when I last had Max (then HBO Max) since I took a peek at Billions and really couldn't get into that show so, thinking this was gonna be "more of the same," decided to pass. Glad I took a second look this week 'cause it ain't like Billions much at all, and I think that's a good thing.
Not looking at anything written up on this show so I'm not sure if the comparison's been made by others or not but I'm getting quite the Shakespeare meets Greco/Roman theater vibe here. The the standard trope of the old king and his conniving "issue" and the enemies at the gates, but with one important distinction. There doesn't seem to be (at least not outwardly revealed to me just yet in the show) a character that is an outright, old fashioned, moustache-twirling, bad-ass villain. The siblings and their father genuinely seem to really love each other, but, of course, as, I guess, super-rich people do get wrapped up in wanting to scratch and claw for even one crumb of money, or power, or, better yet, both, more. Be it ever so UN-humble -- there's no place like, well, ANOTHER home.
And this is, of course, at heart a drama, but the writing is so darned sharp and witty, and, especially Kieran Culkin's delivery, it could well serve as a comedy. I love his character Roman so much! Now watch him get killed off, knowing my luck. Boo hoo.