“Mozart in the Jungle” is a binge-worthy comedy about a change in conductors in a New York classical music orchestra. The highest endorsement I can give it is that it kept my interest and I don’t know my Tchaikovsky from my Pashkevich. Much of the story focuses on the character played by actress Lola Kirke, who is young and trying to earn a spot on the orchestra. Kirke is mentored by the lovely Saffron Burrows, who as a heterosexual male I can sadly say is playing for the wrong team in real life. Gael Garcia Bernal plays the eccentric, talented new conductor, displacing Malcolm McDowell. Garcia Bernal tends to be over the top sometimes and a little broad, like Michael Richards’ Kramer on “Seinfeld.” But his character does bring a lot of interesting moments. As I said, I know little about classical music but I was rooting for him to turn around the orchestra. Although I like Jason Schwartzman, his character seems tacked on at the end. Amazon introduced “Mozart in the Jungle” right before Christmas and I read one story where the writer felt it got lost in the holiday shuffle. It’s a great series and I hope it gets renewed for a second season. “Bosch” is a cop story that I liked but seems to lose its way at times. The best parts for me are when it goes into those murky areas of when rules should be followed and when they should be broken and when it gives a somewhat touching look at a serial killer. The weak parts are when they go through plot points a, b and c and have to get to f but d and e are implausible. Titus Welliver plays the title role. He looks familiar to me but I can’t place him in any movies. He brings a grizzled weariness to Bosch and is able to carry the leading man role. There’s lots of strong performances in the other roles, including Mimi Rogers as a defense attorney suing Bosch for wrongful death and Lance Reddick from “The Wire” as an ambitious police administrator. Those old enough to have watched “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose” in the early 1990s will remember Abraham Benrubi, who played a brutish high school student. It makes me feel old to see him balding with gray hair as the lawyer defending Bosch. All in all “Bosch” was a good ride for me and I’d watch a second season. The climax was weak for aforementioned believability issues. But I like the way they handled the difficult ethical situations.
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