“The Deuce”
Synopsis: In 1970s New York City, the violence of the drug epidemic was worsening and prostitution rampant. Twin brothers, Vincent and Frankie Martino, become fronts for the Mob while operating out of Times Square, which is also the home of Candy, a sex worker who turns to the emerging porn industry.
What You Need To Know: At first glance, HBO’s “The Deuce” seems like a bad case of 1970s déjà vu a la “Vinyl” (RIP), but so far the trailers and promotion are giving off plenty of good vibes (ha!). The legalization and rise of the porn industry in the 1970s is a sensitive subject that could turn salacious and exploitive very quickly, but its creators David Simon and George Pelecanos (“The Wire,” “Treme”) and the impressive ensemble cast including James Franco (“127 Hours”), Maggie Gyllenhaal (“The Honourable Woman”), Gbenga Akinnagbe (“The Following”), Chris Bauer (“The Wire”), Gary Carr (“Death in Paradise”), Chris Coy (“Banshee”) and Dominique Fishback (“Show Me a Hero”) give hope that the series will be a nuanced and multidimensional examination of the beginnings of an offshoot of the world’s oldest profession. While “The Deuce” certainly captures a unique socio-political time and place of the Big Apple, but it won’t be played in history classes anytime soon.
Release Date: September 10th on HBO
“Top of the Lake: China Girl”
Synopsis: In the wake of New Zealand’s devastating events, Detective Robin Griffin returns to Sydney for a fresh start; however, the wounds of the past are deep and a suitcase containing appalling content summons dark memories.
What You Need To Know: Will lightning strike twice with SundanceTV’s “Top of the Lake: China Girl?” Here’s hoping. With the trifecta of Elisabeth Moss (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), Nicole Kidman (“The Beguilded”) and Gwendoline Christie (“Game of Thrones”), whose careers are ON FIRE this year, “China Doll” directed by Jane Campion (“The Piano”) will at the very least be an explosive showcase for their talents. The second season jumps forward four years after Robin’s visit to Laketop and she has not coped well in the aftermath. The past once again rears its head when the body of a young Chinese girl washes up on Bondi Beach and Robin’s daughter (Alice Englert), whom she gave up for adoption as a teenager, makes contact with her.
Release Date: September 10th on Sundance TV
“The Mindy Project”
Synopsis: A young OB/GYN doctor attempts to balance her personal and romantic life with her career.
What You Need To Know: “The Mindy Project” has had its ups and downs over the years (often feeling like each season is a reboot), but survived and thrived moving from Fox to Hulu. For all of its foibles ‘Mindy’ has been a consistently hilarious show, anchored by Mindy Kaling’s (“The Office”) effervescent and singular titular protagonist, joined by Chris Messina (“Argo”), Ed Weeks (“Dirty, Sexy, Funny”), Ike Barinholtz (“Neighbors”), Adam Pally (“Happy Endings”), Beth Grant (“Jericho”), Xosha Roquemore (“Precious”), and a gaggle of guest stars too numerous to count. Mindy Laheri deserves a seat at the alongside Hannah Horvath and Carrie Bradshaw as a fellow frustrating, yet intriguing, “difficult” female protagonists.
Release Date: September 12th on Hulu
