For fans of Michelle Dockery, I can assure you, you will be very pleased with her new role in TNT's Good Behavior. It's a different role than that of her Downton Abbey one, though, like that, she pursues with steadfast dedication. Adapted by Chad Hodge & Blake Crouch, whom you might recognize from the great 1st season of Wayward Pines, have created something you don't want to miss, they've created a fascinating and engaging female protagonist that's going to win the hearts of many fans.
The pilot and subsequent two episodes (I binged them so fast) are a really enjoyable journey. The show, like the human psyche, delves into various emotions, it can be dark with elements of humor, funny in the face of danger as well as alluring with beauty (both metaphorically and literally) and that makes for something quite unlike anything right now on TV.
Michelle Dockery is remarkable throughout, there isn't a single moment where you aren't in awe of her. Her seamless ability to alter her character to fit the situation is remarkable. From switching between accents to outfits, it's all so complimentary to her portrayal of Letty Dobesh, it's so enjoyable to watch. Letty's struggle with the fine line between being good or bad is strong, you see her dabble in both and the execution is perfect. I wish I could say more but the show is a canvas for Michelle's plethora of talent and to behold such a feat, is an utter joy.
The other standout performance during the pilot (and subsequent episodes) is from Juan Diego Botto. He’s incredibly charming and an unforgettable presence on screen. There are many layers to him, like Letty, which is revealed gradually. I expect he will have many fans after the show premieres, he's wonderful to watch as Javier. There's a dangerous edge to Javier that Juan slips into so well yet there's so much more. Seeing Michelle and Juan together is nothing short of magical, their interactions together from scene to scene will make you smile, laugh, be worried and so much more, you can tell they had a lot of fun together. I can guarantee he'll quickly become a fan favorite.
The restaurant scene (from the pilot) teased in trailers between Letty and Juan is lovely. There's a natural chemistry that just sparks immediately between Michelle Dockery and Juan Diego Botto. The scene expresses just how good Letty is at conning people, even a hitman. Though amidst the lies, there's no denying, the chemistry between the two is explosive. Though, this is not all, one of the most striking features about the show is the mise en scene, the direction, the costumes, the music. It works to create something visually poetic. You'll notice Letty's state of mind or the persona she's inhabiting highlighted through these visual/verbal cues. Charlotte Sieling, in particular, did an excellent job in directing the premiere episode, she brought class and uncertainty to certain scenes with ease. One of the best scenes occurs near the end of the episode showing Letty's frame of mind.
Before going into the show, I found myself wondering what exactly the show was about, besides the premise of a con-artist becoming entangled with a hitman, there was very little else we knew.
The trailers seemed a bit ambiguous as to what the show's main focus was about. It's hinted at the humor, which is very well done though isn't vivid in spoiling anything which I appreciate. Too often shows give away twists too quickly or make it seem obvious, but in this case, it's not, and kudos to the marketing team for that. Good Behavior is a character study at its core. It chronicles Letty's life straight outta prison and how one action can lead you down a dark road. There're many ways to describe this show, it's highly enjoyable and part of this reason is the surprise, I found myself spellbound by Michelle and Juan (they were perfectly cast, round of applause to the casting director) and very much wanted to know where the story was going, I watched the first 3 screeners with such delight, I hope more will come.
Good Behavior premieres Tuesday, November 15 on TNT at 9|8c, I highly encourage you to try this, it will surprise you, Chad Hodge and Blake Crouch made something very enjoyable which is rare in a landscape full of generic procedurals and I say this on my best behavior.
Please take to the comments and I'll try to answer any questions as best I can. One of the best things about the show is being surprised so I highly recommend you to go in without any preconceptions and I hope you will come out wanting more, I know I did. In the meantime, if you live in the U.S., you can watch the premiere early, right now, on TNT's website
here.
About the Author - Nirat Anop
Nirat watches a lot of TV Shows, as many of you here, some of his favorites are Game of Thrones, Orphan Black, Once Upon a Time, 12 Monkeys, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, The Flash, Outlander, Fargo, the list goes on. He's a University Student. He will be reviewing Legion, Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events, Marvel's The Defenders and Good Behavior. Feel free to message him on Twitter, Tumblr or Google+
