Over the past few years TNT has begun to branch out to bring different and rich new entertainment from their network, including unique crime series such as the gritty family crime drama, Animal Kingdom and the subversive and more comedic, Good Behavior. One of their latest new offerings from Creator and Executive Producer Eliot Laurence, Claws, falls somewhere in between, --or at least the first episode appears to.
It helps that these new series also have some often liked and familiar talent such as Ellen Barken (Someone Like You, Into the West, Oceans 13) and Scott Speedman (Felicity, Underwolrd, Last Resort), or Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey). Claws too might be pulling some viewers in with actresses Niecy Nash (Scream Queens, Masters of Sex) and even character actress Carrie Preston (True Blood, The Good Wife, Person of Interest) might be enticing for some viewers.
The series begins on New Year's Eve day in Palmetto, Florida when Polly (Carrie Preston) arrives back from her vacation to resume her job at a nail salon run by Desna Simms (Niescy Nash). We meet 3 other colorful women, Jennifer (Jenn Lyon), Quiet Anne (Judy Reyes), and Virginia (Karrueche Tran). The story begins to unfold when Roller (Jack Kessy) strolls in for an afternoon delight with Desna, in which he asks her to make another money laundry related run. The rest of episode tells viewers the story of the deal that was made between Roller and Desna a year before, in which Desna was promised a certain final figure so she could by a nicer nail salon and get out of the organized crime business, but things don't go as planned, as the episode works up to a New Year's Eve Party at a strip joint, but then a subplot stemming from the pain clinic, pushes beyond it, only for it to turn back to yet another plot for a surprise ending!On a first glance, Claws is a kind of mouthy trashy-glam cesspool full of sassy-slum degenerates caught-up in the world of male-dominated drug lords beholden to misogyny, where value is undermined by money, objectifying, and sex at every turn, but on a deeper look Claws may offer something more interpersonal with a diverse group of strong woman trying to make the most out of lives they struggle to control both in their careers and in their personal-at-home situations--A tale where survival might mean one may have to claw their way to the top just to stay afloat.
Some Teasers/Tad Bits:
-Actor Harold Perinneau gives a surprising performance.
-Although all of the female characters have their own fashion-sense, Carrie Preston's wardrobe is the most funny being a fish out of water, especially when one learns of her special fashion accessory!
- One character freaks out over dripping water.
- One character lip syncs while dancing with a broom.
- One character throws another character literally out on the street.
- One character has two children of different ethnicity.
- One character is a Lesbian.
- There's a van with interesting interior.
- There's a character named, Uncle-Daddy.
- The Clientele at the nail salon are at times amusing, so are the nails!
- One character is shot.
Some Quotes:
"There's nothing quite as useless as a useless man."
"Is it realistic? I mean from a tax payer, do they look professionally done?"
"Roll slower!"
"A New Year means new digs."
"Words are meaningless."
"Now am I in your **cking crew?"
"Mommy, what's that old lady crying for?"
"We Will avail ourselves of your services, until such time we no longer need them."
Claws premieres this Sunday (June 11th) at 9:00 PM (EST) on TNT!
