Okay, I've got to talk about Red Oaks.
I'm pretty sure this is the best television show I've seen since Sopranos, but it might be hard to explain why it's so good. It's just one of the most competent things I've seen.
The show revolves around the lives of the kids working at a New Jersey country club in the mid 80s. Some of the club members and some parents also play important roles. There's no overriding theme, and nothing too out of the ordinary happens (well, maybe one thing).
The performances are all great. There are no throwaway characters. Everyone is real and given some depth, which really stands out in a show that initially feels like it's going to be a send-up of 80s stereotypes. Quite a few times a character has surprised me and made me realize something unexpected about them with nothing but a look that you could have missed. Tons of heart in this thing, but it doesn't need to prove it to you.
Oh, and the 80s stuff works so well because it's just there. There's not much self-aware "look at how silly this was" nor any overly sentimental notion about the time.
I'm almost through with season 2. I don't know if there will be more seasons. It's going to ruin a lot of other shows for me by how poorly they compare.
Oh, and it's very funny. That doesn't hurt, but I'd love it even if it weren't.
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She wasn't even that good a skater.
