In those distant days that were the Seventies, Garcia Márquez’s Love in the Time of Cholera was a novel we all had, even if we never finished it, as was this story, and Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Purchased, but not often read. After watching this series I’m going to tackle the book once again. I asked a friend to view it as my head was beginning to swim with all that was taking place. His take was, “It’s told through a series of windows, depicting the passing of time. It’s a sociological and historical study of one man and his family’s achievements to build a community from nothing.” And that’s the short version. Jose Buendia is a visionary and inventor who establishes the village of Macondo from swampland. Through seven generations the town prospers. Eventually, the authorities endeavour to put a stop to Buendia’s idyll. It has been said that it is rare for an adaptation to surpass the printed version. This series is considered as one that has accomplished those heights.

A spy series set in London at Christmas augers well. The plot is a bit implausible at times, but it’s still worth a look. I’m not usually a fan of Keira Knightley, but here she escapes the period dress and stars as espionage action heroine Helen, who can handle herself, and any number of weapons, when needed, whilst undercover as a politician’s wife, who any number of assassins seem to want out of the picture. Ben Whishaw is excellent as Sam, her partner/saviour. He portrays a spy with a heart and a conscience, which is not normally shown in the tough espionage world. For me, assassin partners Williams and Eleanor are a highlight, with their witty repartee and comedic perception of their unusual career. Here’s a bit of punk trivia for you; Rat Scabies, a member of the band The Damned appears as the owner of the guitar store where Sam gets his weapons. A talented ensemble cast is attached, which includes Happy Valley’s wonderful Sarah Lancashire.

This conspiracy thriller has TV anchor Muncie Daniels taking a quiet break in the Poconos. That is until he allegedly finds his neighbour, a notorious white supremacist, in a few bits and pieces in his garden shed. I started to get a bit worried about Daniels’s plight as he reported his find to sceptical police. As an African/American finding a body, it didn’t auger well. I could see a battle ahead as he fights for his innocence and his life. Not brilliant, but I’ve seen worse.

Rearing children who are deemed different by other parents and authorities is the subject of this poignant series from Poland. Kama is a renowned MMA fighter who juggles her life between fights in the ring and raising her seven-year-old son Jas. After an incident at his school, Kama is forced to transfer him to the “Wonderful Harbor” a facility recommended by the school psychologist. This is not just a story of children on the autism spectrum, it explores the struggle Kama goes through accepting that Jas is happy with his friends at his new school, even though she is not, and her anger and frustration with other parents who try to guide her. An excellent ensemble of actors carry this emotional story.

Season 2 of this lavish production has arrived. Such beautiful attention to detail. A pregnant Elisabeth is under enormous pressure to deliver a son and heir to the throne, especially from Franz’s nasty mother, Sophie, who intends to take the children into her care. Elisabeth takes a journey through Lombardy-Venetia to charm the locals, after an incident at a reception shows their discontent. As the Austrian Empire goes to war, Elisabeth fights to keep her family together. Intrigue and skulduggery abound within the Viennese court as the scenario unfolds.

Well, situations get totally out of control in this comedy drama, and very quickly. Bjorn is a successful lawyer who attends a mindfulness retreat to restore work-life balance, when he gets no respect from clients or his family. The latter being mainly due to his work overload. But unexpectedly Bjorn’s new coping skills see him become a murderer and mastermind for the mob. This is a light-hearted take on crime, murder and mayhem. There are a few inconsistencies in the plot, but it is a comedy so things can get a bit loose.

I must confess, I’ll watch Ted Danson in anything. I do love him in this comedy as Charles, a retired man, grieving for his wife, who gets a new lease on life when he answers an ad from a private investigator. Charles goes undercover in a secret investigation in a nursing home, and he’s soon charmed most of the residents, especially the women. Love Sally Struthers as Virginia, who is very fond of Charles. The story highlights loss and loneliness in the elderly and having a purpose to get up each day. Mine is viewing content for you and writing about it. I’m fortunate to have a purpose.

I’ve gleaned that it must be difficult to move on and shake off a character you have been associated with for decades. But Ray Romano and Lisa Kudrow appear to have achieved it. This is an unusual comedy crime series that seems to be going in a certain direction, and has one thinking, oh yes, I see where this is heading, only to have the plot veer off in a surprising trajectory. The story follows Paul and Lydia as they prepare to sell their family home, with all its memories. A feat which proves to be fraught with dissent and recriminations. Three families are vying to buy the 1920s Spanish style villa that they think will solve all their problems. And therein lies the difficulty. Great performances from this ensemble cast.