Parish is a new six-episode limited series on AMC. What’s it about?
Six-episode limited series are in vogue these days. It makes sense, given that they can attract A List stars (who can put in some fine work without the commitment to a multiple season series) while forming prestige TV show jewels for the networks or streamers who distribute them.
And with Parish, the “on paper” stuff all has the makings of a stellar limited series: Giancarlo Esposito is Gracian “Gray” Parish, who is forced back into a life of crime after his son is murdered and his business collapses.
Beyond that, I think the elements that will most stand out are the high end AMC prestige production values, the New Orleans setting, and particularly the supporting cast that includes Skeet Ulrich, Bradley Whitford, Zackary Momoh, and Paula Malcomson (Trixie from Deadwood).
Of course, this is a Giancarlo Esposito showcase, and a richly deserved one. Esposito, of course, is best known as playing the buttoned down and sinister Gustavo Fring on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, though he has a long career of character work (including voice work on the video game, Far Cry 6, which is outstanding).
The thing I’m most looking forward to is not only seeing Esposito as a lead character, but one who is vulnerable and even desperate. We’re used to seeing him in a wide range of both intense and “bad guy” characters, so seeing him in “after this job, I am out” mode (which is a direct quote from the trailer) will be truly fascinating.
I’ll note that the one thing that’s a bummer in the trailer is when someone says he’s looking for a driver with a “particular set of skills.” That this is said without any kind of irony or self-awareness that this is an iconic line (and now Internet meme) from Liam Neeson in Taken (and one that even my father-in-law loves!) is something that certainly will pull me away from enjoying the story for a moment.
That being said, I’m trying not to be judge-y and will be very interested to see how Parish as a whole plays out.
Pop culture stuff that has something to do with Parish
Some of the very best TV shows of recent years – The Night Of, Maniac, Mare of Easttown, and Station Eleven for example – have come in the form of the limited series. And then there are other outstanding anthology shows – such as Fargo, The White Lotus, True Detective, and American Crime Story – that tell a new story with a (mostly) new cast each season that essentially serve as limited series with multiple instalments.
On a final note, as great as Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman is, with its 3.5 hours of running time I truly believe it would have been much better served up as a limited TV series with between four and six installments.
Also see: Pop Thruster’s Best 100 TV Shows Ever.
Parish: where and when can I watch it?
The series premiere of Parish will air on AMC on Sunday, March 31st at 9p.