TV Talk: ‘Love & Death,’ ‘Fatal Attraction,’ ‘Queen Charlotte,’ ‘A Small Light’ debut

In the next few weeks, networks and platforms will continue to debut the last of their Emmy-bait series to have the required six episodes on air/streaming before the May 31 cut-off date for 2023 Emmy submissions. It’s the reason for the deluge of new scripted programming in recent weeks that continues this weekend with Amazon Prime Video’s spy drama “Citadel” (streaming April 28), PBS’s “Masterpiece” re-do of “Tom Jones” (9 p.m. Sunday, WQED-TV) and HBO’s “White House Plumbers” (9 p.m. Monday), a limited series about the Watergate political scandal

Thematically, two series explore infidelity: HBO Max’s seven-episode limited series “Love & Death,” now streaming, and Paramount+’s eight-episode first season series adaptation of “Fatal Attraction,” streaming its first three episodes Sunday.

Neither one breaks new ground in the genre but “Love & Death” has a little more going for it thanks to a strong lead and stocked supporting cast.

Elizabeth Olsen (“WandaVision”) stars in “Love & Death” as church-going choir member Candy Montgomery who begins an affair with fellow parishioner Allan (Jesse Plemons) despite Candy’s friendship with Allan’s wife, Betty (Lily Rabe).

Based on a true Texas story, David E. Kelley wrote the series and he gets the nuances of church life pretty accurate, just as he did three decades ago on “Picket Fences” and in his unproduced script for the shelved 1995 Fox series “The Pastor’s Wife.”

Candy’s motivation for the affair is never entirely clear other than she seems to be bored with her husband, Pat (Patrick Fugit), and her children.

“Love & Death” works as well as it does thanks to Olsen’s controlled performance. Olsen plays a more glamourous version of Montgomery, who the series seems to weirdly side with from the jump.

Hulu’s tighter version of the same story, 2022’s “Candy” starring Jessica Biel in the title role, was more rooted in 1970s aesthetics, including Candy’s perm that Olsen eschews.

The storytelling also differs: “Candy” begins with the murder and then fills in the backstory. “Love & Death” tells the story in chronological order and doesn’t get to the murder until the end of episode three. “Candy” benefits from a shorter run time (five episodes instead of seven).

As for “Fatal Attraction,” it’s fine if unremarkable. The series basically takes the plot of the 1987 film and elongates and attempts to deepen it with winks and nods (a white rabbit, “I’m not going to be ignored!”) to the movie that starred Glenn Close, Michael Douglas and Anne Archer.

The series stars Joshua Jackson in the Douglas role as Dan Gallagher. Lizzy Caplan (“Fleischman is in Trouble”) takes on the Close role of Alex Forrest, who this time gets an opportunity to be more than just a “crazy” woman (although she’s still pretty cray!) by examining her past and possible mental illness. Amanda Peet (“The Chair”) plays the role originated by Archer, Dan’s wife, Beth.

The series spends some time in the present after Dan has been paroled following his conviction for Alex’s murder – Dan suffers repercussions this time — but in early episodes it’s mostly set at the start of Dan’s affair with Alex. Episode three revisits the events of episodes one and two from Alex’s point of view. The unsatisfactory season finale offers some revelations but not much closure for the characters.

‘Queen Charlotte’

Despite its hit status, I never loved Netflix’s “Bridgerton,” which in its first two seasons proved painfully predictable.

But take the show’s two most intriguing characters – Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) and Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) – and give them a prequel/spin-off and the results improve on the original.

Streaming May 4 with the first three episodes written by executive producer Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy”), “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” takes place in two timelines, though more in the past than in the “Bridgerton” present.

In the past, young Charlotte (India Amarteifio) comes to England from Germany and meets her future husband, King George (Corey Mylchreest), and her future best friend, Lady Agatha Danbury (Arsema Thomas).

Where “Bridgerton” largely ignored its colorblind casting, “Queen Charlotte” explores it and in so doing explains why by the time of “Bridgerton” it had become a non-issue. King George’s mother refers to Charlotte as “very brown so people will talk” and calls her joining the family “the great experiment.”

As in “Bridgerton” there’s loads of sex but it’s less clear where storylines will go, allowing for the possibility of surprises along the way, particularly in the “Bridgerton” present where Charlotte frets about her lay-about children producing a legitimate heir.

‘A Small Light’

National Geographic Channel finds a new way into the Anne Frank story by centering “A Small Light” (9 p.m. Monday) on Miep Gies (Bel Powley), who agreed to hide her boss, Otto Frank (Live Schreiber), and his family from the Nazis during World War II. Two episodes debut at 9 p.m. May 1, 8, 15 and 22 and episodes stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

What stands out most in early episodes is how much joy “A Small Light” depicts. It’s not a somber re-telling of a familiar story but a sensitive, humanistic approach that allows room for humor and happiness even as viewers know the story will inevitably take a tragic turn.

Kudos to screenwriters Joan Rater and Tony Phelan (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Fire Country”) for finding a unique take on an important piece of history that bears re-telling.

Kept/canceled

ABC renewed “The Good Doctor” and “Station 19” for seventh seasons.

Netflix renewed animated adult comedy “Big Mouth” for an eighth and final season.

Apple TV+ canceled “Dear Edward” after a single season and “Truth Be Told” after three.

Disney+ canceled “National Treasure: Edge of History” after one season.

Channel surfing

Pittsburgh-based Fred Rogers Productions will accept applicants May 1-15 for an eight-week program designed to support new and emerging writers from underrepresented racial groups who want to build their careers in children’s media. Details at writersneighborhood.fredrogers.org. … Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” takes this week off and will resume with the sixth episode of season two streaming May 5 and on air at 9 p.m. May 7.