The original post: /r/television by /u/CrunchyTeatime on 2024-12-22 16:20:58.
I just ‘discovered’ a series called Instinct.
It ran from 2018 through 2019 in two seasons.
It stars two of my favorite actors: Alan Cumming and Naveen Andrews.
Neither actor appears in things nearly often enough. They are both so talented. Whoever cast them is smart.
Alan Cumming is more well known in the west perhaps but, soon as I saw Naveen Andrews in it, I literally sat up and thought “OMG.” He’s incredibly talented, brings a lot of presence and intelligence to his roles. Why doesn’t Hollywood cast him much more often?!
So, whoever cast him as Julian in this series, is astute and I’d bet, a movie fan. I first saw Naveen Andrews in Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, a 1996 film. (Highly recommend, btw.) His was my favorite character in the film. Julian is my favorite character in this series, Instinct.
I don’t mean to squee or sound fan girly. I just think there is a need for talented actors and I wish better scripts were being developed for them. I think this is a person who could carry his own series, and someone should write a film role for him, although I don’t know what.
I also love to see Alan Cumming in entertainment. I liked his autobiography as well.
Bring this series back and promote the heck out of it. The writing and other aspects of this series were also good.
The one aspect I am baffled by: Every woman in the lead character’s life (Dr. Dylan Reinhart, Alan Cumming) is hypercritical and domineering. Cringe. His father is mentioned and in the series but so far his mother only exists as a memory, and his main memory of her, is her deathbed.
It is uncomfortable as a viewer when instead of appreciating his gifts, he’s barked at “I’m your boss!” by a policewoman he is helping solve cases; and when he says no to his publisher they insist yes. Now I just saw an intro to an episode in which the book agent/publisher sicced a pushy PR rep on him. It’s mystifying and the audience won’t like that. The character is kind, and others mistreat him. It doesn’t add humor. It’s just heavy handed.
Apart from that odd dynamic, it’s a really good series, and PG rated. There are not a ton of those around.