Netflix has an ongoing deal with AMC to grab a lot of their programming after it airs, from a bunch of Walking Dead shows to its new Vampire/Witch-based Anne Rice universe. But it’s now gotten a show that’s not on the same level as those at all, Parish, the crime drama starring Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito. Here’s the synopsis:
“Haunted by the violent murder of his son, Gray Parish finds himself thrust into an adrenaline-charged thrill ride through the criminal underworld; with no escape, the wrong way may be his only way out.”
I mean, that doesn’t sound half bad for a concept, but…it is half bad. Actually, fully bad. Parish is just not a good show, outside of Esposito as a lead, who always lends talent to any role. But he can’t save Parish, which boasts an impressively bad 33% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics. Here’s one of those critic reviews:
Variety – “With so many storylines, characters and revelations, Parish loses its plot, and even the prowess of Esposito can’t save it from feeling like a cobbled-together journey with no distinct destination.”
So, skip Parish, but if you’re looking for something similar, I suggest you head back in time to another show that may scratch the same itch while not being, you know, bad. We are going back to 2018 for a Netflix original that didn’t garner all that much attention at the time, but it’s very good with a solid 78% Rotten Tomatoes critic score and an 84% from the audience. The show is called Seven Seconds, and here is its synopsis:
“When 15-year-old black cyclist Brenton Butler dies in a hit-and-run accident — with a white police officer behind the wheel of the vehicle — Jersey City explodes with racial tension. This crime drama explores the aftermath of the accident, which includes an attempted cover-up by the police department and a volatile trial. Assistant prosecutor KJ wants to prosecute the hit-and-run as a hate crime, in addition to a negligent homicide. The longer the case drags on without a resolution, the more tense the situation becomes. Emmy winner Regina King stars as Brenton’s churchgoing mother, Latrice.”
Regina King gives a stellar performance here, and while not action-oriented, this is a very powerful drama, and I think a somewhat similar, but better alternative to Parish, also available on Netflix. I didn’t watch Seven Seconds in 2018, but I did catch it in the years since, and I can vouch for its quality. Meanwhile, I wanted to give Parish a shot because of Esposito and only made it through two episodes. I wouldn’t bother with it.
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