CHAT WITH KELLY
USA TODAY’s Kelly Lawler chats with readers Mondays at 2 p.m. ET at facebook.com/USATODAY. Read edited excerpts below, email questions to klawler@usatoday.com or tweet them to @klawls and visit her live online.
Q My first viewing of ABC’s Still Star-Crossed left me a bit confused. However, I admired most of the performances, and the production values were very impressive. I rewatched the extravagant pilot and it cleared up my confusion. I am so pleased to have a solid scripted show to watch this summer on a broadcast network.
A You are not alone in being a little confused. The show takes place in the world of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, just after the classic story ends. It is based on a young-adult novel by Melinda Taub and comes from
Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes. It’s beautiful to look at for sure, with big set pieces and gorgeous costumes, and unlike Once Upon a
Time, another ABC show that’s often in a medieval setting, you don’t notice the computer graphics. I wouldn’t say the show is solid; the first episode felt a little forced and not as riveting as other shows from Rhimes. But if you enjoy beautiful costumes and sets, it will probably satisfy your summer craving.
Q Is there any difference between the British version of House of Cards, which was released in 1990, and the current American House of Cards?
A The American version of the show, which just returned for its fifth season on Netflix, is based on the British miniseries, which in turn was based on the novel by William Dobbs. Many of the U.S. characters and the initial plot points closely resemble its British counterpart, but the main difference is that the British version lasted only four episodes, and ended when its version of Frank Underwood came to power. The Netflix show has obviously gone on long since, and has dropped in quality since it passed that point in its narrative.
Q Is The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu still as good as it was when it started?
A Unfortunately, no. As someone who has read the book by Margaret Atwood, I was nervous about how it would be adapted into a multiseason TV show, and it’s already struggling to fill out its 10-episode first season. When the show adds filler plot that doesn’t come from the novel, it starts to feel forced and even more outlandish than its already outlandish setup. I still really enjoy it, and Elisabeth Moss (who plays protagonist Offred) still turns in fantastic work each week, but recent episodes haven’t quite matched the heights of the first five. But the show has been renewed for a second season, so it can definitely course-correct.