THE ARTIST | Bel Powley
THE SHOW | National Geographic A little light
THE EPISODE | “Legacy” (May 22, 2023)
THE PERFORMANCE | You know how some shows and performances stay with you long beyond the closing credits? That’s how we feel about Powley’s turn as Miep Gies in the limited series, which reframed the well-known Anne Frank story by shining a light on the people who risked everything to hide the teenager and her family.
While we’d particularly like to focus on Powley’s deeply moving work in Monday’s finale, we also need to take a step back and give the morning show alum credit for his portrayal throughout the show’s eight-episode run. A little light worked so well because Powley was instantly lovable as Gies – both as the wading young woman we met at the start of the series and as the steely member of the resistance she became part of. the end. She invited the audience by letting every one of Miep’s emotions play out on her face, the character’s inability to cover disgust or outrage communicated with agility via Powley’s deeply expressive eyes. It was especially fun to watch early in Miep’s relationship with Otto Frank (played by Liev Schreiber), where the slightly sassy patina that Powley gave his character provided a fun foil for the calm, serious Mr. Frank.
Which brings us back to that final, which gave Powley an array of great stuff to play. A few of our favorite bits: Miep’s bravery as she entered Nazi headquarters, Powley’s shoulders in grim determination as her character tried to bribe the guards into letting the Franks and their friends. The way Powley melted away Miep’s frustration with hunger and lack of war rations during the Allied Food Drop. (The happiness with which she ate that piece of chocolate!) And most movingly, the mixture of devastation and love — tears mixed with wide-eyed hope, despite everything — brought to the scenes with Schreiber as their characters reconciled with all those they had lost.
Scroll down to see who scored honorable mentions this week…
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HONORABLE MENTION: Lizzy Caplan
Image credit: Paramount + screenshot
Over the smart and sleek design of Paramount+ Fatal attraction, Lizzy Caplan took full advantage of the opportunity to delve deeper into the role of Alex Forrest than Glenn Close could in the film. The result is a version of the infamous character that’s no less compelling than the original but tinged with a greater sense of emotion and possibility that keeps her staunchly human. Caplan’s work is especially stunning in the final episode, “The Dillingers,” in which flashbacks reveal how quickly Alex’s light could darken. The actress navigates the hairpin turns of this emotional rollercoaster with such admirable subtlety — a slight shift in her stance or even her breathing — that, like the friends worried about Alex, we don’t realize what happened. passed only when it is already too late.
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HONORABLE MENTION: James Cromwell
Image credit: Courtesy of HBO
Some Succession fans may have forgotten that Logan Roy even had a brother named Ewan, but James Cromwell made sure we remembered him in this week’s penultimate episode, with Ewan delivering a revealing and ruthless eulogy at Logan’s funeral. Other family members didn’t want Ewan to speak because of the bad blood between the brothers, but he started off cordial with stories of growing up with Logan, with Cromwell infusing Ewan’s memories with fond sentimentality. But Ewan also stayed true to himself, attacking Logan’s lack of moral fiber, and Cromwell brought a fiery righteousness to Ewan’s eloquent eloquence. He not only mourned his brother’s death, but also the despicable man his brother had become, and Cromwell ably reminded us that not all Roys followed Logan to the dark side.
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HONORABLE MENTION: Helene Yorke and Josh Segarra
Image credit: Max screenshot (2)
In its current third season, The two others remains one of the funniest comedies on television. It’s equally compelling, however, when it pivots to drama, as evidenced by this week’s fight between Helene Yorke’s Brooke and Josh Segarra’s Lance. Yorke had already showcased his comedy chops earlier in Thursday’s episode, with Brooke making a hilariously under-the-radar return to talent management. But it was heartbreaking and infuriating (we mean that as a compliment!) when Brooke then unloaded her insecurities on Lance. And Segarra, who has played Lance to himbo perfection thus far, broke through with stunning clarity as Lance passionately countered Brooke’s arguments and fought for his own needs as a partner. The fight may have ended in a rift for Lance and Brooke – but man, what a way out.
Which performance(s) hit your socks this week? Tell us in the comments!
