Graves: Season One

Nick Nolte stars as Richard Graves, a two-term President regarded as “the last great Republican to sit in the Oval Office” (he's kind of a mash-up between Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush). The gruff, crusty curmudgeon is thrown into a tailspin when he Googles himself and discovers just how disastrous his policies have been for the country. Graves is determined to set things right, early on even offering up his Texas ranch as a safe haven for illegal immigrants threatened—thanks to him—with deportation. As someone who leans left myself, I found this series to be heavy-handed, liberal-wish-fulfillment claptrap. There is not a moment or a supporting character that rings the least bit authentic. Particularly annoying are two broadly-written (and acted) characters, Graves's daughter (Heléne Yorke), whose personal life is a mess, and Graves's new assistant Isaiah (Skylar Astin), a true believer who idolizes Graves. Graves's steely wife (Sela Ward) instructs Isaiah to keep Graves from doing something, Graves then does that very thing, and Isaiah frets, “I am so fired.” This schtick gets old very quickly. Compiling all 11 episodes from the 2016 debut season, extras include behind-the-scenes featurettes and a gag reel. Not a necessary purchase. (D. Liebenson)