Hap and Leonard 2016-2018

 

Southern Discomfort. Set in the rural deep south of east Texas in the late 80’s this vibrant thriller series concerns the misadventures of two childhood friends who are still close as grown men. One is black and gay; the other is white and straight. Having suffered a shared childhood disaster that ties the two together, think of a twisted Huck and Tom, or The Hardy Boys,,they are devoted to each other and love each other which they have no problem expressing in platonic ways.  Each season is self contained and takes the men on some hair raising experiences with a romantic pair of psycho killers, who are without a doubt two of the most violent horrendous piles I think i have ever seen in a movie, a serial killer who murders young black boys, and a racist town full of KKK members that brings the series to an end, rather abruptly I thought. Based on a series of books by Joe R. Lansdale who also contributed to the development and scripts of the show, with a marvelous cast including James Purefoy as Hap and the brilliant Michael Kenneth Williams as the take no prisoners Leonard. Williams who is best known for his role on “The Wire” is unapologetically gay in the series and his off and on relationship with Enrique Murciano who plays a male nurse is one of the best gay relationships I’ve seen in a movie. I wish this sidebar had more side and a lot more bar than it has but hell I’ll take what I can get. The series is harsh in parts and funny in other parts thanks to the very good cast of mostly unknown performers to me, but also contains some great stuff from the likes of Brian Dennehy, Corbin Bernsen, Louis Gossett Jr. & Christina Hendricks. Characters who you think you are reading correctly make U turns and ones who you think are bad turn out not to be that way, that’s the kind of show this is. The dead come back, ghosts appear and scores are settled. The time period that the series takes place is before cell phones and computers and there is plenty of southern delight and disgust in the many details documenting this time and place. Also pleasing is the music score including original music along with reliable time centered spots of songs and music. It’s violent to be sure but entertaining and compelling, that it was cancelled after only 3 seasons is a crying shame.