The best TV show of the year won’t make you feel good, but it certainly will make you feel deeply.
Apple TV+’s“Disclaimer” (streaming Fridays, ★★★★ out of four) is as dark and depressing as any story can be, and it will knock you out with the sheer power of its brilliance. The limited series from Oscar-winning director Alfonso Cuarón, starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline and Sacha Baron Cohen, is a stunning work of art, a head-spinning odyssey of emotion and tension that will grip you, disgust you, thrill you, and, maybe teach you something about yourself. You may not like what you learn. You don’t have to. There are plenty of other places to look for comfort TV.
No, instead of offering a warm hug, “Disclaimer” delivers a shiver and shot of adrenaline. Through exquisite performances, a superbly crafted script and Cuarón’s distinctive visual style, the series toys with your assumptions and notions, offering what appears to be a simple tale of revenge. But not everything is what it seems. At moments, you’ll desperately want to look away. You won’t be able to peel your eyes off the screen during most scenes. But you’ll certainly keep watching until the end.
