What I’m Watching: Luck

Luck: Season 1, Episode 4 (B+)

This show is beginning to take shape, and some of its segments are becoming truly dazzling. There’s one sequence in particular that stuck with me, which utilized Max Richter’s beautiful “On the Nature of Daylight” from “Shutter Island” to score the horse racing. This show derives its most meaningful moments from its spectacles, and from seeing the emotion on the faces of its players. I was thrilled to see Kerry Condon, one of the standout performers from “The Last Station,” as Rosie, who’s both quite religious and got quite the personality when she’s not behaving with decorum. Jerry continues to be headed down a dark, dangerous road, and Leo is proving to be a vicious enemy for him. Playing at his restaurant was not a good idea, and it’s a good thing that his buddies came to check on him. Lonnie and Renzo are an entertaining duo, and their inability to figure out whether Marcus was talking about himself or Jerry being sick was hilarious. Joey is spiraling out of control, and Richard Kind is delivering a compelling and engaging performance. What continues to be the most interesting, of course, is Ace’s business with Nathan. Mocking his 8th grade notebook and asking him what he’s done since they last spoke was predictably harsh, and I was proud of Nathan for calling Ace out on answering a question with a question. Gus telling Ace what he would have done for a million dollars at his age was also interesting, and I’m glad to be getting to know these characters.