‘Shogun’ 

Historical drama “Shogun” was reportedly years in the making, and it shows. Each episode is like its own mini big-budget movie. Few foreign-language shows (the majority of the dialogue is Japanese) have managed to grab the attention of the Western world in the way “Shogun” has. The adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 novel centers on John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), loosely based on the English navigator William Adams, who became a samurai for the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate in the early 17th century. But it’s the women, particularly Blackthorne’s translator Lady Mariko (a hugely impressive Anna Sawai) who are the real heroes of the show, which is a beautifully paced mix of political intrigue and brutal combat. 

‘Industry’ 

The high-stakes, high-paced financial drama’s third season was its best yet, as the stress levels of the employees of London investment bank Pierpoint & Co skyrocketed. The introduction of Kit Harington as Henry Muck (no, not Musk, definitely not. Right?) — the horribly wealthy, horribly privileged creator of a green-energy startup whose doomed desperation to be liked was a constant source of glee for viewers — was a stroke of genius, as was the jaw-dropping chaos of the finale, stunning not least because there had already been so many instances of jaw-dropping chaos throughout that it was a surprise they had anything left. But “Industry” always seems to have plenty more in the tank. Roll on season four. 

‘Slow Horses’ 

No, the fourth season of Apple TV+’s espionage drama didn’t really break any new ground. But when what’s in place is already so good, why mess with it? Gary Oldman continues to have a ball as the foul-mouthed, foul-smelling former superspy Jackson Lamb, lording it over his ragtag crew of MI5 cast-offs in Slough House, and his team of misfits continue to defy expectations by actually being quite good at spy work — even if only by accident at times. The show continues to mine familiar tropes of the genre, but also continues to make them feel fresh thanks to brilliant performances and direction, and the strength of the source material — Mick Herron’s novels. 

‘Somebody Somewhere’ 

Rarely have big themes been tackled with such lightness and joy as in Hannah Bos’ and Paul Thureen’s coming-of-middle-age comedy drama. The third (and sadly final) season of this underrated gem keeps up the remarkable consistency of the previous two, and the remarkable Bridget Everett continues to shine as the main protagonist, forty-something Sam — a flawed but entirely relatable woman searching for acceptance and love, while continually self-sabotaging. The supporting cast are equally brilliant, and fans will feel bereft at their disappearance. 

‘Baby Reindeer’ 

Back in the spring, Richard Gadd’s autobiographical drama was the most high-profile show in the world — though not always for the reasons its creator — or Netflix — would have wanted. The streamer’s ethical failures aside, its water-cooler status was earned just as much by Gadd’s raw depiction of a wannabe comedian (himself) and his relationship with a female stalker, Martha (a superb, emotionally harrowing performance by Jessica Gunning). Equal parts hilarious and horrifying, this is one of the most original shows in years and Gadd’s performance and writing are both unflinchingly self-aware.  

‘Only Murders in the Building’ 

The fourth season of the comedy drama about an unlikely trio of true-crime podcasters (Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez) was arguably it strongest since its debut run, helped in no small part by its introduction of a host of new guest stars (Zach Galifianakis, Eva Longoria, and Eugene Levy) and returning ones (Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd, among others). This season’s murder investigation was deeply personal, and allowed the main characters to show greater depth than ever before, while retaining the sparkling comic chemistry between the three of them.  

‘Fallout’ 

Adaptations of post-apocalyptic video games are proving hugely popular with viewers. “The Last of Us” was one of 2023’s finest shows, and the more cartoonish, but equally violent, “Fallout” thrilled us this year. Set in an alternate history in which a nuclear exchange between the US and China in 2077 drove many survivors underground into bunkers known as Vaults, “Fallout” centers on Lucy (Ella Purnell), who, more than two centuries after the bombs dropped, ventures into the wasteland that used to be Los Angeles to hunt for her father, who has been kidnapped by raiders. Having been raised in the safety and the — outwardly, at least — polite society of the Vault, Lucy is, let’s say, underprepared for the horrors that await.  

‘Ripley’ 

Steven Zaillian’s adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s psychological crime thriller novel “The Talented Mr. Ripley” is beautifully shot in black-and-white, with gorgeous, lingering shots of the Italian coast. If that sounds a bit highbrow, don’t worry; the plot explores the basest of human instincts. Tom Ripley (the excellent Andrew Scott), a down-on-his-luck con-man in 1960s New York, is hired by the wealthy Herbert Greenleaf to convince his wayward son Dickie to return home from Italy, where he is living a leisurely life at his father’s expense. But when Ripley sees Dickie’s leisurely luxurious life for himself, he decides he’d quite like a piece (or considerably more) of it. 

JERUSALEM: A baby girl froze to death overnight in Gaza, while Israel and Hamas accused each other of complicating ceasefire efforts that could wind down the 14-month war.
The 3-week old baby was the third to die from the cold in Gaza’s tent camps in recent days, doctors said, deaths that underscore the squalid conditions, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians crammed into often ramshackle tents after fleeing Israeli offensives.
Israel’s bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza has killed over 45,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The offensive has caused widespread destruction and displaced some 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Hundreds of thousands are packed into tent camps along the coast as the cold, wet winter sets in. Aid groups have struggled to deliver food and supplies and say there are shortages of blankets, warm clothing and firewood.
Israel has increased the amount of aid it allows into the territory, reaching an average of 130 trucks a day so far this month, up from around 70 a day in October and November. Still, the amount remains well below than previous months and the United Nations says it is unable to distribute more than half the aid because Israeli forces deny permission to move within Gaza or because of rampant lawlessness and theft from trucks.
The father of 3-week-old Sila, Mahmoud Al-Faseeh, wrapped her in a blanket to try and keep her warm in their tent in the Muwasi area outside the town of Khan Younis, but it wasn’t enough, he told The Associated Press. He said the tent was not sealed from the wind and the ground was cold, as temperatures on Tuesday night dropped to 9 degrees Celsius (48 degrees Fahrenheit.) Muwasi is a desolate area of dunes and farmland on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast.
“It was very cold overnight and as adults we couldn’t even take it. We couldn’t stay warm,” he said. Sila woke up crying three times overnight and in the morning they found her unresponsive, her body stiff.
“She was like wood,” said Al-Faseeh. They rushed her to a field hospital where doctors tried to revive her, but her lungs had already deteriorated. Images of Sila taken by the AP showed the little girl with purple lips, her pale skin blotchy.
Ahmed Al-Farra, director of the children’s ward at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, confirmed that the baby died of hypothermia. He said two other babies — one 3 days old, the other a month old — had been brought to the hospital over the past 48 hours after dying of hypothermia.
Meanwhile, hopes for a ceasefire looked complicated Wednesday, with Israel and the militant Hamas group that runs Gaza trading accusations of delaying an agreement. In recent weeks, the two sides appeared to be inching toward a deal that would bring home dozens of hostages held by the militants in Gaza, but differences have emerged.
Although Israel and Hamas have expressed optimism that progress was being made toward a deal, sticking points remain over the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, people involved in the talks say.
On Wednesday, Hamas accused Israel of introducing new conditions related to the withdrawal from Gaza, the prisoners and the return of displaced people, which it said was delaying the deal.
Israel’s government accused Hamas of reneging on understandings that have already been reached.” Still, both sides said discussions are ongoing.
Israel’s negotiating team, which includes members from its intelligence agencies and the military, returned from Qatar on Tuesday evening for internal consultations, following a week of what it called “significant negotiations.”
During its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, Hamas and other groups took about 250 people hostages and brought them to Gaza. A previous truce in November 2023 freed more than 100 hostages, while others have been rescued or their remains have been recovered over the past year.
Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Gaza — at least a third whom it believes were killed during the Oct. 7 attack or died in captivity.
Sporadic talks have taken place for a year, but in recent weeks there’s been a renewed push to reach a deal.
President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month for his second term, has demanded the immediate release of Israeli hostages, saying on social media that if they’re not freed before he is sworn in, there will be “HELL TO PAY.”
Families of the hostages are becoming increasingly angry, calling on the Israeli government for a ceasefire before Trump is sworn in.
After Israel’s high-level negotiation team returned from Doha this week, hostage families called an emergency press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, pleading for a ceasefire and a complete end to the war.
Shir Siegel, the daughter of Israeli-American Keith Siegel, whose mother was released after more than 50 days in captivity, said every delay could endanger their lives. “There are moments when every second is fateful, and this is one of those moments,” she said.
Families of the hostages marked the first night of Hannukah with a candle lighting ceremony in Tel Aviv as well as by the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
The agreement would take effect in phases and include a halt in fighting, an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and a surge in aid to the besieged Gaza, according to Egyptian, Hamas and American officials. The last phase would include the release of any remaining hostages, an end to the war and talks on reconstruction.