DEAD TO ME
Netflix, 3:00 a.m. ET
SEASON PREMIERE: The first season of this Netflix series, which stars Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini as two women with what you might call complicated pasts, was one of last year’s more pleasant surprises. As a dual character study, it was impeccable. As a comedy, it was so dry and patient, it was easy to forget it was a comedy, until something Applegate’s understandably acerbic character said made you laugh out loud. As a mystery, and even as a drama, it could pull you in completely – and its wild trademark was that it would build to scenes with a gripping, intense climax, only to fool you with a sudden reveal that what you thought was coming wasn’t what was going to happen at all. Season 1 ended with just such a cliffhanger – and Season 2 picks right up, just as adroitly. Watching previews, before the first Season 2 episode was over, I was gobsmacked all over again. Welcome back, Dead to Me. And special note: the scenes when the two actresses share the screen, and are reacting to one another in an uncut single shot, are priceless, with both Cardellini and Applegate sparkling at the absolute top of their respective games.