Government Cheese

Government Cheese is a vibrant, emotionally rich dramedy that manages to feel both nostalgic and wildly original. Set in 1969 San Fernando Valley, it follows the Chambers family with heart, humor, and a touch of surreal magic. As someone who grew up in the Valley, I can honestly say they nailed the feeling of the place-the streets, the energy, even the sunlight. It felt close to home in the best way.

What really sets this series apart is its fearless storytelling-dreams blend with reality, and the line between absurdity and authenticity is danced upon with style and purpose. At the center is Hampton Chambers, whose return home from prison throws his already unconventional family into a beautiful storm of love, conflict, and rediscovery.

The writing is sharp, the pacing bold, and the performances deeply human. Each character is layered and compelling, and the visual direction captures both the period and the whimsy of the world being built.

More than just a comedy or a family drama, Government Cheese is a meditation on resilience and the American dream-especially for Black families navigating a world that rarely makes space for them. It's imaginative, culturally rich, and speaks to the power of dreaming beyond your circumstances.

Highly recommend watching. This one lingers with you.

One of the most underrated shows airing right now. I watch pretty much everything and this is the show that has really gripped me. I don't know where it's going but I love it. I suspect some thought this was a Wes Anderson rip off or more irritating indie quirk and rejected it out of hand. But it has a genuinely nuanced originality, both in style and story. Reminded me of Lodge 49 in the tangents, mystery and free flowing narrative. Congrats to Apple for backing this - we need more of it!

Terrible it doesn't appear to be getting the attention and acclaim it deserves. A huge recommendation - can't let this series die!

Between Aeysha Carr's wicked sense of humour, and director Paul Hunter's zany music clip background, the two creators and writers have got this absolute hilarious series covered. It is a blend between the Coen brothers and Wes Anderson, with David Lynch in the mix, creating what could have been a basic story and embellishing it with magical creative flare. To top it all off is David Oyelowo, playing the main role of Hampton Chambers to near perfection, entertaining us with the wild antics of an ex-con attempting to make it straight in an unforgiving world. Oyelowo is backed by a brilliant cast who play it right, giving this outrageous story an extra edge with the quirky characters and surreal moments...

This is really good and has a lot of opportunity for character development. There will be many lessons to be learned here. I'm excited 😁 TV and entertainment with DEPTH and many layers.

I don't recognize any of the actors, meaning that the writing is spectacular. I like the cinematography, too, because the topics are HEAVY and quite sad, but they manage to keep it light and manageable and not laden and depressing. There are definitely some Wes Anderson vibes, but it doesn't seem like a ripoff.

These unfamiliar actors make it more interesting, too. And, the music isn't bad. The opening credits are cool, and I like how they nerd out.

Is this an alternate reality? If so, then I'll stop objecting to banks being open until 6:00pm in the 1960s. Or French Canadian gangsters, which cracks me up. And I'm not seeing any overt racism or objections to Hamilton being an x-con. Astoria is having a hard time because she's a woman with children, not because she's a Black woman. In general, I like this alternate universe, faults and all, and I'm guessing there's going to be a happy ending, because happily ever after is how dramatic narratives end in America. I want it to have a tragic ending, but it probably won't. It is a fun watch, so I'll watch until the not too bitter end.