The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey

As the title indicates, we are looking at the end of a man's life - and that life is not ending well. Ptolemy Grey once had a woman he loved, friends, family - but he has finally outlived them all and is now sinking into dementia.

But from the first few minutes of the series, we know three things about him: he has a plan, he has a gun, and he has nothing left to lose. What a great set-up...

This show is well cast, beautifully acted, and does an amazing job of taking us into Grey's world of confusion, suspicion, victimization and loss. But we are also piecing together his past life - little bits here and there that begin to form a picture of who this man was and still is.

It's been a long time since I've seen anything this good on television.

As of this writing, the show has an overall IMDB rating of 6.8 - about what you'd expect for a bland sitcom or a YA show. How the heck does that happen?

Great characters and great acting. I am very drawn into the story and looking forward to the next episode, but there's a definite feeling that there may be trouble ahead.

I've just finished episode 3. This is very well written and very engagingly portrayed. The dialogue is natural and witty and the characters are strong and distinct. I love the relationship between Ptolemy and Robyn. There are mysteries to be unravelled, but time might be tight.

AppleTV+ runs "The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey" concurrently with the series "Severance," dropping a new episode every Friday. While the two shows could not be more different in format, they actually share a similar theme - memories. "Severance" is getting accolades for a slow burn that leads up to a spectacular finale. Unfortunately for "Ptolemy Grey" it's the opposite, starting out strong with a fascinating concept but dwindles severely in the last episode. Nevertheless, it is enjoyable to continue seeing the work of Samuel L. Jackson. Here, his 'dementia acting' rises to the same level as Anthony Hopkins's Oscar-winning portrayal of an Alzheimer's patient in "The Father." I hope Samuel L. Jackson wins an award for this role. Another gem to come out of this series is the talented Dominique Fishback. I have never heard of her before this series. She portrays Robyn convincingly with a perfect blend of sass and heart. She will be recognized and I can see a bright future ahead of her. As a bonus, we also get a glimpse of the trusty Walton Goggins as the doctor. Overall, this short series is worthwhile to watch; just don't get your hopes up for a satisfying final 6th episode.

Just simply a spectacular piece of acting by Samuel L. Jackson! It's surprising to me that no one I know is familiar with the show, more so when it's on Apple TV+.

If we took the time to get to know the life of a 91 year old person, what kind of a past would we uncover? As his mind returns, he is transformed from a senile old man who many of us would just ignore and set aside in today's society, to become a vibrant, sharp, shrewd man whose intellect runs circles around everyone around him. He uses his heightened mind and memories to make the most of the time he has to set things right.

In addition to Jackson, the supporting cast is exceptional. This is a high quality show that should get more attention. It feels slow at times in the first couple of episodes, but it does gain speed. Looking forward to seeing how the plot unravels.

One side of this show is a truly sad story about someone with dementia and how it affects their daily life and Samuel L. Jackson portrays the character very well. There is more to the story though, there are many odd flashbacks that aren't completely explained and it makes you wonder what may be hidden in his memory. Very well done and excited for the rest!