How Bob Odenkirk drives the dramedy in new AMC sequence ‘Fortunate Hank’
Bob Odenkirk pivots effortlessly from his “Higher Name Saul” bleakness to the world of small-town school academia in “Fortunate Hank,” a nice AMC sequence that chugs alongside to the beat of its personal foibles.
He performs William Henry “Hank” Devereaux Jr., a once-semi-successful novelist who’s now chairing the English Division at underfunded Railton Faculty someplace within the Pennsylvania rust belt, a spot he dubs “mediocrity’s capitol.”
The bearded Hank mixes cynicism, sarcasm and pessimistic humor — “being an grownup is 80 % distress,” he posits — whereas battling midlife crises on a number of fronts: together with his well-known father, a philandering Columbia College literature professor who deserted his household years earlier than and, not too long ago retired, now desires to reconnect; together with his squabbling workers, a motley, conniving crew who assume Hank must be “de-chaired” from his job ( “Is that an outpatient process as of late?” Hank wonders); and together with his spouse, Lily (Mireille Enos), the vice principal at Railton East Excessive Faculty.
Hank and Lily are settled into a snug, loving marriage not with out its personal challenges: she, too, is coping with work points and is tempted by the prospect of a prestigious job in New York Metropolis however wants to steer Hank to go away his hometown (and mom) behind — an almost unattainable job.
Their 24-year-old daughter Julie (Olivia Scott Welch), who sees herself as a disappointment to her dad and mom, is married to ne’er-do-well Russell (Daniel Doheny), a modern-day Ralph Kramden who desires large however doesn’t ever appear to ship.
Hank’s point-of-view is crystallized by his inside ideas, relayed by way of his occasional voiceover. It’s a plot machine that, if overused, can misfire — however it works properly right here and provides a contact of whimsical gravitas.
Every episode of “Fortunate Hank,” based mostly on Richard Russo’s 1997 novel “Straight Man,” deftly puzzles collectively the dramedy’s story arc with out shedding focus underneath the positive palms of Paul Lieberstein (“The Workplace”) and Aaron Zelman (“Damages,” “The Killing” with Enos).
We finally study far more about Hank, Lily, Julie (and Russell) and Hank’s backstory, significantly in relation to his daddy points — that are turned upside-down when he discovers a cache of household letters revealing far more to the saga of Devereaux Sr. — and his insecurities as a latent author who fears his finest was extra a product of his father’s fame (his thought of a “nepo child”) than of his personal expertise.
None of this might work, in fact, with out sharp writing, and that’s in abundance right here (together with a number of episodes written by Russo). Hank fires off a string of one-liners — “an aye for an aye” when his colleagues are deciding his chairman’s destiny; describing himself as “a smidge up from impartial” re: his “comfortable” temper — and, given Odenkirk’s comedic background, it suits Hank like a glove, albeit by means of a world-weary lens, a lot because it did in “Breaking Unhealthy” and “Higher Name Saul.”
Any sequence (dramatic or comedic) price its time funding contains a stellar supporting solid, and “Fortunate Hank” doesn’t disappoint, significantly relating to Hank’s division colleagues, amongst them Dean Rose (Oscar Nunez); poetry professor Gracie DuBois (Suzanne Cryer); blatant misogynist Paul Rourke (Cedric Yarbrough, “Speechless”); pretentious lit professor Finny (Hague Sutherland); and movie professor Emma Wheemer (Shannon DeVido), a self-described “freight practice” of insults.
Buckle up for a bumpy, satisfying journey into the human situation that can take you on a journey that’s, at turns, humorous, melancholy and insightful — however by no means boring.