Parish (2024) Not Too Breaking Bad

Parish (2024) stars Giancarlo Esposito and it is not too bad. It just is not Breaking Bad, or for that matter Better Call Saul. Esposito will always, and forever, be Gus Fring. Vince Gilligan’s pollo producing kingpin will continue to overshadow Esposito for years. In the meantime, however, let us talk Parish.

synopsis

Per IMDb: Follows a taxi driver whose life is turned upside down when he agrees to pick-up a Zimbabwean gangster mostly known for exploiting undocumented immigrants at the U.S. southern ports.

What the film database fails to mention is that Parish was formerly a “driver.” This was before his turn as a taxi operator. Anyone who has watched crime films or TV shows, will agree, the driver is the most essential part of the team. Whether robbing banks, gold reserves or kidnapping someone for ransom, the driver is the most indispensable of the lot.

Parish is roped into doing one last job for the comrades he left behind. The driver shed his previous lifestyle for his family and to leave the criminal activities behind; to lead an honest life. All this is jeopardized when his past reaches out and grabs him.

the cast

Top names: Esposito plays Parish. Paula Malcomson plays his wife and Skeet Ulrich plays Collin. Ivan Mbakop (Red Notice, Hawkeye), Zackary Momoh and the rest of the cast all bring something to the table. Although it is annoying to see Malcomson stuck in the role of protagonist’s wife. Her character Abby in Ray Donovan lasted 60 episodes out of 82. At least in that Showtime series her character had interesting storylines. *Shoutout to the young actor playing Parish’s daughter; Arica Himmel. *

some background

Parish is a remake of the 2014 British television miniseries The Driver with David Morrissey playing the Parish part. The UK role had the name Vince McKee. It was only three episodes. Like most remakes, this one may be above or below the mark set by the original. Not having access to the Morrissey vehicle, we cannot wager a guess either way; better or worse.

It is easy to imagine that, like Esposito, Morrissey has also had problems shedding an earlier role. TWD aside, the actor rocked it in The Long Shadow. Esposito has gone from playing an overwhelming villain to desperate family man. One who spends all his time spinning metaphorical plates and still trying to escape his past.

the sum of its parts

Despite having the two writers on board from the original UK series, Parish struggles under its own weight. The series is not too bad, but thus far it has not over exciting either. The latest episode, despite being the most violent, could not equal the sum of its parts, in other words, there is too much going on. One feels that the decision to expand the original show from three to six episodes was a mistake.

*Although it is unclear as to whether the original show was meant to be six episodes as well. Accounts vary.*

Still, despite the spectre of Gus Fring, Esposito is giving the show his all. Perhaps the main problem is, as another critic opined: Parish talks too much. It will be interesting to see if the series improves for the last two episodes.

Parish is streaming on AMC and AMC+. Check out the trailer below and see what you think.