Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Few fans of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s adapted works will be disappointed by The Last Tycoon, premiering its first full season on Amazon today. While the pilot debuted on the streaming platform last year, 8 hour-long, gorgeous new episodes arrive today.
In the series based on Fitzergrald’s last work, Kelsey Grammer stars as Pat Brady, the head of a Hollywood film studio in the 1930s. He butts heads with the Golden Boy of production, the steely and studly Monroe Stahr, played by Matt Bomer. Rounding out Brady’s family is his daughter Celia (Lily Collins) who is ready to hustle her butt off to make her own name in the industry, and his wife Rose, played by the wonderful Rosemarie DeWitt. Unbeknownst to them, they are both part of a love rhombus (triangles don’t have enough points for the characters in this show) with Stahr which is completed by Kathleen (Dominique McElligott), an Irish waitress-turned-actress with secrets of her own.
Celia soon enough enters into a flirtation with Max, (Mark O’Brien) a poor Oklahoma boy who lucks himself into a job on the lot, and Rose finds a new and unexpected way to fill her heart up. But it is the romance between Monroe and Kathleen that shines in The Last Tycoon, as they move from flirty to serious, dating and dancing with each other in such an old-fashioned manner, it’s hard to stop yourself from swooning. The series has expertly paced itself in the way each character slowly but surely reveals their sexy secrets — and they all have them.
While Nazi Germany has its role in the drama, it’s not the entire focus. It was much more entwined in the movie business during that era than anyone wants to admit, but the politics are simply a supporting character to the glamorous star that is Hollywood. The series never gets as showbiz-y or as bitchy as Feud dared to earlier this year, yet still provides a fun glimpse at what making the “pictures” was like during that time.
The Last Tycoon truly excels at creating a world that looks as dreamy as it can feel. The details are there in the sets and the props, but the wardrobe, hair, and makeup departments have truly worked their magic on this show. From the wavy bob cuts on the women to their bold lips and perfectly tailored outfits, viewers will get sucked in to the era through these classic looks. Between the rich colors and the beautiful, flowy silk numbers the characters frequently find themselves in, the eye candy is endless.
The themes of politics, Hollywood, sex, class and glamour wrestle each other throughout the season, as only a Fitzgerald story can. Bomer and McElligott will keep your eyes glued to the screen, Grammer is as dependable as ever, and Collins is showing many signs of growing as an actress here. While it’s a timeless story at hand, there’s nothing about The Last Tycoon that makes it an urgent watch. Indulge in the luxury and turn to this one when you want something pretty to look at while you lounge around in your favorite silk robe…and be thankful you aren’t responsible for the budget of a large studio film.
