Kenneth Johnson and Holly Hunter in "Saving Grace"
courtesy of TNT
“Saving Grace” (TNT)

America fell in love with Holly Hunter many years ago when she made the movie “Broadcast News.” She has always been a quirky actress who plays roles that are not in the mainstream. She won the Academy Award for “The Piano” and her role in it was certainly non-traditional. Now she is a TV star in the series “Saving Grace” and she thrills us by being completely different from any other leading lady on television today.

Grace Hanadarko (Hunter) is a police detective in Oklahoma City. She lost a sister in the infamous bombing there and that event affects her deeply in her work and in her personal life. Grace is rough, tough and resilient but she is also tender and vulnerable. No one knows this better than her guardian angel Earl (Leon Rippy).

Now angels aren’t usually featured in dramatic series on TV and Earl is not a “touched by an angel” follower. He is battling for Grace’s soul and is leading her to the light but doing it in a round about way. Hitting Grace with anything head on is not the way to go and Earl knows that. 

This spiritual aspect of the show collides over and over with the profanity and nudity that often are seen and heard, but in a strange way that is what makes the show have the impact it does. This season Grace has another angel (F Murray Abraham) competing with Earl for her soul and that really tangles things up.

Hunter and her supporting cast make this one of the best acted shows on television and one that is a pleasure to watch. If you can take the profanity and nudity you will certainly enjoy this show. Crazy as it sounds you might even grow a little spiritually by watching.

“Saving Grace” starts its third season on TNT, Tuesday, June 16 at 10PM. Don’t miss a single episode!
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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