Why you need to add ‘Perpetual Grace, Ltd’ to your watchlist

If you enjoyed Breaking Bad, Fargo, True Detective or Carnivàle then the new Epix original series, Perpetual Grace Ltd, is going to blow your mind.

Available for streaming on Amazon Prime, it’s a mesmerising blend of high art, neo-noir imagery, wry humour, brilliant dialogue and an outstanding cast that includes the likes of Sir Ben Kingsley, Jacki Weaver, Jimmi Simpson and Luis Guzmán.

With quirky, off-beat episode titles such as Orphan Comb Death Fight and Almost First Mexican on the Moon, this highly entertaining show follows James (played by Simpson) as he attempts to rob a loveable God-bothering old couple Pastor Byron “Pa” Brown (Kingsley) and his wife Lillian “Ma” (Weaver).

Sir Ben Kingsley and Jacki Weaver in Perpetual Grace, Ltd. Picture: Epix

James is approached by the couple’s mild-mannered son Paul (played by Damon Herriman) who asks him to help declare his parents dead by getting them locked up in a Mexican jail for two weeks while they clear out their bank account containing millions stolen from unsuspecting parishioners.

However, there is only one problem with this seemingly easy plan … the sweet couple turn out to be far more dangerous than anyone expects.

This becomes abundantly clear when the old man, a few minutes into his Mexican incarceration, beats a young thug to death with his shoe and then plots his and Ma’s escape.

Much like Fargo and True Detective, the first 20 minutes of the series pilot episode starts off slowly, but is nevertheless engrossingly entertaining and well worth the time.

Damon Herriman and Jimmi Simpson in Perpetual Grace, Ltd. Picture: Epix

As more even weirder characters are introduced, you immediately get the sense that each new episode will be better than the last – and they really are.

From Weaver and Kingsley teasing us with where their characters will go next, to Harriman’s conniving wannabe magician-turned-con artist role and Simpson’s dim-witted good-guy appeal, this series is well on its way to achieving cult status.

Already boasting an 89% Rotten Tomatoes rating, its first three episodes have landed to critical acclaim, in spite of the Epix channel having suffered somewhat on previous endeavours.

The 10-episode series is going to be talked about for a long time. Add it to your viewing list.

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