Taking Chance

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Taking Chance is available in Australia on Foxtel Now and HBO Max, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 243 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Kevin Bacon — one of the stronger performances out there right now. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Foxtel Now.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Taking Chance is worth clearing space for. Taking Chance takes its time building the world its characters inhabit, and the patience pays off. Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, a volunteer military escort accompanies the body of Lance Cpl. Kevin Bacon and Tom Aldredge lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2009. The performances in Taking Chance do a lot of work in the silences between the dialogue. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in Taking Chance. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Kevin Bacon anchors a cast that never overplays its hand. The kind of drama that stays with you well after the finale.