A Preview of ‘The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

There is a prevailing belief in the television and motion picture industry, that films and shows… have to follow certain edicts storytelling wise. For instance, they cannot waste a single second of screen time and should engage the audience through and through, and they should of course… feature a plot that is so dynamic and explosive that the view is compelled to tune in or pre-buy their ticket at the local multiplex. Because so many believe that audiences cannot and will not sit through slow and intimate moments with the characters, and while that edict has indeed led to some moving and intense stories over the years that fly by, it has also kept certain stories out of the limelight.

The kind that more or less examine those slices of life that we don’t talk about enough, and don’t feature big moments or action and adventure and really require a viewer to ponder upon the human condition and what our life experiences mean and well, the rise of peak television is finally forcing a change in the industry. One that is allowing for these types of stories to be told at last, thusly proving that quality writing and a compelling concept trounce the old way of thinking and it just so happens that Apple TV+ is about to debut a transformative story in that vein. For Friday, March 11, 2022, will see the first two episodes of The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey arrive on the network. And this powerful and dynamic series really does examine aspects of life that no other story on television is going near right now and well… we here at Nerds That Geek have seen the series in advance and thought it would be worthwhile to discuss what makes this series stand out from the rest, in a spoiler-free manner of course.

Because this is a series full of big moments that needs to be experienced firsthand. But there is still plenty to discuss without ruining that experience, such as the fact that this show digs hard into a concept that so many view as taboo in our modern world: growing old. Because it is a scary prospect, one that inches us closer to the end of our lives and it terrifies us so, that we put it out of mind and out of sight. But this show plunges us into right into the life of a ninety-something year old man and having that up close and personal look at a man suffering from the early stages of onset dementia, and how he is treated because of what he represents to the young, makes for some engaging and uncomfortable television. The kind that puts ageism in modern America front and center, and forces one to reflect upon their views on aging, and the show offers more fascinating thoughts on our journey through life as the series rolls along.

For this is also a story about the power of the past and how the people we encounter along the way shape us in ways we never thought possible, and how loss in any capacity is always with us and never gets easier as the years go by. Which truly makes this show, a grand and sweeping examination of life, and the highs and lows it takes us upon and how every moment is to be cherished… for there may come a day when those moments fade from memory or are robbed from us completely. But of course, while this grand and sweeping drama has plenty to say about life and does so in a manner that glues you to the screen and leaves you deep in thought when each episode comes to a close, it still has more to offer the audience. Such as a fascinating twist regarding Ptolemy’s memory, and a stunning task for him to undertake for that matter as well.

Plus, it is also filled to the brim with top-notch acting. For every actor in this story brings forth impactful and moving performances, the kind that engage you as much as the story, with Samuel L. Jackson leading the charge. In fact, this might be his best performance to date, courtesy of what he is able to do with the role of Ptolemy Grey and well, in the end, this is simplify a revelatory series through and through. One that shakes off every expectation about storytelling, by providing us with a journey unlike any other on television right now. Since this really is a captivating tale about life and a corner of it we will all eventually touch in some capacity, and credit is also due to writer Walter Mosley for providing us with a stunning adaptation of his own novel.

One that grabs hold of you and never lets go and well, the good news is we don’t have to watch that much longer to take part in this outright experience, since the The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey arrives on Apple TV+ on Friday and to further build anticipation for this amazing series, we’ve got more coverage to bring you in the days to come. Courtesy of our interviews with some of the cast of this compelling journey and to provide with you a sampling of the majesty of this series right now, here are five clips from this show, courtesy of Apple TV+, and we here at NTG certainly hope you tune in and join us in our discussions of this poignant and powerful series.

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‘Hello Ladies’

‘Lunch’

‘First Bird of Spring’

‘The Treatment’

‘A Man Like You’