The series finale of Pam & Tommy, starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan, aired on Thursday and throughout its run, there were a lot of zany and dramatic moments. Some of the show’s crazier moments included a conversation that Tommy has with his animatronic genitals, the infamous sex tape itself, or how actors Lily James and Sebastian Stan look eerily similar to the real Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. The dramatic moments range from the release of the tape to Pam’s miscarriage due to the stress of the controversy. Set in the 90s, there is also a heavy dose of nostalgia that is sprinkled into the show, and of course, there is a lot of drugs and sex. But one cannot ignore the core message of the series.
While the show’s predominant focus is on the sex tape that was stolen from actor-model Pamela Anderson and drummer Tommy Lee’s house and distributed without their consent by a carpenter, there is so much more going on. It addresses their marriage and Tommy’s growing insecurity with Pamela’s success. Themes of trauma and distress also make it into the show as the audience sees the sex tape and the marriage’s influence on Pamela. There are countless ways in which her privacy is invaded on a regular basis.
At its heart, Pam & Tommy is an entertaining and, sometimes, heartbreaking depiction of the consequences of a scandal that neither of them truly anticipated. As it tracks the highs and lows of the couple’s relationship, the drama is endless.
If you liked Pam & Tommy, here are seven shows to watch after:
American Crime Story: Impeachment (Disney+ Hotstar)
Developed by Ryan Murphy, the third season of this anthology series focuses on the events that led to the impeachment of former US president Bill Clinton. Over the course of eight episodes, the series explores how Clinton began an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and the political and personal consequences of it.
Like Pam & Tommy, at its core Impeachment is a sex scandal that had long-lasting effects on the people involved. Impeachment not only touches on the shocking aspects of the scandal but also delves into the emotional turmoil of all those involved in the events.
FEUD: Bette and Joan
FEUD chronicles the real-life rivalry between the two actors Bette Midler and Joan Crawford on the sets of the 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Starring Susan Sarandon as Bette and Jessica Lange as Joan, the limited series explores the actors battling ageism and misogyny while simultaneously struggling to work with each other. Their feud on set extends into a lengthy battle of ego and bitterness long after the movie is wrapped up.
FEUD: Bette and Joan was well-received by critics for its strong acting and screenplay. It was nominated for several awards and won big at 2017’s Golden Globes, Emmy Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Jamtara: Sabka Number Aayega (Netflix)
This Indian crime series tells the story of a group of young men in Jamtara, Jharkhand who have successfully been running phishing scams for a while. Orchestrated by Sunny, along with his cousin and school friends, they make quick money through their operations. However, they soon begin to face problems when a new police superintendent takes interest in the case. To make matters worse, a corrupt politician also wants in on the scam throwing the whole thing in disarray.
Directed by Soumendra Padhi, Jamtara is loosely based on real-life incidents from the titular town. Despite differences in genres and conflicts, the central theme of a major scandal and its repercussions on interpersonal relationships between the characters is quite similar to Pam & Tommy.
The Deuce (Disney+ Hotstar)
This semi-fictional drama series boasts of a star cast that includes Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Franco, and Dominique Fishback. Set in the 1970s United States, this show looks into how the porn industry became legitimate. Having been controlled by organised crime for a long time, the business of porn slowly started to become a legal enterprise in New York City. During this time, several characters such as Vincent and Frankie Martino (Franco) and Candy, a sex worker (Gyllenhaal), decide to capitalise on it.
The Deuce is a gritty drama that offers social commentary on sex, gender, violence, and corruption in the 70s and 80s. Maggie Gyllenhaal was also nominated for a Golden Globe award in the Best Actress in a Television Drama series category for her performance.
The Act
Much like Pam & Tommy, this 2019 limited series also goes back and forth in time to recall the events in question. Starring Patricia Arquette and Joey King, this true-crime show talks about how Gypsy Blanchard (King) conspired to kill her mother Dee Dee (Arquette), whom she accused of abusing and manipulating her. Dee Dee spends years making her daughter believe that she was sick and confined to a wheelchair, fabricating stories about her disability and illness. Things begin to sour after her daughter suspects that she is lying.
Both the leads won critical acclaim for their performances and Patricia Arquette won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series.
Inside Edge (Amazon Prime Video)
In this Indian cricket thriller, the themes range from betrayal to drugs and power. But ultimately, the show is about scandal. Starring Vivek Oberoi, Richa Chadha, Aamir Bashir, and Sayani Gupta, Inside Edge revolves around the fictional Power-Play T-20 League. In the first season, things become murky when the cricket team Mumbai Mavericks, owned by Zareena (Chadha), is introduced to spot-fixing by Vikrant Dhawan (Oberoi). As each of the characters respond to this in their own manner, uncomfortable problems begin to emerge.
Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, this sports drama sheds light on the underbelly of the cricket world in an entertaining and gripping fashion.
GLOW (Netflix)
In this comedy-drama series, a struggling actress Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie) stumbles upon the chance to audition for the show GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling) at an old boxing gym. Despite her reservations about the show and its director, Ruth decides to give it a fair shot after realising that her career is not where she wants it to be.
Set in 1980s Los Angeles, GLOW is a heart-warming and humorous show that focuses on a group of 13 women working together. Similar to Pam & Tommy, this show is rich in nostalgia and explores what it is like to be a woman in show business. GLOW received multiple award nominations during its run and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Production Design and Stunt Coordination.
