‘Claws’ is an American dark comedy and crime drama televisions series that airs on TNT. The show first premiered on June 11, 2017. Created by Eliot Laurence, this comedy-drama is set in Palmetto, Florida, but is filmed mostly in New Orleans.
The series has created a whole new genre in the modern television sphere. Its unconventional premise seems to be a cross-over of ‘Breaking Bad’ meeting ‘The Sopranos‘, with five easy-going, everyday manicurists choosing the path of organized crime and money laundering to help someone in need. The series has received great acclaim and praise by audiences for its performance and strong female performances. Much like ‘Ocean’s 8‘, ‘Claws’ also features an all-female main cast and carries itself with much grace.
People who say that crime does not pay, often do not take into account the quick and easy money that is to be made in a life of crime, not to mention the fact that people sometimes step over to the dark side to help their friends and loved ones. Money-laundering is a criminal concept that has not been too harped on television, simply because that side of crime is not too glamorous. It has to do more with calculations than with the flashier aspects of being a criminal.
However, with ‘Breaking Bad’ introducing Saul Goodman’s famous monologue about how money is laundered, that aspect of a criminal organization also entered the mainstream. Now we have a show dedicated to a money launderer completely, that is, ‘Ozark‘, and ‘Claws’ puts its own spin on this genre as we see an all-female group make headway in a male-dominated criminal underworld. The bold and novel approach has won the show quite a strong fan base, and critics have lauded it, saying, “Well-acted, visually impressive, and energetically paced, Claws leaves a mark… that hints at even greater potential.”
Claws Cast: Who is in it?
The cast of ‘Claws’ includes Niecy Nash as Desna Simms. Simms is an associate of the Husser family, and their money launderer, besides owning a nail salon called Nail Artisans. Having grown up with abusive foster parents, Desna is determined to make a life for herself, but trouble never seems to be too far behind because once she leaves the crime family, she is again forced to launder money, this time for the Russian Mafia. Carrie Preston appears as Polly Marks, a manicurist at Desna’s enterprise. She is also a pathological liar, professional con artist, and skilled burglar.
Fortunately for Desna, she is also extremely loyal to her. Judy Reyes is seen as Annalise “Quiet Ann” Zayas, Desna’s lookout and occasional muscle. She is a lesbian and soon her love life interferes with her professional work when she begins falling for the detective investigating Desna’s salon. Jack Kesy appears in the role of Roller Husser, whose apparent death triggers a chain of events. It is also his dealings with the Russians that lead his family to be absorbed. Anyhow, he truly loves Desna and is the only one who calls her Dee. There are several other major and recurring characters, who expose the intricacies of crime and the various cogs in an elaborate underground network. They add an unprecedented richness to the series.
