The TV series "Monarch"

The Fox TV series "Monarch" had me with high expectations and I must say that it didn't totally disappoint, although it didn't achieve excellence either.

With an A-list cast led by Susan Sarandon and Trace Adkins in lead roles, the premise of a country music family dynasty sounded promising.

And indeed, the first few episodes managed to capture the genre's easygoing glamour and exploit the charisma of its stars.

The live musical performances added authenticity.

However, the plot is conventional in its clichés about betrayal, abuse of power and family secrets, and perhaps the cards were dealt too quickly.

It also doesn't help that the tone oscillates between family drama and satire without quite defining itself.

Still, the sophisticated aura of the direction and cinematography, along with the talent of the cast, make Monarch an enjoyable choice for anyone looking for a juicy family story.

Sadly and surprisingly, after 11 episodes that represented 1 season, the series was cancelled, one of the causes seems to be the low ratings.

This, according to some critics, was due to the lack of promotion given to the show.