Are you familiar with RAW at all?

RAW is set in a restaurant of the same name in Dublin, Ireland and is broadcast on RTE (Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcaster – more or less – of Ireland). This clip is from the current series of six episodes now airing in Ireland.

The show is anchored by the truly astonishing Damon Gameau, an Aussie who plays bombastic and often egomaniacal head chef Geoff. In this clip, you see Geoff returning to RAW after a long absence and you see his lover, Pavel, dead in his arms in a brief flashback. Krystof Hadek gave an achingly beautiful portrayal of Pavel. He humanized Geoff and was a soft-spoken anchor for Geoff and the restaurant.

It’s the type of elegant, yet visceral, drama that is utterly lacking from American television. Especially network broadcast television.