It’s said that a ‘good man is hard to find’. And whether or not Hampton Chambers is a good man is up for debate.
Set in the late 1960s, Government Cheese tells the story of Hampton Chambers (David Oyelowo), a criminal who has recently been released from prison. With a new life on the horizon, Hampton dreams of returning to his wife and children and starting a legitimate business with his innovative new drill. However, his reunion doesn’t go nearly as well as planned. With his wife and children having (mostly) moved on emotionally, Hampton’s return spins their world into chaos, forcing him to face his past while trying to build his future.
In Government Cheese, AppleTV+ has another quirky comedy with high potential on their hands. Created by Ayesha Carr and Paul Hunter, Cheese is whip-smart, socially conscious and very, very funny. Using soft palettes and warm tones, the series paints history with a nostalgic glow. In Cheese, the American Dream feels on the horizon for anyone. (Admittedly, it is interesting that Cheese takes this tone, especially given that the show is set during the tumultuous summer of 1969.) Still, we are meant to believe that this world was welcoming and sincere, even if Hampton’s redemption tour is anything but easy.
However, this also fits the tone of the series well. Though the world has its challenges, Cheese is embedded with a sense of optimism that bleeds through the chaos. Other than the obvious villains, these are characters who maintain a sense of hope. We want the best for these people, though the world may be chaotic.
And the centre of the storm is Oyelowo who brings Hampton to life with conflicted joy. Even though his co-stars sparkle onscreen (especially his two boys), it’s Oyelowo whose natural charisma is on full display. Though he highlights Hampton’s brilliance, he also carries himself with a warmth that makes him lovable. He’s an innovator who’s driven to succeed, no matter the obstacles. Nevertheless, that charming smile never feels entirely trustworthy either. As he works his way back into the lives of his family, Hampton seems to expect that things will have remained as they once were. He’s aware of the damage that he’s caused but sees it through a lens of naivete. But what makes Hampton so much more intriguing isn’t whether or not he can make his family work or achieve financial success.
It’s whether or not he’s actually a good man.
After all, Hampton is the type of character that seems genuine in everything he does. (Frankly, that’s what makes him such a good confidence man.) There’s an affability to him that appears sweet and caring yet, at the same time, he is also master manipulator. Although his experience in prison has him claiming to be a ‘changed man’, the audience isn’t always sure how deeply that change may have affected him. Although he has learned the Scriptures and speaks words of love to his family, he also is still willing to bend the rules in order to keep ahead of the game.
But, even at his worst, Government Cheese rarely judges him for his behaviour. Instead, the series portrays him as a man who’s simply trying to figure things out. As a man who prides himself on being able to ‘fix things’, he’s unsure what it will take to fix his own life. This time around, Hampton appears sincere in his desire to do things differently. However, faced with a system determined to keep him down, his determination to build a new life faces an endless stream of roadblocks. (What’s more, there are many from his old life who are more than willing to bring him back to his old ways.)
And therein lies the true beauty of Cheese. As Hampton walks the line between restoration and disaster, Hampton believes he’s being guided into the ‘right path’. (Or, is that the ‘righteous path’?) But that isn’t always a straight line. And Hampton believes that compromise is necessary to stay on the straight and narrow. While that may seem to contradict itself, Hampton would disagree. And that makes his journey to redemption very fun to watch.
The first four episodes of Government Cheese begin streaming on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 with new episodes following weekly.
