Spring TV Roundup, Week 3

Here's a look at the new shows rolling out this spring. As always, I look at the pilot and second episode. If you don't see a new show on this list, check past installments!

Monday Nights:
Those Who Kill, Mondays at 10 p.m. on A&E
About: This is adapted from a Danish show of the same name — a place a number of our "new" crime dramas have come in recent years. And it enters very crowded waters. Shows about serial killers and those that catch them have become plentiful in recent years. But this feels a bit different. Chloe Sevigny is strong in the lead role, as is James D'Arcy as the damaged psychologist who helps her find these criminals. The pilot was moody, well put together, and introduced these characters in a compelling way. Sevigny and D'Arcy worked well together on screen, the story was engrossing, and there is great potential for this series. This felt like one of the best pilots I've seen this year.
Pilot Grade: A-

Tuesday Nights:
About A Boy, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on NBC
About: This show is adapted from the book and movie of the same name. I liked the pilot, and the breezy chemistry between the characters. I thought there was some decent potential here for this to round into a fascinating show. The second episode, however, felt like a big step backward. The episode felt repetitive and didn't advance the characters or the narrative. If that becomes a pattern, this show could fade quickly. Each episode needs to be unique, too much of the second episode felt like a repeat of the issues of the pilot. We'll have to see where it goes from here.
Pilot Grade: B
Second Episode: C

Growing Up Fisher, Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m. on NBC
About: This show has a unique conceit — a boy torn between his divorcing parents, one of whom is blind. There are some blind jokes, some family jokes, and a lot of tepid, feel-good humor here. The pilot was mildly amusing at times, and that was true of the second episode. I like J.K. Simmons, and I think he does a good job with the role, but there isn't a lot to latch onto here. The show is OK, but it lacks a compelling hook.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Mind Games, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC
About: This show is about two brothers who form a unique business, using science and chicanery to change people's minds. Of course the brothers — played by Christian Slater and Steve Zahn — have wildly different personalities, their own set of problems, and plenty of secrets between them. This comes from Kyle Killen, who did "Awake" and "Lone Star." This show isn't as good as either of those, but it has suffered the same ratings issues. ABC continues to struggle in finding a show to connect with audiences Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. There just isn't enough here that's compelling, so I don't expect this show to last its whole 13-episode run.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Wednesday Nights:
Mixology, Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. on ABC
About: This comedy misses the mark for me. I thought the second episode was a mild improvement, mostly because the story and performers it centered on were a mild improvement. But there isn't enough humor here, you don't really invest in the characters enough, and the conceit of the show doesn't feel like something that works long-term. I didn't like either episode, and I fail to see what ABC saw in the show in terms of bringing it to air.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C

Thursday Nights:
The Red Road, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on Sundance
About: This show, set in upstate New York and New Jersey, centers on a cop (Martin Freeman) and the Native American/criminal (Jason Momoa) who is blackmailing him. Of course, through two episodes the show hasn't really gotten to the black mail or the criminal enterprise part. Given that it's supposed to be a six-episode mini-series, that's a problem. Also a problem — the show's characters and their myriad of problems aren't as fascinating as the creators would like to believe. I was mildly bored by both episodes. There just isn't a strong enough hook here to keep you invested in the series, despite some decent actors. This show was a noble swing, but it's still a miss.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Sirens, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on USA
About: This is USA's first foray into half hour comedy. It comes from Dennis Leary, and it's set among paramedics in Chicago. Unlike "Rescue Me," though, this is more of a traditional sitcom. USA burned off the first two episodes on Thursday, so we got a rare double-jump into the series. And that's a good thing. I thought the pilot was OK, but wasn't really pulled in. The second episode was a bit funnier, a bit better, and gave you more of an idea of how the show and the characters will work. This could develop into a winner for USA. I liked the second episode enough to give this time to develop. Given the state of comedies on the Networks, this might be one of the better options on TV.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B

Chicagoland, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on CNN
About: This is an original series for CNN. It's a documentary series about the city of Chicago, which as producer Robert Redford noted in his introduction could be a stand in for most major cities. This is put together by the same team that followed Cory Booker in Newark, New Jersey for "Brick City." I thought the first episode, which focused on Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, and his bid to close 54 public schools to improve test scores. It took a hard look at a lot of aspects of Chicago, some of the less pretty parts, and some of its major concerns. It was a fascinating hour that made you think about crime, education, and the way America is failing people in its biggest cities. This has the potential to be an incredible, and incredibly informative series.
Pilot Grade: A

Sunday Nights:
Cosmos, Sundays at 9 p.m. on FOX
About: No matter what you think about the content, you have to applaud FOX for giving up prime time air each week to celebrate something educational. With host Neil deGrasse Tyson, "Cosmos" is an exploration of science, our planet, and our universe. In fact, Sunday's pilot episode explored all we've learned about our galaxy, our universe, and the history of our planet. Of course, as Christians, we might disagree with some of the suppositions. But I will say this: First, it's important to understand these things and understand what others believe if you want to have honest dialogue. Second, this is not a show that's hostile to faith. Quite the opposite. In fact, in telling the story of Giordano Bruno it was emphasized that it was his faith in an infinite God that pushed him to expand his view of the stars. I also think explorations like this help us consider creation, our world, and our faith in a new way, and that's never a bad thing. But what was most impressive was the way the show served as a loving tribute to Carl Sagan, and the way he inspired so many, including deGrasse Tyson, to become scientists and explorers. We need to do more of that in our culture if we want to remain a great nation.
Pilot Grade: B

Resurrection, Sundays at 9 p.m. on ABC
About: This seemed like a stretch. It's a show about a small town where people who died are suddenly returned at the age they were when they died despite the fact a great deal of time has passed. In the pilot Jacob, an eight-year-old boy, returns to his family after drowning in a river 32-years earlier. It's incredible, unbelievable, and troubling. What most impressed me about this pilot — which is one of the best I've seen this year — was the way the show seems interested in exploring the complex issues this brings up, including how it impacts faith. Jacob's boyhood friend is now a 40-year-old minister. As he remarks in the pilot, he's always preached about miracles of God, but he doesn't know how to react when he encounters a genuine miracle. That is a human response, one we can all identify with. The pilot didn't provide all the answers, or a complete blueprint. The show still has some mystery, and offers a compelling reason to tune in each week. That's a great accomplishment for any pilot. Though I was skeptical of the idea, "Resurrection" won me over with the way the pilot was produced, and I can't wait to see how it all develops.
Pilot Grade: A-