Fall TV Roundup, Week 12

We've reached the week of Thanksgiving and we're closing in on a time when the new shows will take a pause for the Holidays. But before then, we're seemingly getting a groundswell. There were a pair of new shows on Sunday night, and three new streaming series this week.

Sunday Nights:
My Brilliant Friend, Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO (Premiered November 18)
About: HBO is doing something different with this series, offering an Italian-language series here in America. It's based on the novel from  Elena Ferrante, who collaborated on the teleplay. The eight-part series is playing out over four weeks, as HBO is airing new episodes on Sundays and Mondays. The series follows the novel, which begins in the present when a woman learns her friend is gone. She then begins recounting their life together, beginning when they were girls in the 1950s. For those that don't like slower character pieces, and especially those that aren't into subtitles, this will be a tall ask. But it's well crafted and tells and interesting story that is unwinding at a gentle pace. So far the performances have been solid and there's been a lot of world building in the first two episodes. If you're looking for something well made and a little different, this could fit the bill.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Escape at Danemora, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered November 18)
About: This new limited series, based on the true events surrounding a prison break in upstate New York in 2015, is the latest prestige series to be offered this Fall. It comes from Brett Johnson and Michael Tolkin, writers who worked on "Ray Donovan," and each episode is directed by Ben Stiller. It features a superb cast, including Patricia Arquette, Benicio del Toro, Paul Dano and David Morse. The first episode introduced the characters and the world, beginning at the end so you know things go sideways, and moving to the past to show how it got to that position. The performances are strong, and the idea for the story is interesting, but the first episode was a little dry. It will be interesting to see how it develops.
Pilot Grade: C

Sally4Ever, Sundays at 10:30 on HBO (Premiered November 11)
About: This is another foreign import, this one from England. It features Julia Davis as a wild woman who tries to break Sally (Catherine Shepherd) out of her shell, and pry her away from her long-time boyfriend David (Alex Macqueen). British comedy is an acquired taste. These types of shows are about putting characters in the most awkward and uncomfortable position possible to mine the comedy. That's really not my preferred style. And this one really hits a lot of awkward notes. If you like that type fo show, you'll likely enjoy this. If not, well, it's going to be a long 30 minutes.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Streaming Series:
The Bisexual, Now Streaming on Hulu (Premiered November 16)
About: This latest Hulu series is an import from England, a six-episode comedy about a woman (Desiree Akhavan) who breaks up with her long-time girlfriend, becomes roomates with a guy and starts to wonder if she likes men as well as women. It's an interesting broad swing for Hulu, which has been trying to boost its library of original content. Akhavan is the creator, writer and star of the show, and clearly has a feel for what she wants to do with the material. This is a similar style to "Sally4Ever," but it's a little less uncomfortable. Still, this style comedy is an acquired taste, so it's going to depend on how you feel about it.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

The Kominsky Method, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered November 16)
About: This eight-episode comedy comes from Chuck Lorre, creator of "The Big Bang Theory" and a host of other sitcoms on TV. But this isn't like those shows, and it isn't like his first Netflix foray "Disjointed." This one features Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin as a pair of old friends. One (Douglas) is an actor turned acting teacher. The other (Arkin) is his long-time agent and best friend. The pair play off each other well, and this show is a beautiful mix of comedy and drama focusing on men of a certain age. They have issues to deal with. Sandy (Douglas) is trying to build his relationship with his daughter (Sarah Baker), run his school and a new relationship with Lisa (Nancy Travis). Norman (Arkin), meanwhile, is dealing with a sick wife (Susan Sullivan) and a junky daughter (Lisa Edelstein). The comedy comes from life and from the way they lean on each other, and that's where some of the beautiful drama of the story comes, too. And this is a great mix of comedy and drama, something Lorre has done before in stories like "Mom." This seems like a winner and a great addition to the Netflix catalog.
Pilot Grade: B
Second Episode: B

Narcos: Mexico, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered November 16)
About: "Narcos," a docudrama about the war on drugs in Columbia, premiered a few years ago and gave Netflix three strong seasons. For this fourth season, the venue has changed to Mexico and the cast has completely changed, making this more of a spin-off than a new season. So I'm treating it as a bit of a new show. This time the key players are Diego Luna as the guy building the distribution network in the mid-1980s that would become the Sinaloa Cartel. The new series also features Michael Pena as an America DEA Agent who moves from his post in Fresno to Mexico to confront this new threat. The first two episodes are a lot of set up and character introduction, as they work to build the world. The series feels very much like the first, but the new set up and the characters here work well. For those who were fans of "Narcos," this will be a welcome addition.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Queen America, Now Streaming on Facebook Watch (Premiered November 18)
About: Facebook has gone hard into original content in recent months, attracting big stars and delivering some engaging series. The Elizabeth Olsen-fronted "Sorry For Your Loss" was one of the best of 2018. And now we get "Queen America," a half hour comedy fronted by Catherine Zeta-Jones that focuses on a pageant coach and her girls in Oklahoma. Zeta-Jones is great in the role, and this show is more complex and more interesting than what you might expect. The first three episodes dropped Sunday, with new episodes dropping on subsequent Sundays. Facebook isn't the first place you think of when it comes to original content, but if they keep turning out shows like "Queen America" that might change.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-