Fall TV Roundup, Week 1



The Summer Season is over, and the real flood of Fall content is shortly headed out way. But for now, we're just getting a few early tastes. In these weekly posts I'll look at the new scripted (and occasional unscripted) shows this Fall, previewing the pilot and second episode of new series.

Streaming Series:
Wu-Tang: An American Saga, now streaming on Hulu (Premiered September 4)
About: This latest drama from Hulu is a docudrama about the origins of the musical group Wu-Tan Clan. It comes from a couple founding members and tells the story of their background and the rough conditions that spurred them to want to find an escape through their music. There have been a number of projects regarding the Clan lately, but it's interesting to see them trying to take their story into the scripted arena. And for Hulu, a streaming outlet that needs diverse content to make a splash with viewers, this seems like a worthy big swing. But I wasn't taken with the first two episodes. If you were a big fan of their music it might make more sense that you'd be more drawn to this show, but for now, for me, it wasn't enough of a hook. There are a few episodes that released on Wednesday, with new episodes releasing on each subsequent Wednesday.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

The Spy, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered September 6)
About: This latest drama from Netflix is a limited series based on a true story of Israeli spy Eli Cohen. The series begins with Cohen in a dire situation in 1965 in Syria, then flashes back six years to show his journey. Sacha Baron Cohen stars as the spy, and does a good job in the role. The cast is filled out with some strong actors, including Noah Emmerich trading the comforts of an FBI office in the 1980s in "The Americans" for Israel in the 1960s as Cohen's handler. The show also comes from Gideon Raff, who created the original Israeli series that served as the basis for "Homeland." This six-episode series is relatively brisk, with only one episode eclipsing the hour mark. The pacing feels a touch slow at times, but there is some intrigue here and a different kind of role for Baron Cohen, who does well in plying his unique skill at becoming a different character to use in a different kind of story.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: C+

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