Winter TV Roundup, Week 13

During these difficult times, it's been nice that we still have some streaming sites giving us new shows to sample and try. In fact, this week alone Netflix released four new scripted series and a few unscripted series and movies. So at least there's stuff to check out. But the question is, what's worth my time. Let these weekly posts be your guide. I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Winter/Spring. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Monday Nights:
The Plot Against America, Mondays at 9 p.m. on HBO (Premiered March 16)
About: This show was originally timed to coincide with the election season, and for good reason. While a fictional story set in an alternate United States where Charles Lindberg beat FDR to become President in 1940 and kept the United States out of World War II, and aligned with Nazi Germany. So, you know, it's a happy story. Especially seeing as how it follows Jews living in the United States during what's about to become a real rough period. The show comes from David Simon and Ed Burns, who gave us "The Wire," "Treme" and, most recently, "The Deuce." It's a well done piece, and the period flourishes are great, too. The cast, which includes Zoe Kazan, Winona Ryder and John Turturro, is also solid. This isn't the easiest show to watch, and it's not the most uplifting, but it is an engrossing story that also provides some startling commentary on the last four years. That was the intent. And as the second episode ends with the election, no doubt the rest of the six episodes will explore the decent of the world as depicted in this mini-series. This feels like a worthy addition to the Spring TV landscape.
Pilot Grade: B
Second Episode: B

Wednesday Nights:
Motherland: Fort Salem, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on Freeform (Premiered March 18)
About: This latest series on Freeform also imagines an alternate America. This one imagines that witches, instead of being put on trial, became the best weapon America had. Witches serve as the foundation of the United States military, and have since the country's inception. Now, in the present, witches are like pop culture icons, selected for special academies and national service. And this show picks up with a trio of new recruits as they come of age and, then some stuff happens at boot camp and it's meant to be engaging, seductive and whatnot. But it didn't work for me. It's perhaps because I'm not the target demographic, but it's also likely because it's not that well produced. We'll see if the second episode improves, but so far this is a miss for me.
Pilot Grade: D

Little Fires Everywhere, Wednesdays on Hulu (Premiered March 18)
About: This new mini-series is based on Celeste Ng's novel, and is set in the late 1990s in Shaker Heights, Ohio. It centers on two women—mothers—the wealthy and powerful Elena (Reese Witherspoon) and new arrival Mia Warren (Kerry Washington). The film follows the women, their children, and the tension that grows between them. It starts with a titular big event that portends some dark tidings when it spins to the past to set it all up. The first three episodes of the eight-episode mini-series dropped on Wednesday, with subsequent episodes being released weekly. This has a strong cast, and that's what intrigued me, but I wasn't that taken with the first two episodes, which were dull. In addition, Witherspoon is a talented actress, but her character is incredibly hard to take. She's the villain, but she's too obtuse to realize that. And through two episodes, there wasn't enough plot development to be a hook. This is a big swing, but it doesn't quite work.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Streaming Series:
Feel Good, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered March 19)
About: This new dramedy from Mae Martin stars her in a loose version of herself as a comedian battling demons who finds love. The episodes are 20-25 minutes, and the first season is only six episodes. In this time it would be nice to have something a little lighter for entertainment, but this didn't really fit the bill for me. I didn't get much in the way of humor, and while there's some good performers here this felt like a bit of a slog through two episodes, so I quickly bowed out.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered March 20)
About: This new series is inspired by the true story of Sarah Breedlove (Octavia Spencer), who made her fortune despite her circumstance, competition and family, by developing a line of women's hair products around the turn of the 20th Century. This has a strong cast that includes Blair Underwood and Tiffany Haddish, and runs just four episodes. Spencer is a powerful performer, and she plys her larger-than-life talent here. But this story probably has a bit of limited appeal, despite the strong performance. It was a top streamer on Netflix this weekend, and it's not a big commitment as the episodes run about 45 minutes, so it's easy to check out if you're looking for a more inspiring story during this difficult times.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

The English Game, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered March 20)
About: This new mini-series comes from Julian Fellows, who gave us "Downton Abbey." That likely will give it a bit of broader appeal, though it's a story about the origins of professional soccer in England. Of course, they call it football. But like other stories from Fellows, this is really a drama about people, class disparity and life. It's set in the late 1800s and tracks how the game evolved and became more popular. I liked the idea of it, and the acting was decent. But in terms of story, I wasn't invested in the growth of soccer or that familiar with the regional history in the area depicted. So it felt a bit dry for me, and not as easy to get into as some of Fellows' other stories. But for those that appreciate that style of story and might have more interest in the plot, it will likely work better.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

The Letter for the King, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered March 20
About: And now the last of four new streaming stories released on Netflix this weekend. This one is a fantasy tale based on a dutch novel and from William Davies. It focuses on a young knight (Amir Wilson) who is pulled into a critical mission to deliver a letter to the king before it's too late. The series features Andy Serkis and his daughter, Ruby, in critical roles, too. It's a six-episode mini-series, and each episode is about 50 minutes in length. So it's not a tough stream. But this is another one where the production was decent, as was the cast and idea, but I wasn't taken with the story. If you're more into this kind of fantasy story, especially one done with a more family bent, you might feel different.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C