Winter TV Roundup, Week 17

We're nearly to May and we're seeing a shift in the kind of programs that we're getting. But there are still new shows making their way to the air, and it's hard to know what's worth your time. Let this weekly post be your guide as 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 Beauty and the Baker, Mondays at 10 p.m. on ABC (Premiered April 13)
About: The set up for this series feels sort of like a Hallmark movie or a romantic comedy you might see at the theater in February. A simple baker's son who works for the family business meets a famous business woman and Social Media icon, and they end up in each other's lives. While it's been a slow burn, as it would have to be with this premise, the romance is coming. And though I was sort of prone to dismiss the series, I found myself charmed by some of the performances and the story. It's the same way a good Hallmark movie pulls you in for a couple hours. Will this hold up over the length of a series? That's a good question. For now, this feels like the kind of light summer entertainment we need, and feels like a good match with the latest Bachelor spin-off.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C+

Wednesdays:
Mrs. America, Wednesdays on Hulu (Premiered April 15)
About: This latest limited series boasts an impressive cast. It is a historical drama that looks at the women's rights movement. Cate Blanchett takes the lead here as a woman who led the crusade against the Equal Rights Amendment, making her something of the villain. Still, she's probably the most well crafted character, possibly to help people like her more. The first three episodes dropped on Wednesday, with subsequent episodes dropping each Wednesday following. This is a high profile project for Hulu, and one that likely gave them some high hopes. I enjoyed the first three episodes, and I'm curious to see where it goes. The cast is impressive, including folks like Margo Martindale, Rose Byrne, Elizabeth Banks, Tracey Ullman, and Uzo Aduba. The limited series is nine episodes, and we have a good idea of how it all ends. But it's not about where this is going so much as trying to understand and appreciate the struggle, and for that this show works.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Sunday Nights:
Belgravia, Sundays at 9 p.m. on Epix (Premiered April 12)
About: This latest drama for Epix comes from Julian Fellows, who created "Downton Abbey." Set about 100 years earlier than that, this one also follows people in various casts, including the upstairs/downstairs elements that made that show hum. This also starts with scandal and some drama, and that helps frame the story. The performances are solid and the intrigue is there, as this is based on Fellows' own novel. I wasn't as taken with it as I was with "Downton Abbey," and it feels a bit too familiar. It's a big swing for Epix, which is still fighting for viewership share. It feels like something that you'd find on PBS, and I don't know if it has enough of a hook to keep people going, even if they are fans of Fellows' earlier work.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

The Last Dance, Sundays at 9 p.m. on ESPN (Premiered April 19)
About: This latest documentary features footage shot during the Chicago Bulls' sixth and final championship run in 1998. It's a celebration of the Bulls' dynasty, Michael Jordan, and one of the greatest teams in the NBA. But it's also a fascinating documentary that captures the time and Jordan's whole career with the Bulls. It would have been highly anticipated in any time, but in a world without sports it was probably even a bigger level of excitement. And this delivered. I enjoyed the first two episodes immensely and I think this is going to be one of the biggest TV events of the year. If you're a fan of sports and good stories, this is a can't miss event.
Pilot Grade: A
Second Episode: A

Run, Sundays at 10:30 p.m. on HBO (Premiered April 12)
About: This latest series on HBO is a comedy of sorts, and a drama of sorts. It's about two people (Merrit Wever and Domnhall Gleeson), former lovers, who come back together after dropping everything when they send the text "RUN" to one another. The pilot was engaging and flirty, and I thought it had a good hook. But this idea might be better a contained film than a series, and the limitations of the idea became more clear in episode two. It felt like a bit of a holding pattern. The performances were still good, but those isn't dolling out more information quickly and was literally trapped on a train for a second episode. Hopefully more is forthcoming, as well as some more character development that explains why they would have abandoned it all to meet up again after 15 years.
Pilot Grade: B
Second Episode: C

Streaming Series:
Outer Banks, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered April 15)
About: This latest Netflix series is a coming of age tale about teens, drama, cultural divide and romance. But it adds a layer of being a treasure hunt and that's where it piqued my interest. So much so that I already burned through the first season, 10 episodes all between 40-60 minutes. It was good, the performances worked, and I thought the whole thing was interesting. So much so that I am actually hoping for a second season. If you like these kind of dramas, and the kind of twists and turns they bring, and you're looking for a lighter binge, this one is for you.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: B-

#blackaf, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered April 17)
About: This latest comedy comes from Kenya Barris, the creator of "Black-ish," among other comedies. In his first Netflix foray, he takes a leading role in a semi-documentary style comedy about an exaggerated version of himself and his life. Rashida Jones plays his wife and he has six kids in the series, which pokes fun at life, race, family and the industry. It's not a bad idea, and fans of his other work will probably appreciate this one, too. I thought it was mildly interesting, and I thought Barris worked decently as a performer, but this wasn't my favorite style or type of comedy, so I am don't think this one is for me, but it's not a bad production.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Midnight Gospel, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered April 20)
About: This latest animated series from Duncan Trussell is about as odd as it gets. It's about an alien podcaster who goes to worlds that are crumbling to do interviews about beliefs and society. And while some of the discussions are fascinating and philosophical, the visuals are eclectic at best. This is a radical idea and a radical big swing and it did not work for me at all. Again, some of the discussions are interesting, but I was too thrown by what I was seeing to fully appreciate it. This is an artistic swing, and one that did not work for me.
Pilot Grade: D
Second Episode: D