Summer TV Roundup, Week 17

 


We’re in the dog days of summer and the flow of new shows has dwindled to a trickle. Still, you might be wondering what is worth your time to check out. Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new shows this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Tuesdays:
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the New York Jets, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on HBO (Premiered August 8)
About: Aaron Rodgers is in New York, so naturally Hard Knocks has followed. He’s clearly the main attraction and through two episodes, it’s hard to really connect to any of the other players and stories. There have been practices and games. I enjoy the general idea of this anthology series, but I want to connect more to the other players and stories. That hasn’t been a big piece of it so far. Still, this is an annual rite of passage for NFL fans, and if you’re happy the season is nearly upon us, this is worth checking out.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C

Fridays:
Harlan Coben’s Shelter, Streaming Fridays on Prime Video (Premiered August 18)
About: Plenty of Coben’s books have turned into series in recent years. This one is set in New Jersey and feels like something of a ghost story and murder mystery. Jaden Michael stars as Mickey, a high school student whose father is killed in the opening of the pilot. Now he’s living with his aunt (Constance Zimmer), trying to fit in while dealing with his loss. When the mysterious Bat Lady (Tovah Feldshuh) suggests his father is still alive, it throws Mickey for a loss. He pairs with a couple other outcasts at his new school (Adrian Greensmith and Abby Corrigan) to investigate Bat Lady and the mysterious disappearance of another new student. Can they get to the bottom of it all? This one has some fun to it and some twists. The episodes run about 45 minutes, with the first three dropping Friday and the rest of the eight-episode season dropping weekly. I like the mystery and the cast. I haven’t always enjoyed the series based on Coben’s books but this one has a hook that piqued my interest. There’s some potential here.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Sundays:
The Winter King, Sundays at 10 p.m. on MGM+ (Premiered August 20)
About: Based on the novel by Bernard Cornwell, this tells a grounded version of the Arthur legend. As we begin, Arthur (Iain De Caestecker) is the illegitimate son of King Uther (Eddie Marsan), and his father is displeased. He soon banishes Arthur. Years later, the kingdom is struggling. While Uther celebrates the birth of a legitimate heir, Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White) fears it will be the ruin of the Kingdom. Instead, he goes to seek Arthur in exile, to bring him back to save the kingdom. This is the launch into the series, which will run 10 episodes, airing weekly on Sunday nights. The pilot is about setting the mood and setting the pieces in place. It moves at a somewhat slow pace and stylistically it wasn’t what I expected. Still, there’s some potential. Though it’s been told many times, people never tire of the Arthur legend. This is a big swing for MGM+ but could be a winner. Hopefully the action picks up in the second episode.
Pilot Grade: C

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve
Read more