Fall TV Roundup, Week 1

 

We’re past Labor Day so Fall is upon us. This will be a different kind of Fall owing to the strike, but there are still new shows. So, what should you make a point to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series, and select unscripted series, this Fall.

Fridays:
The Changeling, Streaming Fridays on Apple TV+ (Premiered September 8)
About: The latest drama for Apple is based on the novel of the same name from Victor LaValle. This is a horror drama, one that focuses on a couple who are struggling in the wake of the birth of their child. There is narration that sets this up as a dark fairy tale. The main players are Apollo (LaKeith Stanfield), a used book dealer, and his wife Emmy (Clark Backo). The pilot is mostly about their meeting and courtship, ending with the birth of their child. The second episode descends into more madness. The episodes run about an hour, with the first three episodes dropped on Friday and subsequent episodes of the eight-episode limited series dropping weekly. There is a great, moody quality to the production. It’s dark but the performances are solid. This feels like the right time of year for a little spooky content.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Sundays:
Dreaming Whilst Black, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered September 10)
About: As we move into the Fall, and even already this summer, we’re seeing imported content as a way to keep new shows flowing to U.S. audiences. That’s the case with this half hour, which was produced in 2021 in England. It centers on Kwabena (Adjani Salmon), who works at a recruitment center but dreams of being a filmmaker. It doesn’t take long into the pilot for him to give up the day job to pursue his dream. The rest of that episode, and the second episode which debuted this week as well, are about the productive struggle to make that dream a reality. It’s a half hour series but it’s not a traditional comedy. Salmon does a nice job in the lead and the episodes were interesting, each running about 27 minutes. It feels like a story we’ve seen a few times, but in a different cultural context. It’s a six-episode season, so it’s a relatively short time commitment to check out if the themes resonate with you.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Streaming Series:
Predators, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered September 6)
About: Narrated by Tom Hardy, the latest from Netflix is a nature documentary. Each episode, about 45 minutes, follows a different predatory species. The first is a Cheetah and the second episode focuses on Lions. The cinematography is great here, giving an up close look and feel. This is a fine nature series, which gives more information about the subjects and Hardy provides solid narration. If this kind of series is your jam, you could do worse than Predators.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C