Summer TV Roundup, Week 19

 

We’ve made it through Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, which means the Fall is upon us. It will be a different Fall TV season than we’ve seen in the past owing to the labor disputes between Producers, Writers and Actors. But we’ll dive into the new Fall series next week. Until then, it’s time to look at the last of the new offerings this summer. What’s worth checking out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Thursdays:
Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, Streaming Thursdays on Max (Premiered August 31)
About: The latest adult animated series on Max is based on the Cartoon Network series. It focuses on Fionna, her cat Cake and jumps to follow Simon Petrikov, known as the Ice King. The first two episodes, each about 25 minutes, dropped Thursday while subsequent episodes drop weekly. If you watched the original series, this would likely hold some strong appeal. If you didn’t watch the previous series, well you might be a little lost here. The first two episodes introduced the characters and the world but did so in a way that didn’t feel particularly accessible to new viewers, like me. Add to that the fact that animated series are a bit of an acquired taste, and this feels like something of a niche offering.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Streaming Series:
One Piece, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered August 31)
About: This is another original series that is built on a piece of existing IP. The Manga series from which it is based has been going strong since 1997, inspiring animated series and films. Now, we get a live-action adaptation for Netflix. It seeks to bring this story to life in a new way for new audiences. The 10-episode season is now available to stream, each episode between 40 minutes and an hour. There are some fun elements, considering it’s built on pirates and a treasure hunt. But it’s a strange and exaggerated world. Those who are familiar with the original IP will be interested to see how it comes to life. But, again, the first two episodes didn’t feel particularly accessible to people not familiar with the story and the world. They were entertaining but not particularly engaging for me.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Spellbound, Now Streaming on Hulu (Premiered August 31)
About: This half hour comedy seems squarely aimed at teens. I acknowledge I’m not the target demographic. This involves a ballet school in Paris, a group of aspiring dancers and witches. So, there’s a lot happening here. Episodes run about 25 minutes, with the first 13 episodes dropping on Thursday. The series focuses on a young American who earns a spot at the Paris ballet school while at the same time discovering she’s a powerful witch, known as a wizen. Mayhem and fun ensue. At least that’s the premise. There are more episodes already set, meaning in a few months fans could get more. These international series imported are becoming more common and some could find fans. This didn’t work for me, but it might work for some younger viewers.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-