Fall TV Roundup, Week 10

 

We’re making our way toward Thanksgiving. The labor strikes have been settled and production will resume, but we’ll still see impacts on the schedule. This is typically moving into a slow period, and while we have some new options emerging, it’s still manageable. Still, you don’t want to waste your time, so you might be wondering what series are worth checking out. Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Wednesdays:
The Buccaneers, Streaming Wednesdays on Apple TV+ (Premiered November 8)
About: This series is based on the novel from Edith Wharton. It’s set in the 1870s, focused on a group of American girls who infiltrate society in England. It’s a period piece but focused on young adults. It feels like Apple’s answer to Bridgerton, but it’s less salacious than that, at least in the first two episodes. The first two episodes dropped Wednesday with the rest of the eight-episode season dropping weekly. The idea is sound, and the production is solid, but unlike many Apple series this is missing a star at the center. The characters don’t pop much in the first two episodes, nor does the story feel overly compelling if you’re not in a certain demographic. It’s an interesting addition to the Apple library but it wasn’t great.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Thursdays:
Colin From Accounts, Streaming Thursdays on Paramount+ (Premiered November 9)
About: We’ve seen plenty of series come from overseas, and this new streaming series follows that path. This comedy comes from Australia and provides another option to pair with the Frasier re-boot, that also streams Thursdays. This one focuses on Gordon (Patrick Brammall) and Ashley (Harriet Dyer), who meet during a car-accident that leads to an injured dog. Their sense of morals brings them together to save the dog and, eventually, keeps them together caring for the dog. But can this connection bloom into a friendship or something more? That’s the central premise here. The first two episodes dropped Thursday with the rest of the episodes streaming weekly. It’s an eight-episode season, with all the episodes about a half an hour. Brammall and Dyer have a nice chemistry and there are some amusing moments, too. There’s also some culture-specific jokes that might not work great for all audiences. Moreover, it’s a quirky concept that takes some getting used to. It’s an interesting idea but I thought the first two episodes were just OK.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Sundays:
Beacon 23, Sundays at 9 p.m. on MGM+ (Premiered November 12)
About: The latest from MGM is a sci-fi series set on a Beacon, the future space equivalent of a light house, out in the middle of space. We meet Halan (Stephan James), who is alone on the Beacon hiding in space. An accident has him bring Aster (Lena Headey) aboard, and it turns out she’s seeking something. While their relationship is still playing out, others arrive in search of something, and it quickly takes a complicated situation into a dangerous situation. The production is solid here, but the story is a bit too undefined and mysterious in the early going. Despite a reasonable 45-minute run time, the episodes also felt a bit too dry. I was more engaged by the pilot than the second episode, but after two hours I still don’t really understand the world or where we’re going. This has been a problem in previous MGM shows and it feels like more of the same here. Sci-fi fans will rejoice at new content, but this isn’t as crisp and engaging as I’d hoped.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C

The Curse, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered November 12)
About: What do you get when Nathan Fielder and Bennie Safdie combine on a series with A24? It looks a lot like The Curse, which debuted Sunday on Showtime, dropping two days earlier on Paramount+. The series centers on a couple, Whitney (Emma Stone) and Asher (Fielder), who are trying to make it in sustainable real estate while shooting a show for HGTV. Their producer (Safdie) is a wild card that has them at odds. When Asher makes a misstep and gets cursed by a young girl, it throws the couple into crisis. Can they recover? Can they achieve their goals? Will their show be a hit. This 10-episode series will explore those very questions. It’s a great cast and a solid premise. The pilot runs an hour, mixing comedy and drama. There is plenty of potential in the series and I enjoyed the pilot episode. This feels creative and original, and I’m interested to see where it goes next.
Pilot Grade: C+