Amazon does pilot season again

For the second year, Amazon has launched into pilot season by giving viewers like you a chance to decide what it airs. This is the process the online company used last season, giving series orders to the sublime political comedy "Alpha House" and the nerdy comedy "Betas." This time there are five pilots — two dramas and three comedies — from which to choose. A warning to those wanting to give these a watch, all five have cable level content — including salty language, adult themes, violence, and nudity. So, buyer beware. Below are my thoughts on each of the five pilots.

Dramas:
The After
Plot Synopsis: Eight strangers are thrown together by mysterious forces and must help each other survive in a violent world.
About: This drama comes from Chris Carter, the scribe of "The X-Files," and features a post-apocalyptic theme here. My instant thought was that it had high production values, a decent cast, and a good vibe. There isn't a lot explained about what caused "the event" that puts things in motion. In fact, because we're following the POV of these characters trapped in an elevator, you don't really see the first blushes. There is a big twist near the end that sort of sets up what might be going on, and I won't give that away. I will say that I was intrigued. There have been a gaggle of these type of shows, but I still felt the story and execution here felt fresh. There aren't really any big stars in the show, but in a way that works well too. Carter hasn't had a show on the air in a while, and given the premise and the creator you might be tempted to think this is going "The X-Files" route. And it might, but the pilot seemed to be setting up something different and a little more fascinating.
Grade: B

Bosch
Plot Synopsis: A homicide detective works to solve the murder of a boy while standing trial for the murder of a serial killer.
About: This series had a bit of a slow burn in the pilot, and that's a good thing. The show comes from Eric Overmeyer, a producer and writer from "The Wire" and "Treme," as well as Michael Connolly, upon whose books the series is based. Titus Welliver (pictured above) does a good job in the central role, and there are plenty of familiar faces here for "Wire" fans. Not to mention this was a vastly more compelling crime drama than any network pilot I've seen in several years. Of course, given the language and construction, this would be a cable show, or more likely a pay cable show. While I'm a fan of what HBO is doing with "True Detective," I see more promise in "Bosch" as a potential series. Of the five on Amazon, this was the one that I liked the best.
Grade: B

Comedies:
Mozart in the Jungle
Plot Synopsis: Sex, drugs — and classical music — see what happens behind the curtains at the symphony.
About: This is the highest pedigree of the Amazon pilots, and the one most of the critics seemed to be the most excited about. It comes from the writing team of Jason Schwartzman, Alex Timbers and Roman Coppola, and it was directed by Paul Weitz ("About A Boy"). It stars Gael Garcia Bernal, Bernadette Peters, and Malcolm McDowell, among others. And I can see where it would have some appeal. There is some high brow stuff, then there is a part of the show dedicated to an upcoming musician — played by Lola Kirke — that feels like something right out of a better episode of "Girls." For a certain group, this would probably play really well. I found it a bit boring, and I failed to connect to the characters and story. I think it was well made, but this didn't feel like something I could see as a series long-term.
Grade: C

The Rebels
Plot Synopsis: Julie is in over her head when her husband suddenly dies, leaving her the owner of a pro football team.
About: Comedy is hard. There were moments of this that kind of worked. Natalie Zea, who is the widow that's left with a football franchise and a job she doesn't understand, is a capable lead and an engaging actress. The rest of this supporting cast didn't really pop. There were mildly amusing moments, and this could work in a more modern "Major League" sort of way, but I'm not sure I see this as a long-term series. This could probably be an average, moderately successful sports comedy movie. But as a series, I think this might get old pretty quick.
Grade: C-

Transparent
Plot Synopsis: A family with serious boundary issues have their past and future unravel after a dramatic admission.
About: The most honest moment in the pilot comes when patriarch Mort (Jeffrey Tambor), a transvestite who hasn't been able to come clean with his three kids, laments that he's raised three incredibly self-absorbed and selfish children. That much is true. The revelation comes about 22 minutes into the pilot, and by then you've been pretty well turned off of the main characters, his aforementioned children. This pilot comes from Jill Soloway, a writer for "Six Feet Under" and "The United States of Tara." In the pilot, each of the central characters has a sex and/or nude scene. This show is in your face from the word go. All the characters have major flaws, and it's hard to tell how those would be worked out. It is incredibly edgy, but without a clear purpose — at least to me. There might be potential here, but I was turned off by the characters, story, and presentation in the pilot. It's hard to imagine what this would look like as a series.
Grade: C-