Spring TV Roundup, Week 9


Today I continue my look at new shows this spring. There have been a lot of them. Any way, I grade the pilot and second episode of each. If you don't see a new show below, go ahead and check previous weeks.

Tuesday Nights:
Fargo, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on FX
About: This show is inspired by the Coen Brothers movie, "Fargo," but it doesn't have the same characters and it doesn't follow the exact same story. It more pulls the ethos of that movie to make a show set in the frozen north about crime gone wrong. The dialogue has that Coen Brothers feel, as does the product, but this is an original story. It's also part of a new wave of TV. Like "True Detective," this was conceived as an anthology series. Next year, should it be picked up, the show would feature a totally different story. That's why we have actors like Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman headlining this limited run series. The pilot, which was about 90 minutes, introduced the characters, the world, and the problems. It was a beautifully conceived and created pilot, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here. This is one of the best new shows of the winter and spring season. I liked this pilot a lot, even more than "True Detective."
Pilot Grade: A

Sunday Nights:
Years of Living Dangerously, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime
About: This is a documentary series following different Hollywood stars and news personalities as they explore different facets of Climate Change. I don't know totally how I feel about this issue. Different political parties take radical different stances. But this isn't a political issue, it's a quality of life issue. Whether you believe the accelerated projections or more conservative ones, it's impossible to deny something is changing. What I like about this series is the way it explores different facets of the issue, and the impacts on our world. The first episode went through three different stories that were fascinating, while the second episode looked at wildfires — a threat for most of the western part of the country — and the erosion of the world's rain forests. It is compelling, educational, and something we all need to hear and think about.
Pilot Grade: A
Second Episode: A

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