Fall TV Roundup, Week Four

These weekly posts are the places where I offer reviews of the new shows this fall. I look at the premier and second episode of new shows. If you don't see a new show below, please check previous weeks.

Monday Nights:
Gotham, Mondays at 8 p.m. on FOX (Premiered September 22)
About: I love Batman movies, but perhaps the best were the Christopher Nolan films. Many people felt like this view of Gotham, and the characters that populate the world, would be served like the Nolan films in this new FOX series. It isn't. This is a gritty world, yes, but there's little of the trappings of the story here that works. When Rob Zombie re-made "Halloween," one of my chief complaints was the way he tried to psychologically explain Michael Myers. The film looked at Myers' childhood, tried to explain how he became the crazy killer he is, then re-told a familiar story. What made Myers scary, I thought, was the unexplainable menace. Adding stories of a terrible childhood and other wrongs watered that down. I feel somewhat the same with "Gotham." All the villains are getting elaborate backstories, likely meant to explain why they become what they become. I'm not sure I need that — and what's worse is I don't know how many years I want to invest in a backstory. There is a reason that the prologue to Batman takes place in just the first half of "Batman Begins." At some point you want to get on with the action. In addition, through two episodes the relationships and the characters seem ill-formed. One of the most beautiful relationships in the Batman films is between Alfred and Bruce Wayne. There is a beautiful father-son dynamic. That is almost entirely missing from this new television version. Again, the story has barely begun, but I don't like the bones of the tale being told. Perhaps if this was just a straight crime story series featuring an upstart Jim Gordon it would work better. But there is too much time devoted to fan service that won't lead anywhere productive for some time. Already we've met a young Penguin, a young Riddler, a young Catwoman, a young Poison Ivy, and a young Batman. But they're years away from being relevant in that way. I had high hopes for this show before it began. I love Batman, and I thought this could be a fun, moody exploration of that world. Through two episodes, it's just moody, and not in a good way.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C

Scorpion, Mondays at 9 p.m. on CBS (Premiered September 22)
About: This is a procedural with a bit of a twist — a group of super geniuses are working with a grizzled homeland security agent to keep America safe. They use their super brains and unique skills to avert disaster. On paper, this sounds awful. But in practice, this show has been a pleasant surprise. With these kind of shows it's not about the case of the week or the formula — the reason you keep coming back is for the characters. I like what I see with "Scorpion." Elyes Gabel, who plays the leader of the group Walter O'Brien, does a nice job and has created a compelling lead character. Katherine McPhee, who plays the waitress that helps connect these geniuses to the real world, is a nice foil, and she has good on-screen chemistry with Gabel. The rest of the supporting cast does a nice job, too, and so far the two initial cases have been interesting. The show also has a nice cinematic look — likely thanks to Justin Lin ("Fast and Furious"), who serves as an Executive Producer and directed the pilot. CBS has tried to get a lot of different shows to stick in recent years, and this finally feels like one that could be an interesting and enjoyable watch each week.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: B-

Tuesday Nights:
Selfie, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC (Premiers September 30)
About: This show premieres tonight, but the pilot was made available a few weeks ago on the Internet. To get the full review, check out week one's roundup. I think this is a rom-com with potential, but the pilot had some rough moments for me.
Pilot Grade: C

NCIS: New Orleans, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBS (Premiered September 23)
About: This is the latest in the procedural factory from CBS. This is now the second spin-off of "NCIS," a show that was itself a spin-off at one point from "JAG." This one follows a new group of Navy cops — this time led by Scott Bacula — investigating crimes in New Orleans. Having been a fan of "Treme," a show that was incredibly mindful of respecting the rich culture and traditions of New Orleans, this was a sad and cliched attempt to trade on the same culture. It basically boiled down to poor — or often non-existent — accents, gumbo jokes and some jazz music. The case was boiler plate, as was the attempts to coax emotion. This show will have a certain appeal for a certain demographic. That's not me.
Pilot Grade: C

Forever, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC (Premiered September 22)
About: This is a procedural about a man who can't die. It feels a bit like "Castle"-lite, which is probably why it got a special premier in the Monday at 10 p.m. time slot. ABC has had a rough go of dramas at 10 p.m. in recent years. Most have flatlined quickly. This show did OK in its two premier episodes. That being said, there's not much here. I like Ioan Gruffudd, who plays the lead in this show, and Judd Hirsch, who plays a supporting role. This isn't a bad show, I just don't feel a compelling reason to tune in each week. I liked the second episode a bit more, and it gave more of a feel for the template of this show. But that said, the template it gave feels awfully familiar. This feels very much like a number of other shows out there — mis-matched partners, crime dramas, potential love interests, and a possible long-term story arc. This show was fine, and it might actually last a bit for ABC in the slot, but it's not compelling.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C

Wednesday Nights:
Mysteries of Laura, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on NBC (Premiered September 17)
About: The mystery here is why this show is on TV. Was this one of the best options that NBC had? And the fact they use this show, "Law & Order: SVU," and "Chicago PD" to tout a night of kick-ass women's entertainment is frightening. I saw both of the first episodes of this show, and while the second was mildly less awful than the first, it wasn't good. The characters are unlikeable. The stories were boring. And there is no chemistry in this cast. This show feels like a big mis-fire.
Pilot Grade: D
Second Episode: D+

Red Band Society, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX (Premiered September 17)
About: This was a highly anticipated new series on FOX. It's about a group of kids at a hospital, and the doctors and nurses that inhabit their world on the periphery. I thought the pilot was wildly uneven. The first half hour was rough, but I liked the emotional sentiment in the back half of the pilot. I was curious to see where the show would go. The second episode followed a more cliched, less fascinating pattern. There wasn't a lot of character growth, and it didn't hit the emotional high notes that the pilot did. I still don't know what kind of show this wants to be — and it is mixing in a lot of political, social, and quasi-spiritual motifs as well. That can be fine if there is a point, but I'm not sure there is one here. I'm also not sure what they're trying to say a coma is like. It seems like the show has made it a cross between being a ghost and being in purgatory, but to what end? Again, there are a lot of questions for me after two episodes, and this is one of the few shows where I thought the second episode was weaker than the pilot. That's not a great sign for its future — and neither are its paltry ratings.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C-

Black-ish, Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. on ABC (Premiered September 24)
About: I had high hopes for this family comedy, which stars Anthony Anderson and Laurence Fishburne. It seemed like it was well paired, too, with the night of family comedy that includes "The Middle," "The Goldbergs," and "Modern Family." There were funny moments in the previews for the show, but those ended up being the only chuckle lines during the pilot. Comedy pilots are tricky. Sometimes the best pilots fall apart as a weekly series, while boring pilots turn into great shows. Still, it was hard for me to believe this show is now on the air while a great gem like "Trophy Wife," which was a delightful gem of a family sitcom. "Black-ish" feels to me more like "The Goldbergs," a highly anticipated family comedy with a hook — in that case being set in the 1980s — that never really clicked for me. It was fine, but I saw no real reason to keep watching, though others did enough that it was renewed for a second season. "Black-ish," I'll admit, probably isn't totally aimed at me. It is taking a tough look at race relations, modern culture, and how to raise a family. I like the cast and I like the premise, but the pilot was a bit boring. Again, this is something that could improve with time, but I was mildly disappointed by the initial half hour offering.
Pilot Grade: C

Thursday Nights:
A to Z, Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on NBC (Premiers October 2)
About: This is another of the shows that got an early release pilot. For my full review, check week one. The show premiers officially on Thursday night. I liked this pilot a lot. I liked the leads, their chemistry, and the quirky storytelling. But as I said, the pilot isn't always a great indication of how it will work as a series. I fear this show may have given its best in the pilot. We'll find out for sure in another week.
Pilot Grade: B-

How To Get Away With Murder, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on ABC (Premiered September 24)
About: This show comes from producer Shonda Rhimes ("Grey's Anatomy," "Scandal") and features all the hallmarks of one of her dramas. In fact, it's even paired with "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" on Thursday nights. This one is about a great defense attorney, played by Viola Davis, and her class of eager law students, a group of which are selected to work on cases with her. The show also upped the drama, had some shocking moments, and set up a long-term mystery in its pilot. Again, pilots are tricky. You have to do a lot to establish the world and the characters at the outset. I thought this pilot was good, not great. The pieces are all there, and it could turn into an interesting show, but I can't quite tell yet. Some have compared this show to "Scandal" — but I didn't think the pilot, characters, or revelations were as big, bold, or compelling. This show has a solid lead in and has the tools to succeed, but we'll have to see where it goes from here.
Pilot Grade: C+

Sunday Nights:
Madame Secretary, Sundays at 8 p.m. on CBS (Premiered September 21)
About: This show starring Tea Leoni is about the Secretary of State. It's a political drama that wants to feel a bit like "The West Wing." What's odd is that the show makes frequent references to current or recent political events in our world while trying to establish a world — and an administration — that's fictional. That's a tricky line to walk. I like the cast and the way the show is put together. It's engaging and interesting, and CBS has done a nice job trying to pair it with the similarly-toned "The Good Wife." The ratings haven't been great, and it's in a rough time slot trying to compete with the wealth of cable shows and the NFL. I liked the first two episodes, and I could see this developing into an interesting drama — but it certainly lacks the depth of storytelling, quick wit, and engaging characters of "The West Wing." Still, it fills a niche that's not really being explored on TV in 2014.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: C+