Winter TV Roundup, Week 7

We're in the midst of the Winter Olympics, so you'd be forgiven if it was all skiing and snowboarding all the time on your TV these last few days. But there are some new shows that have debuted opposite the winter games, and I've been checking them out. In these weekly posts I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted shows this winter. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Wednesday Nights:
Channel Zero: Butcher's Block, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on SyFy (Premiered February 7)
About: This is the third iteration of the horror anthology series for Syfy that's based on Internet horror stories known as Creepy Pastas. This latest one takes place in a small town where the disappearance of the Peach family, and the closing of their meat packing plant, caused the town to go into an economic spiral. But, turns out the family didn't so much leave as turn into some sort of vengeful vampires. Or zombies. Or just creepy cannibals. Through two episodes that part is a little unclear, what is clear is that this version aims to be more than a little gross. The final act of episode two was... well let's just say it's good that it's on at 10 p.m. and you've likely finished any food you were going to eat at night. So, the second episode was pretty gross. I wouldn't say it drew me more into the story, but it definitely sets the tone that this iteration of the franchise will set itself apart through the content it provides. If you're a fan of these stories, then this will be a winter treat. If not, well I wasn't into it.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C-

Sunday Nights:
Here and Now, Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO (Premiered February 11)
About: The latest series for HBO comes from writer Alan Ball ("True Blood," "Six Feet Under) and features a strong cast that includes Tim Robbins and Holly Hunter. Based on the pedigree, it would be reasonable to get excited about this. But the first episode was weird and boring, and filled with grating characters. And the second episode, well it was a lot like the first. I'm not sure where this show is going. There's a lot it seems to want to say about our world, our struggles and all the vying ideologies that are plaguing our societies and causing rifts. In the second episode alone the show touched on the struggles of being Muslim in America, those that want to lift up and celebrate the white race and are tired of being blamed for all the world's ills, the struggles of being gay in America, and black lives matter. Oh, and it also had a scene at Planned Parenthood that was a commentary on religious hatred. And that's not even taking into account whatever storyline that was given to Robbins, whose character is apparently having a mental breakdown. There's a lot happening here, but not enough of it is interesting. And I haven't even mentioned the supernatural element that may, or may not, exist. HBO is looking for some fresh blood for the network, and I could see this sticking around for another season because of the pedigree and profile, but unless it improves dramatically what's the point. Through two episodes, I'm not invested at all, and I don't find a compelling reason to come back to it.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Streaming Series:
Everything Sucks!, Now Streaming on Netflix (Debuted February 16)
About: "Everything Sucks!" is the latest series to debut on Netflix, the streaming series that is flooding the marketplace with original content and also delivering some incredible, and incredibly diverse, gems. "Everything Sucks!" is set in the late 1990s, and follows a group of high school students trying to make their way, and a few of their parents. The 10-episode season is full of cultural callbacks, from the music to the things happening in the world and even the products. As someone who was in high school at the same time as these characters (the show begins in September 1996, I graduated in June 1999), this is a lot of fun. The episodes are also breezy, clocking in between 23-28 minutes. But what really sells this are the characters, especially freshmen Luke (Jahi Di'Allo Winston) and his sophomore crush Kate (Peyton Kennedy). The young actors are great, and really pull you into the world. I've actually seen the whole first season ( I watched it over the long holiday weekend), and though the first couple episodes are OK, it's later in the series that I really got hooked. My favorite episode was actually, No. 9 (which features a beautiful scene during the closing). I enjoyed this and would be interested and excited to see a season two. The MVP of the season might be Patch Darragh, who plays Kate's father and the principal of the school. He has some great scenes and I'm most excited to see how his arc would continue in a second season.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: C+