Fall TV Roundup, Week 9

We're almost to November, and the tidal wave of new shows continues. While the traditional networks are slowing down, and in fact preparing to wrap up their "Fall" offerings in the next couple weeks, we're still getting plenty of streaming options. And that doesn't even count the returning shows that I don't recap each week here. Each Tuesday I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Tuesday Nights:
The Conners, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC (Premiered October 16)
About: This spin-off from "Roseanne" includes all the characters but the titular one. The first episode was a bit of a downer, as the series had to explain the big absence and did so in a way some fans found crass. I didn't have a problem with it because the series began laying the groundwork last year, and it felt like the kind of story they would tell. It was also an emotional showcase for Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf and, especially, John Goodman. But it was light on laughs. The second episode more closely restored that balance, and you can see how this is a show settling into a rhythm. If you enjoyed the original incarnation, then you should be pleased with this one if you can get past the person who is missing. But this incarnation also seems to be making more use of all its characters, something we've seen in the first two episodes.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

The Kids Are Alright, Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC (Premiered October 16)
About: Mary McCormick and Michael Cudlitz are talented performers, and they lift the material here. But there isn't enough here to work. This wants to capture life in the 1970s, and also make close ties to the world we live in now. That's OK, but it feels like stretching at times. And the show needs the eight sons to be more sturdy characters to help carry the narrative, and it doesn't always work. There is something here that sort of fits the ABC brand of comedy, but I didn't think the stories and characters were compelling enough to bring viewers back week-after-week given the plethora of options in 2018.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

The Rookie, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC (Premiered October 16)
About: Nathan Fillion had a long history with ABC, starring in "Castle" on the network for a number of years. In that one, he was a fish-out-of-water author who found a home with the NYPD. In this one, he's a 40-something recently divorced man who moves to Los Angeles and joins the LAPD. He's the oldest rookie for the department, and has some on-the-job training to do. This series is really about three rookies and their training officers, working cases and navigating office politics. It's not as good as I'd hoped, and doesn't always make good use of Fillion's comedic timing. But it is still blessed with a decent cast and a decent premise. There is a lot of action in the first two episodes, and not all of it worked, but I'm not ready to give up on it yet. I'm curious to see how it develops. It feels like the kind of show that could take a half season or so to get on track.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Thursday Nights:
Legacies, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on The CW (Premiered October 25)
About: The CW launched three new shows this fall, and I thought it was a modestly promising slate. But I didn't care for "All American," which fell flat, or "Charmed," which felt like an unnecessary re-boot. With "Legacies," the third and final new release of the Fall, we get a spin-off. This show is a spin-off of "The Originals," which was itself a spin-off of "Vampire Diaries." And with both its preceding shows now off the air, this one keeps the Mystic Falls torch burning. This one ties into the others through Hope Michaelson ( Danielle Rose Russell), daughter of Klaus, and student at the Salvatore School for the gifted. The pilot drops into the school, introduces the characters and explains the premise. It feels a bit in the vein of "X-Men" and "Harry Potter" with a magical school for those who are gifted and feel a bit alienated from the world. I thought the pilot moved along well for what it is, and this one actually might be the CW premier I felt was most successful. Having not been a part of the world of the other two shows, I don't have a strong connection to this world. However the pilot was accessible to those who don't know everything as well as long-time fans.
Pilot Grade: C

Streaming Series:
Bodyguard, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered October 24)
About: This series is a co-production with England, and centers on a British police officer (Richard Madden) assigned to protect the Home Secretary (Keeley Hawes) after heroically diffusing a terrorist attack. But more attacks keep coming. Madden was a star in the early seasons of "Game of Thrones," and is quite good here. So, too, is Hawes. As one might expect, the story gets complicated, as does the relationship between bodyguard and his protectee. I've seen the first two episodes of the six-episode season. It moves at a good clip and the performances and story are strong. There is a greater mystery building here, and it's worth seeing where it goes.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C+

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered October 26)
About: I sometimes think Netflix's mission is to flood the world with content. That's probably not too far off from the truth. In addition to the many releases already this month, and "Bodyguard" reviewed above, the streaming service offered its latest series. This one is from the man who brought "Riverdale" to The CW, and is set in the same world. It's also based on the same comic series that once gave the world "Sabrina The Teenage Witch." Of course, much like "Riverdale" took the Archie narrative in a new direction, this one does the same for Sabrina. This new series focuses on the 16-year-old witch as she tries to navigate the world of humans and witches, and of course is being pursued by the "Dark Lord" Satan. Yes, this one is decidedly darker and more satanic than the Melissa Joan Hart sitcom. Kiernan Shipka takes the lead as Sabrina Spellman in this one, and does a decent job. The first two episodes tried to so a lot with introducing characters, plots and world building, while also tackling some social issues. The performances were decent and the craft is strong. But this isn't for everyone, and certainly will be a stark surprise for those who were expecting something akin to the original.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C