Fall TV Roundup, Week 10


In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall. And there have been a lot, though it's slowing a bit. Don't see a new series listed below? Check previous weeks.

Thursday Nights:
Legacies, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on The CW (Premiered October 25)
About: The last of the new shows on networks to premier this Fall, this one is a spin-off of "The Originals," itself a spin-off of "The Vampire Diaries." It keeps the world of Mystic Falls alive for CW fans, and feels like a decent pairing with "Supernatural" on Thursday nights. It's about an academy for special individuals. The pilot set some things in motion, many of which were quickly resolved in episode two, which was interesting. This feels like a show that is still finding its way narratively, but it has some decent performances. It's very much aimed at the younger audiences, and though it's not a show I plan to stick with, I can see it as being of the biggest appeal of the new shows on the CW this Fall. In fact, the second episode felt even more like a teen drama, which will likely be appealing to those in that demographic.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Streaming Series:
Homecoming, Now Streaming on Amazon Prime (Premiered November 2)
About: Any time Julia Roberts comes to TV, it's a noteworthy moment. This new series, based on a popular podcast and directed by "Mr. Robot" creator Sam Esmail, is an intriguing drama. It is part of a wave that clocks in around 30 minutes per episode, and it's set both in the present (April, 2018 to be exact) and about four years in the future. And to distinguish between those time periods, the show employs and interesting technique where the future scenes are shot vertically with big black bars on either side. It helps keep you focused on the when of it all, and is an interesting visual decision. It's somewhat of a mystery, as the present sequences focus on the Homecoming program in Florida which helps soldiers with PTSD re-adjust to the home front. In the future, an investigation is happening into what might have occurred with the program, and that finds Roberts' character, who was the chief counselor during the 2018 sequences, now living as a waitress with little memory of her days working at Homecoming. Why that is, and what it all means, is part of the ongoing mystery. I enjoyed the performance from Roberts and Stephan James, who plays Walter Cruz, the patient at the center of the investigation. And I thought the plot in the first two episodes was engrossing enough to make me want to continue the journey. (So far I've seen three of 10 episodes). This is different and engaging, a show that seems to be making the most of the talent in front of and behind the camera.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

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