Fall TV Roundup, Week 10


We're nearing the mid-point of November and as of this morning, a new player has entered the streaming game with Disney+ While I won't look at those originals today, it's still coming. But we have plenty of other shows to talk about. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted (and some unscripted) series this Fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Monday Nights:
His Dark Materials, Mondays at 9 p.m. on HBO (Premiered November 4)
About: This is a big swing for HBO which, with the ending of "Game of Thrones" and a few other long-term series, needs to sink into a new identity. Could "His Dark Materials," a co-production with the BBC that comes from a series of fantasy novels, be a part of it? Well, I think that's the hope. This one has a solid IP and comes with a splashy cast that includes Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ruth Wilson, James McAvoy and Clarke Peters. And the world building is first rate. But I have never read these novels, and they contain a dense mythology that is only partially explained in the first two episodes. Additionally, the characters haven't been built out as I might have hoped, and the whole production feels a bit dry. That's the tough part. I believe in the production team and idea, so I'm willing to give it a little run, but it needs to pick up in a hurry.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C

Sunday Nights:
Back to Life, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered November 10)
About: This latest show is a co-production with the BBC that aired previously in England. Daisy Haggard co-wrote and stars in this production as a young woman who was convicted of murder and spent 18 years in prison. As she returns to her home town, she finds transition difficult. It's not just adjusting to living with her parents and trying to live an adult life of freedom after going to prison as a teen, she also has to deal with a town still unwilling to forgive. The first two episodes aired Sunday, with two episodes a week the next few weeks until the six-episode season is complete. I thought Haggard did a good job in the lead role, which is a tough balancing act at times. The first two episodes give you enough to roughly know what she did, but have been teasing out details of the crime and what led up to it. That is compelling. So, too, is her re-adjustment to life. However, there are aspects of the story and subplots involving a former boyfriend and her mother that are much less compelling to me. Going forward, it would be a question of what wins out. But at a half an hour, and only six episodes, it's not a huge commitment, especially as all of them are streaming on the Showtime App now.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Streaming Series:
Green Eggs and Ham, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered November 8)
About: This latest animated series on Netflix is set in the world of Dr. Seuss, and is based on his famous story of the same name. It features a voice cast that includes Michael Douglas and Adam Devine, and it's perfectly charming. I'm probably no longer the target demographic for these kind of things, and while I enjoyed some aspects of the production, it wasn't incredibly compelling. But the episodes are light and the look is solid. This will likely hold a lot of appeal for younger viewers and families.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

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