Fall TV Roundup, Week 11


We're nearing Thanksgiving, so the networks are winding up their Fall slate. But the streaming networks are kicking into high gear, so there is still new programming to wade through. 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.

Sunday Nights:
The Dublin Murders, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Starz (Premiered November 10)
About: I should have tackled this last week, but I got behind. However, Starz is airing a new murder series that comes from the BBC. The first episode debuted on November 10, with the second on Sunday. It's also available at any time in the Starz App. The series focuses on a pair of detectives (Sarah Greene and Killian Scott) who each have something to hide and are assigned to work on a brutal child murder. The case is only part of the pull here, as both are dealing with personal issues from their past that threaten their future. The acting here is good, including a supporting role from Conleth Hill, who plays the chief of detectives here but is better known as Lord Varys from "Game of Thrones." The episodes were weird, moody, and a little slow at times, but I am curious to see where this one is going. We're in a crowded TV landscape right now, but this is only an eight-episode commitment (and based on the popular crime novels), so it feels like it might be worth the plunge.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Streaming Series:
The Mandalorian, Now Streaming on Disney+ (Premiered November 12)
About: The biggest draw among the original offerings on Disney+ is "The Mandalorian," a live-action series set in the world of "Star Wars." The action focuses on a Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) bounty hunter, and takes place about five years after the events of "Return of the Jedi" and well before we meet Rey in "The Force Awakens." The production values and look are great, as is the cast. Though the early episodes are more about the Mandalorian and what he discovers. I won't spoil the surprise here for those who haven't yet seen it, but suffice to say it was an incredible find that filled my heart with warmth and delight. That aside, I like the length and pacing here, too. The pilot was about 39 minutes, while the second episode (which dropped Friday, as all subsequent episodes will) was about 32 minutes. That's a nice length and a great way to dive into the action and humor of the series, which has also featured a character voiced by Nick Nolte with a catch phrase I can well see becoming a part of our daily lives. This is one of the best new shows of the year, and well worth the entry price of Disney+.
Pilot Grade: A
Second Episode: A-

 High School Musical The Musical The Series, Now Streaming on Disney+ (Premiered November 12)
About: Disney+ only offered two scripted originals to start, the second of which is a new metta series about a group of high school students putting on a production of the original Disney film "High School Musical." Full confession: I've never seen "High School Musical" or any of its sequels. So I was a little lost as to the exact plot, but I think I got the jist. And the musical performances, particularly in the second episode, were pretty good. They young cast here is pretty good, too, and the story has some appeal, especially if you're the right demographic. I'm clearly not, so I won't be continuing. But in terms of original content, this seems like a solid swing from Disney+.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Dollface, Now Streaming on Hulu (Premiered November 15)
About: This latest comedy dropped on Hulu on Friday, and the whole season is now available for stream. It stars Kat Dennings as a woman who sees her five year relationship suddenly end. That leaves her struggling to find a way forward when she realizes she didn't spend enough time cultivating female friendships, so she sets about to try and fix that. There is a lot going on here, and some of it is supposed to be absurd, but it's all supposed to be funny. I thought the first two episodes were, at times (moreso the second than the first), but it was also quite weird at times. I like Dennings as a performer, but I just couldn't buy into what was being offered with this series, which draws its name from an absurd nickname her boyfriend had for her that is, seemingly, tossed aside by the end of episode one.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C

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