Summer TV Roundup, Week 1

It's the end of April, but in terms of looking at TV, it's the the start of the Summer Season. Plus, since it's supposed to be mid-80s by Thursday, it feels wrong to have a Winter anything. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted series. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Sunday Nights:
Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered April 26)
About: Once upon a time "Penny Dreadful" was a show on Showtime that focused on some of the biggest monsters in our lore. But it's time came and went, and it cycled off the air. Now a spin-off of sorts is back, swinging the action to Los Angeles in the late 1930s. While there are some mythical monsters here, the biggest threat in this story is the darker nature of man, particularly as it concerns ideological and racial differences. Yes, this is another series where we get Nazis, this time actual Nazis in a period-correct time frame. And we also get ideological wars that lead to racial and economic oppression, particularly against Hispanics living in Los Angeles and relegated to the poorer neighborhoods. This would feel more like entertainment and escape were these issues not so prevalent and pressing in our contemporary world. And of course this is where the mythical force (embodied by Natalie Dormer) is there whispering in ears and trying to push people toward an all out race war. The pilot was gorgeous in its shots at times, and I thought the performances were sturdy if nothing else. Same for the story. But through the first hour the hook is the setting and the look, which is fine to start but needs to be buoyed by characters and story if you want folks to stick for the long haul.
Pilot Grade: C+

Streaming Series:
Defending Jacob, Now Streaming on Apple TV+ (Premiered April 24)
About: This latest limited series for Apple TV+ is based on the novel from William Landay and focuses on a teen from a good family who finds himself accused of murdering a classmate. His father (Chris Evans) starts out as the Associate District Attorney assigned to the case, but soon finds himself living every parent's worse nightmare alongside his wife (Michelle Dockery). And then there's the question of whether their son (Jaeden Martell), a curious loner at the bare minimum, is really guilty. This is a thriller and, of course, those that read the novel really know where that's going. This comes from writer Mark Bomback, and director Morten Tyldum directs all eight episodes. The cast combined with the material and the talent behind the scenes has created something compelling. The first three episodes dropped Friday, with subsequent episodes coming on following Fridays. So far, I like what I see and this might be a low-key win for Apple TV.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Never Have I Ever, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered April 27)
About: Mindy Kaling created this new comedy which centers on a first generation Indian-American girl (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) who is trying to survive and thrive in high school despite some setbacks. Her father died unexpectedly and she's not exactly part of the cool crowd. This is a coming-of-age tale, that also has some romantic comedy tendencies. You'd really expect nothing less from Kaling, and this is an interesting and somewhat engaging comedy. The 10-episode first season all runs about 30 minutes, and dropped on Monday. I enjoyed parts of the first two episodes, but it's a touch slow and uneven. For the right kind of audience, this could be a winner.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C