Fall TV Roundup, Week 1

 

We've come to Fall, at least meteorological Fall. And, hey, if you're in Colorado we skipped right to winter today.... Anyway this will be a Fall like no other. That will be true in terms of content, too. We haven't gotten as many new summer shows, and we won't get as many new Fall offerings, either. But it's about quality, not quantity. In these weekly posts I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted, and occasional unscripted series this Fall. Below is the first wave.

Tuesday Nights:
Transplant, Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on NBC (Premiered September 1)
About: This is part of what NBC is doing to fill the void this Fall. Regular shows haven't gone back into production, so our normal network shows won't be back in the Fall, more likely in January. NBC had hoped for the a more normal schedule, but it's not in the cards. So, instead, they snapped up this medical drama from Canada, one that's settling into the "New Amsterdam" time slot. This one focuses on an immigrant (Hamza Haq) who settles in Canada from a war torn region. He's a doctor, but can't ply his trade in the country. That is until an accident at the restaurant where he serves as a line cook allows him to save a number of folks, including the head doctor (John Hannah) at the local hospital. That gives him a second chance. The pilot is a slow burn leading up to him joining the team. It didn't explain the title "Transplant," which you'd be forgiven for thinking means it's about organ transplants. Instead, it's about the doctor who has been transplanted. I liked the pilot and I think there's some promise here, so I'm curious to see where it goes. Hospital dramas are a staple of TV, especially on NBC, and this one seems like it will be a decent addition to the summer lineup.
Pilot Grade: C+

Streaming Series:
Raised By Wolves, Now Streaming on HBO Max (Premiered September 3)
About: This is the latest original series offering from HBO Max. This streaming service launched with a series featuring Anna Kendrick, and has added some European series, but mostly seems to have relied on the appeal of the HBO catalog and original series, and having "Friends." But this is a high-profile original series, which features the first two episodes directed by Ridley Scott. It's set in the future where a civil war between religious factions destroyed Earth. One group sent a pair of androids and some viable embryos to a distant planet to start over. Twelve years later, and they have just one child left. When a ship populated by the other faction arrives, the androids dispatch with the threat and grab more children to build their colony again. But will the clashing cultures and religious ideologies lead to another conflict? Three episodes were made available as part of the premier, with new episodes dropping weekly. The series is beautifully shot and has some stunning visuals. The story is unique and seems somewhat interesting. However, the two episodes I watched were painfully dry. The second episode was just over 40 minutes, but it felt longer. I wasn't taken with the characters or the story, so it was tough to connect. This is a big swing, and it will likely have some hard core supporters. But it was a miss for me.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Young Wallander, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered September 3)
About: This series focuses on the young version of Henning Mankell's famous character, detective Kurt Wallander (Adam Pålsson) as he works on his first case. Pålsson looks like a dead ringer for Jonathan Groff. It's uncanny. It's like watching a Sweedish Groff investigating cases. Anyway, that thought occupied a lot of my time during the first two episodes of this six-episode season. There just wasn't a ton that I felt drawn to with this. It was OK, and if you like the books or other series, this is likely a solid appeal. But it didn't work for me.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Away, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered September 4)
About: It was a big week for Netflix, which premiered "Away" along with some high-profile movies for Labor Day Weekend. This one has a strong cast, led by Hilary Swank as the commander of a mission to Mars. That mission is dangerous, and will take her and her international crew away from home for three years. That commitment becomes tougher when her husband (Josh Charles) has a stroke. Nevertheless, she has to soldier on for the good of her crew and the mission. The first episode really sets the table and explores the characters and plot to come. The second one moves into a more episodic form where it appears to be taking on new challenges on the journey each week. I thought both episodes moved pretty well and the plot is interesting. This first season runs 10-episodes and has strong production and performances. We aren't getting a ton of new series this Fall, but this is one that might be worth a 10-hour investment.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: C+