Fall TV Roundup, Week 4

 

We're nearly to October, and with network series beginning to return along with some fourth quarter gems, we're about to get the flood of content that's been mostly missing in 2020. Brace yourself, and let these weekly posts be your guide. In these weekly posts I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series, and the occasional unscripted series, this Fall. Don't see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Monday Nights:
L.A.'s Finest, Mondays at 8 p.m. on FOX (Premiered September 21)
About: This latest series is an import that originally aired on Spectrum. It stars Jessica Alba and Gabrielle Union as detectives and partners with the Los Angeles Police Department, and is a spin-off connected to the cinematic world of "Bad Boys." Union reprises her role from "Bad Boys II," and there were plenty of references, and a few characters, to tie in to the film in the pilot. In the second episode, the show had to move forward with both the case-of-the-week format and the season-long conflict between the partners. It was all fine, but not as compelling as I'd hoped. I want to like the series, and I love the movies, but so far this one is a little uneven. Hopefully it will pick up as we move forward through season one.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C-

Filthy Rich, Mondays at 9 p.m. on FOX (Premiered September 21)
About: This is the other new Monday night series for FOX, which is culled from one of two scripted series they held back in the Spring. I didn't get to it last week, but I watched the pilot and second episode this week. (Those two plus the third are now available on HULU). This stars Kim Catrall as the matriarch of a family that has made their fortune as televangelists. When her husband dies in a plane crash with two prostitutes no less, things get tough. When it turns out he has three other children with three other women, it gets tougher. But to keep the family business and fortune in tact, she has to adapt. And, it turns out there's a twist that threatens to derail everything. This is a throw back prime time soap, one that has a decent cast and an engaging premise. I thought the pilot and second episode were strong, and I see some potential here.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Wednesday Nights:
I Can See Your Voice, Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on FOX (Premiered September 23)
About: FOX has seen a big boost in its profile thanks to the reality hit "The Masked Singer." It makes sense to see them trying to expand that reach, in this case with a twist on the singing format hosted by Ken Jeong, who is a judge on "The Masked Singer." In this one a contestant tries to tell who is a good singer and who is a bad singer simply by non-vocal cues. It's an interesting idea, and I thought the pilot had a good flow. I enjoyed the format and I think this has the potential to be a fun show to drop in-and-out of during this time of COVID.
Pilot Grade: C+

Sunday Nights:
Fargo, Sunday Nights at 10 p.m. on F/X (Premiered September 27)
About: The fourth season of this anthology series was set to debut in the Spring, but with the pandemic production couldn't be completed on the final episode, which pushed the debut back. In this long-awaited fourth season, the action shifts to the 1950s in Kansas City and features a dispute between rival factions. One is led by Chris Rock. The other by Jason Schwartzman. As always, Fargo has a great look, some great black comedy and a stellar cast. I thought the pilot moved at a bit of a slow pace, but I enjoyed the second episode and really like the potential here. "Fargo" is great when it hits the right notes, as it has mostly done in its three previous seasons. This was one of the most anticipated shows of 2020 and I thought the two episode premier confirmed why that's the case. Looking forward to seeing how this plays out.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: B

Streaming Series:
Departure, Now Streaming on Peacock (Premiered September 17)
About: This latest addition to Peacock is, like so much of their original content slate, a show brought over from England. This one focuses on the investigation into a plane that went missing traveling over the Atlantic Ocean. Did it crash? Was it attacked? Did it just disappear? Anyone who is hoping for some "Manifest" vibes here will be disappointed. This one is more like a straight procedural of sorts, led by a cast that includes Christopher Plummer and Archie Panjabi. All six episodes are available to stream, and previously aired in 2019 in England. The episodes are around 45 minutes, so it's a quick watch. The plot thickens in the second episode, but so far answers haven't been forthcoming. I thought the cast was decent and the idea is interesting, but not enough to help establish an identity, brand and compelling reasons to subscribe to the Peacock Premium Service.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

The Murders at White House Farm, Now Streaming on HBO Max (Premiered September 24)
About: This docudrama is based on the true events that occurred in August of 1985. On that night, five people, including two children, were murdered. The mini-series explores the events after that night, including the investigation to determine what really happened. While this crime is famous in England, where the mini-series was produced and aired as well, but for American audiences this is a mystery series with a strong cast and a bit of intrigue. Those curious about the events can likely read up about it on the Internet, or just sit back and watch it play out over the six episodes, each about 45 minutes.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Sneakerheads, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered September 25)
About: This latest Netflix comedy is about a father and shoe enthusiast who gets roped into some schemes by a friend. That was about as much as I took away from the first two episodes of this 10-episode first season, each episode running about a half an hour. I didn't care for the plot or characters, so this one quickly went stale for me. With a lot of options now and a lot more options coming, this is one you can safely skip.
Pilot Grade: D
Second Episode: D

Tehran, Now Streaming on Apple TV+ (Premiered September 25)
About: The latest addition to Apple's streaming lineup is a drama from Israel that focuses on a spy who runs a mission to infiltrate Tehran. Things go wrong, and the question becomes how and if she'll make it home safely. This one has more subtitles than your average streaming series, with the first three episodes of this eight-episode season dropping Friday. Subsequent episodes will drop each Friday, as is the pattern with Apple TV+. The series stars Niv Sultan as the main spy, with Shaun Toub and Navid Negahban, familiar faces to American audiences, playing supporting roles. I think the concept is interesting, but the first episode was a little slow. The second episode presented an interesting twist, and we'll see where it goes from here. Apple TV+ has been arguably the strongest of the streaming platforms of late with original content, and this one has some potential.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C

Utopia, Now Streaming on Amazon Prime (Premiered September 25)
About: This eight episode drama comes from writer Gillian Flynn. It is based on a British series of the same name that was a popular cult classic. I haven't seen the original series, so I had a great appreciation for getting into the narrative here without comparing it to something previously released. This one has a strong cast and a dark, but sometimes lightly comic, tone. It's about a group of comic book fans that get drawn into a dark conspiracy and murder mystery. I thought the pilot was a touch slow, but I was fascinated as the story wound to the end of the hour. The second episode upped the action, pulled more into the narrative, and offered its own surprise. I don't know where this is going, but I enjoyed the first part of the ride.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-