Summer TV Roundup, Week 5

 

We’ve made it through Memorial Day and now we’re on to June. We’re past the Network TV Season but we have plenty of new shows that continue to air. Which are worth your time, and which are safely skippable? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Summer.

Tuesdays:
Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Streaming Tuesdays on Max (Premiered May 23)
About: HBO Max became Max on May 23, and with it came a slew of new offerings. Many were reality series as the streamer adds the Discovery+ library. But in addition to that came a pair of animated series. This first one is meant to build on the world of the Gremlins. We get a young Gizmo to tie into the movies. But this is the story of the discovery of the Mogwai by someone who wants to protect the world from them and, inevitably, things go awry. The first two episodes dropped May 23 with subsequent episodes dropping each Tuesday. Episodes are around 25 minutes. The humor was OK, but the series might work best for younger viewers. I enjoyed the films, but this series didn’t do much for me.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Clone High, Streaming Tuesdays on Max (Premiered May 23)
About: About 20 years ago we got Clone High, an animated series based on the premise that key historical figures were cloned and put into high school. It was meant to be a bit of a spoof on the teen dramas of the day. Now, as HBO Max becomes Max, we get the re-boot from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. It boasts a decent voice cast and tries to adapt the concept in a slightly different way. Fans of the original will likely be glad to see it back. The stories are a little weird and the humor feels like it’s aimed at something of a niche audience. I’m not a big fan of adult cartoons, which is at play here. But I don’t see a compelling reason to stick with this series. The first two episodes, each about 25 minutes, are out now, with subsequent episodes dropping weekly on Tuesdays.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Wednesdays:
The Clearing, Streaming Wednesdays on Hulu (Premiered May 24)
About: This new drama series from Hulu is an import from Australia, based on the country’s new age cult The Family. This is a fictionalized story, focusing on a woman who begins to relive her painful past in The Family as she seeks to keep her son safe. The cast includes Teresa Palmer, Miranda Otto and Guy Pearce, with the first two episodes out Wednesday and subsequent episodes of the eight-episode series dropping weekly. The first episodes featured a combination of time in the present and flashbacks to the past. It rolls out the information and characters slowly, ending the second episode with something of a mic drop reveal. The performances are fine but without some of the cultural context, the story lacks bite. The first couple episodes weren’t enough to draw me into the narrative and wait for it to play out week-to-week.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Platonic, Streaming Wednesdays on Apple TV+ (Premiered May 24)
About: Apple TV+ just keeps rolling out original content. This week it was a comedy from Nicholas Stoller starring Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen as old friends that lost touch. Sylvia (Byrne) is a wife and mother who has settled into a tired pattern. Will (Rogen) runs his own brewery and is reeling from a divorce. The two connect and re-kindle their friendship. But will it be good for both of them or take them down a dark path to the past. The on-screen chemistry between Byrne and Rogen, who starred together in the Neighbors films from Stoller, is undeniable. They’re a hilarious tandem and it works well in these episodes. The first three episodes were released Wednesday, with subsequent episodes of the 10-episode season dropping weekly. I loved the blend of story and comedy. The first three episodes were a kick, and I can’t wait to see where the series goes from here.
Pilot Grade: B
Second Episode: B

Sundays:
Ghosts of Beirut, Sundays at 10 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered May 21)
About: This series is a hybrid documentary and docudrama, chronicling the efforts to combat a terrorist over a series of decades. Each week presents a different slice as part of a four-week exploration. The first episode was OK, while the material is a bit dry. The same was true of the second episode, which moved the ball forward and introduced more tough events in the timeline. It’s intercut with interviews, attempting a Band of Brothers-style experience. The narrative isn’t as compelling as all that, making it somewhat of a slog. The episodes run about an hour, each dropping Sundays on Showtime and Fridays on Paramount+.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C-

Streaming Series:
American Born Chinese, Now Streaming on Disney+ (Premiered May 24)
About: This new series is based on the graphic novel from Gene Leun Yang. It follows the story of an American teenager, Jin Wang (Ben Wang), who is trying to make it through school and keep a low profile. When he befriends a new student, Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu), he gets sucked into something much larger. This series has a strong look and also brings many of the actors from Everything Everywhere All At Once back together, as Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan co-star in the series. This is also the rare Disney+ series that dropped all eight episodes at once. Everything is now available to stream, with most episodes running about 35 minutes. I enjoyed the first two and the introduction to the world. The production is strong as is the casting. This is something different and worth checking out in the landscape of new original series.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

FUBAR, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered May 25)
About: Arnold Schwarzenegger is back, this time in an original action comedy series. Luke (Schwarzenegger) is a decorated C.I.A. operative on the verge of retirement. He’s called to do one last mission and, as it turns out, his daughter, Emma (Monica Barbaro), is also an agent. Their cases collide and a lot is on the line. Can father and daughter get past their estrangement to get the mission accomplished? Can it make them stronger as a family? Those are the obvious questions we tackle in this series. Schwarzenegger does a nice job in this role and has a good back-and-forth with Barbaro. The setup is interesting, and the first two episodes do a solid job of establishing the world and building the action. Netflix has a lot of content and wide variety of different shows. This works for what it’s trying to be. All eight episodes are available to stream, with episodes running around the hour mark. It’s a quick binge and looks to be a fun summer streaming option.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: C+