Fall TV Roundup, Week 3

 

We’re cruising our way through September and we’re starting to see an increase in new shows. But what of these new shows is worth checking out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Mondays:
The Irrational, Mondays at 10 p.m. on NBC (Premiered September 25)
About: Jesse L. Martin takes the lead here as a psychology professor who has a knack for getting to the truth. That talent makes him popular in the classroom and also has him moonlighting for law enforcement. Whether it be a hostage situation or getting to the truth of a crime, he plies his skills at reading people to get to the truth. The pilot moved at a decent pace and Martin is a solid lead. This falls into a typical crime show pattern with a case-of-the-week and a long-term mystery introduced in the pilot as well. I liked Martin and I liked the basic premise. I can see this working as a decent addition to the network landscape, something that feels like a traditional Fall premier.
Pilot Grade: B-

Tuesdays:
The Swarm, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on The CW (Premiered September 12)
About: We’ve heard a lot about the Global Climate crisis in recent years, so it makes sense that at some point we’d see entertainment capitalizing on that. We’ve seen some films about killer storms, and now we’re getting one where the ocean strikes back. Of course, through two episodes of The Swarm, a globe-trotting ecological crisis series, there haven’t been any pronouncements about cause. But it’s easy to see where this is going. The CW has moved to importing series to cover its programming needs, and so far, they’ve pulled a good one with The Swarm. The series moves about the world, looking at different ways the ocean is beginning to attack inhabitants. So far, the first two episodes have been about exploring the crisis. Soon, we’ll need to see these disparate stories come together, but I’m intrigued by the concept, and I’ve appreciated the execution to this point.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Wednesdays:
American Horror Story: Delicate, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FX (Premiered September 20)
About: It’s been 12 years since this anthology series first debuted in 2011. And yet, we continue to get new seasons and new ideas. This season is focused on the idea of motherhood, which is a landscape that’s recently been mined plenty for horror stories. In this one, we get a focus on a successful actress (Emma Roberts) who is trying to go through IVF treatment while at a crucial moment in her career. She has the support of her husband (Matt Czuchry), whose previous wife died tragically. She also has the support of her agent (Kim Kardashian), who encountered similar fertility struggles. This one had a slow set up in the pilot episode, building the mysterious circumstances. It also features a slightly different cast than in some iterations, though familiar face Dennis O’Hare pops up as a doctor in the pilot. I didn’t think the pilot was particularly scary, nor particularly engaging, but there is time to build into this. ‘Tis the season for these kind of horror stories.
Pilot Grade: C

Thursdays:
Young Love, Streaming Thursdays on Max (Premiered September 21)
About: In 2020, the animated short Hair Love from Matthew A. Cherry and voiced by Issa Rae won the Academy Award. This new animated series for Max revisits that world, expanding it into a full-fledged series. Rae is back, voicing the mother, joined by Kid Cudi, Loretta Devine and Harry Lennix among the voice cast. The first four episodes of a 12-episode season were released, with new episodes coming Thursdays. The episodes run 22 to 25 minutes and tell the story of this family, led by Rae and Cudi. In a lot of ways, it feels like a traditional sitcom that’s just been transformed into an animated series. The episodes moved at a good pace, expanding on the world and the stories of these parents struggling with work, life and duties as a parent. It’s an interesting addition to the landscape and likely something that will speak to those who are fans of a good family comedy.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Fridays:
The Continental, From the World of John Wick, Streaming Fridays on Peacock (Premiered September 22)
About: We’ve seen four John Wick films at this point, and we know what to expect from the world. Trying to find a new way to explore the popular franchise, this prequel takes the action back and focuses on a young Winston (Colin Woodell) before he ran The Continental in New York and was entrenched in this world. This one focuses on his rise, a three-part mini-series. The first episode, which runs nearly 90 minutes, introduces the world and the primary antagonist played by Mel Gibson. It’s fine. The action is plentiful but the series, to this point, misses some of the style that makes the film hum. It’s also clear a young Winston isn’t the same kind of main protagonist we have with Keanu Reeves and John Wick. I understand the desire to capitalize on the franchise and this is a unique approach, but it doesn’t quite have the same pop as the films.
Pilot Grade: C

Still Up, Streaming Fridays on Apple TV+ (Premiered September 22)
About: This new comedy from Apple TV+ is imported from England. It focuses on two friends—Lisa (Antonia Thomas), a young mother, and Danny (Craig Roberts), an agoraphobic single—who are best friends. They also both are insomniacs who connect with each other late at night, usually just after 11 p.m. to catch up. While much of the focus is on Thomas and Roberts, and their chemistry together, they never actually share the screen. Instead, both are connecting while dealing with their own individual issues. Danny is housebound while Lisa is spending her nights running errands. The comedy comes from the situations and their connection via phone. The first three episodes released on Friday, with the rest of the eight-episode first season releasing weekly. I liked the chemistry between Roberts and Thomas, and I thought the concept was intriguing. It’s a decent set up and the first two episodes moved at a decent clip. It feels like a nice addition to the Apple TV lineup.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Sundays:
Krapopolis, Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on FOX (Premiered September 24)
About: The latest animated series for FOX comes from Dan Harmon. It will join the Animation Domination lineup on Sunday nights but kicked off with a two-episode premier behind football on Sunday. The comedy comes from a family descended from an out-of-favor Goddess trying to form a better society. The first two episodes premiered Sunday. This will settle in behind The Simpsons for the Fall. FOX has done well with these adult animated series, and if this is the style you enjoy this will likely please you. If not, it felt a bit weird and a bit limp for me.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C