Fall TV Roundup, Week 7

 


It’s October and we’re careening toward November. With the actors’ strike still ongoing, there isn’t a ton of new scripted content now and likely won’t be a large amount coming in the next few months. Still, you might be wondering what new shows are worth investing in. 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.

Thursdays:
Scavengers Reign, Streaming Thursdays on HBO Max (Premiered October 19)
About: This new animated series is aimed at adults. It centers on the crew of a damaged deep-sea freighter that crash lands on a beautiful and mysterious, but dangerous planet. The survivors are spread out and trying to find a way to survive and find each other. The episodes run about 25 minutes, with the first three released Thursday and additional episodes released weekly. The animation and creativity are strong. The story is interesting, but I wasn’t totally taken with the characters or the journey. Fans of this type of series will likely be engaged. Otherwise, it wasn’t overly compelling for a mass audience.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Streaming Series:
Neon, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered October 19)
About: This new comedy comes from Shea Serrano, who has launched a few different series this year. This one focuses on a young musician, Santi (Tyler Dean Flores) who quits his job and moves to Miami with his manager sister Ness (Emma Ferreira) and friend Felix (Jordan Mendoza) to find his big break. He tries to connect with an agent and make his mark. The series is eight episodes, each about a half an hour and all now streaming. The idea is sound, but I didn’t connect with the characters and the story in the first few episodes. It’s an interesting concept with a decent cast.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Bodies, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered October 19)
About: This new drama comes from England and focuses on a murder and a discovered body that happens in three different time periods. The series is based on the DC/Vertigo book of the same name. It has a decent cast and tackles England in the 1890s, the 1940s, modern times and in the future as we move into episode two. The season is eight episodes, each about an hour. I liked the different period settings and there were some strong performances as well. The idea is clever, and the mystery is unfolding in an interesting way. For fans of the genre, this will be something interesting to check out.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

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