Fall TV Roundup, Week 8

 


Happy Halloween! We’ve made it to the end of October. We’re still getting some new offerings, but with the actors’ strike ongoing, that tide of new shows is more of a trickle. That combined with the approaching holiday makes the choices few. Still, your time is precious, so you might be wondering what is worth checking out. Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted shows this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Thursdays:
Everyone Else Burns, Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. on The CW (Premiered October 26)
About: The CW has been importing programs all season, so them getting a show from Canada or England isn’t a surprise. Everyone Else Burns is set in England and features a family that are part of a fundamentalist religious community. It’s an interesting set up, and one that adds another sitcom to a night of sitcoms on The CW. It’s an interesting idea but the pilot and the characters didn’t really pop. Still, if the CW comedy night is your jam, this is a fine addition to cap the night.
Pilot Grade: C

Sundays:
Fellow Travelers, Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered October 29)
About: The latest series from Showtime, which debuts on Paramount+ the preceding Friday, is based on the novel from Thomas Mallon. It’s a time traveling series, spending time in the 1950s—during the McCarthy era—and the 1980s—during the Reagan era—in just the pilot. The story follows Hawk Fuller (Matt Bomer) and Tim Laughlin (Jonathan Bailey). They meet and begin an affair in the 1950s. In the 1980s, Hawk is married with children when it gets word that Tim wants to re-connect as he’s dying. The series follows their story through the turbulent decades, beginning with them working for the government while conducting their affair in secret. The pilot has a good period look and the leads work well off each other. It’s a bit edgy in its approach, but fans of the book will likely be invested in the story.
Pilot Grade: C

Streaming Series:
The Enfield Poltergeist, Now Streaming on Apple TV+ (Premiered October 27)
About: We’ve seen plenty of ghost stories, even ones involving the Enfield Poltergeist. It was the subject of The Conjuring 2, among other properties. The latest from Apple TV+ is a docuseries that tackles the story. It’s part re-creations and part based on the tapes from Maurice Grosse. For those taken with ghost stories, this is a classic tale that will be a little bit of seasonal fun. I thought the material was a bit dry and I’m not sure I needed four hours to explore it. Still, it’s an interesting offering for the spooky season.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

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