Winter TV Roundup, Week 8

 

We’re making our way toward March, which begins in just a couple days. We’ve also gotten the return of network television, making viewing options plentiful. But with that and new shows, you can be left wondering what’s worth your time to check out. Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Winter. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Wednesdays:
Constellation, Streaming Wednesdays on Apple TV+ (Premiered February 21)
About: The latest from Apple takes the action to space, a location that has worked well for series on the streamer in the past. In this one, we begin with Jo Ericsson (Noomi Rapace) driving her daughter to the middle of frozen nowhere. She seems on edge and strange things are happening. Her daughter also seems concerned. Soon, we flash back five weeks and Jo is on duty on the International Space Station. It’s not long before things go wrong. While the rest of the crew escapes, Jo stays behind to escape in a second pod, but not before recovering the data for a secret experiment. How do we get from where she was to where we began the series? That’s what this eight-episode journey is all about. The first three episodes dropped Wednesday, with additional episodes dropping weekly. The production is strong and it’s a decent cast, which also includes James D’Arcy and Jonathan Banks. The sequences in space on the station are also engaging. But the rest of the story is often confusing. Worse yet, it doesn’t do enough in the early going to build a hook and to build the characters. The pieces are in place, but this falls flat for me. It’s a rare miss for one of the best content-producing streaming platforms.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Sundays:
Grimsburg, Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on FOX (Premiered January 7)
About: By now the Animation Domination lineup on Sunday nights on FOX is well-established. We have The Simpsons and Family Guy, with new series populating in around that. Grimsburg, which features Jon Hamm as a grizzled detective, got a nice launch following football in January. Now, it’s back to resume its season as part of the regular Sunday night lineup following the season. I enjoyed the pilot and the basic premise. Adult animated series are sometimes a mixed bag, but FOX has done well with them. I enjoy Hamm in this role and the basic setup. The world is slightly ridiculous, but it hits on tropes and a genre I find more engaging. I think this is a decent addition to the Sunday animated lineup.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: C+

Streaming Series:
Avatar: The Last Airbender, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered February 22)
About: We’ve seen this story told before in various ways. For a long time, it’s been a popular animated series on Nickelodeon. In 2010, M. Night Shymalan tried to adapt it into a feature-length, live-action film. Now, we get the live-action series version for Netflix. This season is eight episodes, each around an hour, exploring the story and diving into the world. The first couple episodes introduce the world and the players—primarily Aang (Gordon Cormier) and Katara (Kiawentiio). I liked the character development, the world-building, and the performances. The series had a good early hook, and the first two episodes were a good mix of action and world-building. I didn’t follow the original animated series, but I did see the 2010 live-action film. I liked the way this expanded and built the world a bit better, owing to the more long-form storytelling. Hopefully this will be a version accessible to fans and casual viewers alike.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, Now Streaming on Prime Video (Premiered February 23)
About: Adult animated series have grown in popularity for networks, cable outlets and streaming services. Prime Video is no exception, as we’ve seen several launch on the platform over the past few years. The latest is a sci-fi set series with a strong voice cast and a unique look and style. As the title suggests, we’re located at a hospital. We follow a group of plucky doctors, including best friends Dr. Sleech (Stephanie Hsu) and Dr. Klak (Keke Palmer). Other members of the voice cast include Natasha Lyonne, Kieran Culkin, and Maya Rudolph, among others. There’s a talent group participating in this series—which was already renewed for a second season. The first season is eight episodes, all now streaming, with each between 22 and 29 minutes. It’s a quick watch and a quick binge if you’re so inclined. I like the talent involved but the story and style didn’t resonate with me here. Adult animated series are a mixed bag. Fans of the genre and wild storytelling will probably get a kick out of this series. It didn’t appeal to what I’m looking for in a series.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-