Spring TV Roundup, Week 7

 


We’re coming to the end of April, with the tide of new shows slowing some. But we still have options to consider. The question is 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 Spring. Don’t see a show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Streaming Series:
Dead Boy Detectives, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered April 25)
About: The latest for Netflix is a series adapted from a D.C. Comic by Neil Gaiman. It becomes part of an extended Sandman universe for Netflix, even featuring Kirby as Death early in the pilot to bridge the connection to the previous series. This one centers on a pair of dead teens—Edwin Paine (George Rexstraw) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri). Both died while at boarding school—albeit years apart—and instead of continuing to the afterlife, they stayed put to ply their investigative skills to solving crimes. Soon, they connect with a living medium, Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson), and head to America to tackle a case. Can they solve cases and stay ahead of those looking to bring them to the afterlife? That’s the challenge for Edwin and Charles, and the basis of this series. The first season is eight episodes, each about 50 minutes. It’s a quick enough binge. The pacing and style are similar to other D.C. adaptations, and it has a certain sense of style that rings true to stories adapted from Gaiman’s work. For fans of this type of show, this will be a hit and a quick addition to the television landscape. I wasn’t taken with the story and characters in Sandman, though I appreciated the craft. The same is true of this new series. The performances are solid, and the production is sound, but it just didn’t hook me.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Them: The Scare, now Streaming on Prime Video (Premiered April 25)
About: A few years ago, anthology series were all the rage. We’ve seen their popularity wane a bit in recent years, partially owing to a flooded market. But the series Them, which debuted 2021, is back for a second installment. The series comes from Marvin Little and is a horror anthology from an African American perspective. The uneven first season was set in 1951 in a neighborhood. This new set of episodes, “The Scare,” takes place in Los Angeles in 1991. Deborah Ayorinde returns as the lead, this time as an LAPD detective on the hunt for a mysterious and brutal killer. There’s plenty of themes to explore and the early episodes are dark and convey a certain unsettling mood. The episodes are brisk, with most falling under 40 minutes and some close to 30 minutes. All eight episodes are now available to stream, making for a quick binge. The problem here—much as was the case in the first installment—is that the mood and potential in the setting works better than the actual story and characters. I liked the idea, but I wasn’t at all taken with the world that was built. With so many options, there isn’t a compelling reason to stick with this.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Knuckles, Now Streaming on Paramount+ (Premiered April 26)
About: We were introduced to Knuckles (Idris Elba) during the second Sonic film in 2022. This new limited series bridges the time between that film and the upcoming third film in the Sonic franchise. While Sonic (Ben Schwartz) himself appears in the pilot, this series is about Knuckles and Wade (Adam Pally), setting up to be something of a buddy adventure. Knuckles is trying to adjust to life on Earth and decides to make Wade his protégé. They head out on an adventure and things go off the rails quickly. The series is six episodes, each running between 25 and 32 minutes. It’s a quick binge and a short commitment. This is a piece of family-friendly entertainment that will work for those who love the Sonic films. Personally, I thought the films were just OK and a couple episodes were enough for me with this limited series. If you’re looking for something to watch with your kids, this will hit the spot. But it’s not incredible.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

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