Spring TV Roundup, Week 10

 

We’re quickly racing toward summer, and with it the close of the Emmy consideration window. That means we’re seeing a bit of a slowdown in the rate of new series. But we still have some new series to consider, so which of them are worth your time? Let this weekly post be your guide as I look at the pilot and second episode of new scripted, and select unscripted, series this Spring. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Fridays:
The Big Cigar, Streaming Fridays on Apple TV+ (Premiered May 17)
About: The latest from Apple is a biopic focused on Huey P. Newton, the founder of the Black Panthers. The series finds Andre Holland in the role, focusing on 1974, when Newton conspired with movie producers Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola) and Steve Blauner (P.J. Byrne) to find a way to get to Cuba and avoid a police pursuit tied to charges he denied. The first two episodes, released Friday, were directed by Don Cheadle and the series was created by Jim Hecht. The episodes were about 40 minutes, moving at a good pace. The series style and set up is good, befitting the Apple brand. But a lot of your interest in this six-episode limited series will depend on how you feel about the material. I was curious to learn more about Newton and this time period, which does happen some in the early episodes, but the pace felt slow, and the overall movement of the episodes felt a bit dull. Apple has gone heavy into historical series so far in 2024 with mixed results. I see potential here, but the first two episodes didn’t bait the hook strongly.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Streaming Series:
The Killing Kind, Now Streaming on Hulu (Premiered May 14)
About: The new series on Hulu is a U.K. drama about a young barrister, Ingrid (Emma Appleton), whose life is thrown into chaos thanks to a former client (Colin Morgan). In the present, Ingrid is re-building her reputation and her life after an incident in the recent past. When her former client, Webster (Morgan), turns up it shakes her. When her friend is killed and she’s subsequently harassed, she believes he may be responsible. In flashbacks, we see how he wreaked havoc on her life, career, and engagement before. The series is six episodes, each about 50 minutes and all available to stream. It makes for a quick binge and feels of apiece with other U.K. crime series like this. Appleton and Morgan are decent in the lead roles, too. Your interest in it will likely come down to how the story hits you. I thought there was potential, but it didn’t always hook me.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered May 15)
About: It’s been a few years since the hack of Ashley Madison that rocked the world. The new documentary looks at the infamous site, the hacking incident that exposed so many members, shaking up lives and businesses. The three-episode series looks at the people behind the site and shares some stories of those who were exposed in the hack. Some were sad, some ended up having some happier twists even years later. It’s an interesting exploration of the topic, albeit one that feels a bit dated. The lack of answers about who was responsible for the hack leaves the series a bit open-ended. Still, it was an interesting watch.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

The Bronx Zoo ’90, Now Streaming on Peacock (Premiered May 16)
About: This docuseries focuses on the 1990 season for the New York Yankees. It was a tumultuous and awful season, but one that proved to be important to the team’s history. The three-part series is narrated by Richard Schiff is fascinating and engaging, telling infamous stories about the famous franchise and the dysfunction that marked the 1990 season. I liked the tie-in to the dynasty as well. It was a fun watch for sports fans and a quick binge for those looking to learn more about the Yankees.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

99, Now Streaming on Prime Video (Premiered May 17)
About: This new docuseries is focused on the Manchester United’s wildly successful 1999 season. The talented team featured David Beckham, among others, and this three-part series focuses on the season and their winning run. Each episode is about an hour, featuring a mixture of file footage and interviews with those involved. It’s a solidly produced docuseries, but your interest in it will likely rest on your interest in Premier League soccer. It makes sense to celebrate the win for its 25th anniversary, but this didn’t work as well for me as the Bronx Zoo docuseries.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C