Spring TV Roundup, Week 9

 

As we reach the middle of May the Upfront presentations are upon us, and the network season is coming to an end. We’re also coming to the end of the Emmy consideration window. All that means that the number of new shows launching is slowing a bit. Still, what of those shows are worth checking 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 new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Wednesdays:
Dark Matter, Streaming Wednesdays on Apple TV+ (Premiered May 8)
About: Based on the novel of the same name from Blake Crouch, who helped adapt the series for Apple TV+, this is a twisty science fiction drama. It features Joel Edgerton as Jason Dessen. He once had a bright future on the cutting edge of science, but he gave it up for love nearly two decades ago. Now, he’s a professor, a loving husband to Daniela (Jennifer Connelly), and a father. One evening, he’s attending a party at a bar with an old friend, Ryan (Jimmi Simpson), when he’s attacked on the way home. When he awakes, he finds himself in a place that looks a lot like his home, but nothing is familiar. The people don’t remember their shared history, his home is re-done, and the people who greet him know him as someone very different. That sets Jason on a mission to get back to the life he knew and loved. The series builds its tension slowly. I wasn’t as taken with the pilot, but once we launched into more of the crux of the story—and a reveal I won’t spoil here—I was really engaged. Edgerton, Connelly, and the primary cast are good here. The look works well, and the high concept of the story is engaging. It’s a nine-episode series, with the first two available to stream now and the rest dropping weekly. This could be another solid hit for Apple TV+.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: B-

Sundays:
MaryLand, Sundays at 9 p.m. on PBS (Premiered May 5)
About: The latest on Masterpiece is a three-part limited series about a pair of estranged sisters (Suranne Jones and Eve Best) brought together when their mother turns up dead on the Isle of Man. In the pilot, the girls arrived to find out about their mother’s secret life. It was awkward at times, as the story was meant to be awkward. But in the second episode, the sisters are able to dive deeper into who their mother was, what happened to her, and the issues that have caused them to be apart as adults. I was more engaged by the second episode. I like the chemistry between Jones and Best, while Stockard Channing and Hugh Quarshie do a nice job as their mother’s friends on the Isle of Man. I like the drama and the way it’s playing out. The series is only three episodes, with the finale coming next week, and this middle segment set the stage for a powerful conclusion.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: B-

Streaming Series:
Bodkin, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered May 9)
About: The latest from Netflix finds an American podcaster (Will Forte) in Ireland looking for inspiration for his next big show. Gilbert (Forte) is trying to revive his once popular podcast by delving into the mystery of missing people in this small Irish village. He’s also looking to connect with his own Irish roots. He’s there, working on the story, with the help of his assistant Emmy (Robin Cara). He’s also assigned a local investigative reporter, Dove (Siobhan Cullen), who doesn’t want to be there. She thinks the story and the quirky town is beneath her. And yet, she’s forced to go along as she’s in hot water back home over her latest story and her newspaper has put her on this to give her a break. But, as they investigate, it seems there might be more to the story—and the quirky little town—than first appeared. This is an interesting set up with a strong cast. It’s the first scripted series produced by Higher Ground, the company formed by Barak and Michelle Obama. That gives it a little extra juice, but it’s the story and the premise that will keep viewers invested. It’s a seven-episode limited series, each episode about 45 minutes. That makes for a quick binge and an interesting show option.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+