Summer TV Roundup, Week 6

 

We’re racing through July, but there’s still a steady stream of new content, including some high-profile scripted and unscripted series. But what of these new series are worth exploring as an escape from the summer heat? Let this weekly piece be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted, and select unscripted, series this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Wednesdays:
Simone Biles Rising, Streaming on Netflix (Premiered July 17)
About: Biles is the greatest gymnast, and one of the greatest athletes of all time. She had a public struggle that knocked her out of the Tokyo Olympics, but now she’s on the cusp of a return in Paris. This new docuseries chronicles the Tokyo games and all that’s followed as Biles works her way back toward a third Olympic games. The first two episodes dropped Wednesday, each about an hour. Subsequent episodes will come later this summer/fall. It’s a fascinating look into the mindset and process of an elite athlete, especially one who is overcoming a difficult season. Biles is impressive—both in the gym and outside of it. This is a fun and engaging series, and a great way to get ready for the Paris games!
Pilot Grade: B
Second Episode: B

Thursdays:
Kite Man: Hell Yeah!, Streaming Thursdays on Max (Premiered July 18)
About: There’s a new animated D.C. Comics series on Max. This one shares the same universe with Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco) and focuses on a low-level villain named Kite Man (Matt Oberg). He’s tight with his girl, Golden Glider (Stephanie Hsu), trying to pull jobs and, in the pilot, acquiring his favorite bar. It’s an edgy adult animated series, one that plays as more of a comedy than anything else. It has a stellar voice cast, including the late, great Lance Reddick as Lex Luthor. There’s some fun observations and some sitcom like set ups, which are more amusing in animated form set in the superhero world. For fans of this type of series, this will be a welcome addition. While I found the first two episodes, each about 30 minutes, to be amusing, I didn’t feel an overwhelming connection to the world or the material. New episodes drop each week and they’ll be a fun distraction during the late summer period but might not feel like appointment viewing unless you’re a D.C. completist.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C

Fridays:
Lady in the Lake, Streaming Fridays on Apple TV+ (Premiered July 19)
About: Apple TV+ drops a new limited series, this one based on the novel of the same name from Laura Lippman and starring Natalie Portman. It is set in the 1960s in Baltimore where a Jewish housewife (Portman) decides to leave her family and marriage to pursue telling the stories of a pair of deaths. The first, a young Jewish girl. The second, an African American bartender and mother. The latter (Moses Ingram) narrates the series. The first two episodes, each about an hour, dropped on Friday. The rest of the seven-episode series drops Fridays on Apple TV+. The series has a great period look and production values along with a solid cast, which includes Brett Geldman, Noah Jupe, Mikey Madison, and Wood Harris, among others. But the material was dry, making the episodes feel long and at times tiresome. Those who are fans of the book will likely be curious to see where this is going, but it is a big commitment for casual viewers. Even with Portman in the lead role this feels like something of a miss.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C-

Omnivore, Streaming Fridays on Apple TV+ (Premiered July 19)
About: The second new Apple TV+ series of the week is a docuseries from acclaimed chef Rene Redzepi, who narrates each episode. The series is focused on food, or rather ingredients, their origin, and how they impact what we eat around the globe. Each episode tackles a different ingredient, with the pilot focusing on the chili pepper. The series is aimed at those with a strong culinary interest who like a little history and culture. All eight episodes are now available to stream on Apple TV+. I like the way the series moves around the globe, showcasing the food chain from the wild all the way to the table. Episodes are beautifully shot, full of historical insight, and fascinating in presenting us a greater view of the idea of food around the world.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Streaming Series:
Those About to Die, Now Streaming on Peacock (Premiered July 18)
About: Everyone wants their own Game of Thrones, and every streaming site seems to tap a different piece of I.P. to get it. For Peacock, it’s the book Daniel P. Mannix that is set during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, who built the Roman Colosseum. The 10-episode series features Vespasian (Anthony Hopkins) and his sons as they attempt to reign and complete the Colosseum, overseeing a sprawling and dangerous Roman society. The cast includes notable names like Iwan Rheon, who was himself on Game of Thrones, and Tom Hughes. It also features five episodes directed by Roland Emmerich. The series was adapted by Robert Rodat, who worked on Falling Skies, The Patriot, and Saving Private Ryan. It’s a decent concept, strong production, and some good credentials for those working on the series. The problem is it’s sprawling, dull, and at times confusing. It makes sense for Peacock to look for its own epic to compete in the streaming wars, but this is a high-profile and glossy miss that likely won’t be worth the investment.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C-