Summer TV Roundup, Week 11

We’re in the nearly dead part of summer where the flow of new series is more like a trickle. Don’t worry, the Fall flood is coming. But with school back in session and football firing back up, you might have precious little time for new shows. So, what’s worth your time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I look at the pilot and second episode of scripted and selected unscripted series this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Sundays:
City of God: The Fight Rages On, Sundays at 8 p.m. on Latino Max (Premiered August 25)
About: This series picks up the story of Rocket (Alexandre Rodrigues) 20 years after the events of the film, City of God, which was directed by Fernando Meirelles in 2002. That film was based on a true story and looked at crime and poverty in an area of Rio de Janeiro during the late 1960s and 1970s. This new series continues that story, focusing on Rocket and his career as a photojournalist, returning to his home 20 years later to further document the issues with crime and poverty that continue the plague the city. The series picks up in 2004 and follows some of the original characters from the film as they are living adult lives, still struggling to improve the City of God for the next generation. It also introduces the new criminal element and continues the focus on how that impacts the city. The pilot is a lot of world building and explanation. I still like Rodrigues in the role, and I like the potential. The look and feel of the pilot—from the opening through the whole hour—look very much like the film. For fans, this will be a nice return to the world.
Pilot Grade: C+

Streaming Series:
Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered August 21)
About: Wyatt Earp is a mythical figure in our historical landscape. His exploits have fanned the flame of many series and films, often focusing on the infamous shoot out at the O.K. Corral. This new series from Netflix is a six-episode docu-drama that features both live re-enactments and interviews. The whole thing is narrated by Ed Harris and serves to tell the truth of Wyatt Earp, the famous shootout, and the events that followed. It’s a fascinating exploration of the story and a great dive into history, especially for fans of westerns and fans of the Earp story. It’s a quick binge, with episodes between 30 and 45 minutes. For fans of history, it’s a must watch.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Classified, Now Streaming on Prime Video (Premiered August 22)
About: The latest from Prime Video is an eight-episode series that is part teen drama and part spy thriller. We begin by following Ella Gardner (Imani Pullum), who is taking part in protests with friends in Los Angeles. As her friend is fighting with police, she reacts by destroying a police car, landing her in hot water. In order to protect her, Ella’s mother sends her to South Africa to live with her estranged father. There, Ella doesn’t adjust well. She gets in fights with the rich click and tries to escape back home to LA. Her stepmother, Dianne (Christine Horn) stops her. Turns out Dianne is the reason Ella was able to get to South Africa and escape the legal process as she’s a high-ranking officer in the CIA. In order to get home, Dianne needs Ella’s help with some of her classmates connected to a few targets of interest. It’s an interesting set up. This show at times feels like a teen drama and at times feels like a different kind of show. It takes most of the first two episodes to roll out the premise, with the rest of the eight-episode season focused on achieving that mission. I liked Pullum in the lead and the potential here. This feels like an interesting addition to the lineup for Prime Video and could be a good late summer binge as all eight episodes are now available.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+