Fall TV Roundup, Week 2

 

We’re in mid-September and the flood of new shows is starting to pick up. But with school, looming holidays, and the return of football, your schedule might be filling up. So, 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—and select unscripted—series this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Fridays:
How to Die Alone, Streaming Fridays on Hulu (Premiered September 13)
About: Natasha Rothwell brings a new comedy that looks at a woman who is trying to find herself. She created the series and stars as Melissa, a single woman with few friends, few ties, and a menial job at the airport. On the night of her birthday—left alone when her friends make other plans—she is felled by a new wardrobe. She wakes in the hospital bruised, battered, and alone. When a fellow patient challenges her to look at life differently before she passes, Melissa leaves with a new sense of purpose—and a dog. The series is about Melissa’s journey to create something of a fuller life. Rothwell makes for a compelling lead, and I enjoyed the pace of the two episodes. The first four episodes dropped Friday, with the rest of the eight-episode season dropping in two-episode increments the next two weeks. The show has a fun premise, a solid lead, and a good sense of humor. For those looking for a light new comedy, this hits the spot.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: B-

Three Women, Streaming Fridays on Starz (Premiered September 13)
About: This new series from Starz is an interesting concept. It comes from Lisa Taddeo, based on her non-fiction book of the same name. The book was about her journey interviewing three different women in three different situations. The show seems to be following a similar model, with Shailene Woodley standing in for Taddeo as a writer named Gia. She introduces the audience to three different women. One is an Indiana housewife, Lina (Betty Gilpin), who has a checkered past and is deeply unhappy in her life. Another is Sloane (DeWanda Wise), who engages in wild role play with her husband (Blair Underwood) that makes her that talk of the town. The final is Maggie (Gabrielle Creevy), a young waitress still bearing the scars of a traumatic incident as a teen. The series offers an exploration of their lives and struggles, all seen and reported by Gia. The pilot serves mostly as an introduction to the women and their stories. The 10-episode series airs Fridays on Starz. Each episode runs about an hour.
Pilot Grade: C+

Sundays:
Universal Basic Guys, Sundays at 8:30 p.m. on FOX (Premiered September 8)
About: This show got the post-NFL slot to kick things off, now it slides into its regular Animation Domination block timeslot. I noted last week it’s ideal shlub comedy, which might not appeal to everyone. The second episode offers more of the same. There are some amusing situations and moments, and if you’re a fan of the Animation Domination lineup, you’ll enjoy what this is offering. I’m not sure it’s a must watch, but I was entertained.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C

Moonflower Murders, Sundays at 10 p.m. on PBS (Premiered September 15)
About: The latest from PBS is a murder mystery based on the novel from Anthony Horowitz and starring Leslie Manville. This is a follow-up to the Magpie Murders, and again follows Susan (Manville), a former publisher turned amateur sleuth. She’s now living with her boyfriend running a hotel in Crete, and things aren’t going well. She’s approached by a couple who seek her help to find their missing daughter. They believe the clue lies in a novel, based on a real crime that occurred at their hotel. The case sparks Susan’s interest, and the offer of money comes at an idea time. So, she jumps on the case. Horowitz adapted the series himself from his novel and has a good feel for the material. I like Manville in the lead role and the set up and pilot were enough to hold my interest. The six-episode series airs weekly on Masterpiece Mystery.
Pilot Grade: C+

Streaming Series:
Jack Whitehall: Fatherhood with my Father, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered September 10)
About: Jack Whitehall is a talented comedian and with this new series, he tackles the challenges of fatherhood. As it begins, he himself is about to become a father. So, he turns to his own father for advice and goes on a series of adventures, showcasing what it takes to become a good father and to make a connection in a new way with his parents. I enjoyed some of the comedy here and the back-and-forth between Whitehall and his father. The show is four episodes, making for an easily digestible streaming experience. It’s also a quick binge for those who enjoy his comedy and this kind of docu-series.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

The Money Game: LSU, Now Streaming on Prime Video (Premiered September 10)
About: It’s no secret that Name, Image, Likeness—NIL—has changed college sports. This new docu-series spends a year with some of the prominent athletes at LSU, exploring how NIL has changed the game. Among those featured are Jayden Daniels—now in the NFL—Angel Reese—now in the WNBA—and Livvy Dunne. The series plays out more like a docudrama on their sports and lives than a hard-hitting investigation of NIL. So, for those who are hoping to learn more about NIL and its impacts on college sports, this likely falls a bit short of the mark. But it still works as a sports documentary. The series is six episodes, each between 40 minutes and an hour, and now streaming.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

In Vogue: The 90s, Now Streaming on Hulu (Premiered September 13)
About: This three-part documentary explores Vogue Magazine, its editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and her impact on fashion and culture through the publication. The series explores the radical and turbulent decade of the 1990s, showcasing photo shoots, famous covers and issues, and including interviews with models, actors, and Wintour about the experience. The series is a short commitment, with each episode running about an hour. For those with an interest in fashion or just a desire to learn more about the cultural moves of the 1990s, this is a somewhat fascinating in-depth exploration. But if that isn’t your jam, this might not hold your attention.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, Now Streaming on Disney+ (Premiered September 13)
About: This new Star Wars content is a spot of fun in the form of Legos. The series picks up after the events of the sequel trilogy with Sig (Gaten Matarazzo) as a Nerf Herder with secret powers who spends his days telling tales of past Jedi glory. When he and his brother, Dev (Tony Revolori) stumble upon an old Jedi Temple, things go sideways. Sig removes a corner stone and quickly, the universe implodes and re-builds itself. The history, everyone, and everything is different. Sig is left to try and set things right with the help of a Builder Jedi named Bob (Bobbi Moynihan). This is a fun, four-episode mini-series with a wild premise. It also features classic characters like Rey and Luke Skywalker, along with original cast member voices like Mark Hamill, Ahmed Best, and Anthony Daniels. It’s fun to see the way the classic universe is mixed up, adding to the humor. For those who are fans of Star Wars, this will be worth the limited investment. It’s a lot of fun. And with episodes around 25 minutes, it’s a quick visit to the Star Wars universe.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B