Fall TV Roundup, Week 6

We’re into October now, and we’re seeing an uptick of Spooky Season content as we get ready for Halloween. We’re also on the cusp of another wave of premiers as more networks kick off their seasons. That leaves plenty of viewing options, but which new shows are for you? 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.

Tuesdays:
NCIS: Origins, Mondays at 10 p.m. on CBS (Premiered October 14)
About: Have you ever wondered how Leroy Jethro Gibbs got his start with NCIS? If so, you’re in luck. This new spin-off to the franchise is a prequel. It kicks off with Gibbs (Mark Harmon) building a fire and thinking back, beginning to weave a story “he doesn’t ever tell.” Quickly we transition to Gibbs (Austin Stowell) in 1991 in California. He’s just been hired by NIS (the forerunner to NCIS) despite failing his psychology exam. He’s in a raw state. He’s just finished his time as a sniper, and endured the murder of his wife and daughter, a crime that is still unsolved. Some don’t think he’s ready to take on a new job, but he dives in anyway. The first two episodes followed a single case and aired in a two-episode block Monday. The cast was fine. The early 1990s setting was fine. Stowell makes for a fine younger Gibbs. The opening and closings with Harmon portend something darker is coming. But the case was fairly boring and the two hours were slow to develop. For fans of the franchise, this will be appointment viewing. For those just looking for a good detective story, there are better and more exciting options. Still, this will probably be a hit for CBS.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Thursdays:
Sweetpea, Streaming Thursdays on Starz (Premiered October 10)
About: This new series is a production of Sky Atlantic that is debuting in American and U.K. at the same time. It’s based on the novel from C.J. Skuse and focuses on Rhiannon (Ella Purnell) a young woman with a history of past abuse who is being pushed too far. Throughout the pilot, we see her wishing ill on those who wronged her—from people on the bus, to co-workers, to her sister, and even her bully from high school that has re-emerged to haunt her adult life. That combined with a series of losses lead her to snap by the end of the pilot episode. The series will then be an exploration of what comes next. I like Purnell as a performer, and she does a nice job in this lead role. The episode moved at a good pace, building the tension as we moved forward. This feels like it lands in the Dexter neighborhood and could be an interesting watch for fans of the genre. It’s a six-episode season, each about an hour. Episodes drop Thursdays.
Pilot Grade: C+

Teacup, Streaming Thursdays on Peacock (Premiered October 10)
About: In this new Spooky series on Peacock, a family on a rural ranch is struggling. They have personal issues bubbling under the surface that add to the tension one night when strange things begin happening. Their son disappears. Their neighbors arrive with a wounded animal. And then things really go off the rails when a man in a mask arrives with an ultimatum. These episodes are around 30 minutes, moving at a brisk pace. The eight-episode season, based on the book from Robert R. McCammon, is being doled out in two-episode blocks each Thursday through Halloween. It’s got a decent cast—including Yvonne Strahovski and Scott Speedman—and a good look, along with a mysterious location and elements. The second episode really picked up the action and piqued my interest. This is a short commitment that seems ideally suited to the season and will be worth it for those who enjoy this type of seasonal content.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: B-

Fridays:
Disclaimer, Streaming Fridays on Apple TV+ (Premiered October 11)
About: This new mini-series comes from writer/director Alfonso Cuaron, based on the novel from Renee Knight. It focuses on three stories. In one, a young man (Louis Partridge) is exploring Italy. In another, an aging professor (Kevin Kline) is mourning his dead wife and trying to find a way to move forward in his life. In another, a woman (Cate Blanchett) is enjoying professional success while struggling to connect with her husband (Sacha Baron Cohen) and adult son (Kodi Smit-McPhee). At the outset it’s difficult to know how all these stories fit, but over the course of the two episodes released Friday it becomes clear how all these people and lives intertwine. The question is what happens when that truth comes out, and the bearing it will have on their lives. This series has a great cast and Cuaron has a very cinematic eye. The episodes move at a good pace, with the first two clocking in around 45 minutes each. The mystery and the tension is building, and the performances are solid. I particularly enjoyed Kline’s work in the second episode. There’s enough here to draw you in and be an interesting journey that’s worth checking out each Friday.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: B-

Joan, Fridays at 9 p.m. on The CW (Premiered October 2)
About: After debuting on Wednesday last week, Joan moved to Fridays on The CW. The series features Sophie Turner as a mother turned master criminal, based on a true story. The first episode introduced the characters and the world. Turner and Frank Dillane do a nice job here, and this series has a solid visual style. It’s an interesting topic but, somehow it comes off as a little dry and boring. It’s only six episodes, so it’s not a lot to get into it. But given the crowded landscape, this doesn’t stand out.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Scare Tactics, Fridays at 10 p.m. on USA (Premiered October 11)
About: This new series is timed for the season as well. It’s a hidden camera series that aims to generate scares on unsuspecting people. The series sets different scenarios, with actors and a ringer bringing in an unsuspecting guest. The pilot included a surprise demonic birth during a wedding and the dinner party from hell. It’s amusing and it’s fun to see the reaction of those who aren’t in on the joke. For people who enjoy prank shows, or are looking for something light and different, this should hit the spot.
Pilot Grade: B-

Sundays:
The Franchise, Sundays at 10 p.m. on HBO (Premiered October 6)
About: This is the new series from Armando Iannucci, following the cast and crew of a film in a superhero franchise trying to get their project completed. It captures the chaos of the movie set and the pressure of a big-money franchise. I like Iannucci’s sense of humor, and it works well here. There are some fun jokes about these types of franchises, the film industry, and complex relationships in the workplace. I like Himesh Patel in the lead role, and the rest of the cast is fun, too. For those who’ve enjoyed this style of comedy in the past, this will be worth checking out.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Streaming Series:
La Maquina, Now Streaming on Hulu (Premiered October 9)
About: This is a Spanish-language series for Hulu. It’s a six-episode show that focuses on an aging boxer (Gael Garcia Bernal) and his manager (Diego Luna). We begin with a big fight that goes wrong. That leaves them both scrambling. Before long, the re-match is on and when it hits, that opens the door to much more. Bernal and Luna are good actors, and they work well here. There is a sequence near the end of the pilot that was so much fun, it really got me into the show and the world. The cast also includes Eiza Gonzales, and the episodes range from 53 minutes for the pilot to just 28 minutes for the fourth episode. So, it’s a small commitment that will be interesting for those who enjoy a good story.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: C+

Starting 5, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered October 9)
About: We’ve seen a rise of sports documentary series in recent years. The NFL has found great success with a number of docuseries that help fill the time between seasons. With Starting 5, the NBA is getting into the action. The series follows a group of NBA players—including LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, and Anthony Edwards—as they go through the 2023-2024 season. For basketball fans, or those interested in a good sports documentary, this behind-the-scenes peek will be a lot of fun. I am not a huge basketball fan, so it wasn’t as engaging for me.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Tomb Raider: Legend of Lara Croft, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered October 10)
About: We’ve seen a few different adaptations of the popular video game series Tomb Raider—with more in the works. But now, we’re getting an animated version from Netflix. This one features Hayley Atwell as the voice of Lara Croft in this new, eight-episode series. Each episode is about a half an hour, making for a quick binge. For those who are fans of the game and the story of the world. The animated style was solid, and the production was nice. I’m not big on animated stories, so this didn’t hold a lot of appeal. It was entertaining enough but not overly compelling, which is needed in this crowded content landscape.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Citadel: Diana, Now Streaming on Prime Video (Premiered October 10)
About: Citadel was a high-profile series for Prime Video last Fall that kind of flopped. It wasn’t the draw that the streamer intended, but it is getting a second season…eventually. For now, it’s getting some international spin-offs, also produced by the Russo Brothers. The first of those is an Italian series focused on a young agent (Matilda De Angelis) who is caught in the middle of a power struggle. The season is six episodes, each under an hour, and all now streaming on Prime Video. It’s an Italian series, but it’s been dubbed over in English for American audiences. That may or may not be your cup of tea. The episodes were well produced, but the story felt bland—a similar complaint to the original series. For those that want to continue in this world and like a spy series, this will have appeal. But this is hardly must-watch TV.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C