Fall TV Roundup, Week 9

 

We’re into November, and the tide of new shows is coming down to a more manageable level. But with holiday and seasonal obligations—in addition to the tide of shows and movies already out—your time might be in short supply. What’s worth checking out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Thursdays:
Mistletoe Murders, Streaming on Hallmark+ (Premiered October 31)
About: Leave it to Hallmark to debut a new, Christmas-themed murder mystery series on Halloween. Despite seasonal confusion, this has an interesting premise, centering on Emily Lane (Sarah Drew) as a Christmas-store owner who serves as a sleuth to solve local murders. Her co-star is Peter Mooney as Detective Sam Wilner. This is a clever whodunnit with a twist. It’s clear Emily has a backstory that will be played out over a few episodes. I enjoyed Drew and Mooney here, and I think there’s enough intrigue to make this a decent streaming watch, especially for fans of Hallmark and Christmas.
Pilot Grade: C+

Sundays:
Like Water for Chocolate, Streaming Sundays on Max (Premiered November 3)
About: This new series is part of the Max Latino content offering and is the second series this Fall that’s a re-make or continuation of existing IP. In this case, it’s an adaptation of the novel from Laura Esquivel that was previously adapted into a well-received film in 1992. The series is set in Mexico in the early 1900s, following the life and loves of a group of girls and young men during a turbulent time in history. Irene Azuela takes the lead here as a young woman who is under the thumb of an abrasive mother but learns to channel her deep, rich emotions into the food she prepares. It’s ultimately a love story, and we’ll get there. The Pilot has a good look and can be played in dubbed version for those subtitle averse. It’s an interesting adaptation and I’m curious to see where it goes as a long-form series.
Pilot Grade: C+

The Marlow Murder Club, Sundays at 9 p.m. on PBS (Premiered October 27)
About: The latest Masterpiece Mystery is another detective story from England. This one centers on a trio of local women (Samantha Bond, Jo Martin, and Cara Horgan) who ply their skills as detectives to help solve a local murder. They pair with a local police detective, Tanika Malik (Natalie Dew) to get the job done. The series comes from Robert Thorogood and is based on his own novel. The story her is clever, and Bond makes for a solid focal character. I also enjoy the back-and-forth between Bond, Martin, and Horgan as the group of women that come together to solve the mystery. The murders are laid out well, and it’s only a four-episode series, making for a short commitment. Episodes are about 45 minutes, making it a quick watch and a decent Sunday night mystery.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: B-

Streaming Series:
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, Now Streaming on Disney+ (Premiered October 29)
About: This is a sequel series, of sorts. The original series debuted in 2007 and ran for a few seasons, most notably starring Selena Gomez. While Gomez makes an appearance in the pilot for this sequel series, this focuses on a new generation led by the original series’ co-star, David Henrie. At the outset, Justin Russo (Henrie) is living a quiet, normal life with his family. He’s hidden his roots as a wizard. But when his sister Alex (Gomez) shows up with a wayward young wizard-in-training, Billie (Janice LeAnn Brown), who needs a mentor. That forces Justin to reveal his past as he, his family, and Billie enter into a new adventure. The first nine episodes of the series are now available to stream, all about 20-25 minutes. It makes for a quick binge that will likely appeal to fans of the original series and younger viewers. Beyond that, the cheesy format will likely not bring new viewers, especially those over the age of 12.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-