Winter TV Roundup, Week 1


We’ve made it to 2025. We survived the holidays and now our prize is the first new releases of a new year. But as you’re back to the grind with free time at a premium, what of these new shows is worth your time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this winter!

Thursdays:
Going Dutch, Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. on FOX (Premiered January 2)
About: Denis Leary fronts this new comedy about a by-the-book Colonel who is assigned to a very loose base in the Netherlands as punishment for comments made about the commanding general. He’s also stationed there with his estranged daughter (Taylor Misaik), who is a Captain at the base. Can he adjust his style and make a family connection? This series also boasts Danny Pudi among the cast and had an engaging enough pilot. Leary is fun in this role and his back-and-forth with Misaik worked in the pilot. Will it all keep working? That remains to be seen. But it feels well paired with Animal Control on the new FOX Thursday.
Pilot Grade: C+

Streaming Series:
Missing You, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered January 1)
About: Having a mini-series based on a Harlan Coben novel to kickstart the year has become something of a Netflix tradition. This year it’s Missing You, which focuses on Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar). She is still troubled by the murder of her father, a detective, and the confessed killer she believes is hiding something. She’s also still smarting from the disappearance of her fiancé Josh, which happened around the time she lost her father. When she gets a new case involving a missing woman, it opens old wounds and prompts her to dig into both those open wounds. Can she find closure? This one features a strong cast, including Richard Armitage and James Nesbitt, in a supporting role. It’s only five episodes, each about 45 minutes. I thought the early episodes built the mystery and moved at a decent pace. I finished the series, and I didn’t think the mystery always lived up to its potential, but it’s a simple little binge for mystery fans.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, Now Streaming on Peacock (Premiered January 2)
About: This new series looks at the bombing of Pan Am flight 103, which exploded in the air over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988. It showcases that event and the years afterward when Dr. Jim Swire (Colin Firth), whose daughter was on that flight, began a decades-long search for answers. The series begins with a pilot that showcases the event and the immediate aftermath. It’s very engaging and emotional. What follows in the remaining four episodes is interesting but doesn’t reach the heights of that first episode. Still, it’s only a five-episode series with each episode an hour or less. I thought Firth was good in the lead role and the series is a quick and at times engaging binge. It’s worth seeking out for those who want to learn more.
Pilot Grade: B
Second Episode: C+

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 37

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1.  Peter Gordon: When my father passed, I wanted nothing more than my mother's happiness. For what kind of man would I be if I did not help my mother? If I did not save her? The Power of the Dog (2021) Starring : Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Jesse Plemons Director: Jane Campion About : Another modern entry, and another unconventional choice for this list, perhaps. This is a quiet and pensive story, but it certainly captures the brutality and struggle of the western genre. Campion does a beautiful job of laying out this story and world. The cinematography here works well to build the story and the vibe of the production. That's one of the things that stuck out to me. In addition, the film features some great performances from all four ...
Read more