Winter TV Roundup, Week 7

 


We’re through President’s Day Weekend, and the flood of new shows currently sits at a trickle. But with the weather leaving you feeling more indoorsy, you might be wondering 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 Winter. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Mondays:
The Hunting Party, Mondays at 10 p.m. on NBC (Premiered January 19)
About: It’s usually not advisable to premier a show and wait three weeks for it to return. And yet, that’s what we got a couple times this week. The first is The Hunting Party, which got a debut behind a playoff football game in January and returned to its regular weekly timeslot on February 10. The series follows a secret, supermax prison where those sent to be housed are already believed to be dead. When an explosion sets them free, it becomes urgent to get them back in custody. A team is assembled, including a troubled FBI Profiler (Melissa Roxburgh) who might be looking for redemption and her ex-boyfriend, a former agent who now heads the prison (Nick Weschler). Awkward…. That’s the basic premise. The pilot featured a few twists and an interesting hook. The second episode felt decidedly more by-the-numbers and a little less engaging. It can take a drama series some time to find its feet, and this certainly feels like something of an attempt to capture that Blacklist magic. It’s OK and is worth giving it a few weeks as long as you’re a fan of the format.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C-

Sundays:
Watson, Sundays at 10 p.m. on CBS (Premiered January 26)
About: This is the other show that had a big premier then took three weeks off. Watson, which is the latest attempt to capture the lore of Sherlock Holmes, debuted behind the AFC Championship Game. It finds Morris Chestnut as the titular Dr. Watson, now resuming his medical practice after his friend Sherlock Holmes was killed. But he assembles a team to make it like a medical mystery. And, oh, by the way Moriarty is still out there watching and interfering in Watson’s life. Part of me speculates Sherlock isn’t dead, either. But we’ll see. Or maybe you won’t. I thought the pilot was painfully dull and the second episode continued that trend. This feels like one of the first flameouts of the year and something you’ll only stick with if you’re really invested in Sherlock lore or medical shows. I think it’s safely skippable.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

The White Lotus, Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO (Premiered February 16)
About: The HBO anthology series is back, this time with a new set of characters and a new setting at the White Lotus in Thailand. Among those in the cast this time are Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Walton Goggins, Carrie Coon, and Michelle Monaghan. The pilot did a nice job of setting the scene, setting the mystery of who might have passed away, and introducing the new set of characters. If you’ve been a fan of the previous installments, this will likely hit home. There are a couple tie backs to other seasons, including Nathasha Rothwell’s Belinda, who was a mainstay of the first season. This is the longest season yet, with eight episodes, and we’ll see where this goes. For those wanting to travel vicariously, this series has its own set of appeal.
Pilot Grade: 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