Summer TV Roundup, Week 2


We’re into June and we’ve hit a lull in new programming. That doesn’t mean there are no new shows, but the question is what of these new series is worth your time? Let this weekly piece be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Wednesdays:
Stick, Streaming Wednesdays on Apple TV+ (Premiered June 4)
About: This new series is set in the world of golf. Owen Wilson plays Pryce Cahill. He was a star on the tour until a meltdown ended it all. Now, he’s barely squeaking out a living, he’s divorced, and he’s got no real prospects. He has one friend, his former caddie Mitts (Marc Maron), with whom he runs small scams to get by. His ex-wife (Judy Greer) is pressuring him to sell their family home, and to find a way forward. When he stumbles on a talented but troubled teen, Santi (Peter Dager), he finds new inspiration and possibly a path forward. This series comes from Jason Keller, who wrote Ford v Ferrari. The pilot is about 45 minutes, with subsequent episodes around a half hour. The first three were released Wednesday with the rest of the 10-episode series released weekly on Wednesdays. The pilot moves at a decent pace and feels like a good fit for Wilson and his talents. It’s similar to other parts we’ve seen before, but there is an emotional hook near the end of the pilot that really adds to the wonder of the character. I had fun with this and think it could be a modest summer hit for Apple TV+.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Streaming Series:
Power Moves with Shaquille O’Neal, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered June 4)
About: This new docuseries follows O’Neal, the former NBA star, as he moves into a new role. After acquiring Reebok shoes, O’Neal slides into the President role with fellow former player Allen Iverson taking over as Vice President. Now, the pair are on a mission to raise the profile of the company and bring it back to its former glory. This six-episode series follows those efforts. It’s an interesting concept, and O’Neal makes for a strong lead. For those who have an interest in basketball and business, this will have some appeal. Episodes are only about a half hour, and all six episodes are now streaming.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

The Survivors, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered June 6)
About: This new series is imported from Australia. It is a six-episode limited murder mystery. All six episodes are around 50 minutes, and all are now streaming. It follows a young man, Kieran (Charlie Vickers), who was a survivor of an incident 15 years earlier where others, including his brother, died. Now, he’s returning home with his wife, Mia (Yerin Ha), and his newborn daughter. He’s there to visit his mother and father. But it’s nearing the anniversary, and some are poking holes in the past and asking hard questions about another girl who went missing. All it leads to more crimes and the opening of old wounds. This is a classic set up for a murder mystery series. The pilot and second episode moved at a decent pace, establishing the world and the stakes. Unfortunately, it felt a bit too dry. The mystery and the characters weren’t engaging enough to keep me going to finish the binge. If you’re a fan of the genre, you might feel differently.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

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