Summer TV Roundup, Week 7

We’re seeing the number of new shows slow a bit as we’re hitting the late stages of summer. But still, there are some interesting streaming options. What of them are worth the binge? Let this weekly post 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.

Streaming Series:
Untamed, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered July 17)
About: This new series focuses on a body that turns up in Yosemite. There, a special investigator (Eric Bana) is in charge of the case. He’s got a complicated past and has been pouring himself into work these last few years, much to the dismay of his ex-wife (Rosemarie DeWitt) and the chief Park Ranger (Sam Neill). This new case presents an interesting challenge, and the lead investigator is paired with a rookie park ranger (Lily Santiago) to get to the bottom of things. This six-episode limited series moves at a good pace and has an interesting set up. There are a lot of cliches of the genre that come into play in the series, which comes from Mark L. Smith. But through the first two episodes I enjoy the characters, the set up and the story. This has potential to be an engaging murder mystery that makes for a quick binge. The episodes are only about 45 minutes each, making it a quick watch.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

The Hunting Wives, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered July 21)
About: This series, based on the novel from May Cobb, had an interesting journey to the screen. It was originally set to be an original show for Starz, but it was eventually sold to Netflix. Doubtless the original destination governs some of the style of this racy soap, which features plenty of sex from the jump. It’s set in Texas and focuses on Sophie (Brittany Snow). She moved to Texas recently with her husband, Graham (Evan Jonigkeit), who is desperate to fit in. Sophie is less taken with the world, though she quickly draws the attention of Jed (Dermot Mulroney) and his wife Margo (Malin Akerman). It’s a world of privilege and Southern values that covers over scandalous affairs and lives of excess. Can Sophie navigate the world, or will it bring up the worst of her past. This is an eight-episode season, each about 45-50 minutes. It makes for a quick binge and will doubtless appeal to those looking for something soapy. This doesn’t feel overly unique—we’ve seen stories of this kind before—but it’s a decent cast and episodes move at a decent pace. Doubtless those that enjoyed the novel will be pleased to see it come to life. But it is a lot, especially if you’re not a fan of racy content. It’s also hard to tell where it’s going and what the point is in the early going.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C