Summer TV Roundup, Week 8


We’re nearing the end of July, which means the summer season is coming in for a landing before things pick up for the Fall. But we still have a few new series, so what of the 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 summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Streaming Series:
Red Eye, Now Streaming on Hulu (Premiered July 22)
About: This is an international series—from the U.K.—that is making its domestic debut. It’s a six-episode mystery that takes place mostly on a plane flying from London to China. It centers on Dr. Matthew Nolan (Richard Armitage), a British citizen who is in China for a conference. Upon his return, he’s detained—accused of murdering a Chinese woman while on his trip. With the U.K. amid a sensitive negotiation with the Chinese, they quickly acquiesce to the request to bring Dr. Nolan back. A London officer, D.C. Hana Li (Jing Lusi), is tapped to escort Nolan. But, on the long flight, things begin to seem amiss. It’s clear there is more to it, and they begin to wonder if Nolan is being targeted. The series has a good hook and through two episodes it's an interesting journey. The series runs six episodes, each about 45 minutes. That makes for a quick watch and for a quick binge. I like Armitage, but it’s Lusi who has some of the most interesting moments through the first two episodes. For fans of this kind of mystery series, this is a nice viewing option.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Washington Black, Now Streaming on Hulu (Premiered July 23)
About: This new series centers on a slave, George Washington Black (Ernest Kingsley Junior), who escapes his life in Barbados to find freedom in Nova Scotia in the 19th Century. There, he remains in hiding with the aid of Medwin (Sterling K. Brown), who helps foster his talent as a designer, inventor, and dreamer. He’s also pursuing a young woman, Tana Goff (Lola Evans), while trying to evade a new arrival in Willard (Billy Boyd) who is a piece of his past. We also get a glimpse of that past, and the man (Tom Ellis) who was instrumental in him leaving his life of enslavement in the first place. I like the style here and the craft in the story. The first two episodes are long running nearly an hour. The run times in the rest of the eight episodes vary widely, from 31 minutes to around 47 minutes. It’s an interesting story with a strong cast that will appeal to those looking for an interesting original story.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

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