Summer TV Roundup, Week 12

We’re coming to the end of August, and that leaves us getting closer to the kickoff to Fall. But before summer ends, we’re still getting some new series. Which of them are worth your time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new series this summer. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Mondays:
Lego Masters Jr., Mondays at 8 p.m. on FOX (Premiered August 18)
About: This new spin-off of the FOX reality show focuses on teams of kids. Each is paired with a celebrity partner for builds that are judged by Brickmaster Amy and previous winner Boone. The series is hosted by Kelly Osbourne. It lacks some of the tension and drama of the main series, but if you’re a fan of Lego, this will be fun for you. The five teams of kids have good personality and some of the builds are really creative.
Pilot Grade: C+

Wednesdays:
The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, Streaming Wednesdays on Hulu (Premiered August 20)
About: Unless you’ve been living under a rock for more than a decade, you’ve heard the name Amanda Knox. You’ve probably heard some of her story, but this new series is produced by Knox and based on her book. It’s meant to capture the story of her ordeal from her perspective. Grace Van Patten stars as Knox. This eight-episode series picks up at the start of her adventure to Italy and through the two-episode premier, things spiral out of control. The episodes are about an hour, with new episodes dropping weekly after the two-episode premier. I like Van Patten’s work in the lead, but this is a chaotic story that some will have seen told many times in different ways. If you’re obsessed with knowing more, this will work. Otherwise, it was simply OK.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Fridays:
The Rainmaker, Fridays at 10 p.m. on USA (Premiered August 15)
About: This new legal drama is based on the John Grisham book which was previously a feature film. It centers on a young lawyer, Rudy (Milo Callaghan), who teams with a skilled veteran lawyer (Lana Parrilla) and her associate (P.J. Byrne) to battle a big firm. The first episode was about introducing the world and building the stakes, while the second episode dives more into the central case and drama. I like the story, and this feels like the right kind of Grisham story for a slow build. The first season is eight episodes, and through two I like where the case is heading. This feels like a solid addition to the late summer TV landscape.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Streaming Series:
America’s Team: The Gambler and his Cowboys, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered August 19)
About: We live in a rich time for sports documentaries. I love a good sports documentary, one that explores the depths of the past. One of the best is The Last Dance. From a football standpoint, America’s Team comes close to that. It is a deep exploration of Jerry Jones, his purchase of the Cowboys, and particularly the success, failure, struggle, and scandal of the 1990s. There was a lot to like about the set up for this documentary. There is also a lot about it that really spoke to me as I remembered a lot of it from when I was growing up. I loved the deep dive here and the interviews with Jones, Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, and Michael Irvin. This was a quick watch, especially if you’re taken with the material. I really enjoyed this one.
Pilot Grade: B+
Second Episode: A-

Hostage, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered August 21)
About: This five-episode drama is an intriguing look at politics and intrigue. The British Prime Minister (Suranne Jones) and the French President (Julie Delphy) are meeting in England. They are there to negotiate a deal, but it isn’t going well. The President is on the cusp of re-election and seeking massive concessions in order to provide a show of strength to her conservative base. Before that deal can get done, the Prime Minister’s husband is kidnapped while providing medical aide overseas. The price for his return is her stepping down. She tries to get the President to help but is spurned. Turns out the President has her own skeletons and is also betting blackmailed. Can they get out of it together before it’s too late? This is a fascinating and tense series. Each episode is about 45 minutes, making it a very quick binge. Jones and Delphy are great leads and the twists and turns in the first two episodes alone should be enough to keep you hooked. This is worth the leap.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Long Story Short, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered August 22)
About: We’ve seen a lot of adult animated series. They are often a bit edgy, which helps capture an audience. That’s the case here, too. It’s the story of a family told over a number of years and situations. The episodes are about 25 minutes each, with 10 episodes in the first season. The series has a good cast, including Ben Feldman, Abbi Jacobsen, Nicole Byer, Max Greenfield, and Lisa Edelstein, among others. There are some amusing moments, and the episodes move at a decent pace, but it wasn’t my cup of tea from a style standpoint. If this is more of a favorite genre for you, it will work better. Either way, it makes for a quick binge.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C