Fall TV Roundup, Week 7

We’re making our way through October, and now we’ve made it to the height of the Network launch. That means we have a flood of new shows, but what 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 Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Mondays:
DMV, Mondays at 8:30 p.m. on CBS (Premiered October 13)
About: This is the newest sitcom for CBS, set at a local DMV in Southern California. We meet a trio of driving instructors (Harriet Dyer, Tim Meadows, and Tony Cavalero) who are going about their daily routine. We also meet others in the office and the team of inspectors sent there to observe and make a decision about the branch’s future. This is a set up that is rife with possibilities. I enjoyed the pilot. I enjoyed the pacing and the humor. It’s a nice addition to the CBS Monday lineup, and a nice addition to the comedy landscape.
Pilot Grade: B+

Wednesdays:
Murdaugh: Death in the Family, Streaming Wednesdays on Hulu (Premiered October 15)
About: This is the latest series based on a true crime. In this case, it focuses on Alex Murdaugh (Jason Clarke), the South Carolina lawyer from an old money family whose life and crimes went off the rails. The cast includes Patricia Arquette, Brittany Snow, and Gerald McRaney. The series is eight episodes, each about an hour. The first three episodes dropped on Wednesday with subsequent episodes dropping weekly. The series is ripped from the headlines and covers some well-trod ground. There have been news specials, documentary series, and more exploring Murdaugh, his family, and these crimes. If you’re especially drawn to this story, this will be a welcome addition. Otherwise, it felt a bit unnecessary.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Thursdays:
9-1-1: Nashville, Thursdays at 9 p.m. on ABC (Premiered October 8)
About: This is the second 9-1-1 spin-off, this one set in Nashville. It has a cast that includes Chris O’Donnell, Jessica Capshaw, and Leann Rhimes, among others. It follows the formula but puts more of a focus on a family at the center and some soapy back-and-forth. The premier is stretched out over the course of a few episodes, with the first two ending in a cliffhanger. That is OK, but I wasn’t taken with the set up. The second episode, in fact, felt particularly cliché. I am a fan of the franchise, but this is off to a bit of a limp start.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C-

Fridays:
Sheriff Country, Fridays at 9 p.m. on CBS (Premiered October 17)
About: This new CBS drama is a spin-off of Fire Country. It comes from the same team and is set in the same world. In fact, the pilot featured Fire Country start Max Thieriot as Bode. This one focuses on Sheriff Mickey Fox (Morena Baccarin) and the officers and citizens under her charge. The pilot felt like a little inside baseball for those who follow the original series. I like Baccarin, but I didn’t love the pilot. This will be a great series for those who are fans of the original and looking for some back-to-back Friday entertainment. It doesn’t feel incredibly compelling on its own.
Pilot Grade: C

Boston Blue, Fridays at 10 p.m. on CBS (Premiered October 17)
About: This is a spin-off of the long-running series Blue Bloods. In this one, Danny Reagan (Donny Wahlberg) comes to Boston after his son, Sean (Mika Amonsen), is injured. There, he connects with the Silver family, who are to Boston what his own family is to New York. Matriarch Mae (Gloria Reuben) is the District Attorney, while sisters Sarah (Maggie Lawson) and Lena (Sonequa Martin-Green) are detectives and youngest brother Jonah (Marcus Scribner) is a beat cop, and Sean’s partner. Danny helps solve the case involving the fire where Sean was injured and then decides to stick around. It’s a familiar set up with a good cast. I like the premise and I like the potential of the series. I’ve always enjoyed Wahlberg in the role and I’m happy to see him continue it. I like the rest of the cast, here, too. It’s not the most creative of new series, but it feels warm and comforting.
Pilot Grade: C+

Sundays:
The Guest, Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered October 17)
About: This new drama for Showtime comes from the United Kingdom. It focuses on a cleaner (Gabrielle Creevy) who takes a job with a friendly new boss (Eve Myles). Things start out innocent enough but soon go off the rails. That’s the case with the pilot, anyway. The series is four episodes, which should make it a quick watch. Episodes drop Fridays on Paramount+ before airing Sunday nights on Showtime. It’s a decent cast, but the pilot was a little slow and unfocused. It ends with a big swing which might make the series a bit more intriguing. We’ll see where it goes, but I wasn’t taken with the pilot.
Pilot Grade: C

The Chair Company, Sundays at 10 p.m. on HBO (Premiered October 12)
About: This latest HBO comedy features Tim Robinson as a corporate worker who gets a big promotion but becomes obsessed with the chair company that failed him. This is a different kind of comedy. It has a different kind of feel that will work well for fans of Robinson and his type of comedy. I found the episodes dry, strange, and lacking in humor. So, your interest will depend on how you feel about this style of show.
Pilot Grade: C-
Second Episode: C-

Streaming Series:
Splinter Cell: Death Watch, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered October 14)
About: This is a new animated adult series based on the characters from Tom Clancy’s books. The series comes from Derek Kolstad (John Wick, Nobody). The action here is plentiful with a voice cast including Liev Schrieber and Kirby Howell-Baptiste. If you’re a fan of this kind of series and these type of animated shows, this will work well. It’s only eight episodes, each about 25 minutes, so it’s a quick binge. I didn’t love the storyline, but if you’re a fan of Clancy’s books this will be a nice little binge.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy, Now Streaming on Peacock (Premiered October 16)
About: We’ve gotten a lot of scripted series based on true crime. Just in time for the spooky season, we get another from Peacock. This one is focused on Gacy, who killed more than 30 people. Michael Chernus stars as Gacy, with the series picking up with the crime that led to his capture, arrest, and confession. The series is eight episodes, each about an hour and all now streaming for those looking for a grim binge. Chernus does a nice job in the role, and the series is well crafted. But your mileage here will vary depending on how interested you are in exploring the depths of the kind of people that commit these crimes. I’m getting a little burned out on these explorations of serial killers. This was fine but didn’t feel like it added much original to the concept.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Mr. Scorsese, Now Streaming on Apple TV (Premiered October 17)
About: This new, five-part documentary focuses on legendary director Martin Scorsese, his life, and his career. It comes from Director Rebecca Miller. Each episode, about an hour, explores more of his life, career and filmography. If you’re a fan of Scorsese, or just a film fan in general, this is going to be worth checking out. I enjoyed this a lot. We’ve gotten some great documentaries this year, and this is one of my favorites. It makes for a great weekend binge.
Pilot Grade: B+
Second Episode: B+