Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon, Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes – The Walking Dead _ Season 8, Episode 5 – Photo Credit: Gene Page/AMC
Many fall TV shows are in the middle of their mid-season breaks and we’re grading each one to see how they did.
Fall television has suffered from some serious lows as well as some extreme highs. The streaming giants have all committed successful series while broadcast continues to struggle to hit the perfect combination of shows. ABC enjoyed the success of The Good Doctor, while NBC is still riding the This Is Us ratings into another winning season.
CBS got a new slate of procedurals that have done well but suffered backlash over sexual misconduct allegations and FOX saw a slight rise in viewership but will that matter with the impending Disney merger? With so much drama happening behind the scenes with some of these shows, the race for best series is on. Can anyone defeat NBC this year now that they have Will & Grace back on the air? Only time will tell who is going to be the next king of broadcast television.
It’s been an exciting time to be a viewer in the golden age of television, with so many exciting series to check out. We compiled a list of the hits and misses of this season’s series, both new and returning. With so many shows to catch up on over the break. Hopefully, our thoughts will help narrow down what’s worth binging.
Fall shows are notoriously the best or the worst and many series are attempting to stand out so they can return during the midseason steady. It’s a hefty task to ask of a broadcast show these days to have stable ratings but some shows are worth tuning in for.
ABC
Photo Credit: ABC
The Good Doctor — A+
Anchored by a strong performance from series lead Freddie Highmore, The Good Doctor has easily become the hit of the fall. Pulling in strong numbers since the premiere, the show has captured viewers’ hearts. The story focuses on a surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, Shaun Murphy (Highmore) who gets hired at a prestigious hospital in San Jose.
He’s helped my a cast of empathetic characters: his fellow surgical residents, a caring mentor, and his tough but fair attending surgeon. It’s easy to understand why America has fallen in love with the show and the cast because all of the characters have an easy charisma that makes them fun to watch.
Despite criticisms for the portrayal of autism throughout the series by a few viewers, the show has received universal acclaim by critics. After watching the first part of the season, one thing is clear: this is not a show for realists. It’s hard to buy that a hospital would take on the extra liability of having an autistic surgeon, much less one who isn’t having difficulty meeting people’s eyes or having breakdowns in his apartment over the water dripping from his faucet.
However, fans who are tired of watching all of their favorite characters get killed off on Grey’s Anatomy will enjoy a more hopeful series about perseverance. While it may not be the perfect series, it will certainly fill the medical void that a lot of fans were looking for since House ended.
Photo Credit: ABC/Ryan Green
Kevin (Probably) Saves The World — F
Jason Ritter can’t save this unusual comedy about a down on his luck slacker who becomes an entity for good. He becomes a “righteous soul,” the last of thirty six who used to live on the earth. After a failed suicide attempt he has to move into his sister’s house alongside his niece and neither are very excited at his new house guest.
However, he gets a new friend in the form of Yvette, a guardian angel/guide who only Jason Ritter’s poor Kevin can see. With all of these weird visions, he tries to help everyone in his life to have a better time. Despite this holy intervention, Kevin continues to mess things up especially with his sister. It’s hard to root for a family that seems to be working as just an antagonist against Kevin’s growth.
Unfortunately, the show never lived up to the spiritual or family themes it promised, thus leaving viewers with an empty feeling. The numbers dropped off by over fifty percent, which all but confirmed ABC’s decision to not order more episodes. While it would have been nice to see Ritter succeed on his own show, he deserved better than this boring series.
Hopefully he’ll get another chance to lead his own show and Kevin (Probably) Saves The World remains buried with the rest of the series that only make it to one season. Also Kimberly Hebert Gregory was fantastic on Vice Principals and needs a role where she can be just as fun as she was on that show.
Photo Credit: ABC
The Mayor — B
Sadly, The Mayor is actually a very entertaining sitcom but doesn’t have the numbers to warrant a renewal. Critically a hit but ratings wise a miss, this series told the story of a young man who just wants to make things better in his town. What starts off as a publicity stunt for his upcoming rap album, he easily sees right through his wealthy opponent’s lies and wins over the public.
Once elected, he understandably makes a lot of mistakes while he sorts through his personal ambitions and his desire to help out around his city. It’s an ambitious storyline, and the current election showcases how the story could have easily been a heartwarming one like this. Anyone can make a difference as long as they try hard enough and new mayor Courtney Rose manages to rally his town together to make things better.
ABC needs to start compiling a sitcom section to start replacing some of its longer running shows. With The Middle ending and Modern Family likely coming to a close in the end of a few years, The Mayor is a show whose viewership could grow. Right now it may be a steady but small number, but with the help of some streaming services and a good marketing plan, this series could easily be a hit next year. It’s something for the network to keep in mind because The Mayor truly is a good fall television show. Considering Disney has a stake in Hulu, it would probably be pretty inexpensive to give the show a push on social media in hopes of growing the fan base.
Photo Credit: ABC
Ten Days In The Valley — D
Ordered straight to series, ABC expected larger things from this Kyra Sedgewick starring show. However, the series was poorly promoted and ended up debuting to abysmal ratings. Receiving mixed reviews from critics didn’t help garner a following that would stick to the show before it even aired which hurt those premiere numbers.
The mystery involving a television producer’s daughter going missing under weird circumstances and her controversial crime drama comes to a head with her personal life. It could be a compelling drama but it’s weighed down by the fact that there most likely won’t be a second season. Since it is a kidnapping mystery, it’s unlikelt that there’s a satisfying conclusion waiting at the end of season one.
Moved to a Saturday death slot with a cancellation all but confirmed, Kyra Sedgwick did not mince words when talking about the network. She pointed out how they never ever promoted the show which led to zero viewership, accusing them of wanting the series to be cancelled. It wouldn’t be far off base considering ABC hasn’t even denied the allegation before pulling the show off Sunday nights.
If they wanted the series cancelled then they’re going to get it, because Ten Days In The Valley is barely hanging on. It’s take a midseason break before the network tries to shuffle the series off the air as quickly as possible. Sadly, this series had a lot of potential, but it’s been a miss for fall television. Sorry Kyra Sedgwick, maybe your next series will be a better success and on a different network.
Photo Credit: ABC
Marvel’s Inhumans — F-
Probably one of the worst shows (if not the worst) to air this fall, Marvel’s Inhumans is the second big miss for the comic book icon. Set up in Agents of Shield, this series follows the powered individuals known as: inhumans. The Royal Family of Attilan, the city on the moon where they live, are some of the most unsympathetic heroes in recent memory.
At least Danny Rand from Iron Fist acts like a spoiled naive child because his parents died and left him a fortune, whereas the Royal Family endorse slavery simply because “it’s the way things have always been done”. Speaking of the fourth Netflix/Marvel series, show runner Scott Buck has travelled from that train wreck on the streaming service over to ABC to destroy another comic book property.
The series was released in IMAX early, however almost everything about Inhumans is unimpressive. Compared to other Fall television shows utilizing big special effects, this series looks like it belongs on the SyFy network. The sets on Attilan don’t come across as beautiful or even futuristic as they do in the comics, but just ugly grey walls that box the characters in rather than highlight how cool it would be to live on the moon.
Finally, the clunky dialogue doesn’t help any of the actors and poor Iwan Rheon is tasked with creating a villain that loves his repetitive monologues. Considering he’s done great work on Misfits, Vicious, and most famously Game of Thrones, it’s hard to believe that it could be the actor’s fault that some of these scenes are so painful to watch.
Photo Credit: AMC
The Walking Dead — D-
The hit zombie show was a massive disappointment to fans in its eighth season. With a petition circulating online to get show runner, Scott Gimple, fired things look like they’re getting worse for AMC. Creatively out of breath, the series has struggled to craft a compelling story despite the comic books remaining popular. The story has stalled greatly and it seems like they’re unsure of what the direction of the show will be. Can they afford to kill off anymore characters without losing the rest of their fans? Not to mention Negan has been completely underwhelming as villain and continues to be a disappointment rather than the evil figure conjured up in the books.
Spoilers ahead!
Chandler Riggs’ exit from the series has been met with resounding anger, especially considering the circumstances around his departure. Since his character is alive in the comics, fans were upset at how much the show has grown from its canon. However the real anger seems to stem from how the producers led Riggs to believe he would be on the show for a while, only to drop this bombshell on him this season.
It will be interesting to see how this effects the show in the longterm as well as the viewership. Considering this has been the lowest rated season of the series thus far, it looks like AMC is going to have to make some dramatic changes if it hopes to keep their zombie show as one of the best shows on network television.
Photo Credit: CBS
Young Sheldon — A
The Big Bang Theory is one of the most popular shows on television even though it’s hard to find people who actually watch it. Despite that, Young Sheldon was an early success for CBS with a built in audience. Following Sheldon Cooper’s childhood, it’s more endearing than the original which is generally just a group of people who don’t appear to like each other. Now he’s just a brilliant young kid who’s severely out of place in his Texas home.
Moved up into high school, Sheldon desperately tries to make friends even though no one understands him or his quirks. It also gives the universe an opportunity to show viewers what his life was like growing up in a “normal family”. While his relationship with his siblings haven’t been well explored in The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon gets to focus on that.
Iain Armitage is one of the best up and coming talents after his run on Big Little Lies. Young Sheldon needed a strong lead in order to work and he manages to make the story interesting despite the recast. Jim Parsons also returns to narrate the show and probably make a few hundred thousand dollars in the process. People who don’t like the flagship show will probably skip this one but for Sheldon Cooper lovers, this is a dream come true. With the impending conclusion of The Big Bang Theory on the horizon, CBS can rest easy knowing they have a replacement show during the fall.
Photo Credit: CBS
Me, Myself, & I — F
This show isn’t actually as awful as people think, but it still flopped upon arrival. Met with mixed critical reviews, Me, Myself, & I suffered from weird casting decisions and a storyline that couldn’t hold up in the long term.
Telling the series from three different perspectives in time clearly has a time limit because all of the characters are getting older. While Bobby Moynihan and John Larroquette can play a wider variety of ages, Jack Dylan Grazer will inevitably hit puberty and need a recast. Would the show just continuously switch out the younger actors?
Viewers do not take kindly to recasts, especially when they fall in love with actors who play the characters. Not to mention it will confuse people who are jumping in midway through a series when kids are consistently changing.
Me, Myself, & I was already pulled from the schedule after the ratings continued to tank on a week to week basis. By October 30, the show was under four million viewers which isn’t great for a series in its first run. However, it’s probably better that the show gets the axe now rather than watch it lose gas over time.
At least Bobby Moynihan will have the opportunity to return to SNL considering the show just didn’t have enough story left to offer long term job security. It’s a shame his first big venture off the comedy show didn’t work out but he’s a talented actor and will have a better chance to shine on a different series.
Photo Credit: CBS
SEAL Team — B
One of many military dramas to hit fall television, SEAL Team might be the only one that earns a renewal. David Boreanaz leapt from Bones to this procedural and brought the viewers with him. Following a group of an elite Naval Unit, Boreanaz plays Master Chief Special Warfare Officer Jason Hayes while he navigates his tricky family life with his military career.
He’s joined by brash Special Warfare Operator Clay Spenser who is questioned about his readiness to get into the field. The two have a compelling relationship and the cast has enough chemistry to sell a lot of the bonding scenes. Jessica Paré from Mad Men also stars as the CIA liaison between the team and her organization which gives her another chance to shine. No longer the belittled ex-wife of Don Draper, she’s now an impressive officer who can stand up for herself.
However, SEAL Team lacks a lot of originality, but that doesn’t seem to matter to CBS viewers. The network known for procedurals will be happy to see the success that the show has after they shelled out the money to score Boreanaz as a lead. Averaging almost seven million viewers a week, the show is sure renewal for next year. Even though it might be a predictable drama, CBS has found the winning formula on how to get their shows popular. As long as viewers don’t jump ship in season two, SEAL Team should have a very long life on CBS as one of their hit fall shows.
Photo Credit: CBS
Wisdom of the Crowd — D-
If FOX’s APB failed, it is weird to think that CBS thought that Wisdom of the Crowd would be a success in the fall. Telling the story of crowd-sourced crime solving, the series was highly improbable and weird. It didn’t help that Jeremy Piven was accused of sexual assault and harassment forcing the network to pull the show early to try and save face.
The bad publicity coupled with a truly terrible series makes for a bad combination at the network. It has you wonder why CBS even threw their name behind something so bad, especially when they’re usually quite talented at picking out shows. At least cancelling the show could give someone else a better opportunity to shine instead of this train wreck of a series.
It’s not as if the show was a critical success that got bludgeoned by Piven’s personal life. It received overwhelmingly negative reviews which tarnished its reputation early on and had most viewers tune out quickly. Despite Piven arguing his innocence, the increasing amount of women coming forward has only made the show more difficult to watch.
Even though the ratings have been steady and modest, they’re not good enough to make up for the poor publicity. CBS consistently runs into trouble with their lack of female characters, and cancelling Wisdom of the Crowd could give the network the opportunity to snage a different kind of show. Is there anything worse that they could try out while that show continues to fail in the eyes of viewers? My guess is that there will be a new fall show in this time slot next year.
Photo Credit: CBS
9JKL — F
Based on Mark Feuerstein’s real life experiences when working on Royal Pains, this series is a showcase that not at all experiences are as funny as you think. This sitcom is painfully bad despite the solid cast across the board. It follows Feuetrstein’s character, Josh Roberts, after he moves back into an apartment in between his parents and his brother.
The series is supposed to be a heartwarming one about a family’s bonding while they also try to set boundaries due to their close proximity. However, the jokes land flat and it’s hard to tell when they’re even being told. Despite being about family, this show doesn’t come close to the heart that Royal Pains, which was a medical drama. That already is a telling sign that the show has made too many missteps t save itself.
Rotten Tomatoes has an average of 15% from critics, which paints a picture about how most people felt about the show. If 9JKL manages to get renewed for another season, they’re going to have to rework a lot for the show to succeed. However the poor critical reviews alongside negative fan reaction makes it unlikely the show will manage to make it to a second year.
Even though it got extended in mid-November, it still seems unlikely that the ratings will remain steady enough to warrant to second season pickup. CBS continues to have difficulty trying to find a sitcom that will succeed (other than the underrated Life in Pieces) on their network. It looks like they might have to start thinking outside of the box rather than grabbing all of these generic sitcom ideas.
Photo Credit: CBS
S.W.A.T. — C
Like SEAL Team, S.W.A.T. is a generic procedural but it doesn’t matter because viewers are sticking with the show no matter what. Shemar Moore moved over from Criminal Minds and proves that he can leads his own series without a strong ensemble. Sergeant Daniel Harrelson, otherwise known as Hondo, is a former Marine who gets promoted to a team leader due to his connection to the Los Angeles community.
As a native to the city, he is meant to ease the tension between the community and the police department as hostility is on the rise. On that front, S.W.A.T. successfully shows off the diversity of a city like Los Angeles and has a relatively good hold on who they want Hondo to be. The acting is also pretty decent and good enough to keep watching the show despite some of the plot lines.
S.W.A.T. suffers froms a generic storyline which drags down a lot of episodes. However, most viewers are probably longtime fans of Moore from Criminal Minds and are interested in following his career. Hondo is basically Derek Morgan but now in charge of his own unit within the police department. Despite some of its drawbacks, the series manages to pull a healthy amount of viewership for CBS and makes it one of the higher rated fall television shows.
Averaging over six million viewers per episode, it is easily one of the most popular shows of the season. With relatively steady ratings, S.W.A.T. should be on its way to a renewal for a second season. Unlike the movie, the television show actually has a lot of heart and inspiration in it which will serve it well in the long run not just the fall.
Photo Credit: The CW
Dynasty + Valor — F+F
Trying to make a return to their soap opera brand, The CW tried to push a modern day remake of Dynasty. However, the show has lost all of the heart that the original series had despite the constant drama that ensued. It’s clear that the writing is to fault when it comes to adapting this soap opera, but the poor acting doesn’t help. Whether they’re over-acting on purpose or actually bad at their jobs is what’s unclear and it takes a toll on viewers. Luckily for The CW, their streaming deal with Netflix means that this flop is making money despite how terrible the show is. Profit or not, viewers are just not tuning in and this series seems destined to finish after its freshman run.
However, the network’s passion project also fails on every account. Valor is The CW’s first try at a military drama and it understandably did not grab enough viewers. This season there are so many military shows airing and not enough time for that fan base to watch all of the shows. With the others touting big name actors as their leads (such as David Boreanaz), it’s no surprise that this is the series that fell to the wayside. While the network has snagged some unique series that stand out, like Jane the Virgin or Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Valor is a return to the formula that failed him. With no one to root for on this show about military bravery and the mishandling of a drug abuse storyline has spelled an early death for this drama.
Photo Credit: The CW
Riverdale — A+
Did Archie Comics fans ever expect to see a storyline where the core four try to hunt down a serial killer targeting their town while Jughead slowly pulls away to join a gang? Probably not but that doesn’t mean that Riverdale isn’t worth checking out. Boosted by fantastic reviews in its first season, Riverdale is riding high during its sophomore year. This adaptation has managed to hit the perfect mixture between nostalgia, teen soap, and gothic horror. One of the few shows on network television to return with almost double the numbers from its first year, the series continues to gain popularity from an intense online fandom.
Some perfect marketing by Netflix and The CW helped create one of the hit shows on television this fall. While the storytelling isn’t as tight as season one, which only had thirteen episodes, the extension has allowed the universe to expand greatly. The Black Hood arc hasn’t been as compelling as Jason Blossom’s murder, but it has allowed the acting chops to shine. Lili Reinhart, who plays Betty Cooper, has specifically knocked it out of the park as object of the Black Hood’s affection.
Riverdale has become one of the first hit CW shows that doesn’t have any characters donning a cape and mask to fight crime that earned a renewal. While it’s been a tough sell to Archie Comics purists to get on board with the show, it’s definitely worth checking out. Especially now that the series has found success and a massive online fandom.
Photo Credit: The CW
Arrowverse — B
It’s hard to grade the Arrowverse as a whole when the shows have been so inconsistent throughout this fall season. Let’s start with the flagship show: Arrow. For the first time in the show’s history, it is in danger of being cancelled. After a fantastic finale last year, the show squandered that momentum with a terrible premiere.
With the ratings plummeting, Arrow needs to figure out a way to save their show now that The CW needs to cancel something. The second show from the universe, The Flash, has attempted to return to its roots by shedding the angst of recent years. While this has been a vast improvement, it also highlights how the show has yet to fix the long-running mistakes: the poorly written female characters. Legends of Tomorrow has continued its hot streak after last year but the loss of two main characters leaves a gaping hole in the series’s roster. Supergirl has been the only one of the Arrowverse shows to have a vast improvement and has easily cemented its place in superhero history.
Thankfully, all series had a massive boost from the four show crossover. “Crisis On Earth-X,” is the most ambitious event in television history and ones of the most entertaining the year. Melissa Benoist has emerged as a new face for the Arrowverse shows and her acting in the crossover and her show seems ready to shoulder the weight of being the best show in their universe. A staple of fall on The CW, it’ll be interesting to see what the network does if it loses one of its shows.
Photo Credit: FOX
The Orville — C
Initially rejected by critics, The Orville, managed to win over a larger amount of viewers to nail down an early fall renewal. While the series has been called tone-deaf and a Star Trek rip off, FOX has shown a strong sense of loyalty to hit-maker Seth MacFarlane. Marketed as a comedy, the show turns out to be more of a goofy but hopeful take on sci-fi. Most additions to the franchise have been bleak post-apocalyptic series and this does stand out in that sense. However, shaky writing has weighed down some of the more complex themes that the show has tried to comment on throughout its freshman run.
The decision for Seth MacFarlane to star in his show makes sense considering it is his series, but he doesn’t have the chops to carry a lot of the heavy scenes he’s asked to. Adrianne Palicki does the most with her mandatory love interest character and for the most part, everyone else is decent on the cast.
Since this is a Star Trek -esque show, the poor directing and special effects come off as a fun homage. Yet, the truth about The Orville is that it suffers from being an average series. During the golden age of television, it’s hard to convince people to stick with this show when there are so many better options out there. Maybe if the writers take some of the criticisms about their first run then next season will be better but for now, here’s hoping things can change.
Photo Credit: FOX
Ghosted — D
Anyone who heard that Adam Scott and Craig T. Robinson were teaming up for sitcom would think that this would be the comedic duo of the year. However, Ghosted does’t bring anything new to the table with this X-Files rip off. Instead of Mulder and Scully meet Leroy and Max, two polar opposites forced together to work for a government issued organization which hunts down supernatural crimes. Leroy is a skeptic and a former police officer that has gotten downgraded to mall security while Max is a fanatic believer who was fired from his job at Stanford. The two form an unlikely duo at the Bureau Underground
The jokes aren’t that funny, and they reuse a lot of the same storylines throughout Ghosted. How many times will the series rely on Max talking about aliens? The most effective arc is the tragic way that Max rightfully knew his wife was abducted by said aliens while everyone else doubts him. He’s loyal and knows that he’s not insane but everyone around him simply doubts him because he believes in the supernatural.
Yet, everyone they work with deals with the unexpected everyday but his story seems too strange. At least where those characters fail, the girls thrive with excellent performances by Ally Walker and Amber Stevens West. Walker, specifically, grows more confident with every episode and becomes a comedic gold. Maybe the real duo on the show should be those two rather than Scott and Robinson.
Photo Credit: FOX
The Gifted — A+
The first joint television partnership between FOX and Marvel is a massive success with The Gifted. Legion was a hit for FX so the company decided to expand its roster of X-Men television shows. One of the best series this fall, it’s the only big hit for the network this year. The Gifted perfectly captures the persecution that mutants feel and comment on current social issues like prejudice, and the broken legal system. It’s a return to what the X-Men originally were used for in the comics: a beacon of hope for anyone who has felt different.
Each member of the cast is well-utilized and represents another an idealogy in the Marvel universe. Some, like Polaris (Emma Dumont), feel like blood shed is an inevitable consequence of change while her boyfriend would rather do odd jobs for the mob to help prevent any one from getting hurt. Fellow leader, John (Blair Redford), wants to focus on saving people on the moral high road.
Especially because he’s a former war veteran who still believes that the people in this country can be rallied for good. At the heart of the storyline are the Strucker children (Natalie Alyn Lind and Percy Hynes White), two kids who accidentally destroy their high school gym when Andy is getting violently bullied. They’re hunted down by Sentinel Services and hated for what they have done even though it was just in self-defense. It shows just how disgusting life can be for two kids who the world becomes afraid of even when they don’t control how they were born.
Photo Credit: FX
American Horror Story: Cult — B
It would be hard to not mention American Horror Story this fall with the divisive Cult season. People with a fear of clowns should stay far away from these episodes because they seem to terrorize everyone throughout the run of the season. Inspired by the events of the Clinton against Trump election, American Horror Story is reinvigorated by politics for a weird season.
While it isn”t nearly as good as Murder House, Cult does manage to get a few scares in. Evan Peters gets to play a crazed antagonist who throws his support fully behind Donald Trump and is even inspired to run for office himself. Gaining popularity, he becomes a city council member much to the chagrin of Sarah Paulson’s paranoid character. However, she’s not as weak as she seems and the liberal mom ends up becoming a vicious calculating political opponent.
This is definitely an ambitious season of American Horror Story, while the show tries to craft an exciting political thriller while staying true to its horror roots. However, some of the scenes are incredibly disturbing and the violence seems to be higher than other years.
Cult pushes the bar about what FX is able to show on television without getting heavily censored.It will definitely make the casual viewer squirm so if you’re interested in checking out Cult, it might be wise to do so with the lights on and a paper bag ready. Nevertheless, it’s still a hit for the long running series that desperately needed a breath of fresh air.
Hulu
Photo Credit: Hulu
The Runaways — A+
Marvel’s first teenage series is definitely one of the most mature on their slate. Not as dark as any of the Netflix dramas or as fun as Agents of Shield, Runaways got to adapt one of the most beloved comic book lines. While Brian K. Vaughn’s story was told from the perspective of the kids, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage expand it to include the parents.
No longer one-note villains, they are now multi-faceted and even sympathetic despite sacrificing teenagers every year. Even though they don’t leave home right away, the kids are more interesting while they digest the more sinister sides of their parents while trying to rationalize it in their own homes.
A must watch fall show, Runaways is better than anyone could have expected. From the creators of Gossip Girl, it would be easy to see the show devolve into petty teenage drama. What’s most striking is how grown-up this series is despite the young ensemble. From the writing to the directing, everything is strikingly beautiful and effective.
Not to mention, the cast is impressive all across the board, with no one serving as a weak link in the group of kids or adults. Yet Karolina Dean (played by Virginia Gardner), has slowly become the most interesting character with her family being the most intriguing as well. Her desire to rebel paired with her burgeoning sexuality is a storyline that many young people can relate to however she feels like even more of an outsider due to her powers. Her carefree optimism dwindles away throughout the first parts of the episode when her parents’ deception is revealed and it makes for a compelling arc for the character.
Photo Credit: Hulu
Future Man — A
Seth Rogen created another crazy but fun genre series with Future Man that doesn’t have to bend to broadcast constraints like Preacher. The unfiltered time-traveling show is full of crude humor and rated R scenes but is an entertaining ride. It isn’t going to win any awards this season, but it’s an enjoyable show for those who want something more light-hearted than other genre series.
Josh Hutcherson produces and stars in the show as a janitor/slacker who gets roped into a war from the future. After beating the “unbeatable game,” Biotic Wars, he is approached by two rebel leaders from the apocalyptic future who are looking for a savior. Unfortunately, he’s not the person they had in mind but the three do form a bond that saves the world.
Like all of Hulu shows, the acting is solid across the board. What’s the most striking is just how funny the series is. Of course, Preacher has been able to inject humor throughout it but Future Man gets free reign of just how many jokes they can add in.
Scenes are over the top because they can be and nudity can get gratuitous but for the most part everything is entertaining. There’s an entire episode dedicated to both ridiculing and praising James Cameron through his smart house. That alone should win over the hearts of viewers, with a lot of jokes about Cameron being an “expert on doors,” and forcing his Siri-type house to constantly speak to him in Na’avi, the language from his movie Avatar.
Netflix
Photo Credit: Netflix
Alias Grace — A+
After the success of The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu, it’s no surprise that another Margaret Thatcher novel would be adapted to the silver screen. Netflix broadcast the miniseries, Alias Grace which has quietly become one of the best of the year. With a quiet All-star cast comprised of Sarah Gadon (11.22.63), Anna Paquin (True Blood), Zachary Levi ( Chuck), and David Cronenberg.
The story follows meek Grace Marks, a notorious murderer who shocked her time with the cold-blooded killing. Margaret Atwood’s story adds in a fictional doctor that is sent in to analyze her mind. Netflix is really getting into the psychology of a serial killer with Alias Grace and Mindhunter. They clearly know what they’re doing because both series are magnetic and compelling despite their dark storylines.
Sarah Gadon will blow audiences away with her enigmatic portrayal of Grace that will have people guessing whether she’s telling the truth or not. However, the mini-series and Atwood’s book, open up a larger discussion for audiences.
Like her other novels, the series talks about women’s rights in history and whether Marks was jailed simply because of her gender. But she also discusses one’s identity, which shows through Marks’ hatred of her reputation and the spectacle that surrounds her due to her crimes. Unlike The Handmaid’s Tale, Grace Marks is a real person and her treatment is terrifying because it actually happened. It’s terrifying to reckon with the real-life consequences of characters’ actions and it makes the Netflix mini-series a much watch for all.
Photo Credit: Netflix
Mindhunter — A
The newest Netflix hit, Mindhunter became the must-binge series on the streaming giant. Sort of like a prequel to all of the serial killer crime shows like Criminal Minds. Set in the 1970’s, the series follows a group of FBI profilers who are tasked with getting into the mind of some of the world’s worst criminals. Leads Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, and Anna Torv are all charismatic bringing their characters to life easily on screen.
With a lot of viewers nursing a fascination into the minds of killers, Netflix introduced the perfect fall show to take the spot of the aging series, Criminal Minds. Set in the past also allows the series to explore profiling through the decades and a little bit more freedom due to the shorter episode format.
Mindhunter is visually stunning and a highlight about what Netflix can do with a simple procedural type series. Easily one of the best crime dramas to come in recent years, this is a knockout fall television series. Named one of the best series of 2017 by many different critical sources, it should have no problem becoming one of the biggest hits on the streaming service.
What is remarkable is that the cast isn’t full of a bunch of A-list actors who bring a lot of viewers. Instead, this is a show that lets the writing, directing, and acting shine without any glitz or glamor. It’s truly unsettling but magnetic and Netflix is already counting the categories they can get the show nominated for.
Photo Credit: Netflix
Marvel’s The Punisher — A+
Netflix strikes again with another successful Marvel adaptation. Taking Jon Bernthal’s widely popular take on The Punisher from Daredevil and giving him his own show was one of the best decisions they could make. He’s such an interesting character study as someone who teeters along the edge of hero and villain. After becoming a murderous anti-hero during the second season of Daredevil, Frank Castle is back with a thirst for justice.
He begins to uncover a conspiracy involving the murder of his family, and he understandably wants more answers. The former soldier isn’t donning a cape or mask to fight crime, instead, he uses his military expertise to get the vengeance he believes he is owed.
None of the Netflix Marvel team-ups have hit the highs that Jessica Jones has but they all suffer from a similar formula: the story is drawn out too long. Nevertheless, The Punisher is a stronger outing than Iron Fist which all but guarantees it a renewal. Very different from the other superhero shows on the streaming network, The Punisher offers a fresh perspective on the fight against evil and how far someone will go.
Even though it still has some character missteps, like Karen Page, it is still a big hit for Netflix’s fall roster. The streaming giant definitely needed it since the next Marvel series doesn’t drop until March which marks almost three years since the first season of Jessica Jones.
NBC
Photo Credit: NBC
The Brave — D
Another military drama this fall, The Brave has had a massive drop off in ratings. It does not have the draw that SEAL Team has with David Boreanaz and is apparently tone deaf when it comes to dealing with different storylines. Mike Vogel is an okay series lead, but he’s handling a show on a much bigger spectrum than just Under the Dome.
He doesn’t have the big name pull that would have viewers initially tune in and with a procedural that’s a must-have. Vogel plays Captain Adam Dalton, an undercover specialist who leads a group of highly trained soldiers. They are supported by a Defense Intelligence Agency and their leader, played by Anne Heche who is really phoning in her performance.
Military shows are tough to do because they risk slipping into a repetitive territory. The Brave does just that, and it’s the main reason why the ratings have been falling every week. The expensive series is not exactly sure if it wants to be more traditional or like 24.
With the lack of direction and the other plethora of military shows on the air, things aren’t looking great for The Brave. Sorry, but it doesn’t look like this show will make it until next fall after such a subpar debut. NBC can simply replace this procedural with a different one and try their luck next year. With the amount of Chicago shows out there, maybe Dick Wolf would like to expand his reach into the military genre.
Photo Credit: NBC
Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders — C-
Dick Wolf has been a known hitmaker but Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders is the first big swing and a miss for the massive producer. Without the appeal of Mariska Hargitay as a lead, the show doesn’t have the appeal. Unlike the O.J. Simpson murders, the Menendez case isn’t nearly as intriguing because the boys are generally known to be guilty.
Two wealthy kids who murdered their parents aren’t exactly sympathetic protagonists either, considering their stories of abuse were widely rebuked by neighbors and friends. By now, it also seems like the true crime mania has died down a little too late for the show to capitalize on it.
Truthfully, it’s hard to turn a live-action crime story into a compelling drama. Not everyone lucks out like Making A Murderer or The Jinx. Edie Falco does a good enough job to try and it’s the show’s only saving grace. Since Law & Order True Crime isn’t planning on revealing any new information about the Menendez brothers is there even a reason to tune in?
Ratings have been steadily dropping and Dick Wolf is going to test how far NBC is willing to go based on their strong business relationship. It’s a big misstep for the network but considering Wolf has given them all of the Chicago series and Law & Order, they can afford to give him one clunker for a season.
Photo Credit: NBC
Will & Grace — B+
It’s been years since Will & Grace has aired but that didn’t stop the NBC revival from being a massive hit. While the show has been working out a few kinks, for the most part, the formula has worked out well for them. Retconning the controversial finale, all of the character back to the way they were: Jack is still living across from Will, Grace has moved back in, and Karen is still a wealthy alcoholic. It would have been exciting to see the gang with kids however that ending was so bad that it makes sense for the writer to want to start from the beginning.
Megan Mullally shines as the MVP of the revival throughout the new season. She’s asked to humanize Karen during the funeral of her late maid Rosario, while still remaining her biting self. Even though she’s been sequestered to her own storylines for a majority of the revival, Karen has been the highlight of every episode.
While Will and Grace (specifically) have had difficulty finding their footing in the new episodes, Karen has remained a constant source of comedy. NBC doesn’t really mind if the show runs into a few bumps while it reestablishes the beloved sitcom. Already renewed for two seasons and dominating Thursday nights, Will & Grace has returned with a vengeance. Definitely a massive success for the fall season, NBC is happy to see their sitcom lineup extend to another worthy addition. Don’t be surprised if they begin to bring back other beloved shows just to continue the formula.
Photo Credit: NBC
This Is Us — A+
The show that took over millions of America’s hearts and helped the tissue industry out immensely. Despite the second season bringing on the continual pain to all of the characters, the series has still managed to reign on Tuesday nights. This Is Us has been a little soap opera like but the acting has been incredible throughout the season. With a group of episodes dedicated to each of the Big Three, characters like Kevin and Kate have gotten some much-needed character development. Meanwhile, Rebecca gets to play the role of supportive mother other than the “bad parent” to Jack’s loving “fun” one. Randall continues to shine as the best Pearson, mainly because the writing is better and Sterling K. Brown consistently delivers powerhouse performances.
Kevin’s episode, “Number One,” is definitely the highlight of the season and maybe even the series. His ongoing fight against opioid addiction is a storyline that many viewers can relate to during a time that overprescription has become a massive problem.
Justin Hartley has more than earned his Emmy nomination with one of the most moving scenes of the year. When he cries out for help on the lawn of a one-night-stand, it’s a heartbreaking collapse of a usually confident character. In the meantime, Randall and Kate get equally sad storylines but it’s hard watching everyone overlook Kevin’s ongoing struggles. He pushes his entire family away, and they allow him because it’s easier than digging deeper. Still, the show is a massive win for NBC with those huge ratings pouring in.
Photo Credit: NBC
The Good Place — A++
The Kristen Bell and Ted Danson starring sitcom ended last year with a major bombshell: everyone was stuck in The Bad Place. In hindsight, most people should have seen the reveal coming because the town only had a fro-yo store and no ice cream. Nevertheless, they have had their mind wiped while Michael tries to keep torturing them in secret. Yet, when the group thwarts his plan every time he begins to rethink his original plan.
Now, everyone is working together so that Michael won’t be forced into an early and painful retirement while the group tries to earn their way into The Good Place. Mike Schur strikes again with another smart and painfully funny comedy. Season two has been even better than the freshmen run in quality and it comes as no surprise that ratings are up.
Typically Mike Schur comedies struggle to keep up in the ratings, Parks & Recreation or Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but The Good Place has benefited from word of mouth and solid Netflix viewing. This finally gives the show some of the attention it deserves even though it has been locked out the award shows thus far.
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No worries, this is still a major hit for NBC and an awards-bait comedy that will eventually get the recognition it deserves. Kristen Bell has deserved an award since her days on Veronica Mars and one day that time will come. If you need a fall show to catch up, definitely check out this hilarious sitcom that finds a way around consistent cursing on live television.