It’s October! So, you know what that means. Not fall, not pumpkins and not Halloween. It means a lot of new tv shows that are either premiering for the first time or simply premiering a new season. Some of these shows have premiered already and some will premiere soon. Here’s our take on some of the new shows in this jam-packed pilot season. Don’t worry, no spoilers will follow.
How to get away
with murder
Rating: 2/5
When: Thursdays. 10:00 p.m.
Where: ABC
What: Drama/Crime/Mystery
Why: “How to get away with Murder” sees Academy Award nominee Viola Davis take on the role of Annalise Keating, a tough-as-nails law professor who teaches her students by day and practices law at night. Surrounded by Keating are four of her “best” students: Alfred Enoch plays Wes Gibbons, a sort of mistake prone nerdy underdog, but he probably has the biggest heart on the show so far and he’s easily the most likeable character. Jack Falahee plays Connor Walsh, the smooth George Clooney in training type with a bad beard, but he’s ok. Rebecca Sutter is Katie Findlay and Aja Naomi King is Michaela Pratt. Sutter’s character is the emotional but smart character who’s probably going to make a lot of bad relationships decisions. Pratt is the overachieving go-getter, she’s also pretty mean and she’s such a teacher’s pet. All in all if you like cheap thrills, and a bunch of “shocking” plot twists thrown in with a bunch of “who’s sleeping with who,” nonsense drama (that’s where this show seems to be headed) then this is your show. Davis’ talents could be used for such greater things. You won’t find those greater things here. It’s like the new Scandal, and depending on your viewing tastes, that can be good or bad.
Black-ish
Rating: 3/5
When: Wednesdays. 9:30 p.m.
Where: ABC
What: Comedy
Why: “Black-ish” comes as a new addition to ABC’s already packed lineup of family shows, which consists of “The Middle,” “The Goldbergs,” “Modern Family,” and now Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross’ “Black-ish.” This new comedy follows suit with the other ABC comedies with its use of sarcasm and reliance on the appeal of a big happy family. “Blackish” has its moments of funny, but it had its misses too, however there were more hits than misses. The kids are probably the funniest thing about the show, as they are seen by Anderson’s character as lacking traditional “black” qualities. They bring the laughs with their non-traditional personalities, each bringing something different to the table. Oh, and grumpy Lawrence Fishburne is very funny.
Gotham
Rating: 3/5
When: Mondays. 10:00 p.m.
Where: FOX
What: Drama/Crime/Thriller
Why: Because Batman? Batman, however, isn’t on this show. “Gotham” focuses on a young Bruce Wayne (why they didn’t choose to make a live-action Batman or Nightwing tv series instead is beyond me) and the birth of organized crime in a city ruled by Carmine Falcone (exceptionally played by John Doman from “The Wire”) – who you may know from Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins.” This show is about Ben McKenzie’s detective Jim Gordon living in a city full of corruption and crime, as he tries to be the light at the end of a dark, dim tunnel. The show, however plays upon its comic origins too much by overdoing it with “easter egg” cameos of famous villains. Apparently they’ve recently casted Harvey dent a.k.a Two-Face. The heart of the show lies in the relationship between Gordon and his partner Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue) and how they bump heads with each other. “Gotham” is a gritty noir drama, with potential, but a seemingly overreliance on characters that will eventually be heroes and/or villains.
The Flash
Rating: 4/5
When: Premieres Tuesday, Oct. 7, 8:00 p.m.
Where: CW
What: Action/Adventure/Drama
Why: “The Flash” is a spinoff off the CW’s “Arrow” starring Grant Gustin as superhero Barry Allen. Although it hasn’t premiered yet, I had a chance to view the pilot a while back and it was really good. “The Flash” separates itself from other comic book tv shows such as “Arrow” and “Gotham.” “Arrow” is a lot more gritty and a darker show and unlike “Gotham,” “The Flash” doesn’t play up the comic character cameos too much, but there are plenty of easter eggs for fanboys and girls. Gustin’s character is a bright nerd with a good heart and a chip on his shoulder, who just so happens to get superpowers. He finds help from some friends in Danielle Panabaker’s Caitlin Snow and Carlos Valdes’ Cisco Ramon, although they help him, they also make him a very ugly superhero suit, it’s that bad. Still, the show plays up on all the right things: comedy, action, adventure and mystery. “The Flash” delivered one of the better superhero pilots to date and it should only get better.
Red Band Society
Rating: 3.5/5
When: Wednesdays. 9:00 p.m.
Where: ABC
What: Dramedy
Why: Because they filmed an episode (the homecoming episode, which comes on Wednesday) in Covington! Well, that’s not the only reason. “Red Band Society” is like “Scrubs” except with younger kids in realistically sad situations. The comedy is sarcastic and the drama is sympathetic. Although it’s not nearly as funny as “Scrubs” was yet, it was sort of heartwarming in a predictable but not too lame way. The kids are alright. The show takes the stereotypical characters: the stoner, the nerd, the popular girl, the hard-ass disciplinarian who tries to hide her big heart, the good doctor and the go-getter and puts them in a one setting, the hospital’s pediatric ward. If you’re a sucker for good kids in unfortunate situations, some fun times, a few will they/won’t they relationships and enough comedy along the way, this is your show.
