Fall TV Review-Part 1
Welcome to my 2024 Fall TV review. Here I will review the shows premiering this fall and guide you to a better more interesting night of television. Please note, that these opinions are mine, and while they are seated in facts and observational assessments; they are just opinions. I enjoy writing detailed reviews for Fall TV and look forward to seeing if I am proven right or wrong in my show predictions. All shows reviewed are primetime, network television shows. Part 2 of these series will be released after the second round of Fall TV shows premiers mid-October.
Enjoy!
High Potential
High Potential starts with a witty feel, highlighting the reality of millions of single moms. Most are ghosts of women who had dreams and intelligence to run the free world, but circumstances; sometimes beyond their control hinder their potential and lock them into basic mediocre life. Kaitlin Olson does a great job with the character as it is written and is likely relatable to some viewers of shows like My Name is Earl or Shameless. The overwhelming challenge is that writers formatted the show like Monk or Psych. It is impossible as a viewer to believe that someone this far left of normality would be given the opportunity to solve murder cases. Daniel Sunjata does well and looks good doing it. He is the reluctant partner, but there are not enough interactions or dialogue with the main character for viewers to invest in their partnership. It is almost like writers were afraid to give him too much depth out of fear of overshadowing the genius in the room. Overall I had hopes for the show and it didn’t fully deliver. After one episode, I am willing to give it 1 more try, but ultimately I do not foresee long-term engagement.
Grade: C-
Rescue: HI-Surf
Be prepared–this may hurt. First, let me start by saying I am a big fan of Arielle Kebbel. Ever since the very unwarranted cancelation of the Bone Collector TV series, I have wanted to see more of her; but not like this. I am also a huge fan of Adam Demos who currently serves as my visual inspiration for Caleb in Cherrywood Inn: A Legacy.
Rescue: HI-Surf is a huge misstep of nostalgia and piggybacking on successful emergency procedural shows. Take 9-1-1 and Baywatch, place it where Hawaii Five-O should have been and you have Fox’s new hero drama. While the ingredients alone work, putting everything in the bowl and mixing it together does not. The show has diversity on top of diversity, so much so that it seems forced. The number of actual rescues during the premier was so low that I thought I was just watching a drama. I think Fox understood they were going to start to lose a big audience by separating 9-1-1 and 9-11 Lonestar, so they moved quickly to develop a similarly formatted show with young hot actors. The problem is the plots. The aging and grieving leader plot line is too heavy for the opening of a show when we know nothing about the characters. I do like the plot of the town mayor abusing his power and the town’s corruption. That storyline will likely hold the series for 1 season. But what happens after? I will tell you what’s going to happen because it is very predictable. Emily has an affair with Wil who is engaged. Tension builds while she is being groomed to be the next leader. Wil leaves and comes back. Drunk sidekick struggles with alcoholism and the team tries to save him. The new go-getter and the mayor’s son have an on-again-off-again thing until the mayor does something horrible. Oh, and sidenote—someone will have to explain how Kainalu (Alex Aiono) is supposed to be Clayton’s (Shawn Hatosy) son. Come on casting team…I would say I am patiently waiting on that stepson or adoption story, but I don’t think I can make it through the predictable storylines listed above to find out how writers will explain that away.
Can the show be fixed? Perhaps. It does have some strong seasoned actors and I think the setting is perfect and fresh enough to keep viewers. But writers need to step up the action, step up the dialogue during the action, and step away from mirroring 9-1-1 and its spin-off. Try something new with the characters and give them more skill, and fewer flaws in the first season. I want to envision myself being a capable hero in the first season…THEN you can mess them up in seasons 2 and 3 and put them back together by season 4. Unfortunately, I will not be around that long, but well wishes and good waves.
Grade: D
Doctor Odyssey
Well, expectations were low with this show, but I am happy to say I was pleasantly intrigued. Again following suit with the trend of “where can I put a hero”, ABC decided to take sexy and savior syndrome on a cruise ship.
I will start with what I like. The main character Dr. Max, played by Joshua Jackson is cocky, but not so much so that he is unpalatable to the fresh-faced Avery, played by Phillipa Soo. The two have great chemistry and although I think the writers moved too fast through the predictable sexual tension; a viewer can only hope it is because they (the writers) have something more in store for these two characters. I also like the hint of sinister background from the captain. It is just enough to make me give it another run with episode 2. The things I do not like about this new emergency-based show are similar to my problems with Rescue: HI-Surf. How many varieties of tragedies are you going to give me? Will we do a Poseidon themed episode or Captain Philips? And how are you going to separate from the fray of other similar shows on your docket? I am optimistic that this one will be a survivor, but only after 9-1-1 has ended successfully leaving viewers wanting more.
Grade: C+
Brilliant Minds
This is going to be the show to beat. In short, the show is about a flawed (physical and personality-wise) doctor who finds unique ways of curing unusual cases. In 2024, with rare diseases and so many unknowns in the medical area, writers have plenty of realistic content to work with. Zachary Quinto plays the main character Dr. Wolf. The mix of young interns was well cast and simmering with dramatic side plots. I smell a possible pill junkie, an abused overachiever, and maybe a character with closet sexuality issues. All of this works well for a medical drama. NBC has done well with placement also. Show Look-alike House is long gone, and The Good Doctor has recently come to an end, leaving room for Quinto to make us love, hate, and root for his brilliant mind multiple times. NBC writers, keep building on this good launch.
- Do not mend the relationship with the mother too quickly. I am sure the dysfunctional dynamic took ample time to develop, so be cautious with how you push that plot forward. Let Dr. Wolf’s history be the long game.
- Do give the interns meaningful backstories, but not all at once. Look to Code Black for examples.
- Give Carol (Tamberla Perry) more reason to be here. I like her character, but I can see how she can easily get washed away in the scripting. You have until season 2 to build her up and lock her in.
Overall great show.
Grade: A-
Matlock
The surprise of the season, the reboot of Matlock delivers on funny and value in the season lineup. While Kathy Bates is always a sure bet, the promos for this show left a lot to be desired. I only watched it to give a thorough Fall TV review. The show’s opening playing into the senior citizen pitfalls was perfectly balanced. CBS has struggled with anything that is a mix between two genres. Straightforward procedural dramas like FBI and Chicago Fire, are perfect. Classic comedies like Ghost and The Neighborhood, deliver high-yield jokes and a relaxing levity, but anything in the middle tends to sink fast. I think Matlock may strike the balance So Help Me Todd aimed to do.
For the viewer who doesn’t want to see the guns and rip from the headlines law stories, but wants to see cases that matter depicted on screen, Matlock is for you. I think the one negative is the connections to the 80s classic. Outside of the character’s name and the multiple (overdone) puns in the first 30 minutes of the show, I do not see a lot of similarities between the original and the new law dramedy. I do not want to spoil it but the overarching motivation of Matty (Kathy Bates) is going to keep this detective show engaging. The casting is decent as well although Beau Bridges’ role as a senior partner will have the heavy responsibility of keeping those in Matty’s demographic engaged. I look forward to tuning in next week.
Grade: B-
Returning Show Highlights
Law and Order– Tony Goldwyn is going to give life to this reboot. Law and Order is and will always be a good show, it has just been running from the back of the pack. This new season seems different and I like it.
9-1-1’s
Sorry to see them going out. I just hope the writers create and wrap up the storylines with some decency. So far I am not impressed, and as a long-time fan; writers, you owe me more.
Tracker
This show hasn’t even premiered, but I know Justin Hartley is going to deliver. I will be tuned in live every week.
FBI, FBI Most Wanted, and FBI International– Message to the Writers
CBS you are doing well. DO NOT go doing some new dumb stuff trying to keep up with other shows. Keep the personal drama to a minimum. More running, jumping, and fighting. And for tv sake…give Abby or Tiffany a lover. It’s been like 2 seasons and they are kicking butt; they should get to have a little play time shown. And let Ray (Edwin Hodge) have his happiness. Please don’t go creating unnecessary grief there. And if you are looking for a sacrifice, take International. It’s a struggle to stick with the personal police missions each week.
Happy TV watching!♥