Widow's Bay (S1, Ep. 1-2) "Welcome to Widow's Bay"/"Lodging" Series Premiere

 

Apple TV's Widow’s Bay, created by Katie Dippold, blends classic horror with humor, producing an atmospheric, unsettling series that honors genre tropes with a cynical twist. Here's my take on the two-episode premiere.

Marshals S1, Ep. 1 "Piya Wiconi" Series Premiere

 

When CBS announced that Kayce Dutton would be stepping into a badge in the next chapter of the Yellowstone universe, I was genuinely curious and a bit cautious. 

I wondered whether this would feel like a natural evolution for the character or just another spinoff trying to stretch the brand. After watching the premiere, I can say the answer lies somewhere in between. Here's my recap and review. 

DMV "Pilot" Review: Does CBS's New Comedy Pass the Test?

 

What happens when a workplace full of misfits meets a government office? CBS's new comedy DMV shows us, with plenty of laughs. Here's my recap and review. 

Preview: DMV "Pilot"

 

It's one of my most anticipated new comedies of the fall season. Here's a preview of the series premiere of DMV.

A New Take On A Classic: The Rainmaker "Another Rainy Day" Series Premiere

USA Network’s The Rainmaker reimagines John Grisham’s classic story for TV. But does this underdog legal drama live up to the novel—or the 1997 film that made Matt Damon a star?

The Institute "The Boy"/"Shots for Dots" Series Premiere

 

This week, MGM+ launched The Institute, a new thriller series inspired by Stephen King's gripping novel of the same name. Did it live up to expectations? In short: yes. The premiere delivers a dark, character-driven story that sets the stage for a haunting and emotional journey. Here's what stood out.

The Hunting Party "Richard Harris (Pilot)" Series Premiere

 

Tonight marks the series premiere of The Hunting Party on NBC! Wondering if it’s worth tuning in? Here’s what I think!

St. Denis Medical "Welcome to St. Denis Medical" series premiere preview

 

Here is a preview of the series premiere of most talked about new comedy, St. Denis Medical. 

Matlock "Pilot" Series Premiere

 

If you haven't seen the new Kathy Bates' series Matlock, what are you doing? Here are my thoughts on the series premiere.

High Potential "Pilot" Series Premiere Episode Preview

 

With less than a week away, the series premiere of the latest new ABC comedy-drama series, High Potential. Here's an episode preview.

Embrace Fear Batwoman "Pilot" Series Premiere

With Batman MIA, who can save Gotham City under a new threat?

The series premiere of Batwoman was better than what the trailers and promos have shown throughout the summer. We meet Kate Kane who's training to be part of her father's police force Crows; but things take a turn when her ex-girlfriend, Sophie, has been kidnapped by Alice and her Wonderland Gang. Kate decides to use her cousin Bruce Wayne's tech from the Wayne Tower to find footage.

Kate goes on her own way to find Sophie and meets Alice in person; but gets knocked out and gets healed by Kate's step-sister Mary. Soon Kate goes back to Wayne Tower and gets information from Luke Fox about where Bruce is at, but instead of getting imformation she notices something has been moved. The necklace of Martha Wayne was moved to the right and when she moved it back and soon the bookshelf opens as it leads Kate to the Batcave.

Kate sees that the death of her sister and mother took a toll on Bruce as he thought both they would have been safe, but it wasn't. Kate sees the gadgets and even the bat-suit, in which she asked Luke to make improvements to the bat-suit to make it for her.

During the Gotham City Movie Night, things were looking good; until Alice calls Kate's father to tell him that she planted a bomb in the area. Not to mention that she also has Sophie hanging on the edge of the construction building. But Kate comes in taking out both two goons and fights Alice, but when Sophie falls, Kate leaps to save her.

The next day, the top conversation was about they think Batman returning to Gotham City. Sophie is the only one that thinks that it's not Batman. Later she bumps into Kate and the two get reconnected, but Kate learns that her ex-girlfriend that she cares about is engaged. With that being a bit of heartbreaking news for Kate; her father that he really wasn't going to let her join his team in The Crows. As she's done writing in one of Bruce's journals, she goes over what Bruce has been trying to figure out where her sister's body was located. It turns out that Alice is Kate's sister and does she have plans for her.

The "Pilot" was very good and as I said before better than what I thought it would be coming from the trailers and promos throughout the summer. And while it's only the pilot, I think that with time I believe that this series could get better. I'm loving the character of Kate Kane and Ruby Rose's portrayal of her. Even the relationship between Kate and Sophie is interesting; leaving a shocking twist of Sophie's engagement to an agent at Crow, but also as the episode progress and trying to figure out who Alice could be the ending of learning that it's Kate's sister was w wow factor.

I love it and I can't wait to see where the stories and the characters lead through this season. I'm all in for Batwoman. Overall, I give this episode a 9/10.

You can catch Batwoman Sundays at 8/7c on The CW.

America! Sunnyside "Pilot" Series Premiere

The series premiere of Sunnyside gives a solid basis to American pride, but the comedy is a bit light.

When a former city councilman, Garrett Modi, is ejected from his office due to his bad behavior, one of which he's a hit star on YouTube when he's caught drunk in front of the police. When he moves in with his sister, he finds a job as an expert in the profession of his drunk video popularity, which was selling t-shirts, etc. Next, Garrett meets with a group of people asking for his help to get their citizenship and realize the entire week to help them study and learn to be an American. After laying off a couple of days of teaching and having fun, Garret discovered a member of ICE.

Garrett comes to his senses and goes to his successor for help, where ICE took their friend. Garrett tells them he'll try to help them with what he knows and can learn. After agreeing, it seems that this is what the series will be about moving forward.

While the pilot wasn't the strongest of the new shows so far, it has a good premise with an excellent ensemble cast, but the writing doesn't seem to be there or a lack thereof in the humor department, with only a few funny scenes.  Overall, I give this episode a 7/10.

You can catch Sunnyside on Thursdays at 9:30/8:30 on NBC.

All Rise. "Pilot" Series Premiere

The new CBS drama has a mixed bag of seriousness and humor that's likable.

All Rise premieres Monday night, and while it may not be original, it has its moments. Combining of shows between Boston Legal meets Judging Amy. All Rise tells stories of lawyers and the first day of the newly appointed Judge Lola Charmichael (played by Simone Missick), who deals with not only trying to have a good first day but also trying to make her mark.

Lola deals with her first trial case of a soon-to-be mother for a crime she believes she never did. Lola gives the prosecutor and the defendant, Emily Lopez (played by Jessica Camacho), a day to get their evidence in order. However, the defendant receives a tip about the evidence and even the testimony from the detective on the case.

Meanwhile, Mark Callan (played by Wilson Bethel) is a bit of a hotshot lawyer and a good friend to Lola, as they have a working relationship. Mark deals with not only a defendant who is a shoo-in of being guilty of the crime that he has committed. But a judge plays along with the defendant, representing himself, just to get back at Mark for that hit during their hockey game. It had the feel of Boston Legal all over it, which wasn't to say it was wrong or even excellent, but enjoyable with a few laughs.

While the pilot wasn't as strong, it was delightful, with good character development and even good performances, mainly between Missick and Camacho. I felt that in the pilot, Marg Helgenberger was underused and was the only one to give wisdom and advice to other characters, almost like when the FBI added Sela Ward in their first season. Is this series on my must-watch list? For now, no, but I want to give the show a fair shot to see where it will go. Overall, I give the episode a 7.9/10.

You can catch all the rise—Mondays at 9/8c on CBS.

It's Not Just a Bar, It's a Community! Abby's "Pilot" Series Premiere

Abby's is another new comedy series of the season that hits and misses the mark, but I still think it could be one of the year's best new series. Here's a recap!

In the pilot, we meet Abby, who's a military veteran who happens to run a bar in the backyard of a rental home. Abby is pretty famous with her friends and co-workers, but when she finds out that her landlord has passed and has a new one, her nephew, Bill.

Bill doesn't like what he sees and talks to Abby about shutting the whole place down. Abby tries her best not to let that happen; it's her friends and co-workers who help save the site when they tell Bill that the bar is the one place that Abby can own. After that, Bill allows Abby to continue with the bar but asks to at least get insurance just in case someone gets hurt.

The pilot isn't the greatest of all time, but it has moments showing it has legs. I'm interested in the characters, and even though some of the jokes are a bit goofy, it's got me laughing. Natalie Morales is the glue that holds this show together with a good group of cast. I'll be tuning in to see where this show will be going. Even though it has that Cheers vibe, it's still good anyway. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

You can catch Abby's Thursdays at 9:30/8 30c on NBC.

Abby's "Pilot" Preview

This Thursday is the series premiere of Abby's. Here's a preview!

"Pilot"

Abby's unlicensed backyard bar hits a major snag when the new landlord Bill, who recently inherited the house from his deceased aunt, shows up and proposes major changes.

Photos:

Promo:

You can catch Abby's Thursday, March 28th at 9:30/8:30c on NBC!!!

FAM: A New Family Sitcom

In one week, CBS will premiere a new family sitcom, FAM.

Starring Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries) as Clem, who visions of having a perfect life with her adoring fiance, Nick (Tone Bell), and his wonderful family is radically altered when her 16-year-old, out of control half-sister, Shannon (Odessa Adlon), unexpectedly comes to live with them.

Sheryl Lee Ralph, Brian Stokes Mitchell stars in the series along with Gary Cole as guest star as Clem's father, Freddy.


Here's a trailer:

You can catch the series premiere of FAM Thursday, Jan. 10th at 9:30/8:30c on CBS.

Thrilling New Series: FBI "Pilot" Series Premiere

If you're a fan of the Dick Wolf series, mainly the Chicago series, this might be a show you would enjoy. While the sequel premiere wasn't the most excellent pilot to watch, it's got some teeth and interest that makes me want to tune in.

When a bombing at an apartment building goes off twice and takes many, even a child, the FBI team of Agents Maggie Bell and Omar Adom Zidan takes the case. But as their investigation begins, it leads to twists and turns as their suspects either get killed in another bombing or jail. But not only do the bombings get connected, but also the killings, as their investigation leads to a white supremacist leader, Robert Lawerance.

Just as Lawernce is on a talk show, the team searches for the last bomb that will go off any minute, which was at a prayer event. But with Agent Kristen Chazal's quick and expert in disabling the bomb, while Bell and Zidan awaited Lawernce to make a phone call to his 'lawyer" that was supposed to be a direct call to activate the bomb, but didn't

We learn through the episode more about Agent Bell, who lost her husband a few years ago as an investigating reporter, as she deals with the after-effects of the bombing in that a mother lost her child. But she gets the courage after capturing Lawernce to go to the little boy's funeral.

It wasn't the best pilot of the year, but I very much enjoyed watching this pilot and enjoyed the cast as well. The model plays so well with each other on screen. The exciting story kept me on the edge of my seat like other Wolf series like Chicago PD and SVU. Missy Peregrym is as fantastic as Agent Bell. Dallas Roberts kills as the villain in this episode, but not as great when he guestarredtar on Chicago PD. Overall, I give this episode an 8.5/10.

Not to mention that it's funny with this fact that it's been 30 years since Dick Wolf and CBS were working on Law & Order, but the network passed on it and went to NBC for the next twenty years.

You can catch FBI Tuesdays at 9/8c on CBS.

New Amsterdam: From Blacklist to ER: New Medical Series and Seek Peak

After his five year stunt as Tom Keen on The Blacklist, Ryan Eggold is taken is talents to a new drama this time tackling the health care system in the new medical drama New Amsterdam.

 Inspired by the oldest public hospital in America, this unique medical drama follows the brilliant and charming Dr. Max Goodwin, the institution's newest medical director who sets out to tear up the bureaucracy and provides the health care that everyone needs. How can he help? Well, the doctors and staff have heard this before, but not taking "no" for an answer gives Dr. Goodwin must disrupt the status quo and prove he will stop at nothing to breathe new life into this understaffed, underfunded and underappreciated hospital. The only one in the world capable of treating Ebola patients, prisoners from Rikers and the President of the United States under one roof and the return it to the glory that put it back on the map.

Starring, Ryan Eggold, Frrma Agyeman, Janet Montgomery, Jocko Sims, Tyler Labine and Anupam.


Photos:

First Look:

You can catch the series premiere of New Amsterdam Tuesday, September 25 at 10/9c after This Is Us, on NBC.

FBI "Pilot" Series Premiere Sneak Peak

Here's a look at the new CBS series "FBI" and a sneak peak of the "pilot" series premiere.

"Pilot" 

After a bomb explosion devastates a residential apartment building, special agents Maggie Bell and Omar "OA" Ziden of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigates a possible war between rival gangs. But until their prime suspects are discovered to be brutally murdered.

Starring Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zak, Ebonee Noel, Jeremy Sisto and Sela Ward.

Photos:

First Look: 

You can catch the series premiere of FBI Tuesday, Sept. 25th at 9/8c on CBS.

Good Girls "Pilot" Series Premiere

Good Girls premiered last Monday, and after watching it, it seems to be the show to watch.

In the pilot, the episode introduces us to our three leading women who struggle with life challenges: Beth is dealing with going into divorce due to their husband's actions, and Ruby's child's health is in the balance due to the cost. Annee is fighting for custody of her kid. When they need to make something, they pull off a robbery at a grocery store. But what comes next goes a 180 when the amount of money they take is more than what they were thinking, much more.

But after spending some of the money for personal usage, Ruby uses her portion of the money on her daughter's treatment. But they get a wake-up call from a gang that they took their money and asked for it back. With some of the money gone, they try to make up for it, but eventually, they are forced to help the gang out with things until their debt is paid off.

But the episode doesn't end just there; Anne, who's threatened by her boss at the supermarket, knowing that she is one of the robbers, almost gets raped, but her sister Beth comes in and tries to bluff him away with a toy gun. But after pushing her buttons about not doing anything, she knocks him with a bottle and soon trips and falls onto the coffee table dead.

From the beginning of the episode to the end, I was hooked on these characters. This is the kind of show to drink wine and hang out with her friends watching, not to mention that it's the perfect show for the time we're in right now. The chemistry of Christina Hendricks, Retta, and Mae Whitman is fantastic and so spot on. I would want to be friends with their characters.

Well-developed characters make vital and challenging decisions to prove that they are not what they seem they are. In one scene, when Ruby tries to talk with the doctor about a new medication, and as she's speaking, the doctor is dealing with other things and says she isn't paying attention until she finally calls and says that he listens to her. That was such a power scene and one of Retta's best performaperformancesll; I give this episode an 8.5/10

You can catch Good Girls Mondays at 10/9c on NBC.