It’s about that time of season when new television shows are debuting. Some shows have even been on the air for a few weeks now, but they’re easy to catch up on either on the website of the channel airing them or through re-runs. Either way, here’s a list of five new shows to keep your eye on in the future.
Ben&Kate: It’s quick-paced, well-acted, well-written and just plain funny. That’s the best way to decribe FOX’s new comedy, “Ben&Kate”. The show centers around the brother and sister duo of Ben (Nat Faxon) and Kate (Dakota Johnson) and the day-to-day shenanigans they get in to. Backing up the lead actors, is an ensemble cast worth writing about. Not only does each lead bring with them a personable friend in Tommy (Echo Kellum) and BJ (Lucy Punch), but the show also boasts who might be the most adorable child on television right now, Maddie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones). With just five characters to focus on, the show is flexible in its writing and delivers on many comedic levels, all while grounding the goofiness of every episode in reality.
(FOX, Tuesday, 8:30pm)
Arrow: No, this is not based on “Hawkeye” from the popular “Avengers” film. It is in-fact based on the original bow-and-arrow wielding hero, “The Green Arrow.” I wouldn’t be surprised if the popularity ofThe Avengers caused the greenlight for The CW’s “Arrow”, but it certainly is no series to scoff at. This network in particular, has created a fan base of teens with “Vampire Diaries” and “Supernatural” but their new series is the vein of a comic hero. “Arrow” is actually quite a good action-drama and doesn’t try to play too much with the lead’s good looks like in the aforementioned series. Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) is a billionaire playboy who is presumed dead from a shipwreck and comes back to life with a different outlook. No word yet on how close to the original comic the story will follow, but I suggest watching this show if you are at all interested in comics. I also suggest any ladies who are turned off by comic-book heroes to do a google-image search of “Arrow” and maybe you’ll find your way to viewing as well.
(CW, Wednesday, 8:00pm)
Last Resort: Those with sea-sickness and claustrophobia turn away. Those who enjoy intriguing dramas that feel more cinematic than produced for television, sit front and center. ABC’s “Last Resort” does not hold back in anyway and delivers quite a few punches to the gut. The series centers around a submarine crew in the Indian Ocean that receives an order to attack Pakistan with their nuclear missiles. The catch is, the orders come from a non-characteristic place and they refuse to follow them. This rejection of orders sends an American missile their way and now they must deal with the consequences for their actions. This is without a doubt the most intriguing of new shows, but there is a dark cloud overhead as this would’ve been better suited as a mini-series as opposed to a whole-series. How many episodes can center around a crew evading missiles? All things considered, the performance from Andre Braugher, who plays on-again-off-again Captain Chaplin, is a major reason to watch. He delivers a bone-chilling speech near the end of the first episode that will make you think you did something wrong.
(ABC, Thursday, 8:00pm)
Elementary: Crime-Dramas are almost non-relevant in today’s television schedule. Oh, that’s right, you can’t read sarcasm in text. The most abundant of shows on network and cable are crime-dramas. However, CBS’s “Elementary” tries to spin out of that mold and produces something different. The Sherlock Holmes based series is located in New York City and tries to do it’s best with the topic at hand. Also, they must’ve really been trying to rustle some feathers; they include a female counterpart to Sherlock (Johnny Lee Miller) with their new take on Watson (Lucy Liu). It’s one part “Monk” with the mannerisms and humor derived from being a social outcast, with the other part being “Sherlock” from across the pond on the BBC. The latter show, along with “Elementary”, is based on Sherlock Holmes stories. They are similar but the scene on this American version is vastly different and distinguishes itself. Both performances from the leads in “Elementary”, as well as the quick-witted writing, are the prime focus points on viewing it.
(CBS, Thursday 10:00pm)
The Mindy Project: Kelly Kapur is now a doctor. Well, not exactly, but that’s certainly what it feels like. FOX’s “The Mindy Project”, created by Mindy Kaling (from “The Office”) centers around Mindy Lahiri (you guessed it, Kaling) as she struggles through a rough love-life and a tough career as an OB/GYN. It isn’t entirely her fault for being so noticed for her role in “The Office” but you can’t help but think about it. The writing of the show is sufficient enough to keep your attention and the acting is also satisfactory enough to view enjoyably. All in all, this season of shows is slim on positive productions and “The Mindy Project” is a silver-lining to the overall crapshoot of comedies this fall.
(FOX, Tuesday, 9:30pm)