In the past few weeks, a number of people have asked me what new shows I’m excited about. In previous years, I’ve had access to ABC’s new pilot DVD from a family friend, but since I’ve been away at school, I don’t always get a chance to watch it. So this year, all my opinions regarding new shows are based primarily on hype, promos, and occasional reviews from people who have access to the pilots. So without further ado, here are the new shows that I’m excited to watch this fall:
1. The Walking Dead (AMC)
When I first heard about this show, I knew nothing about the comic book series that it is based on. I’m not really a comic book fan, so it’s understandable. I am, however, a fan of any and all zombie apocalypse-related film, shows, et cetera. The trailers for this show look absolutely incredible. The make-up and effects look first-rate, and the actor they got for the lead role of Rick Grimes is Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually). I can’t imagine this show not being a hit. It’s got a wealth of comic book plot to draw on, a solid acting base, and it is (as far as I know) the first show to really seriously tackle the zombie genre in this way. Also, it’s premiere date is Halloween.
BOTTOM LINE: I was sold on it as soon as I heard the word “zombie” but it seems to be well produced and well-written, which is an awesome bonus. Can’t wait for this one to start.
PREMIERE: October 31st (Halloween!) at 10pm on AMC
2. The Event (NBC)
Despite my growing displeasure with NBC at the moment, they have one good show lined up for the fall. I didn’t realize how heavily The Event was getting hyped until I got my cable service turned back on last week. NBC is seriously guilty of over-hyping pretty much everything – more so than other networks. I’m worried that it’s going to be a good show, but won’t meet the expectations that they’ve set for it. I also fear that it’s going to be Lost all over again where the plot takes forever to move forward and you’re left with more questions than answers. That worked once, but who knows if it can work again. The few plot points I’ve been able to extract do sound intriguing though. The lead guy (Jason Ritter) is investigating the disappearance of his girlfriend but ends up finding out more than he bargained for. I’m definitely curious enough to give it a watch.
BOTTOM LINE: Looks intriguing despite the hype. Don’t let NBC’s crazy marketing lead you astray here.
PREMIERE: September 20th at 9pm on NBC
3. Sherlock (PBS)
I found out about this show only recently, but it instantly caught my eye because it’s created by Steve Moffat (of Doctor Who fame). I’ve previously expressed my displeasure at Moffat’s handling of Who plots, but before he replaced Russel Davies, he wrote some really good episodes. I have hopes that this could be a really good genre for him to work in. I haven’t seen or heard all that much about the actual plots, but the general concept is a modern-day reboot of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. It originally aired over in the UK this past summer and was a hit over there. PBS (surprisingly not BBC America) is picking it up as a part of their Masterpiece series.
BOTTOM LINE: You can’t go wrong with Sherlock Holmes and it’s from the minds behind some great Who episodes.
PREMIERE: October 24th on PBS
4. Dexter (Showtime)
(Spoilers – yes, I know people who still haven’t seen this past season) I don’t care that this show has already had 4 seasons. Anyone who watched season four will tell you that this new season basically is starting over. With Rita gone and Dexter under investigation the entire show dynamic is totally twisted. It’s not going to be the same “Big Bad” format as previous seasons, it’s really going to be all about character development on a who new level instead of the villains. I cannot wait to see the way they handle Dexter having to deal everything. Will he try to explain about Trinity or will he totally shut down? What happens with the kids?
BOTTOM LINE: Dexter‘s always been amazing but this season is a total game changer. If you’ve never watched it, now is the time to catch up.
PREMIERE: September 26th at 10pm on Showtime
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