Sci Fi TV Quick Hits: Agents of SHIELD, The Exorcist, Westworld, Channel Zero and More Are Among This Season's Standouts So Far

Before getting to my rundown of the Fall shows I have been watching so far, I have to say something first: I’m calling a time out! There is just too much sci fi to watch on TV these days, and surprisingly a lot of it has gotten really good. Over the past few seasons, I could pass over a lot of shows because of the high levels of mediocrity I was seeing. But I have been much more impressed than usual with what I have seen thus far this season and even find myself going back to shows I had given up on. This is really cutting into my plans for the Babylon 5 re-watch, and I’m not sure how I’m going to fit everything into the week. I’m sure I will slack off on some of these before too long just because of time constraints, but for now here are my thoughts on what I have been watching so far (sorted by those I have enjoyed the most to the least):

Agents of SHIELD (ABC): I tuned in to the first episode of this show’s fourth season just because I was curious what they would do with Ghost Rider, and then found myself hooked on it again. I liked this one when it first started, but then it seemed to start treading water about mid-way through its first season. It went darker in its second year and gave in far too often to copy and paste and I bailed on the show. But its fourth season has been really good so far. The witty dialog that we saw early on with the show has returned and the actors all seem have grown with their roles. There is a particularly good chemistry between Coulson and Mack, and the show could keep most of its focus on those two for my money. Plus they have done a good job with the Ghost Rider character as well even if the CGI is a bit cheesy. For now, this one is on my must-watch list each week.

The Exorcist (FOX): This revival of the infamous 1970’s horror film (which actually acts as a sequel to that movie) is doing everything that A&E’s Damien (a sequel series to 1976’s The Omen) did not.  Whereas that one quickly derailed with a mopey, EMO lead, The Exorcist is creepy and scary and has interesting characters with a decent storyline. Anybody who had doubts about this revival should put those aside and tune in, because this show has exceeded all expectations at this point. I’m hoping that the first year has a resolution to its story arc, though, because the ratings suggest that this one could be gone by as soon as mid-season.

Westworld (HBO): This show has been good so far across its first four episodes and has done an interesting take on the original premise from the movie. Once again, we have androids malfunctioning (I don’t think that counts as much of a spoiler), but it is following a different path as it appears to be related to them developing self-awareness. The only problem is that the story is unfolding at an almost glacial pace and there may be too many storylines going on. But it is sticking to its sci fi elements and could go on to be genre classic if it success in unlocking its potential.

Channel Zero (Syfy): I’m two episodes in on this season-long horror anthology based on the internet "creepy pasta" stories, and I’m really liking it. It is creepy and moody and has an interesting storyline. And it will wrap up after six episodes, so it does not require as large of a commitment (an important factor in the overload of the Too-Much-TV-Era). Some may be hesitant to check this one out because it veers away from Syfy’s return to science fiction, but like the network’s The Magicians, it is a very good genre entry and worth a look.

Aftermath (Syfy): I stumbled upon this supernatural-pocalypse series when I stuck around for its third episode which followed the premiere of Channel Zero (because there wasn’t a new ep of Adam Ruins Everything that night). I went in with low expectations, but found it much better than it had any right to be and went back to catch up on the first two episodes. Consider it a mix of Supernatural and The Walking Dead, but it treads that path without feeling too derivative and with a minimal of copy and paste. It also keeps the expected teen angst from dominating the family dynamic, which is a good thing. This is the type of show that could go south pretty quickly, but for now I am liking it.

Legends of Tomorrow (CW): After two episodes, the soft reboot this show is going through in its second season seems to be correcting many of the issues from the first season. Most importantly, it’s not just straight copy and paste anymore and the storyline they have introduced seems interesting. We will see how it proceeds from here, but I am back onboard for now.

The Flash (CW): I have only seen the premiere episode so far, but it is off to a solid start. This show has been the most fun of The CW’s superhero entries and I’m thinking it is still worth keeping an eye on.

Freakish (Hulu): The first storyline in Hulu’s new season-long anthology series mixes The Walking Dead with teen horror movie, but is proving better at that than I might have thought based on its first two episodes. It has delivered a minimum of teen angst thus far, nor has it digressed into the expected YA soap opera plots. Probably because it is only a half hour per episode, they are keeping it as lean as possible. And while I wouldn’t call this a great show thus far, it has exceeded expectations and only has four more hours to go, so I may stick with it.

Lucifer (FOX): I really want to like this show because Tom Ellis does such a good job as the title character and there’s plenty of potential with the premise. But they insist on keeping the procedural format which I thought they might back away from this season with the new character introductions. But alas, that change is apparently not in the cards. I like Tricia Helfer as Lucifer’s mom and look forward to Michael Imperioli’s intro as his brother, but I will probably only check on this one from time to time throughout the season.

Timeless (NBC): The first episode of this time travel series was pretty good even if it broke its own rules as most time travel shows do. (They are told not to change anything in the past not already changed, but they do it anyway.) This kind of reminds me of the 60’s Time Tunnel series, though better (but not better than the 2006 attempted reboot of that Irwin Allen entry, more on that at this link). And this is the type of show that I would definitely watch if there were not so many other sci fi entries on the air. I might check in on this one from time to time (no pun intended), but I don’t consider it a must-watch show.

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (BBC America): I have to admit that I am not a big fan of the Dirk Gently books (though I love Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide series), but I still had high hopes for this show. And Samuel Barnett does a great job in the title role as does Elijah Wood as the unwilling tag-along to the detective’s adventures. But it is a shame that is wasted on a senseless mess of the script that neither draws from the books nor does much to make the show interesting. And it’s definitely not funny. If I hear people saying that this one improves through its first season run, maybe I will check back in. But for now, I am out.

The Good Place (NBC): This sitcom set in the afterworld seemed like a hard sell from the beginning. But the first episode made a stab at some Tim Burton-esque (the good Tim Burton) visuals and could have really run with that. But it fell flat more often than not and seems to be wasting the talents of its leads Ted Danson and Kristen Bell, and it doesn’t help that the concept does not seem designed well enough to sustain an ongoing series. I bailed on this one after the first episode and don’t plan on going back.

Sci Fi TV Quick Hits: Damien Isn't Scary Yet, 11.22.63 Needs to Work Out Its Time Travel Implications, The Walking Dead is Back to Top Form, and More

Quick Takes on some of the sci fi / fantasy TV shows currently airing.

Damien (A&) – This show actually has a very good idea: carrying on the story from The Omen when Damien is an adult (and ignoring the subpar theatrical sequels), though the first couple of episodes really fumbled around and didn’t accomplish much. Damien doesn’t remember much from his childhood and doesn’t know that he is destined to be the Antichrist. Interesting enough and they can do plenty with that, especially if they take a destiny vs. free will approach. But the Damien we are presented with is such a mopey character that we quickly lose interest in his story. They need to work on that as the show progresses and also amp up the creepiness, otherwise the audience will quickly lose interest and move on to the next thing that the Too-Much-TV era has to offer.

11.22.63 (Hulu) – This mini-series adapts the Stephen King novel of the same name about a man that travels back in time to stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy. I've watched the two-hour first episode thus far, and while it presents a premise which didn’t quite grab me, the creepy, Twilight Zone-ish atmosphere of the production did. Time travel stories always annoy me because it seems that they never fully work the logic of how changing the past impacts the subsequent timeline (hello Heroes and Legends of Tomorrow). In this one, the lead character is convinced that stopping the assassination of JFK will also stop the assassination of Robert Kennedy and keep the U.S. out of Vietnam. Okay great, but how many other changes will come from that and do two men really have the right to make such monumental decisions? They rushed through all of that too quickly for my liking. But once Jake gets back in the past, the “you shouldn’t be here" man definitely and the idea that the past resists change offer plenty of creepiness and the show did a good job of establishing an eerie mood. I’ll catch a few more eps to see how it progresses.

Legends of Tomorrow (CW) – Speaking of messy time travel tales, I really want to like this show, and it can be a ton of fun at times in a braindead sort of way. But it slips into copy and paste all too often, and don't even try to follow their (lack of) logic on how they are impacting the timeline.  To make matters worse, almost all the actors spend way too much time mugging at the camera and over-exaggerating their performances, even for a comic book show. I’ll stick with this one because I’m half way through now, but I’m hoping the writing improves in the second season (and they bring Constantine onboard as well).

Lucifer (FOX) – I’m still enjoying this one, though it is getting on my nerves more with each episode. Why did they have to go with the procedural route with this show? (That’s a rhetorical question as I already know the answer: because it’s on broadcast television.) This would have worked so much better in a semi-anthology format where Lucifer gets involved with people who come to his bar because he knows that they are due some punishment. Plus, they could focus on the story of the sinner-of-the-week character and not cram Lucifer in every scene. Tom Ellis does a first-rate job portraying the Dark One, but having him onscreen almost constantly is definitely too much of a good thing. I believe the continued ratings declines reflect this and also that people are growing tired of the show’s formulaic approach with Lucifer constantly butting into the detective’s investigations. If this one does survive into a second season, they should consider shaking things up a bit with the format.

The Walking Dead (AMC) – After a somewhat shaky start to its sixth season (though not as disastrous as some claim), this show has hit its stride once again since returning from hiatus. It’s right back to dealing with the moral quandaries of survival in the zombie-pocalypse and doing what it does best by putting the actions of the show’s heroes out there for us to question. The initial attack on the Saviors’ compound as well as the hostage situation that followed was grueling and gut-wrenching and not easy to watch. But it was also engaging, challenging television and exactly what we expect from this show (and the reason I enjoy braindead shows like Legends of Tomorrow as a counterbalance). Sure, TWD has had its rough patches over the years, but it soars much more often that it craters and it is definitely in top form at the moment.

You, Me, and The Apocalypse (NBC) – I love this show and it is just behind The Walking Dead on my current must-watch list. And I am going to keep beating the drum for it while it is still on the air. Watch it, you will be glad you did. You can read more about it at this link.

Sci Fi TV Quick Hits: You Should Be Watching Galavant and You, Me, and the Apocalypse, and Lucifer is a Ton of Fun as Well

Quick Takes on some of the sci fi / fantasy TV shows currently airing.

Galavant (ABC): This show wrapped up what is likely its final season in grand fashion as the "big battle" it was building up to finally played out, and it was a hoot!  When this odd little fantasy, musical comedy started out last year, it was kind of meh, but it showed notable improvement through its short, first-season run.  And this season it hit the ground running really and  found its stride as it delivered plenty of laughs with its Disney meets Monty Python (with an emphasis on the latter) parody.  Why it didn't catch, on I just don't understand.  It has appeal to adults and children just like Once Upon a Time does (the show it timeshares an hour with), so you would think that the same audience would stick with it.  Maybe too many people thought the musical aspect was rather lame (my original thinking as well), but this show has delivered some of the best, gut-busting, meta-ditties you could ask from a Prime Time TV show.  And it's just plain fun.  Sometimes it's nice to watch a genre show that's not heavy on story arcs and dark characters and that just makes you laugh.  But with its historically low ratings, I can't see how it will be back for a third season (though it did beat the odds last year), and I for one will surely miss this show, though I expect it to live on in cult infamy.  Both seasons are available on Hulu, and it's definitely worth your time to check them out.

You, Me, and the Apocalypse (NBC): And speaking of shows that make you laugh, this one quietly slipped into NBC's schedule on Thursday and it is definitely worth a look.  In the first episode, we find out that a comet is on a collision course with Earth which will lead to an extinction level event.  Hi jinks ensue.  The show follows a diverse set of characters across the globe as they each deal with the apocalypse in their own ways, some in denial, others facing it head on.  Rob Lowe is at the top of his game as a cynical, sardonic Vatican priest tasked with debunking all the would-be messiahs expected to come out of the word-works, and The Office's Jenna Fischer gets to step away from the familiar surroundings of her old show as a convict (of sorts) on the run.  This is a co-production with the British Sky channel and the humor has plenty of the typical Brit dryness to it, so you won't necessarily find yourself rolling on the floor in laughter.  But it also has plenty of wit and delivers more than its share of wry chuckles (and I loved the crib from Dr. Strangelove's post-apocalypse survival plan).  This show will likely be one season and out (though it's possible the international partnership could keep it alive if the numbers don't sink too low), and perhaps that is best considering its premise.  But it surely looks like it will be a fun ride and a very different bit of genre programming in Prime Time.

Lucifer (FOX): And continuing on the humorous bent, FOX's Lucifer (based on the DC Vertigo comic book series) has been a ton of fun through its first two episodes.  In this one, Old Scratch himself (the nickname Lucifer claims he prefers) gets tired of ruling Hell and decides to open a bar in--where else?--Los Angeles.  Once again, hi jinks ensue.  This show lives and dies by Tom Ellis' gleefully mugging performance as Lucifer, and just like Ray Wise (Reaper) and John Glover (Brimstone) before him, you can tell he is having a blast hamming it up as the Devil.  Of course, the contrivance they came up with to deliver a procedural format (Lucifer becomes fascinated by a detective who seems immune to his charms and butts into her cases) could get old really fast, so I hope they don't hang the show on that formula.  And Ellis does seem a bit in-your-face through the first two episodes, so they could tone him down some.  But I'm hooked for now and this show has benefited from a strong start ratings-wise with the X-Files revival as its lead-in, so it could stick around.

Legends of Tomorrow (CW): After being somewhat disappointed with the first episode of this show (see my previous comments), I have liked it better across its second and third installments.  It has let up some on the copy-and-paste fest (though it still has a fair amount), and it is settling into the superhero romp we hoped it would be.  This will probably never be counted as a great sci fi show, but it is a good one for just some braindead, over-the-top, shoot-em-up fun.  What I like most about it is American take on the Doctor Who formula with Rip Hunter as the Timelord stand-in picking up superheroes as his ongoing stream of companions rather than the (somewhat) normal people that the Doctor prefers.  And Arthur Darvill is definitely up to the task of taking on the time traveler lead role, though he does need to lighten up a bit.  I don't expect this same crew to be back for a second season, but I certainly hope they keep Rip Hunter around to pick up a new set of heroes for another adventure in space and time next year.

The X-Files (FOX):  I am caught up on this show and I am liking it better, but I can't say it has lived up to expectations.  Go back and watch the original show (especially the first season) and you will notice a definite cheesiness that takes some of the luster off your fond memories of this sci fi classic.  And interestingly, that seems to have followed through to the revival.  Even though the show is taking place in the modern day, its sensibilities definitely seem stuck in the 90's (maybe Chris Carter is to and that's why he has had a hard time getting anything else going sense this show went off the air).  Another thing I have noticed is that it does not rely as much on the perpetual ambient, creepy music it used previously to hold the atmosphere, and I think they should have kept with the show.  Still, I am enjoying it for the most part, especially the funny episode (with a reverse were-horny toad, no really), and wouldn't mind if they brought it back for more episodes next season.  And seeing as it looks like they can't easily wrap up the fragments of story arc introduced thus far, I'm betting that has been the plan all along.

Agent Carter (ABC): I've seen the first episode of this show's second season, and it continues to be an enjoyable bit of spy fi (with plenty of sci as well) fun.  This year, Peggy Carter gets sent to Los Angeles (no worries because it is the late 40's and Lucifer won't show up for another 60+ years) which at first seemed like kind of an odd destination for the show.  But it handles the move quite well and brings along our favorites like Jarvis and Agent Sousa while also giving us an interesting new character in Jason Wilkes.  I don't understand why people aren't tuning in for this show, and series star Haley Atwell has been cast in an upcoming pilot which does not bode well for the future of Agent Carter.  But while it is still around, I am enjoying the ride.

Sci Fi TV Quick Hits: The X-Files and Legend of Tomorrow Could be Better, Galavant Returns at Top Form, Second Chance Has Potential, and More

Quick Takes on some of the sci fi / fantasy TV shows currently airing.



The X-Files (FOX): I have to admit that anticipation has been high for the revival of this show but that I found myself rather disappointed after the first episode. They tried to cram way too much in by getting people up to speed then introducing a convoluted new conspiracy that Mulder bought into way too easily. And of course Scully quickly slips back into the naysayer role despite all that she has already seen over the years. It doesn’t help that they reverted to copy and paste dialog a bit too much, but then it was borrowing from itself and likely trying to keep the familiar--and expected--pattern of the original show in place. Another problem the revival is facing is that so much of the territory it covered in its original run has become so ingrained in genre tropes to the extent that it has become a regular target for riffing and parody. That makes it hard to take the show seriously with such a straight-faced approach. Still, the episode showed some promise beyond its exposition-ramming stumbles and I plan on sticking with it for the remaining five episodes.

Legends of Tomorrow (CW): This is another highly anticipated show that disappointed somewhat with its first episode. It teams up heroes and villains that we have previously seen on Arrow and The Flash with time traveler Rip Hunter in the requisite quest to save humanity from impending doom. The setup was pretty much expected, so I can’t knock the show for that. And it definitely delivers on superhero action without the soap opera asides that drag Arrow and The Flash down to a crawl at times (the first episode at least). But apparently in order to save on budget they had to just copy and paste dialog and plot points from previous movies and television shows to cut costs on the writing staff. I have heard this described as Doctor Who meets Guardians of the Galaxy, and it comes uncomfortably close to ripping off those and more. I still consider it to be a ton of fun in a guilty pleasure sort of way, but it sure would be nice if not every line of dialog had a strong ring of "been there, done that" to it. Hopefully that will become less of an issue as the series progresses.

Galavant (ABC): The second season of this show finds Galavant and King Richard developing a bromance as they attempt to raise an army to win back Richard’s kingdom and also save Princess Isabella from having to marry her cousin. I’ve made it through six episodes of this season (two thirty minute episodes air back-to-back each week) and the first two had me rolling on the floor in laughter. The rest haven't been quite as high on the laugh-scale, but were still chuckle-inducing at times and overall enjoyable to watch. I’m not sure why more people aren’t tuning in for this one (it is at historically low ratings levels for a Big Four broadcast network show), especially considering that it has really hit its stride in its second season. But I am enjoying watching a show that is just fun to watch without a complicated story arc or dark, troubled characters, and that just wants to make me laugh.

Second Chance (FOX): This new entry on FOX is about a recently deceased, 70 year old former police officer who is brought back to life because he has specific DNA that can reverse the cancer in his benefactor. He is revived as a young man who happens to have exceptional strength and other physical abilities and he decides to go after the people who killed him and who may be a threat to his son (also a police officer). I went into this one with low expectations and found myself pleasantly surprised after the first two episodes. It looks like it is essentially headed toward the procedural with a twist territory, but it has enough of its own unique elements to keep it interesting. There is also plenty of potential to explore some of the moral dilemmas presented, though broadcast network tends to shy away from that sort of thing. And this show is already in trouble because of the low ratings it has pulled thus far, leading FOX to the decision to kick it to Fridays. That’s a shame, because this one has some potential if allowed to explore some of the concepts it has toyed with thus far.  I wouldn't call it a great show, but one that could work in that direction if given the chance.

The Magicians (Syfy): I finally got around to watching the first episode of this new entry from Syfy (which is available to view online at this link), and found that I rather enjoyed it. It follows a college student who has been having trouble coping with the real world, and as it turns out he has a talent for magic and is invited to join the secretive school Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy to develop his skills. This one has frequently been referred to as an adult version of Harry Potter, which is essentially correct if you acknowledge those “adults” are actually young twenty-somethings. It throws in the requisite sex to prove it is a show for grownups, but that doesn’t distract too much from the story which progresses quite well over the first episode. It sets up an interesting setting with characters who aren’t just genre cut-outs, and I will definitely be tuning in for the next few eps to see how it develops.

Beowulf (Esquire): This British made series originally looked like it might deliver an interesting spin on the Old English legend, but instead cries out that it wants to be Beowulf meets Game of Thrones. I can’t quite figure out if it is retelling the original tale or taking place after Beowulf faced off against Grendel and his mother (is that “troll” supposed to be the Big G or some other beast?). And the first episode delivers such a mess of a tale that I’m not sure I’m interested. I may sample one more episode to see how it progresses, but there’s a lot of other sci fi / fantasy to watch so it will be hard to work it in.

Sci Fi TV Quick Hits: Colony Shows Promise, The Shannara Chronicles Has Too Much Young Angst, Angel from Hell Lacks Staying Power

Quick Takes on some of the sci fi / fantasy TV shows currently airing.

Colony (USA): This upcoming series from Lost veterans Josh Holloway and Carlton Cuse debuts January 14th, but the pilot episode is available early online at this link.  The premise is that Earth has been occupied by aliens and they have cordoned off the cities in heavily patrolled "blocks".  In this new world, some people collaborate with the aliens (whom we never see in the first episode), some just try to live their lives, and others have formed a resistance.  The first episode takes a slowburn approach to unfolding the premise as we first realize people are living under some sort of martial law conditions and we eventually discover it is due to the alien occupation.  It also sets up an interesting series of events as Josh Holloway's Will Bowman--a former soldier and federal officer--is forced into collaborating with the human leaders working with the aliens.  It establishes plenty of dramatic potential with the moral dilemmas and tough choices its characters will have to face, but I was a little discouraged by its propensity toward copy-and-paste dialog and scenes.  I'm worried that this may be another show that could be great if given the freedom to explore its concepts, but which ends up getting hamstrung by a network unwilling to take chances.  USA hasn't been known for its edgy scripted programming, though Mr. Robot did push some boundaries some last year.  If Colony is allowed to do that as well, it could be great sci fi and I will stick with this one for now hoping it gets there.

The Shannara Chronicles (MTV):  Looking at the network that this show airs on, you might at first think that this one would deliver Real World meets Lord of the Rings.  And you know what?  You wouldn't be too far off the mark with that assumption.  Take a well-known fantasy book series and throw in a bunch of hormonally overactive, hot young actors talking and acting very much in line with the typical young adult leads these days from the likes The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and Vampire Diaries (I'm not going to take the more obvious stab at MTV's own Teen Wolf because that one has exceeded expectations) and you have MTV's The Shannara Chronicles.  In its favor, the production values are first rate and it invokes Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films more than once (it is filmed in New Zealand just like those movies), so visually it is quite stunning.  But it definitely feels like derivative fantasy (to be fair, the novels pretty much are as well) and it has far too much copy-and-paste dialog.  I do like their take on Allanon as the show delivers quite a contrast from the Gandalf stand-in that he is in the books.  I know that is in part to keep as many hot, (mostly) young actors in the cast, but I think it works with this character.  And the world of Shannara has a lot of potential for interesting stories (it is the biggest strength of the books).  I will keep watching this one for a few more episodes, but I'm not sure how much more angst and posturing I can tolerate before I have had my fill of this network's twenty-something Game of Thrones wannabe.

Angel from Hell (CBS): The simple premise of this sitcom is that an obnoxious woman, named Amy, buts into the life of Dr. Allison Fuller claiming to be her guardian angel.  Allison obviously disregards these claims, but a series of awkward mishaps follows when she ignores Amy's prescient advise, and the uptight, workaholic doctor starts to have second thoughts.  I was mostly interested in this one because in the trailers Jane Lynch looked like she was having a ton of fun chewing the scenery as Amy.  And the first episode was decent enough, but I really wonder how much steam this odd couple / girl buddy comedy has.  It seems like kind of a one joke premise that would work well enough for a rom-com film, but not necessarily an ongoing sitcom.  And it has very little in the way of genre elements as it is left open whether Amy is really a supernatural being or just someone on the edge of her rocker (and the pic of Amy in the background when Allison was just a girl could have been photo-shopped and planted on her computer; remember that Amy claimed she was a hacker).  I may tune in for a few more episodes just to see how this one progresses, but I'm not ready to move it to my must-watch list.

Heroes Reborn (NBC):  I'm still trying to get caught up on this one (the entire first season up to the most current episode is still available on Hulu) and I am still enjoying it for the most part.  But then almost every episode has at least one or two moments that make me cringe and shake my head.  For example, Hiro doesn't want to change the timeline and is worried about "stepping on butterflies" if he and HRG go into the past.  But they go back specifically to stop the Odessa bombing!  That's a Mothra-sized butterfly in my book, guys!  Lapses like those were what always drove me crazy during the original series and they are still there in the revival.  It hasn't completely derailed for me yet, but it is still well short of the brilliance of the show's first season.

Sci Fi TV Quick Hits: The Expanse Has Hit its Stride, Into the Badlands is Kicking Butt, and More

Quick Takes on some of the sci fi / fantasy TV shows currently airing.

The Expanse (Syfy):  I've seen the first four episodes of this show now (which are available for free online viewing), and I am really enjoying it so far.  Having read the first book in the James S.A. Corey Series Leviathan Awakes, I've noticed that the TV adaptation is definitely taking plenty of liberties with the source material which at first bothered me.  But that has become less of a distraction as I feel the series is starting to hit its stride.  I have also noticed comments in online discussions where viewers claim that the series can be confusing.  Not to worry, though, as I felt like the book was as well up to about this point.  A little spoilery warning that the story is about to take some unexpected turns in the upcoming episodes that may change the way people feel about the series.  But it was at that point that I really started to get into the story.  I also have to note that I love the casting on this show.  Thomas Jane gives a great, cynically snarling interpretation of Miller. Dominique Tipper and Steven Strait fit perfectly with the revised versions of their characters Naomi and Holden, and the latter is starting to finally turn into the leader we expected him to be.  Overall this series is delivering some first-rate space opera (and first rate special effects as well) and fans really should be tuning in for this one because I would like to see it stick around for a few more seasons.

Into the Badlands (AMC): After watching the first episode of this post-apocalyptic martial arts drama, I had my doubts.  Stylistically it was impressive and the fight scenes were great fun, but it seemed strung together by copy-and-paste dialog and genre tropes.  I stuck around for the second episode, though, and started to warm up to it and by the fourth (which is as far as I have watched thus far) I count myself as a fan.  The world-building and attention to stylistic detail has been a strength for the show and the characters have developed into more than just cardboard cut-outs.  Not to say that I would put this one in the same class as The Walking Dead or Daredevil, but it is doing enough to distinguish itself  and it is a ton of fun.  And Daniel Wu Sonny has developed beyond the standard grim-faced badass we saw in the first episode to a character conflicted by his loyalties and sense of duty.  AMC needs to go ahead and issue that second season renewal because this show has plenty of potential to explore.

Between (Netflix):  I finally got around to finishing up this Netflix original series about a town cordoned off after it is struck by a virus that kills off everybody over the age of twenty one.  It is definitely an interesting series for those who like virus outbreak stories, and while I wouldn't call it a great show it still managed to exceed expectations.  When I first learned about it, I thought it would deliver teen angst drama in an apocalyptic setting (especially with iCarly alum Jennette McCurdy in the cast)  But instead it went more the route of Lord of the Flies meets government conspiracy.  And it took an unexpectedly grim turn in the final episode of its six part first season.  Netflix has renewed this one for a second, six episode season which will bow at some point in 2016, and I will definitely be checking it out when it returns.

Ash vs. Evil Dead (Starz):  I didn't re-up my subscription to Starz (which lapsed after Torchwood: Miracle Day ended several years ago), so I had not had a chance to check out this show until I saw that the first episode is available for free online viewing.  So I gave that a look and mostly liked what I saw.  It's great to see Bruce Campbell (an all-time favorite actor of mine) back in the role of Ash, and he was definitely chewing the scenery throughout the episode.  The script wasn't quite as witty as I expected, and the episode seemed to plod along at times, but sometimes its takes a while for a show to get up to speed.  And from what I have heard from online reviews and discussions, it has hit its stride as it heads into its season finale this coming weekend.  Since I can subscribe to Starz through Amazon Prime (shameless plug), I will be doing that in the next month or so to binge the first season.

Sci Fi TV Quick Hits: A First Look at Heroes Reborn, Limitless, Minority Report and Other Fall Shows

We're only a few weeks into the season and I'm already behind on my DVR queue, but I have managed to sample several of the new and returning shows.  Here are my thoughts on what I have watched thus far:

Heroes Reborn (NBC): I'm three episodes into this one and enjoying it so far.  The new characters are mostly interesting and HRG is back to being his menacing yet still somewhat sympathetic self.  Not too many of the old characters have shown up yet, which is probably a good thing as it gives the new ones a chance to establish themselves.  And if this were to continue for more seasons the way Tim Kring wants by regularly rotating the characters, I think it would work.  Unfortunately, the ratings suggest this revival will be one and out.  I'm enjoying it for now, though.

Limitless (CBS): This spin-off from the movie of the same name about a drug that enhances people's mental abilities didn't sound that interesting to me, but I decided to go ahead and check out the pilot and I liked it.  The show is definitely another one of those procedurals with a twist, but they do that well enough and have some fun with the concept.  It reminds me a lot of Intelligence from two seasons ago (which disappeared after a thirteen episode run), but it's not quite as grim as that one was. I'll definitely be checking out a few more eps of this show.

Minority Report (FOX): And speaking of cop shows with a twist, that's exactly what this sequel series to the movie is, and it's just not that interesting.  It reminds me a lot of Almost Human from two years ago which I didn't care for either.  That one did apparently start to hit its stride before it got cancelled (based on what I heard, I had given up on it by that point), and perhaps Minority Report could develop into something as well.  I was really hoping this show would delve into the moral quandaries of knowing about a crime before it happens, but I didn't see much of that in the pilot.  Perhaps it could have gotten there (more likely if it was on one of the cable nets), but it's headed for cancellation anyway, so I doubt I will invest much more time on it.

Blindspot (NBC):  And yet another cop show with a twist, and not one of much interest to sci fi fans.  Jamie Alexander (formerly kicking butt as Sif in the Thor movies) is tattooed from head to foot with clues to crimes and doesn't remember who she is or how she got all marked up.  Now we're off to the races with procedural stories padded with layer upon layer of mysteries.  Another show where they think that convoluted mysteries that the writers probably don't even have answers to are better than trying to tell a real story.  The pilot wasn't bad and Alexander made a good showing along with Sullivan Stapleton as the requisite FBI agent, but it just didn't interest me enough to stick with it considering all the other shows currently airing this Fall.

The Muppets (ABC):  I was pumped when I heard they were bringing this show back, but then notably deflated after watching the first two episodes.  I have no problem with them trying to update this for the modern audience, but its The Office meets The Muppet Show premise just doesn't do it for me.  They completely ignore that the original series was already doing that to an extent.  It was a behind the scenes look at mishaps and antics of putting on a variety show.  Take that and just do a few tweaks to bring it up to date, and you got a good show.  And don't focus it too heavily on the adult audience.  The original's child-like silliness was part of its charm.  But they have lost track of that with the new show and the ratings fall-off suggest that nostalgia is waning quickly.

Gotham (FOX):  I watched the season premiere and fell asleep about three quarters of the way in.  I really like Ben McKenzie as Gordon as well as several of the other characters.  And there's a decent story in here somewhere, they just aren't telling it.  I think I'm done with this show and the ratings suggest quite a few more have given up on it as well.

The Walking Dead (AMC):  So while most of the shows above are meandering and misstepping, TWD returns for its sixth season and proves why it's the top rated show on television.  The season premiere could have easily gone off the rails in lesser hands with the thousands of zombies it threw at us (is this the infamous "herd" from the comics?), but the crew behind the scenes know how to do something very important for good television: tell a story!  They throw us right into the middle of a new tale without resolving the cliffhanger from last season, but artfully use the flashbacks to bring us up to speed while also delivering the character and story development to balance the action scenes of dealing with the zombie mob.  It's a bit confusing at first, as if we missed an episode in the middle, but it also keeps us engaged asking what the hell is going on?  And most importantly, they answer those questions!  No mysteries upon mysterious, just good, solid story-telling.  Six season in and this show is still at the top of its game.

The Flash (CW):  And another show that's still kicking it, the first two episodes of The Flash's second season have been among its best.  I love that they are bringing in the whole Earth 2 storyline and that they keep mining the comics for ideas instead of just giving us thug-of-the-week tales.  And we haven't had too much of the soap opera diversions, though I know they'll be working them in.  It would be nice if they could up the game a bit and cut down on the copy-and-paste dialog, but the show has been fun enough this season that it hasn't bothered me too much.  I consider this one now my top guilty pleasure.

Supermansion (Crackle):  I've seen only the pilot of this animated superhero parody starring Bryan Cranston, but it had me rolling on the floor.  It goes into a lot of familiar territory with older superheroes still trying to prove that they have what it takes, but it gives just enough fresh spins on the subject and has plenty of witty lines that it doesn't seem like a retread.  It's walking a fine line and could easily go in either direction, but the first episode was a laugh riot!

Sci Fi TV Quick Hits: Fear the Walking Dead Shows Potential, Humans Disappoints, The Last Ship is Getting Quite Good

So Fear the Walking Dead has finally arrived and it looks like it could give us a decent backstory to the events that set up the world of The Walking Dead.  The premiere starts out giving us zombie-action right away as drug addict Nick wakes up from a bad trip to find his girlfriend (who we realize has turned into a Z) munching on some other unfortunate person.  Nick flees the scene and ends up getting hit by a car and taken to a hospital where his estranged family is called.  Some angsty family drama follows from that which really bogged the ninety minute premiere down, but slowly they started working their way back to the zombie origin story we are looking for and by the end of the episode things really started getting interesting.  I wouldn't be surprised if we get more of the family drama in the coming episodes because this show is not supposed to go full-zombie just yet.  Instead, we will get glimpses of the ensuing zombie-pocalypse from their perspective as it unfolds in its early days.  I'm hoping that the crew running the show will keep it from descending into Dawson's-Creek-meets-zombies, and their track record with TWD suggests that they will.  I'm definitely onboard with the show at this point, though not as excited for the next episode as I would be for a new TWD installment.  But as Fear the Walking Dead continues to grow, maybe I will find that I like this one just as much.

As for the show that just vacated the Sunday 9 PM EST on AMC, Humans, I just finished up watching that one on DVR and have to say that I am disappointed with it.  I had high hopes for this show thinking that it would explore some interesting speculative fiction ideas involving androids becoming more prevalent in society and also the rise of artificial intelligence.  But they really just skirted around those ideas and more often than not gave us Dawson's-Creek-with-robots and a bit of The Fugitive thrown in as well.  Some ideas about the androids' impact on a family's home were suggested early on (the child becoming more attached to the android than the parent, the husband having sex with the android, etc.) but never fully explored.  And instead of really delving into the AI angle, they gave us more of an "androids are people too" spin that left a lot of interesting ideas on the table.  I also had a hard time believing that the family would have risked all they did for these androids, especially after they learned that one of them was very dangerous.   I wouldn't call it a terrible show and the cast definitely did all they could with the material given them.  But Humans definitely underwhelmed and slipped too often into copy-and-paste.  And in the current sci fi overload environment I'm not sure I would make much effort to tune in to the show's second season (it will return in 2016) with so many other options available.

As for TNT's The Last Ship, that one is moving from the guilty pleasure category to becoming a damn good sci fi TV show.  It started out as basically G.I.-Joe-saves-the-world and gave us a more optimistic spin on the post-apocalyptic tale (as opposed to the grim vision of The Walking Dead and others) in which heroes emerge to give us hope for the future (go into that in more detail in the last edition of Sci Fi TV Quick Hits).  But it is now developing beyond that into a fairly well thought out story of how these heroes will help to rebuild the world and the show has also presented them with some interesting challenges to face.  The group of immunes who believe that they are the chosen ones to inherit the Earth present an intriguing set of antagonists that avoid (so far) television villain archetypes and give the crew of the Nathan James some moral dilemmas to deal with.  This show has never gone heavy on the moral quandaries, but it has thrown in its share and dealt with them pretty well.  I am still a few episodes behind on this one, but I am definitely enjoying and it appears to be developing into a well-rounded show that is realizing the potential of its premise and tackling some good stories.  Hopefully it can keep that up into its third season (which was announced just recently).

Sci Fi TV Quick Hits: The Last Ship Holds a Steady Course in Season 2, Zoo Delivers B-Move Fun, Between Surprises

With so many sci fi / fantasy shows currently airing, it's hard to watch and/or review all of them.  In this column I will be doing short reviews on some shows and chime in with my thoughts how how others are progressing. And note that I am typically behind on these shows on my DVR.

The Last Ship (TNT, Airs Sundays 9 PM EST):  This series--now in its second season--takes place in a post-pandemic world and follows the crew of a U.S. Navy ship that has discovered the cure and is now trying to help rebuild the world.  This series touches on some of the same themes as television's other post-pandemic show, The Walking Dead, but takes a very different approach.  Whereas TWD offers gut-wrenching drama with plenty of moral quandaries, The Last Ship gives us basically G.I. Joe saves the world.  But that's not necessarily a bad thing.  TWD looks at human nature from a more cynical (and arguably realistic) perspective, while The Last Ship gives us a more hopeful look at what the human race is capable of.  It basically assures us that there will be good guys when everything falls apart, and their spirit and determination will give us a chance for a better future.  And you know what?  The show pulls its premise off pretty well.  Consider it a salve from the dark turn genre television has taken of late (sometimes to good effect, sometimes not), and just sit back and enjoy routing for the heroes for a change.  I do like that The Last Ship has changed things up a bit in its second season as its less about the lone ship trying to overcome multiple challenges.  They have found the cure and set up a base in Norfolk and now the U.S.S. Nathan James is using this as a launching point to help rebuild the country.  That's a logical progression from the first season and keeps the show from getting into a rut.  We also aren't burdened with characters having a dark and hidden past or with storylines that pile one mystery upon the next (a common misstep with genre shows these days).  Its straight forward tales of rebuilding a country (and then a world) and having to deal with the bad guys that emerge in this setting.  Put your mind on cruise control and just enjoy well-plotted stories that don't task the grey matter too much but that also don't offend it.  (Season 2 Rating: 3 ½ out of 5 Stars after 4 episodes).

Zoo (CBS, Tuesdays 10 PM EST):  In a similar vein of not tasking the brain too much like The Last Ship is this new CBS series based on the novel of the same name by James Patterson.  The story here finds animals across the world (particularly of the feline variety so far) acting strange and turning against humans.  It hearkens back to 70's horror/disaster flicks like Swarm, The Food of the Gods, The Day of the Animals, etc., but it gives the subject matter a bit more serious treatment.  It still has that B-movie feel to it, which is a good thing, and it is treading a fine line of cheesiness that could go over the edge without too strong of a nudge.  But it's been a good, fun, end-of-the-world-is-coming romp across its first few episodes, and whether it starts to wear thin after thirteen episodes (and possibly more if it gets renewed) remains to be seen. (Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars after three episodes).

Between (Netflix):  I plan on doing a full review of this series once I have watched its full first season, but wanted to chime in early about this show that few people know about.  It's a Canadian-based Netflix original about a virus that kills everybody over the age of 22 in a small town, and among its stars is iCarly alum Jessica McCurdy.  I made the obvious mistake of assuming it would deliver the post-apocalypse meets teen angst when I first heard about it, in part because of McCurdy's involvement.  But that was a poor judgement on my part as I have found the show quite interesting after three episodes.  It's obvious that McCurdy is using this to try and step away from her teen star image and she is only one of an ensemble of players in this drama.  And even though the characters are all 21 and younger, this show takes more of a Lord of the Flies approach to their predicament than the mopey, angsty bent of so many YA genre tales these days.  This could actually be a prequel of sorts to The Walking Dead, or more appropriately the J. Michael Straczinski series Jeremiah (where a pandemic kills off everybody over the age of puberty, more on that one at this link).  I'm only three episode in so far (of a six episode season), but I like it.  And Netflix has renewed it for a second six episode season (that announcement is what brought it to my attention), so more is on the way.  It's definitely off to a promising start and I will report back with an update once I have made it through the first season.  (Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars after 3 episodes).