Fall shows are finally starting up again! And I'm planning on watching a bunch of them, at least for a little while, until real life gets too crazy. I'm also going to try to keep up with the mini reviews for the shows I'm current on - we'll see how that goes.
Gotham - Pilot: Of all the new shows this fall, this was probably the one I was the most excited for, and so far, it's living up to my hopes for it. As my husband stated within the first minute of the show, it feels like Gotham, and like Batman (or at least the Christopher Nolan version). The show set a dark tone right out of the gate, but at least in this episode, the unwavering moral stance of James Gordon kept it from feeling too depressing. (We'll have to see how long that lasts.) As a whole, it kept me interested, and the nods to characters who will become important in the future of this universe were an added bonus. I'll definitely be keeping watching this one, at least for as long as they keep Gordon in character. Overall grade: B+
Chicago Fire - Always: A show that knows what it's about doesn't need to have a flashy season premiere to be excellent, and this week's episode proved that Chicago Fire has that down. The draw of this show has always come from the relationships - not the romance, but the bonds of friendship that tie all of Firehouse 51 together. This episode wasn't action-packed; sure, there were a few calls, just like always, but the real strength of the episode came from the subdued expressions of grief, the masterful use of flashbacks, and the sense of a family coming together to hold each other up in the wake of yet another tragedy. Overall grade: A-
Modern Family - The Long Honeymoon: I really liked the plotline with Jay and Gloria this episode - your spouse is important and you should care about things that matter to them, including your appearance. The plotline with Alex bothered me at first, but the resolution redeemed it slightly - her family really does need her. And the webcam mishap made me laugh a lot. Overall grade: B-
Hawaii Five-0 - A'ohe kahi e pe'e ai: The opening scene/music combo was chilling, and the story itself was well plotted. The idea of a drone that can strike anywhere, without warning, is maybe playing a bit too much to current fears, but it worked. The bit with Danny and Steve getting their annual psych eval was hysterical, and Kono and Adam are too perfect together. Quite a decent episode overall, although the ending felt a little crammed with information and plotline introductions. Overall grade: B
