Season 1
I don’t know how compelling American Crime Story will be in season two, but its debut season was a thought-provoking ride that cleverly tackled the OJ Simpson trial through first-rate performances (hello Sarah Paulson) and a sharp narrative focus. Ryan Murphy might have ruined the last few seasons of American Horror Story, but his second anthology series was an undeniable success (probably because he didn’t write it). Highly recommended.
Nad Rating
A-
Season 1
Marvel’s second Netflix series, Jessica Jones, was a breath of fresh air thanks to its tremendous superheroine and its commitment to dark and unsettling themes. Not only did the show’s first season give us a superb villain in the form of the mind-controlling Kilgrave, it explored the complex psychology behind its traumatized protagonist in some powerful ways. I for one, can not wait for season two. Amazing stuff!
Nad Rating
A
Season 1
Supergirl had a very uneven first season. Its pilot showed promise, but it lost a lot of momentum with some cheesy developments and annoying freaks-of-the-week. Nevertheless, the show eventually found its footing, and learned how to make the most out of its talented cast (Calista Flockhart was a particular highlight) and its uplifting message. In addition, Melissa Benoist, the actress behind our title character, never once floundered in her heroic and inspiring portrayal of the strongest woman on Earth. With the recent news of the show jumping ship to The CW (where its fellow superhero shows reside), the prospects of multiple crossovers and an improved season two definitely amp up the excitement. I couldn’t be happier this delightful show got renewed (plus, that finale was perfect).
Nad Rating
B+
Season 1
Although Narcos wasn’t exactly my cup of tea (I like my superheroes and action hijinks), I can’t deny that the show’s debut season was impeccably written and produced. Wagner Moura’s performance as the notorious Pablo Escobar was especially glorious, dually injecting the series with a sense of dread and humanity. Sadly I never found myself emotionally attached to the show, and that means I’m not too excited for what comes next. Nevertheless, if the prospects of a “true story” intrigue you, then definitely give this classy production a shot.
Nad Rating
B+
I gave up on finishing the debut seasons of the below shows because they simply couldn’t hold my interest any longer. It’s a shame because they both had so much potential starting out. Nevertheless, the ever-awesome Chris is here with his thoughts!
Season 1
A part of me was always worried The CW’s newest superhero saga wouldn’t live up to expectations, and sadly Legends of Tomorrow ended up being quite disappointing. The show managed a fine line between cheesy and entertaining at first, but the writers never got a proper handle on their characters. Kendra’s Hawkgril, in particular, was a complete mess from the start, despite being an integral part of the show’s mythology, and including her in a lame (and rushed) romantic subplot with Ray Palmer only made things worse. Also, regardless of how often the show tried painting its Big Bad as powerful, Vandal Savage came off as unthreatening and corny with Casper Crump adding absolutely nothing to the character. Luckily, Caity Lotz was a constant badass throughout the entire season, and the finale, despite some huge glaring flaws (the Savage resolution was underwhelming), does hold some hope that season two will course-correct.
Chris Rating
C
Season 1
After Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder (season two at least), I had very high expectations going into Shondaland’s newest creation, The Catch. Mireille Enos seemed perfect for the role at first, but after ten frustrating episodes, it became exhausting trying to decipher her facial expressions. In addition, co-star Peter Krause was saddled with a terrible script that had him constantly switching allegiances, affording him zero character development in the process. Moreover, the show fell victim to a whole lot of pointless standalone cases, all of which lacked any exciting twists, not to mention useless supporting characters (hello, Sophie). Ultimately, it all culminated in a weak finale that has me questioning whether I’ll even be watching this mess next year (yes, it’s sadly been renewed).
Chris Rating
C-