All Rise and Bluff City Law. I review these two together because they are so similar -- and yet not. Both are legal dramas with a noted liberal bent. Both have delightfully, if not forced, diverse casts. So much the same, but with with critical differences. In a head-spinning flip, the NBC show (Bluff City Law) is formulaic and slow paced. The CBS show (All Rise) is fresher and less predictable. Bluff City Law focuses on the "big bad" of the week -- big pharma, corporate farming, hate speech, while All Rise focuses on the individuals -- the girl brought to court without pants, the young man trying to reconcile his friendship with someone who committed murder. Bluff City Law seems creaky and left me checking email. The fast-paced, clipped dialog of All Rise makes me sit up and take note. A recent episode had me grabbing for a hanky (happy tears). Reminds me a little of ER's first season, when the freshman hospital show went up against Chicago Hope. Both shows were good but guess which one won?
Mixedish. Successful Blackish follows up on their third spinoff with a worthy prequel which continues to explore racism and self-identity in funny, smart way.
Emergence. ABC's answer to Manifest isn't as good as Manifest and relies on far too many tropes (Twin Peaks flashing stoplights, anyone?) but has an intriguing cast, so I will hang in there for a bit. We need to support Sci Fi on network TV.
Almost Family. A strong cast and unique premise makes this a really good show. Being on Fox, where everything has to be sexed up soap-opera style makes this not a good show. Will have to see where this one goes. It has real potential -- for good and bad.
Stumptown. It's what you would expect. Engaging Colbie Smulders plays a really messed up woman who gets beaten up a lot. The supporting cast is also interesting so even though I'm tempted to delete it from the DVR queue, I haven't just yet.
Perfect Harmony. Sister Act was better, and less insulting to southern types.
The Unicorn. I like the cast and the quick dialog but am straining to find the funny in arch jokes about a widower starting up his dating life again. It can be a little uncomfortable. It stays. For now.
Sunnyside. As much as this improves over the Indian family sitcom it replaced, it wasn't much of an improvement. I got through two and the "stupid" factor was just too much. Give Diana Maria Riva a better vehicle and remember that those watching actually have a brain.
Carol's Second Act. How many jokes can be made about old people or teachers? This unoriginal sitcom seeks to answer this question and few others. Flat lighting, broad acting and none of the grounding and strong cast which made Scrubs work. This one, as predicted, was the first off my DVR.
Batwoman. The CW has gotten good at putting together superhero shows. This one is no exception. Thoughtful world-building, creative crafting of the origin story, a strong cast and terrific fight choreography come together again to reveal a gritty, engaging tale. This ain't no Metropolis folks. Power to the ladies.
Nancy Drew. I've only seen one episode so far but it calmed my fears about being "too dark" -- for now. Nancy Drew has grown up. Mom's dead, she's fighting with dad and sleeping with bad boy Ned Nickerson. Okay, it's a little dark. But the characters are dimensional and the mysteries well-crafted (with a nice early nod to the book series) so I might be able to hang in there for a bit. But I'm watching it during the day.
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