2016 Promising New TV Dramas - Or NOT
Hot new dramatic television series or loser? Check out my comments which I add as the show airs and how many stars I give it.
This list is the most extensive list of 2016 TV dramas on IMDb. I'm always adding new material as it becomes available so check back from time to time to see what's new.
This list is the most extensive list of 2016 TV dramas on IMDb. I'm always adding new material as it becomes available so check back from time to time to see what's new.
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- CreatorBrian KoppelmanDavid LevienAndrew Ross SorkinStarsPaul GiamattiDamian LewisMaggie SiffNew money means no mercy as Mike Prince takes the Axe Capital throne. Chuck Rhoades is convinced no one should have that much wealth - or power. As all the players seek out new alliances, only one thing's for certain - wealth means war.This one gets 9 stars right out of the gate. This series is sterling on all fronts--writing, directing, acting--for the entire season. How can you go wrong with Paul Giamatti, Maggie Siff and Damian Lewis?
9 stars. - DirectorDominic CookeStarsTom BeardMax BennettHugh BonnevilleFollowing his father's early death and the loss of possessions in France young Henry VI comes to the throne, under the protection of the duke of Gloucester. He is unaware that there are other claimants to the throne, Plantagent of York and Somerset of Lancaster, whose factions will ultimately cause the Wars of the Roses. Ignorant of the schisms Henry tries to unite them in the Hundred Years War, capturing Joan of Arc, before he marries Margaret of Anjou to unite England and France, but there is no dowry, angering the court. Margaret finds the pious Henry a dull husband and embarks upon an affair with Somerset as well as crossing Gloucester's wife Eleanor. When Gloucester is arrested for alleged treason because of Eleanor Henry is too feeble to prevent his death or the country slipping into civil war.
- CreatorRobert KirkmanStarsPatrick FugitPhilip GlenisterWrenn SchmidtA young man searches for answers as to why he's been suffering from supernatural possessions his entire life.This opening episode was shocking and deeply disturbing, but then, it is meant to be. Demonic possession ala The Exorcist. Not for the faint of heart. With comicbook trope being all the rage these days and Robert Kirkman, (creator of the comicbook version and The Walking Dead), on board, this looks like a winner. Great to see Philip Glenister in an American show doing an American accent and doing it so well.
9 stars. - StarsHarry RichardsonTom HollanderStefanie MartiniPenniless Mary Thorne grows up with her uncle, Doctor Thorne, and develops a friendship with the family at the nearby Greshamsbury Park estate.Written by Julian Fellowes, of Downton Abbey reputation, the first episode promises not to disappoint but it wasn't stunning either. With a stellar cast (for the most part) and Anthony Trollope's classic tale, Fellowes would have to work hard to fail, but we won't just let him ride those coat-tails without showing some effort. The music, I have to say, is hideous--not only is it just wrong, but it gives the series a very dated feel.
7 stars. - CreatorBlake CrouchChad HodgeStarsMichelle DockeryJuan Diego BottoTerry KinneyLetty Raines is a thief and con artist whose life is always one wrong turn, one bad decision, from implosion. Which is just how she likes it.I had my doubts that Michelle Dockery, in a polar opposite character from the stiff, ultra proper Lady Mary of Downton Abby fame, could pull off such a departure from the character we know so well, but she absolutely does.
Even though the writing is a little shaky, Dockery & Juan Diego Botto create a chemistry that's mesmerizing. There are lots of moments where I found myself holding my breath. I really look forward to the next episodes.
9 stars. - StarsJoanne FroggattAlun ArmstrongIsla McMonigleA two-part drama about the Victorian serial killer Mary Ann Cotton.Joanne Froggatt could not save this poorly written mini-series no matter how talented she is.
4 stars. - StarsPaul DanoJames NortonLily JamesAs the Russian conflict with Napoleon reaches its peak, five aristocratic families face the possibility of their lives being changed forever.Good. Paul Dano is an unlikely lead but he strengthens with his character as does the rest of the cast. Definitely picks up with each episode.
8 stars. - CreatorAdi HasakStarsJennifer LopezRay LiottaDrea de MatteoHarlee Santos, New York police officer and single mother, is forced to work in the F.B.I.'s anti-corruption task force while dealing with her own financial problems.Nothing unique here except J-Lo playing lead. I just saw the pilot and it seems like a decent cop show but nothing that hasn't been done many times before. Ray Liotta, however, is great in this so far.
7 stars. - CreatorJames DormerStarsKieran BewJoanne WhalleyEd SpeleersHeroic legend Beowulf gallops through the epic and mythical Shieldlands, to his childhood home of Herot, hoping to set right past wrongs.Pretty disappointing. The wardrobe mistress & set designer should be shot. GoT it's not.
5 stars. - CreatorMichelle KingRobert KingStarsMary Elizabeth WinsteadDanny PinoAaron TveitA government employee discovers that the cause of the tensions between the two political parties is a race of extraterrestrial insects eating the brains of the politicians.After watching first episode, I reserve judgement until I see more. It's supposed to be a comedy-drama-thriller-syfy-horror? My initial take is that it needs to decide what it is.
I'll rate it after a couple more shows. - CreatorDavid HudginsStarsDavid LyonsMichael Raymond-JamesLarenz TateA rising attorney finds his perfectly crafted life threatened when his long-lost childhood friends threaten to expose a dark secret from their past.Based on the Turkish series, Suskunlar (The Silent), which was based on Sleepers, the pilot was decent. I don't know how they'll keep it going as series once the story plays out. It should be a mini-series.
8 stars. - CreatorMichael D. FullerGraham GordyStarsLogan Marshall-GreenJodi BalfourDamon HerrimanQuarry, a disillusioned Vietnam War vet, returns home to Memphis in 1972 only to find rejection and scrutiny at every step. A mysterious man known only as The Broker gives him an offer he can't refuse - to work for him as a hitman.Quarry" premieres Friday, Sept. 9 on Cinemax.
Lots of style, not so much substance. Decent acting but the characters are creepy in a trailer trash sort of way. I found little about them that was interesting. Takes itself so seriously that the effect is depressing. But, hey, maybe it will get better.
7 stars. - CreatorGlen MazzaraStarsBradley JamesMegalyn EchikunwokeOmid AbtahiAfter discovering his origins, Damien Thorn must cope with life as the Anti-Christ.This is actually good... it takes up where The Omen leaves off when the kid is now a grown man. The first episode is good - starting out in present day Syria amidst the turmoil there. It's too soon to tell much except that I hope they've used better writers in the upcoming episodes - the dialogue was a bit puerile and disjointed. But I want to give it more time. Afterall, the anti-Christ is complicated... Barbara Hershey is truly creepy and Bradley James as Damien does a good job of being very conflicted.
8 stars. - StarsMelissa GeorgeDave AnnableDon HanyA look at the professional and personal life of heart transplant surgeon Alex Panttiere.I'm a fan of Melissa George, but this series tries too hard to be SOMETHING -- but I'm not sure what... A glam Grey's Anatomy? The female House? It's too frenetically cliché with a twist of narcissism that tries to be clever.
5 stars. - CreatorNatalie ChaidezStarsNathan PhillipsBritne OldfordMark Coles SmithThe disappearance of a decorated FBI agent's wife leads him to a secret government unit assembled to hunt a group of ruthless terrorists--shadowy figures that may or may not be from this world.A sloppy mash up of Alien with Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Britne Oldford is spectacularly bad and only outdone by Mark Coles Smith. Not even in the throes if convulsive boredom would this be watchable.
3 stars. - CreatorJenna BansStarsJoan AllenRupert GravesAlison PillA community is rattled when a politician's son, who was presumed murdered years ago, returns home.I had a feeling I'd seen this before and as it turns out, I had -- the documentary, The Imposter which was exceptional. The Family, however, is not exceptional in any way. Unless you count exceptionally bad dialogue, exceptionally annoying actors, etc,, etc.
5 stars. - CreatorChris CarterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiTwo F.B.I. Agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained, while hidden forces work to impede their efforts.Caveat: I'm a fan of the original series so I'm prejudiced. Love seeing an older, wiser version of both Mulder & Scully but I admit to a few eye rolls during the 1st episode which made me wonder if there isn't a good dose of tongue-in-cheek behind the writing material... Will only be 6 episodes.
6 stars. - CreatorRyan J. CondalCarlton CuseStarsJosh HollowaySarah Wayne CalliesPeter JacobsonIn the wake of a mysterious alien invasion, a family fights to stay together in a new world order.Yet another dystopian series... Very forgettable...
4 stars. - CreatorBridget CarpenterStarsJames FrancoSarah GadonGeorge MacKayJake Epping, a teacher, gets a chance to travel back in time to avert the death of John F. Kennedy. However, history's aversion to alteration and his love for the era and a woman endanger him.Great premise. Franco is really good, getting better with time. I was hooked after the pilot because the premise is fascinating. The consequences of trying to change the past to save the future seem to be what drives each episode. It's an interesting concept that the past fights back. With pros like Bridget Carpenter & Stephen King writing the screenplays, I'll bet on this one to be a winner.
9 stars. - CreatorJulie PlecStarsDavid GyasiChristina MosesChris WoodThe series follows an epidemic that breaks out in Atlanta, leaving the large city quarantined and those stuck on the inside fighting for their lives.Such bad writing, directing and acting should be illegal. I was interested in the concept, but the story unfolds as if we were 5 year olds who couldn't possibly get the idea unless it was spoon-fed to us. Combine that with fatally annoying characters, stupid dialogue and over acting and I get angry that so much money went to idiots and not decent talent--of which there is plenty.
1 star. - CreatorLisa JoyJonathan NolanStarsEvan Rachel WoodJeffrey WrightEd HarrisAt the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, waits a world in which every human appetite can be indulged without consequence.It took time for me to warm up to this series but I have to admit, there's never been one quite as original. Apart from loving to watch two old pros Anthony Hopkins & Ed Harris deliver pitch-perfect performances, Thandie Newton is a real standout in this story within a story... I'm not a gamer myself (though I could be) and I suspect that people who are would love it, but Westworld avoids being limited to only that demographic by tackling a bigger philosophic issue like, "What is really the nature of reality?"
Definitely 9 stars. - CreatorOlen SteinhauerStarsLeland OrserMichelle ForbesMina TanderFollows a CIA team in Berlin and their clandestine activities.The cast is excellent and so is the production, which takes advantage of interesting international locations... but there's one big problem--the story is dull. After 5 episodes, I don't care about most of the characters who all seem primarily obsessed with keeping their jobs and screwing over some other character... snore... Once in a while, a terrorist plot. is thrown in... zzzzzzz... The only interesting character is Rhys Ifans.
7.5 stars, - CreatorErica MesserErica MeredithStarsGary SiniseAlana De La GarzaDaniel HenneyAn international unit of the FBI charged with coming to the aid of, and solving crimes involving, American citizens in foreign countries. A spin-off from Criminal Minds.If you don't mind the original formula-laden Criminal Minds, this series won't disappoint. Same show--different actors: Gary Sinise in exotic locations solving international crimes. That's it. That's the whole attraction.
7 stars. - CreatorRob BlackiePeter BlackieStarsJason MomoaLandon LiboironZoe BoyleFollows Declan Harp, a half-Irish/half Cree Native-Canadian outlaw who is campaigning to breach the Hudson's Bay Company's monopoly on the fur trade in Canada.A bit rough around the edges but a good cast and an interesting premise.
7.5 stars. - StarsJoanna VanderhamJohn LynchJulie GrahamA horrific murder rocks the lives of two families living side-by-side in isolated rural Scotland.I lost interest after the second episode because I found the plot tedious and the characters uninteresting.
6 stars.