What I'm Watching: Fall 2015
Fall TV season is in full swing! With all the different channels and different shows, it can be hard to decide what to watch. Throw in sports and online streaming shows, and the amount of content can become overwhelming. Everyone has his or her own way of choosing which shows to watch and how much time can be dedicated each week to keeping up with TV. This year, I thought I would do a quick write-up of everything I'm watching this season and why I think it's worth watching.
A quick note on how I choose what to watch: Basically, I watch anything that I watched last year that is still on the air. If a show exists within a fictional universe that I'm already invested in (such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe), I'll watch it. If a show is suggested to me by someone I trust and share similar TV preferences with, I'll give it a shot. My TV watching habits are all over the place, but I hope you'll find something in here that is helpful to you.
Once Upon a Time
Sunday | 7:00 pm | ABC
Basically, Once Upon a Time is Lost but with fairy tale characters. The show airs on ABC, which is owned by Disney, so the number of different properties the show can borrow from is staggering. In its fifth season, Once Upon a Time is bringing in Merida from the movie Brave and bringing back fan favorite Mulan. I'm enjoying this season so far especially because it involves a lot of role reversal. Emma, the hero and savior, seflessly allowed the power of darkness to enter her body last season in order to save her friends, but now she is struggling with the darkness inside her as former villains Regina (the Evil Queen) and Rumpelstiltskin must learn to be heroes. Also of note this season is the show's 100th episode, which will air as the mid season premiere next March.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Sunday | 7:00 pm | Fox
I'm sure most of you are familiar with Andy Samberg from Saturday Night Live, Hot Rod, and the Lonely Island music videos. Brooklyn Nine-Nine is his first project post-SNL. It's a cop show about a precinct of detectives working to fight crime in New York. But don't let the premise fool you. This show is hilarious. Two of my favorite actors on this show are Terry Crews and Andre Braughner, who lead the wacky precinct and all of its shenanigans. It shows the more humorous side of life as a cop, but it also has some more tender moments as well. In a time when the police are constantly portrayed in the media in ambiguous ways, it's nice to have a show that lets us see the police as people with lives like the rest of us. This season (season three for anyone who's counting) shows the precinct dealing with their new leader and the (possible?) resolution to the will-they-won't-they question that's been hanging over Jake and Amy's relationship since season one.
Gotham
Monday | 7:00 pm | Fox
Gotham is basically the opposite of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. It's a crime drama set within DC's Batman universe. But don't expect the Dark Knight to show up anytime soon. This show takes place when Bruce Wayne is a young teenager. The main character is Detective James Gordon, a fresh veteran who returns to Gotham to rid the city of its corruption. Along the way, Gordon meets famous Batman villains like a young Catwoman, Penguin, Riddler, and even the Joker. Basically, the show documents how Gotham got to a point where it needed a vigilante like Batman in the first place. In fact, this season (the show's second) has been dubbed Rise of the Villains, and the bad guys are actually featured as prominently as Gordon. It's a really cool concept that's keeping me coming back each week for more. Gotham is one of the few shows I actually consider worthy of watching live rather than online later.
The Flash
Tuesday | 7:00 pm | The CW
DC Comics knows how to do TV well. They got a head start on Marvel on the small screen, and it shows. The Flash is DC's second show on The CW, technically a spin-off of Arrow (see below). Whereas Arrow is very grounded and features excellent stunts, The Flash is more science-fiction and features incredible special effects. The show follows Barry Allen, a young man who is hit by anti-matter in an explosion and gains the ability to run at superhuman speeds (told you it was sci-fi). Barry uses his powers to fight crime within Central City, especially in regards to other metahumans, people given special abilities from the explosion. Last season introduced the concept of time travel, and this year, Barry and his friends are navigating the complexities of parallel universes when a portal opens up to Earth Two and the other-worldly speedster Zoom shows up to kill The Flash. I think the show has lost a little bit of its momentum going into season two, but we're about to learn more about the main villain in this week's episode, so hopefully we'll pick up a little steam from there on.
Agents of SHIELD
Tuesday | 8:00 pm | ABC
Agents of SHIELD is set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (think Avengers) and tells the story of the mysterious government agency SHIELD being run by none other than Agent Phil Coulson, one of the most beloved characters from the early MCU films. If you liked Coulson in Iron Man or The Avengers, you'll love SHIELD. In its third season, SHIELD is continuing where it left off last year with the team seeking out Inhumans (genetically enhanced humans) across the globe in order to form a team. Besides Coulson, the show features some beloved comic book characters such as Mockingbird and Daisy Johnson (aka Quake). There are also some original characters that did not exist in the comics before the show, and some of my favorites are Melinda May and the scientific duo Fitz/Simmons. SHIELD gives Marvel fans a dose of the MCU universe every week and includes fun easter eggs from the films for fans willing to watch closely.
Grandfathered
Tuesday | 7:00 pm | Fox
I'm not going to lie. I started watching this show for one reason and one reason alone: the two lead actors. I've been a fan of John Stamos since I was kid watching Full House, and I basically grew up with Josh Peck as he went from The Amanda Show to Drake and Josh. In Grandfathered, Stamos and Peck play a father-son pair, and as you can imagine, the dynamic works really well. The premise of the show is that a successful single man finds out that he has a son he never knew bout. Sounds familiar, right? Well, there's a twist: At the same time Jimmy finds out he's a father, he also finds out that he is a grandfather. This sends his life into a tailspin as he has to reevaluate everything: his plans, his goals, his very view of himself. It's fun to watch Jimmy grow and learn how to be a family man after missing out for over twenty years. Grandfathered recently got a full season order, which means it's going to be around for a while. It's definitely worth a watch.
The Grinder
Tuesday | 7:30 pm | Fox
The Grinder is the name of both a real comedy show that debuted on Fox this year and a fictional crime show set within the universe of the actual show. The Grinder tells the story of two brothers, Dean (Rob Lowe) and Stewart (Fred Savage) as they deal with the end of Dean's long-running television show The Grinder. Dean, somewhat of a celebrity, moves in with his brother and decides to work at the family law firm, causing havoc for Stewart, who up to this point has been happy staying low-key and raising his family. Both brothers envy each other and push each other to become better. I loved Rob Lowe on Parks and Rec, and even though he's playing a very different character on The Grinder, he is just as hilarious. I didn't know much about Fred Savage before The Grinder other than the fact that he was Ben Savage's brother, but I enjoy his performance as well. This is a fun, family-friendly comedy that I enjoy watching when I just need a little brain break.
Arrow
Wednesday | 7:00 pm | The CW
Arrow was DC's first major TV show to come out in the wake of Marvel's huge movie success, and it set the precedent for DC's incredible television presence. Arrow tells the story of Oliver Queen, a young billionaire who returns home after being stranded on a desert island for five years. As soon as he returns, he begins donning a green hood and using his archery skills to rid Starling City of its crime. Along the way, he wins over the heart of his city and assembles a team to help him fight injustice and corruption. This show features a lot of growth on Oliver's part, and the use of flashbacks to his time on the island enhance the story and create mystery. Arrow is a great show for anyone who likes action, stunts, and hearing an angry guy yell, "You have failed this city!"
Star Wars Rebels
Wednesday | 8:30 | Disney XD
I promise this is the only cartoon I keep up with religiously, but can you really blame me? It's Star Wars. Rebels explores the time period between the two movie trilogies, a time when the Empire is building its strength and the Rebel Alliance is just beginning to form. The show follows a ship crew that includes a Jedi who somehow survived the purge, his new Padawan, a graffiti artist/explosives specialist, and a droid with an attitude. This season, the protagonists are finding their place within the young Rebel Alliance, and this comes with some growing pains. I love that this show gives me a dose of Star Wars every week, and I really appreciate the fact that there are several tie-ins to the Clone Wars series, as the show is created by the same crew. Star Wars Rebels is a great way to introduce kids to the Star Wars universe, but it's entertaining for adults as well.
Jessica Jone
November 20 | Netflix
When I found out that Marvel and Netflix were teaming up for a series of shows, I was immediately excited. Netflix is the kind of company that understands the power of fostering a loyal fanbase through engaging, fan-centered content. And Marvel has the material to turn that into a reality. I don't know much about Jessica Jones, but if Daredevil (Marvel and Netflix's previous collaboration project) is any indication, we can expect great things from this show. Marvel is putting a lot into these shows, already ordering a second season of Daredevil and planning two more series before the epic tie-in miniseries The Defenders (kind of a street-fighting version of the Avengers). These Netflix shows give Marvel a chance to show off their lesser-known characters in more drawn-out ways than big-budget movies, and I'm really pumped to see where they go with Jessica Jones.
Friends
Currently Available | Netflix
It's just a fact of life in this day and age. I'm always binging something. It's nice to have a show that I can turn on for a short study break or use for distraction from the pain when I'm at the gym. I probably don't have to make an argument for why you should watch Friends. It's classic, iconic American TV. But I have really enjoyed the few seasons of the show I've watched so far. I'm invested in the characters, their lives, and their relationships. There's a reason this show has stuck with people, and I'm glad I'm finally getting to experience that. It'll probably take me a while to watch through all ten seasons, but I'll get there eventually. It'll be worth the investment.
So that's what I'm watching this Fall. On paper, it seems like a lot, but I can't imagine giving up any of my shows. Whether you like to watch a lot of shows or just one or two, it's nice to have something to keep up with each week and to be able to engage with others about. So what are you watching this season? Do we watch any of the same shows? Are there some I should add to me list? Let me know in the comments!