Best (and Worst) New Shows of 2013

I did the movie version, now here's the small screen version of shows that started in 2013.


Highlights
The Following



I spy an X-Man

Kevin Bacon, in his first TV role, hunting down a serial killer cult led by James Purefoy, and anyone can actually die? I'm there. It was unexpectedly dark, considering it airs on network television rather than cable, which is good because they need to adopt the cable-feel.
A certain character was introduced midway through the season and he's one of my favorite characters in TV ever.

It's 15-episode second season starts January 19, 2014. First season has 15 episodes.

Tuning into season 2? Yes.


Hello Ladies

Like The Office? Like cringe comedy? Then you'll love this. It's from Stephen Merchant, Ricky Gervais' less famous (but more talented) friend and creative partner. Merchant stars as a lovable loser who wants a girlfriend desperately. Almost every episode has some great guest stars. Each episode is just painful. Probably the most awkward show I've seen, and I really like it for that!

8-episode season has already aired. Not yet renewed for a second. *UPDATE JAN 23* Series has been cancelled but still very worth watching.

Would you watch season 2? Yes.

Bates Motel

Aldergrove set. I've been there.

Prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's arguably most famous film, Psycho. Freddie Highmore of stupid-movie fame stars as Norman Bates. This TV show made me jump on the Freddie bandwagon and realize he's a GREAT actor. Norman and his mother move to a new town and open a motel in the middle of a mysterious town with weird people living in it. Twin Peaksy.
The 10-episode second season starts March 3, 2014. First season is 10 episodes.

Tuning into season 2? Yes.


Orphan Black

Sarah Manning is walking around the train station when she sees a woman commit suicide. The woman looks EXACTLY like her. Sarah then takes her, Elizabeth Childs, identity. The series raises issues about the moral and ethical implications of human cloning and its impact on issues of personal identity.

 

The main actress, Tatiana Maslany, is an unbelievable actress. She portrays different clones of Sarah Manning, and it's so well done technically and actingly (not a word). Elizabeth's coworkers and friends, unaware of the switch, become suspicious of her weird behavior.

I can't talk about it too much without spoiling.

10-episode second season starts April 19, 2014. First season has 10 as well.

Tuning into season 2? Absolutely.

Hannibal

 

This one is a reboot of the Hannibal Lecter storyline. In the movies and books, Hannibal and Will Graham only meet twice, unlike the show where they are the two main characters. Laurence Fishburne, known as Morpheus from Matrix is in this too.
This show is unbelievably gory for a network show. Like holy crap, I'm surprised they could get away with it all. Here are two examples here and here.

Hannibal's actor, Mads Mikkelsen (the bad guy from Casino Royale), plays Dr Lecter as if Satan himself came down to earth in human form. It is so good.

Returns February 28, 2014 with 13 episodes. First has 13 too.

Tuning into season 2? Yes.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

I did not expect to like this. The trailer for it seemed really lame but it's really good so far! There's only been 13 episodes and I feel like I know the characters really well.

Andy Samberg, in his first TV starring role, is Jake Peralta, an immature but capable, detective and the show follows the other detectives antics in the workplace. It's a comedy, not a drama. Think of The Office but set in a police station instead and not as much awkward humor. Andre Braugher, known for his dramatic roles, does an excellent job deadpanning his lines, a great contrast with Samberg's character. Joe Lo Truglio AKA every comedy movie's supporting actor is in this as well, finally in a well-deserved starring role.

First 22-episode season is currently airing with the finale on March 25, 2014. Not renewed yet. *UPDATE MARCH 7* Show has been renewed for a season 2.

Would you watch season 2? Yes.

Disappointments
Ray Donovan

Liev Schrieber and Jon Voight are a family and they hate each other. Schrieber is also a "fixer", going around fixing stars, musicians, mobster's problems and making them go away.

I was disappointed in it because I thought there wouldn't be as much family drama as there was! I did not give a crap about his wife and kid's first world problems of not being able to hang out with Jimmy.

It was also pretty slow, and this is coming from a guy who watches and loves Mad Men. It's renewed for a second season to start September 2014. 12 episodes each season.

Will you watch season 2? No

Mob City


Mob City has some pretty sweet actors, and is made by Frank Darabont AKA showrunner for Walking Dead's season 1, but jumping right into some grey anti-hero stuff just didn't work for me. Plus the 1940s have been done to death. And even though they are 20 years apart, Boardwalk Empire does it much better with it's first season.

I'm just glad Mob City was only 6 episodes. Currently not renewed for a second season. *UPDATE FEBRUARY 10* Mob City has been cancelled.

Would you see season 2? No.

Has Potential
Under the Dome

Based on the book by Stephen King, I had decent expectations. Hardly any Stephen King adaptation is good. For every "Shining" and "Misery", there's a "Pet Semetary". It also has Hank from Breaking Bad, and he's awesome. And Jeff Fahey, Frank Lapidus from Lost.

 

The first three or so episodes started out really good and then kinda went down to a 7. The townspeople, 3 days after the dome hit, were way too calm and had already accepted it. And Linda the police officer is frustratingly dumb. Junior's character, unfortunately, has been watered down from the book, as has the whole show compared to the book.

For CBS, and especially for a summer show, I was impressed, but it could've been more. I also enjoyed how every season will have 13 episodes. All killer (potentially) and no filler.

The 13-episode second season (which I will be tuning into), will start June 30, 2014.

Agents of SHIELD

This show is part of the Marvel universe. And it's from Joss Whedon. It's not up to Firefly level yet, but it definitely has potential. It's about Phil Coulson and his group of agents finding weird superhero-related stuff and dealing with them. Yes, it's set AFTER The Avengers so that means that [SPOILER] is not dead. Intrigued about how/why? Then check it out.

I'm willing to stick with the show and see if it grows to be better. Things just don't feel truly dangerous yet.

The first 22-episode season is currently airing with finale in May. Not yet renewed.

The Blacklist

The only reason I tried it out is because of James Spader. Other than him, the show is just a typical cop show.

He is basically playing himself, and that's why it's awesome. Buuut the show has other characters, unfortunately, and each episode ends the same... everything is tied up in a bow with typical villain-of-the-week type stuff and Elizabeth wondering whether or not to trust him.

I may try it again but who knows.

Season 1 is still airing with the finale in May 2014, and second season (22 episodes) will start September 2014.

Siberia

Think of Survivor + Blair Witch Project + The River + a sprinkle of Lost and you got Siberia.

It's a drama shot in documentary style about 16 conestants who must survive in the Siberian territory of Tunguska. Soon, weird things start happening when a cameraman gets seriously injured.

 

I probably didn't explain the premise well, but I like the premise. I liked all the shows/movies that it makes up. The acting is over-dramatic sometimes. It starts out like typical Survivor but then around episode 4 it REALLY picks up. And there's only 11 episodes so it's short and sweet.

Not renewed for a second season yet, but it was super cheap for NBC to air so I think it'll come back, likely in the summer 2014. I would watch.