Some more new serials that I have started lately
Gotham (TV Series 2014 ) - IMDb - Another new take on the Batman story, though the version recounted in Gotham is not exactly in line with the Batman mythology especially of the comics. In fact in Gotham Batman is still a young boy and it is James Gordon a.k.a. Commissioner Gordon who is the main protagonist. Unfortunately though Gotham tends to make Gordon the hero he is not, at least not in the comics, though one needs to wait and see what direction Gotham ultimately takes. Coming to the series itself, it is highly entertaining and sets a very high standard from the very outset. That is not a bad thing in and of itself, though it remains to be seen if and when Gotham will come down. Truth be told, that has not happened yet and Gotham has maintained a uniformly high arc in terms of storytelling, performances, ambience, etc. and tells the story of a dark Gotham very well indeed. I'm not sure how long they can maintain the tempo, or how many liberties they can continue to take with the Batman story arc, but for now Gotham is indeed one of the best crime dramas on TV.
Special mention for the lead players Ben McKenzie and Donal Logue and a very spirited performance from Jada Pinkett Smith as Fish Mooney.
The Mysteries of Laura (TV Series 2014 ) - IMDb - Absolutely disappointing fare and one I probably shouldn't even be venturing into, nonetheless I was tempted to watch the first couple of episodes though it did not last and I gave up 15 minutes into the 2nd episode. The problem is with the lead Debra Messing who doesn't measure up, she never did as a heroine in Hollywood and now falls flat trying to play a single mother who has to juggle between her job and kids and solve crime. Terrible indeed, do stay away.
PS - It seems that Demi Moore was considered for the lead and that might have worked with better production values, Debra Messing however is a disaster.
The Flash (TV Series 2014 ) - IMDb - A spin-off from the successful Arrow, and entertaining fare that stands on its own. The story is about a forensic expert who gets struck by lightning and develops superpowers that help him to be fast, and I mean very fast to the tune of 300 mph and more, hence The Flash because everything is such a blur and nobody can see anything. Good entertainment, decent action and lots of pretty faces.
Jane the Virgin (TV Series 2014 ) - IMDb - The story is about a virgin who gets artificially inseminated and has to go ahead with the unplanned pregnancy because of various mitigating factors. Early days, but it is definitely entertaining and very different to everything else on TV right now. Gina Rodriguez as the main protagonist Jane does a very good job, but the rest of the cast is a bit of a hit and miss. Nonetheless, a very interesting premise about having to birth the child of another man, especially when you are a virgin does set things up very nicely for a storyline that can be entirely its own. Early days still, though I will definitely be watching. Good stuff though as things stand right now.
Constantine (TV Series 2014 ) - IMDb - I'm not sure what's up with serial makers who are hellbent on remaking comics as TV series, but at the same time don't want to stay true to the comics themselves. John Constantine is a bad ass demon hunter who also is dying from lung cancer and has reserved a place for himself in hell, at least that's the comic book version. The TV version though takes a somewhat comical approach, with the hero not exactly smoking all the time and definitely not suffering from terminal lung cancer. A more true to the roots Constantine would be dark, grim and definitely scary all probably not suitable for prime-time TV, but the more fun Constantine does not exactly disappoint either. An okay beginning, though one wishes for the brothers from Supernatural to show up, just have to wait and see how Constantine holds up. For now, I'm going to continue watching.
Stalker (TV Series 2014 ) - IMDb - Started with somewhat of a controversy and a lot of bad press because of the horrific crimes committed against women in the very 1st pilot episode. I however did not let the negative reviews deter me and from the few episodes I have seen I definitely like it. The series itself is okay and reasonably entertaining fare, however being a fan of Dylan McDermott I can definitely see myself enjoying it as long as it continues in the same vein. Maggie Q too holds her own in a somewhat serious role and performance. Entertaining fare, just don't put too much thought into it, simply kick back your shoes and enjoy a series solely dedicated to the stalker genre, a first on TV.
