Ranking Fall 2013’s New Shows

It’s time to rank this fall’s new shows. I’ve seen every new network show and many new cable shows though I’m still missing a couple (Ground Floor and Ravenwood come to mind) that hopefully I’ll catch up on for posterity’s sake during a down period. Additionally, keep in mind this is mostly from one episode of viewing – I’ve only yet seen multiple episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Masters of Sex, and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It’s important to note that, and it’s possible some of these shows have sped up or slowed down since. However, I still think this is a useful exercise, for me if for no one else. Ranking with some short notes below.

1. Brooklyn Nine-Nine – the best new show and comedy of the season. Parks and Recreation creator Michael Schur shows that he learned the lessons from Parks and Rec’s slow start and hit the ground running with Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
2. Masters of Sex – very ambitious, new and interesting, could use a little more polish but easily worth adding to the schedule of any serious TV viewer
3. The Returned – I’ve only watched one episode but I’m intrigued and look forward to more – a show with a tinge of horror but not so easily definable
4. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – I really want this show to be better, and the fact that it’s in the fourth position says a lot more about the weakness of the Fall field, compared to a stellar Spring TV season than it does about this show. Absolutely not a must watch, but I try to maintain hope for what it could be
5. Sleepy Hollow – the next three shows might all have been above Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. if I had watched more of them but I haven’t – Sleepy Hollow’s blend of insane supernatural was surprisingly captivating
6. Dracula – within the horror genre, the inverse of Sleepy Hollow but about as successful, subdued and Victorian to Sleepy Hollow’s modern American form, but also sharing in love of crazy conspiracies
7. The Blacklist – a procedural done well, The Blacklist is also a little nuts, and James Spader being himself makes a difference in this being a solid show to a lousy one
8. Back in the Game – A surprisingly charming already cancelled comedy with a child actor I surprisingly didn’t hate
9. Trophy Wife – pretty much ditto Back in the Game except for the already cancelled – both I didn’t quite like enough to watch more but they were certainly cute
10. Reign – we’re switching tiers right around here – a CW-y historical drama starring the would-be Queen of France, it was attractive to the right audience which wasn’t really me
11. The Michael J. Fox Show – surprisingly decent show except for the fact that all the jokes were bad
12. The Originals – so-so vampire show, we’re in average territory
13. Welcome to the Family – surprisingly decent, Mike O’Malley has grown on me a lot over recent years
14. Almost Human – the future and androids – not particularly interesting but watchable enough
15. The Tomorrow People – the future and genetic mutation – not particularly interesting but not awful
16. The Goldbergs – we’re starting to get to the shows that are distinctly below average – supposedly heartwarming but I found it to be too much
17. Mom – this could be good if it was not made by Chuck Lorre in his laugh track-friendly style
18. Once Upon a Time in Wonderland – it started out with a chance to be better than the uber-cheesy Once Upon a Time but finished seeming like more of the same
19. Hostages – a really uncreative attempt at making a tense 24 like show without any of 24’s sense of fun
20. The Crazy Ones – Robin Williams does not turn it down one iota, and that’s a problem for me
21. Sean Saves the World – Sean Hayes hams it up – he’s a fine ham, but the show is way too hammy for me
22. Super Fun Night – a show about losers that unfortunately seem like they’re kind of losers for a reason
23. Lucky 7 – I thought this was a halfway decent premise about lottery winners but the reality is terrible uninspired
24. Betrayal – leader of this year’s “why does this show exist” balloting
25. We Are Men – disgusting terrible male stereotypes
26. Ironside – just bad, bad, bad – it should be hard to make a procedural this hackneyed but Ironside manages it
27. The Millers – so many talented actors making such a bad show it’s impressive – everyone involved can do so much better
28. Dads – disgusting everyone stereotypes

Tags: Fall 2013 TV Season