Duster knows exactly what it mainly is, which is a terrific vehicle for Josh Holloway. Rachel Hilson’s chemistry with Holloway is also a win, and sets up a wily criminals-and-cops yarn that delights in period references and music cues and exalts in the kind of car-as-character hero shots that defined a previous TV age.

Tempest definitely shows potential in its first episode.

Sanditon Season 3 is the show at its soapiest, smartest best and it’s well worth the wait for long-time fans.

This show is just as fun and irreverent as its title, but there’s actually more going on beneath that surface of snark.

There’s certainly information in the first episode that we either didn’t know or forgot, and Having historians like Stryker and Jules Gill-Peterson give their perspectives of that history helps contextualize things. We hope that as the episodes move towards more modern times, the reliance on recreations will subside.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew is beautifully-made and sweetly innocent, making it a radically rebellious take on a franchise that sometimes seems lost in its own lore.

The first episode of Buried draws viewers in by getting them on Eileen Franklin’s side, which will have even more impact once the other three episodes, detailing the trial’s aftermath, start to chip away at their initial confidence.

The doc succeeds in its pacing, its storytelling, and its genuine capturing of such an only-in-America story: that desperate hunger to be (and remain) one of the most influential athletes and public figures of all time, and the ultimate reminder of how someone can have it all, and yet, never enough.

In Treatment is saved by the performances by Aduba and the people playing her patients. But this is a show that feels like it’s from another time, despite the up-to-date references throughout.

It’s plenty strange and generates big laughs as well as tiny snorts of funniness along the way.

Twenties is definitely light on character development, but Gibbs shines as Hattie and the perspective the show presents is unique.

We want to see more of both of these guy’s worlds, like the obvious attraction Dan has for Jess and his interest in Zayna’s education, or what Kevin is building with Jasmine. The situations both get in might be funny, or (like in the premiere) they might not. But the more they’re steeped in the relationship between the two friends and their worlds, the better the show will be.

With the requisite beautiful photography and a funny but warm narration from Oswalt, Penguin Town is definitely something you can either binge or dip in and out of, especially if you’ve bought into the penguins as something akin to sitcom characters.

Smith eschews his normally wordy dialogue style, but keeps the characters smart and real, which helps us want to follow all of them as they go on their journey. He also hews closely to the convoluted world that is Eternia, where there’s layer upon layer of intrigue and mysticism that needs to be restored or captured. The animation is an upgraded version of the ’80s Filmation style the original show had, but with just enough retro touches to keep the show connected to its predecessor.

While the lack of laughs in the first episode is a bit concerning, we think Bloods still has promise because of the ensemble that settles into a good rhythm almost immediately.

Secrets Of Playboy does go into aspects of Hugh Hefner and his empire that people may not have heard before if they’re not following people like Madison closely. We just wonder if the revelations will start becoming repetitive or less shocking as the series examines each part of Hefner’s life and the brand he started.

We appreciate the fact that American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez treats its story with respect and not as a tabloidy story ripe for outrageous dramatic scenes. That and the generally good performances make the first season of this new franchise worth watching.

Stanley Tucci isn’t exactly the most relatable or warm presence as a travel host, but he is thorough, and Tucci In Italy is a good continuation of the journey through the country that he started on CNN in 2021.

While the evacuation aspect of Families Like Us makes us almost as queasy as one of the characters became while hearing that news, it does set up an interesting circumstance to explore family bonds and how they change in extreme situations.

Cobra Kai still has a great combination of character depth and self-referential humor that makes it one of the best shows of the reboot era. We’re just a tad afraid that the story has nowhere to go and will get more ridiculous than the first two seasons, but not in a good way (like those first two seasons).

Solar Opposites is weird enough in its own unique way to separate it from all the other animated comedies out there, and its anarchic vibe might be just the ridiculous distraction you’re looking for right now.

Based on the first four episodes that were given to critics, it’s too early to tell if The Old Man will be the indisputable masterpiece is promises to be. Regardless, one thing is clear: FX has something special on its hands.

Raw and impactful, the new season will keep viewers on their toes in more ways than one.

The first episode of House Of Guinness shows more than tells, and that’s because of Steven Knight’s expert skills in making his characters vibrant right out of the gate.

Even though the repetitiveness of some of the stock footage — closeups of recorders, Farrow looking at papers behind a microphone but not talking into it — might get old, the story is structured in a way that brings viewers in immediately, giving them information on it that they may not have known if they didn’t read Farrow’s book or listened to his podcast.

Mindy Kaling’s knack for creating three-dimensional characters makes The Sex Lives Of College Girls a funny and addictive show, despite the fact that there’s really no new ground being broken by its premise or characters.

We really wish Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. was less one-sided, but at least the side we see makes for an entertaining story.

We’re expecting a lot of tension and action in The Day Of The Jackal. The performances of Redmayne and Lynch give us hope that the tension can be sustained over 10 episodes, but we’re not sure if the intensity of the first episode can be maintained.