Part of Emily in Paris’ charm is that the show never takes itself too seriously. That charming tactic is implemented again in Season 3, but the writers make [a] refreshing, effective effort to give characters, storylines, and relationship dynamics some added depth this time around.

Berry handles this all with the understated, dignified charm longtime viewers of GBBS will find utterly familiar.

Jack Ryan has successfully evolved its formula of spycraft and gunfights to accommodate John Krasinski’s brand of charm. In other words, it’s solidly-built, with just enough of everything that a show in this genre requires.

Stream it, if only for the presence of Ford and Mirren, and the fact that we know that Sheridan’s shows get better as they go along. But the first episode of 1923 does not do the presence of its stars justice, has disjointed stories and a glacial pace.

The Recruit is a mostly silly show, but Centineo has more than enough charm to carry viewers through the more absurd parts of the season’s ongoing plot, and there are enough veteran actors in the supporting cast to make us think the comedy-thriller tone of the first episode will be able to be sustained for the entire season.

Recipes For Love And Murder is carried by a warm performance from Kennedy and a surprisingly gritty turn by Fisher. But the story takes turns that involve the viewer in its season-long arc, even if the tone is similar to the light-drama, light-comedic one that we see with most of the mystery shows on Acorn.

There is potential for Kindred to go awry if she show’s writers end up concentrating on the wrong side of Dana’s time travel adventure. But it’s definitely an intriguing premise that brings up so many questions that we’ll keep watching to see if they’re answered.

Stellar characters, great performances, killer action, and — once again — some of the best costuming work on television can go a long way in covering up structural flaws. This year, I was promised a badass fantasy show, and I got one. It just wasn’t the one I expecting.

Little America continues to give positive stories about the immigrant experience in the U.S. without glossing over problems or covering things over with a thick layer of sweetness. The stories are inspirational but grounded in reality, and the second season is as entertaining as the first.

South Side is the kind of second-by-second hilarious where seemingly every line is telling its own joke. And at a breezy 30 minutes, you can fill out the hour laughing.

Harry & Meghan feels like a genuine and honest story of what it’s like behind palace doors.

Both sides of this story are interesting enough to sustain episodes where we go back and forth, waiting for the two of them to come together.

The necessary biopic parts are all here. But George & Tammy is buoyed remarkably by its two terrific leads, with Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain embodying the best and worst about the country stars as both distinct individuals and two people in a loving but combative celebrity relationship.

What would have otherwise been your average dating show is elevated by women you want to root for, the delightful Pedro, and the twist you never saw coming.

Of course you’re going to want to see Gary Oldman act his brains out and make it look like second-nature – he carries Slow Horses through its more boilerplate scenes.

There are nuggets of information in there that are enlightening. ... For the most part, though, it feels like we’re going to see four hours of mostly praise and maybe some good-natured ribbing from associates who think Branson tells his own story in a more grandiose way than how it actually happened. Your enjoyment of that will depend on how you feel about Branson.

If it weren't for Deborah Ayorinde and especially Sarah Niles, we'd likely tell people to skip Riches because it's so over-the-top soapy. But the two lead performances are so compelling that it will definitely make viewers flip to at least the second episode after the first is over.

A quality supporting cast and a light sense of humor also helps. Not every aspect of the show is light and airy, but it seems to know when it needs to be serious and when it needs to lighten things up. Because of this, Three Pines give viewers an interesting murder case to follow, quirky small-town folks with secrets, and a more serious case that tests its main character’s abilities.

Not only is the true story of The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe remarkable, but Marsan and Dolan make the Darwin’s scheme seem all the more believable, as well as funny and painful all at once.

If you go into The Barking Murders with the right frame of mind, it’s a tense and emotional drama about Stephen Port’s victims and their families.

If the only reason why you watch The Responder is to see Martin Freeman barely hold it together, then it’s a pretty good reason to watch the show. The rest of the plot is incidental to a performance by Freeman that utilizes all of his copious ability to be the aggrieved everyman who’s ready to crack at any moment.

Firefly Lane can be soapy and sappy, but it’s a fun ride full of humor and high stakes relationship drama. Heigl and Chalke are invested in their characters and they sell the friendship at the heart of the story.

Avenue 5 packs its half-hour episodes with laughs and a kind of manic absurdity that’s well-positioned to carry this comedy in whatever direction its hapless luxury space liner is pushed in next.

There is enough that’s interesting about Irreverent to keep watching for a few episodes. We hope we see more town and Paulo’s nemesis Mack than the tired stuff about Paulo trying to keep from getting killed by the mob.

We finally have a sequel that continues the Willow saga with the heart and soul the story deserves. Disney+‘s new series Willow is a raggedy, hilarious, and absolutely enchanting continuation of the Lucasfilm cult classic. Instead of wallowing in “grimdark” imagery or losing itself tripping over unnecessary mystery boxes, Willow embraces the joy of its source material. Willow is a tour de force of fun and fantasy frivolity.

In its second season, Gossip Girl has morphed into exactly what you want from a reboot. The costumes and directorial work are more refined and swoon-worthy than the original, and even though the drama is new, it feels familiar. There is a real sense that this is a new chapter in a beloved story.

I loved it. ... The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special delivers in every single way.

Short of Michael Jordan, there’s no figure in basketball history quite as compelling as Shaquille O’Neal, and SHAQ is a worthy documentary treatment of the man, myth and legend.