We’re into December and the final wave of shows for 2024 is nearly upon us. With the trappings of the season and holidays, you might find your spare time squeezed. So, what’s worth your time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new scripted series this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Mondays:
Get Millie Black, Mondays at 9 p.m. on HBO (Premiered November 25)
About: This new series is a five-episode drama co-produced with the BBC and set in Jamaica. It centers on a detective who spent time in England before returning home, and quickly getting drawn into an international murder mystery. I like Tamara Lawrance here in the lead role, but there’s a lot going on in this show. There’s a lot of threads being pulled around our lead character and through two episodes we’re not seeing a lot of them pull together in a clear way. The series is only five episodes, which likely means a quick resolution is coming. But to this point, the series feels a bit too unfocused to really hold my gaze.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C

Tuesdays:
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Streaming Tuesdays on Disney+ (Premiered December 2)
About: This new Star Wars adventure will stream weekly on Tuesdays, but it got a two-episode premier on Monday. It comes from Christopher Ford and Jon Watts, set in the time after Return of the Jedi, but in a remote part of the galaxy that feels disconnected from the stories of the films and other shows. It focuses on a group of kids who live on a settled planet with their future seemingly mapped out. But they have a sense of adventure. It leads to a discovery that takes them on that adventure, whether they’re ready or not. The details of the plot are being kept under wraps, and I won’t spoil that here. Suffice to say this is a different kind of Star Wars series. While the cast includes Jude Law and Kerry Condon, they feel like supporting players to the young series stars. I particularly enjoyed Ravi Cabot-Conyers, who plays Wim, and Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who plays Fern. They seem to be having some fun with their part. This feels a bit like a journey aimed at some younger viewers. It could be for Star Wars what something like The Goonies was to viewers of a certain age. I enjoyed the first two episodes, which introduce the characters and the world. The pilot runs about 40 minutes, with the second episode settling in around the 30-minute mark. This eight-episode series presents something different, seeking to expand the galaxy of Star Wars and introduce us to new characters and places. That’s fun in the early going and I’m hopeful it will remain fun throughout.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: B-

Sundays:
The Agency, Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime (Premiered December 1)
About: This new spy drama, based on the French series The Bureau, airs Sundays on Showtime. It also streams Fridays on Paramount+. The first two episodes dropped this week, with the rest of the 10-episode series drops weekly. The first two episodes were each about an hour, setting the tone for the rest of the series. It features a loaded cast led by Michael Fassbender, Jeffrey Wright, and Richard Gere. It centers on a unit of the CIA centered in London and conducting missions around the world. Gere serves as the Unit director, with Wright in a bureau chief role. Fassbender is an agent returned to the office after six years under cover in the field. But he’s struggling leaving his own life and cover behind. Soon, they’re drawn into a new incident that threatens the future of the agency and its missions in Russia. Can they stop the threat? The rest of the cast is solid, including veteran actors like John Magaro, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Katherine Waterston. The production is solid and there’s intrigue building in the first two episodes. But it certainly plays out at a slower pace than other spy shows like Lioness and The Diplomat. That will be a detriment for some viewers. Still, there’s potential here with this cast and source material that make it worth checking out this journey.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C+

Streaming Series:
The Madness, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered November 28)
About: This new Netflix series features Coleman Domingo in a wild and complex plot. It’s ostensibly a mystery series focused on a controversial news pundit who takes a trip to the Poconos, where he stumbles onto a murder. By the time he reaches out to authorities, the scene is clear, and no one believes him. Then he starts to become a suspect and soon feels his life spiraling out of his control. The supporting cast includes John Ortiz and Deon Cole, among others. The whole eight-episode series is available to stream, with episodes running 45-50 minutes. Domingo is a great actor who sinks into this role. The rest of the show around him has some intrigue, but the first two episodes play out in a strange fashion. That can make it somewhat of a tough watch. There’s potential, and Domingo is great, but the narrative is a bit awkward to this point.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.