The holidays are over and the grind of winter has begun. That could leave you spending more time indoors and looking for something to watch. You might want to turn to a new series, but what of the new options are worth your time to check out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new series this winter. Let’s dive in.

Tuesdays:
Best Medicine, Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on FOX (Premiered January 4)
About: This new series, featuring Josh Charles as a big city surgeon who takes a post as a small-town doctor after difficulty in his life, got a jump start on Sunday. It aired its pilot behind football, but will air it again tonight! Charles plays Dr. Martin Best, who doesn’t really like people or social situations, but for some reason ended up in a small town that feels a bit like Stars Hollow. It’s a unique set up for a series, which also features Abigail Spencer and Annie Potts among the supporting cast. I like Charles, who is playing against his typical type here. There were some amusing moments and quirky residents galore in the pilot. This will give FOX a medical block on Tuesdays, paired with second-year series Doc. I think there’s potential in the premise and the execution. For now, I’m in.
Pilot Grade: C+

Streaming Series:
The Copenhagen Test, Now Streaming on Peacock (Premiered December 27)
About: For some reason this high-profile new spy thriller is getting a big ad campaign—including before theatrical features—and was dumped en mass in the middle of the holiday dead period. When you watch the show, you can feel the conflict. I like Simu Liu, who plays the son of an immigrant desperate to prove himself to the United States intelligence agencies. Unbeknownst to him, his brain is hacked through some new experimental surveillance technology. When the hack is discovered, his superiors offer him a chance to prove himself by turning the tables on whoever is responsible. The episodes are about an hour each, and at times you feel their length, at least in the first two. That’s the downside. But there is intrigue in the premise and a solid cast, which includes Melissa Barrera as an agent assigned to help Liu’s Alex on the case. All eight episodes are now available to stream and this is an engaging enough binge, especially for those who dig spy dramas.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Run Away, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered January 1)
About: As has been tradition the past few years, Netflix kicked off the new year with a limited series based on a Harlan Coben novel. This one features James Nesbitt and Minnie Driver as parents who are searching for a missing daughter that got caught up in the drug life. When her boyfriend is murdered, it leads them deeper into a world of intrigue. The rest of the cast is solid, including Alfred Enoch as a detective convinced Nesbitt’s father is guilty. The set up works OK, with episode running about 45 minutes. The series is eight episodes, bringing the book to life, which makes it longer than some adaptations. There was some to like here, and if you caught it early in the year before things returned, it might have been worth the investment. I ended up not caring much about the resolution, so I quit after a couple episodes.
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.