We’ve made it through President’s Day Weekend, but with the Winter Olympics still going full steam ahead, the flow of new shows has slowed. But if you have some extra time off, or you’re stuck inside because of the winter weather, you might be wondering which of these new shows is worth your time to check out. Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new shows this winter. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Thursdays:
Field Generals: History of the Black Quarterback, Streaming Thursdays on Peacock (Premiered February 5)
About: This new documentary looks at the history of the NFL, specifically focusing on the role of black quarterbacks. The episodes run about an hour and drop on Thursdays. It’s ideally timed for Black History month, though it’s not always an easy story to watch. The first episode went back to the earliest roots at the position, while the second focused on Warren Moon, the lone Black quarterback in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If you’re a fan of football and sports documentaries, this is a must watch. I’m enjoying the episodes and this deep exploration of the NFL and some of the players who’ve made the game great.
Pilot Grade: B
Second Episode: B

Love Story: John F. Kennedy, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, Thursdays on FX/Hulu (Premiered February 12)
About: This is the latest anthology series from producer Ryan Murphy. This first installment focuses on John F. Kennedy, Jr., and Carolyn Bessette. It’s based on the book from Elizabeth Beller and was adapted to series by Connor Hines. It features Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr. and Sarah Pidgeon as Bessette. The first three episodes dropped Thursday with the rest of the nine-episode season dropping weekly. The episodes range from around 40 minutes to an hour. It begins with the end of the story, a public event many in the audience will remember, then drops back seven years earlier and shows how they met and ended up together. The supporting cast includes Naomi Watts as Jackie Kennedy and Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy, among others. I liked the overall flow of the narrative, and I liked the lead actors. Most of us have heard of JFK Jr. and remember how he met his end, but I didn’t know as much about his life or his love story. The episodes were interesting and moved at a decent pace, and it makes me curious to see where this is going.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: B-

Fridays:
Neighbors, Fridays at 9 p.m. on HBO Max (Premiered February 13)
About: This new docuseries comes from A24. It focuses on the conflicts that arise between neighbors all over the country, yielding some wild and crazy results. There’s a phrase that goes, “good fences make good neighbors.” The folks captured in this series might well agree with that. In both of the stories followed in the pilot, running about 30 minutes, we have groups that have built homes in open spaces and are fighting to defend what is theirs. That includes a family who, during COVID, moved to wide open rangeland where their neighbors like to roam free and a woman who is fighting for access to a Florida Beach that is privately owned and maintained by wealthy beach front residents. It’s a fascinating look at the spaces, the arguments, and the back-and-forth battles on Social Media and in the courts. It says a lot about our society, probably none of it good, but it is somewhat fascinating. It felt like watching a slow-motion car crash at times, but I couldn’t look away. Is this peak TV? Maybe not, but it is certainly something interesting to watch. This series is six episodes, each dropping weekly.
Pilot Grade: B-

Streaming Series:
Can You Keep A Secret, Now Streaming on Paramount+ (Premiered February 12)
About: The latest series for Paramount+ is an import from England. It centers on Harry (Craig Roberts), who is reeling from the recent death of his father. He visits his mother (Dawn French), who has just gotten a $250,000 life insurance payment. But she has a secret to impart on her son. His father (Mark Heap) isn’t really dead. It was a misunderstanding they decided to use to collect a big payday. Now Harry is forced to try and help keep the secret while his father gets stir crazy and someone sends ominous notes indicating they know the truth. This is a wild premise for a series, yielding some interesting half hour episodes. The full six-episode season is now available to stream, making for a quick binge for those who are looking for something a little different and more off-beat. I thought the cast was solid and the premise felt unique, but I wasn’t incredibly taken with the idea. It felt like it was starting to wear thin as a premise by the end of the second episode. Still, for those looking for something different, this could hit the spot.
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode: C

How to Get to Heaven From Belfast, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered February 12)
About: This new dramedy for Netflix comes from the United Kingdom. It focuses on a group of four friends who were tight in school but have drifted as adults. Now, 20 years later, three of them are brought together when they find out their friend has died. As they arrive for the wake, they discover some irregularities that cast doubt on how it happened, or if their friend is even dead at all. The episodes here run around 40 minutes, offering a blend of humor and drama. The series is eight episodes, all now streaming. It makes for a unique and quirky binge. There aren’t any frontline stars that will be instantly recognizable by American audiences, though Michelle Fairley of Game of Thrones is part of the ensemble. I thought the pilot was quirky at times, but it felt a little too regionally specific at times. For those looking for original content, this could be a hit. But I wasn’t as taken with the first two 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.