We’re making our way through April and closing in on the Emmy consideration window. That means some high-profile new series are dropping just in time, but which of them are worth checking out? Let this weekly post be your guide as I review the pilot and second episode of new series this Spring. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Wednesdays:
Margot’s Got Money Troubles, Wednesdays on Apple TV (Premiered April 15)
About: This new series comes from David E. Kelley based on the novel of the same name from Rufi Thorpe. It features Elle Fanning as Margot Millet. At the outset, she’s a talented writer at a small college in Fullerton. She receives special guidance from her professor, Mark (Michael Angarano). Soon, an affair blooms despite the fact Mark is married and has a family. When Margot ends up pregnant, it throws her life into turmoil. Mark cuts her off, so she leans on her mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her father (Nick Offerman), a former wrestler and recovering addict. In order to pay the bills, she turns to a career on Only Fans, which sends her life in a whole new direction. There’s a good cast here, including Nicole Kidman and Marcia Gay Harden, who appear more in later episodes. The season is eight episodes, each running between 35 and 44 minutes. That makes for a quick watch. The first three episodes dropped on Wednesday, with new episodes dropping weekly through May 20. I really enjoyed Fanning in the lead role, and I like the way the series is laid out. This feels like one of the better new shows of the year so far and well worth checking out.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: B

Streaming Series:
Beef, Now Streaming on Netflix (Premiered April 16)
About: This anthology series from Lee Sung Jin debuted in 2023. It featured Steven Yeun and Ali Wong in a case of road rage gone really wrong. It was a hit that earned awards and rave reviews. Now, three years later, it’s back with a new cast and a new story that feels like something of a departure. It centers on two couples—country club general manager Josh (Oscar Isaac) and his wife Lindsay (Carey Mulligan) and country club employee Ashley (Cailee Spaeny) and her trainer boyfriend Austin (Charles Melton). They connect after a large fundraiser at work when Ashley and Austin try to return Josh’s wallet to his home. Instead, they spy Josh and Lindsay in the middle of a raging fight and capture video. It paints Josh in a bad light, so they use that to blackmail him into given Ashley an unearned promotion at work. Turns out that they’re all a bunch of schemers, as is the club’s new owner (Youn Yuh-Jung), which leads to some wild back-and-forth. This is a good cast with a solid production. The second season is eight episodes, ranging from 33 to 51 minutes. It makes for a quick enough binge and feels a bit different from the first season. I enjoy the cast and I like the idea here. This should be another solid addition to the franchise.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

Kevin, Now Streaming on Prime Video (Premiered April 20)
About: We’ve seen a number of adult animated series in recent years. This is another addition to that genre, coming from creators Aubrey Plaza, who voices one of the characters, Joe Wengert, and Don Murphy. It focuses on Kevin (Jason Schwartzman), a house cat who decides he needs a change when his owners break up and start making changes. He ends up in pet shelter where some new pets provide him a new outlook on life. The voice cast here includes Whoopi Goldberg, Amy Sedaris, and John Waters, among others. It’s an interesting concept that will likely make those who are fans of the genre happy. I wasn’t as taken with the story and the world. This didn’t feel like appointment viewing for me. The season is eight episodes, each around 30 minutes. The whole season is available to binge now, making for a short commitment for those who are interested.
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.