We’re making our way through October, which has left us with plenty of new series to check out. But what of these new shows are worth fitting into your busy Fall schedule? Let this weekly post be your guide as I look at the pilot and second episode of new shows this Fall. Don’t see a new show listed below? Check previous weeks.

Tuesdays:
NCIS: New York, Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBS (Premiered October 6)
About: This new spin on NCIS brings back Sam Hanna (LL Cool J) and pairs him with feisty New Yorker Nick Schaffer (Scott Caan) to solve crimes. It’s a simple enough set up with an expanded cast that includes Jennifer Beals, among others. If you’ve been a fan of other NCIS series, or just a good CBS crime drama, this is in your wheelhouse. It’s not anything new, but it’s pretty fun at times. The cases so far seem fairly entertaining, and it creates a solid block on Tuesdays.
Pilot Grade: C+
Second Episode: C+

VisionQuest, Streaming Tuesdays on Disney+ (Premiered October 13)
About: This new series puts the focus on Vision (Paul Bettany), or at least the new White Vision we saw birthed in WandaVision. He’s trying to figure out who he is. He still looks like Vision and has his memories, but he has no connections to his previous life. He’s also carrying around various AI in his head, including a version of Ultron (James Spader), which makes things crowded and kind of interesting. I liked the style and the mood of the first two episodes, which dropped Tuesday. Subsequent episodes drop weekly. This has an interesting hook and a good cast, but I wasn’t totally sold on the story in the first two. Still, there’s potential here and this will be a must for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Pilot Grade: B-
Second Episode: B-

Thursdays:
Eternally Yours, Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. on CBS (Premiered October 8)
About: This new comedy is about a family of vampires who have been together a long time and their new addition. And hilarity ensues!
Pilot Grade: C
Second Episode:

Cupertino, Thursdays at 10 p.m. on CBS (Premiered October 8)
About: This is the new legal drama from Michelle and Robert King set in the Silicon Valley. It stars Mike Colter and Rachel Keller as a pair of lawyers who come together to defend the little guy in an environment of corporate greed. I enjoy the comedy and the drama of the series. It was one of my favorite pilots of the Fall, and the second episode was just as good. The writing is crisp, and the production is solid. This has the potential to be one of their classic series and makes a great pairing with Elsbeth on Thursday nights.
Pilot Grade: B+
Second Episode: B+

Streaming Series:
Crystal Lake, Now Streaming on Peacock (Premiered October 15)
About: This new series from A24 is a long-form origin story for the killer in Friday the 13th, Pamela Voorhees (Linda Cardellini). It begins with the inciting incident involving her son, Jason, and the derelict camp counselors. Then we follow her over a series of months, learning about her past, her grief, and her anger over the course of eight hours. Of course, we know where all this is leading. The question is how much you care and how invested you are in having a deconstruction and justification of this killer. To me, series like this and some of the recent horror re-makes miss the point of why I watch. This was well made, and Cardellini is a talented actress. But I don’t need to know more about Pamela Voorhees, her background, and why she was a killer. If you do, this is for you. Or if you just want some more spooky season content, this will be worth the watch. Otherwise, this is kind of a miss.
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.