After a few weeks of silence from the major networks for the holiday break, TV is back this week in a big way. Whether it’s a returning show that took a mid-season break, a new season getting under way, or an entirely new series getting kicked off, there is a lot to look forward to this week. Here’s what we’ll be watching and reviewing.
Galavant – ABC
Similar to another ABC show, Once Upon a Time, Galavant is a fairy-tale themed show but with a musical twist. The series is created, written, and produced by long-time writer Dan Fogelman, who has writing credits for Disney’s Cars, Tangled, and Bolt, as well as 2011’s Crazy, Stupid, Love, and more. It will star Joshua Sasse, Luke Youngblood, Timothy Omundson and feature a cameo from John Stamos as a singing knight.
Galavant is being billed as a comedy musical, which coupled with the fact that it features a cameo from John Stamos, could point to it either being extremely campy, or a hilarious romp of great comedy. While it likely won’t reach Mel Brooks level of Robin Hood, Men in Tights hilarity, it has some potential and an encouragingly fun trailer. It will debut on ABC tonight at 8/7c with two back-to-back episodes and run for four weeks.
Gotham – FOX
Despite Gotham not having the greatest reviews in the world from most outlets, I really enjoyed the first half of the show’s debut season. It’s starting to chop apart the established Batman canon, but as far as a standalone crime drama with some super hero touches, it’s a fun watch and a competently made. Robin Lord Taylor is absolutely stealing the show as Oswald Cobblepot aka The Penguin, and even the child actors portraying young Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle are passable.
A lot of iconic characters have been touched on so far in the series (arguably a few too many) but one in particular who won’t be making an appearance anytime soon is fan-favorite Harley Quinn. The Joker’s on-again-off-again insane girlfriend and sidekick won’t be on the show despite being hinted at during Comic Con last year. As showrunner Bruno Heller told Entertainment Weekly in an interview last November, “We haven’t got Harley Quinn in it. Riddler’s girlfriend is coming up. And Harley Quinn is definitely planned for later on, but so far no.”
The second half of season one will kick off shortly after the events of the mid-season finale, with the rival gangs of Gotham starting to struggle for control and detective Gordon being assigned to Arkham. Gotham kicks off on January 5th at 8/7c.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf4Tqf7RLe0
Agent Carter – ABC
Also airing on ABC will be Agent Carter, which tells the story of Agent Peggy Carter – one of the founding members of S.H.I.E.L.D. and friend to Captain America. The show takes place before she helped create the super hero agency, but will likely delve into the beginnings of its foundation. Instead, Agent Carter revolves around Peggy’s time as a double agent with her work between Strategic Scientific Reserve, and helping Howard Stark. According to a featurette that Marvel posted earlier this week, the show will heavily emphasize the mental toll that such a job takes on a person.
The very similar Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., also an ABC show, has suffered a bit in terms of being stretched to fit over the course of long 22-episode seasons. Agent Carter will shed that burden and instead be condensed into eight episodes for its first season. It won’t have the amount of time to gain steam like it’s counterpart, but if Agent Carter can hit the ground running, the show could turn out to be an instant hit.
Agent Carter will air on ABC in with back-to-back episodes (I’m sensing a theme, ABC) January 6th at 8/7c.
Archer – FX
Archer kicks off its sixth season this week as well. Following a critically acclaimed fifth season, in which the show took up the moniker Archer: Vice, Sterling Archer and the rest of ISIS the CIA will continue to take espionage missions and backstab each other at every turn. This has been one of my favorite comedies on TV since it debuted five years ago, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for season six. Archer debuts on January 8th at 10/9c on FX.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SynhC4tlmlw
For the most part, our reviews should be coming the morning after an episode airs. You can also expect weekly reviews of The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and others when they debut later in the year. If you want our thoughts on any of these shows, be sure to check in from time to time to catch the reviews.
So that’s what we’ll be watching for the first part of 2015. Be sure to let us know in the comments below or on social media what you’ll have your eyes glued to the TV for in the new year.
Last Updated on January 12, 2019.
