Amazon is back with their semi-regular dump of Drama (3),
Comedy (3), and Kids (6) pilots for viewers to sample, dictating which shows
will get full-season orders. This bypassing of the typical pilot process—in which
executives would make the decision to put a series to order before airing the
first episode—has resulted in something of an unusual personality for Amazon. To
be blunt, it feels sometimes like a lack of purpose or voice, and that's
holding back the company from becoming the next Netflix or even Hulu (who has
their first truly great show in "Casual"). If those networks feel like
restaurants with head chefs, Amazon feels like a buffet. Try what you like, and
if we run out of that, we'll make more. It results in successful ventures
like "Transparent" and "Red Oaks," but it's also backfired with the garbage
that is "Hand of God" and the frustrating (although I must admit I watched all of its episodes) "Bosch." Of this new crop of dramas and comedies, what stands out? What
should you hope gets the full season order, and what should you avoid, even if
it's just one episode? In descending order of interest …
Note: Don't consider these traditional TV reviews. As any TV
critic will tell you, it's VERY difficult to judge a show on one episode. The
first show on this list could be garbage by episode four while the last one
could fix its problems in the same amount of time. Consider these "First
Impressions."
"One Mississippi"
Tig Notaro's life serves as the foundation for this show
loosely based on reality. With a pilot produced by Louis C.K., directed by
Nicole Holofcener ("Enough Said"), and co-written by Diablo Cody, "One Mississippi"
kind of comes to the 2015 Fall Amazon Pilot season with the most ammunition. In
the pitch-black premiere, Notaro, plays a woman who, like the comic
herself, has just fought off cancer, and has to return home to pull the life
support from her mother (yes, this is one of the comedies). Dealing with an
anal-retentive stepfather and likable brother, she has to face one of those key
moments in most people's lives—saying goodbye to a parent. And Notaro brings an
interesting energy to it in that she has dealt with mortality more than most
people her age. She's ushering her mother down a hall that she herself just
looked down. Holofcener gives the premiere interesting shape and Notaro has
some solid acting ability (not always true for writers and comics). There are
times when "One" feels like it's trying a bit too hard to be edgy, but this could
easily iron out in future episodes. It's an EASY pick for the one I most want to see
more of.
"Good Girls Revolt"
There's so much going on in this period drama that its main
flaw is that it feels too eager to impress. With echoes of "Mad Men," "Good
Girls Revolt" is going to pale in comparison to one of the best shows of the
last decade. But the cast here is strong and the material well is deep. It's
1969 at a weekly magazine, where interesting conversations are going on about
how to cover counterculture versus the fact that men are dying it Vietnam.
Then Altamont happens. Against the backdrop of getting that story, we meet a
group of women carving their own paths in a patriarchal society. Believe it or
not, that group is led by Nora Ephron (Grace Gummer). She's just part of a
massive ensemble that includes Anna Camp, Chris Diamantopoulos and Jim Belushi.
"Good Girls Revolt" takes place in a thematically rich era, has a strong cast,
and top production values. It's about men getting credit for women's work and
being threatened by the fact that the women are more talented. Is it "Mad Men"? Not
even close. But it could be something unique for a company that needs a strong
drama.
"Highston"
Directors Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris ("Little Miss
Sunshine") bring ample quirky energy to this quirky comedy about quirky people.
Yes, this is one of those comedies that telegraphs its unique sense of humor
with every other line of dialogue. However, that doesn't change the fact that
some of it is very funny, even if my tolerance for this kind of self-aware
comedy is rather low (think of FX's "Man Seeking Woman" or "Wilfred" for
comparison). The title refers to a 19-year-old (Lewis Pullman) who has
imaginary friends who are celebrities. In the opening scene, his parents (Mary
Lynn Rajskub and Chris Parnell) are complaining to the doctor about bad advice
given to him by imaginary Daniel Day-Lewis. As Highston has to be put away to fix
his condition, we see him get advice from Flea and Shaquille O'Neal, who only
he can see. Some of the cameos over the course of a season could be inspired.
Or, this could get annoying really fast.
"Z The Beginning of
Everything"
I have no idea what this is. I watch a lot of TV, but rarely
have I seen something so formless and oddly shapeless as this dramedy premiere
(it's listed as a comedy and it's a half-hour, but the premiere contains not one
laugh, nor one real attempt at them). Directed by Tim Blake Nelson, this period
piece stars Christina Ricci as a young Zelda Sayre, who would become Zelda
Fitzgerald. Yes, THAT Z. Based on the book about F. Scott Fitzgerald and his
muse, "Z" is a true oddity, as Ricci does a decent job at sketching a
character, one who then kind of meanders through a flat version of the South that
looks like a Lifetime TV movie. Poor David Strathairn is a walking cliché as
her demanding father. The Southern banter is forced and the visual language is
non-existent. I can't figure out its intention thematically, and the
storytelling is flat. So, why not last place? Because maybe this is a case of a
vision that extends beyond the pilot and this is mere overture for something
more interesting—the talents of Nelson, Ricci and Strathairn would suggest as
much. Maybe.
"Patriot"
Amazon goes for their dark anti-hero piece with this offbeat spy drama from writer/director Steven Conrad ("The Secret Life of Walter Mitty").
Michael Dorman plays John Tavner, a NOC agent, someone sent deep undercover at
a business that allows cover for travel to countries like Iran. His father is played by Terry O'Quinn and Kurtwood Smith is his unknowing boss Leslie at the fake job. With
more attempts at black humor than comedy pilot "Z," "Patriot" has some moments
that work—I like the bit in which John has to tell a co-worker about his status
and said co-worker then keeps trying to inject himself in the spy game—but it
mostly feels like it's trying too hard to be edgy and idiosyncratic.
"Edge"
What are you doing, Shane Black? The talented
action director probably came on board this Western because of the great,
ultra-violent action sequence that ends the premiere, but getting there is a chore.
It's Civil War Kansas and the title refers to Josiah "Edge" Hedges (Max
Martini), a man hell-bent on revenge after the murder of his brother. William
Sadler chews scenery as a potential bad guy. Yvonne Strahovski is the hooker
with a heart of gold. Ryan Kwanten acts to the back row as a murderer. None of
it transcends cliché. In fact, it almost plays like a parody at times—something
you'd see in a show within a show that mocks bad TV. Which means it will almost certainly
get a full-season order.
