Hey HCers!
Fall is back to school season, but it’s also the start of the new TV season! With new episodes coming to primetime and spangly, brand-new shows that want to become your new favorite, there’s plenty to watch this year. But, sadly, a Her Campus girl just doesn’t have the time to watch everything, so I’ve done some sorting for you!
So here’s a few notable shows that you should know, and whether you should be watching them or not. Happy reading!
New Girl
On Air: Fox, Tuesdays at 9 PM
Starring: Zooey Deschanel
Synopsis: Jess (Deschanel) is trying to get over her surprise breakup when she moves in with three single guys: Nick, a bartender; Schmidt, a professional and modern-day Casanova; and Coach, a former athlete turned trainer. Together, wither Jess’ friend Cece, this group of friends tries to teach Jess about love and life while learning about themselves along the way.
Should you watch it?: This show is all Zooey, all the time, so if you’re not a fan, you probably shouldn’t be watching. If you can’t get enough of her, then this is definitely the show for you. The show definitely exploits Jess’ quirkiness though, and sometimes it becomes difficult to relate to the show.
Mini-Review: This show has gotten a huge audience in its first few weeks, and its early full-season pick up means that the show is going to be around for a while, so you won’t be wasting your time by getting invested in the show. Every episode has provided laughs with its talented cast and shark writing, and it’s definitely a good way to spend a study break.
Consensus: Watch Live
Ringer
On Air: CW, Tuesdays at 9 PM
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Synopsis: On the run from the mob after witnessing a murder, Bridget attempts to repair her relationship with her twin sister Siobhan (both played by Gellar) and as soon as it seems like everything will be okay, Siobhan mysteriously disappears. To protect herself, Bridget takes over her sister’s life and pretends to be Siobhan, only to realize Siobhan’s seemingly perfect life isn’t as perfect as Bridget thought, and that she is in just as much danger.
Should you watch it?: Sarah Michelle Gellar is a huge selling point of this series. If you were a fan of her previous work on ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, then you should watch this series and expect it to be similar to the first season of ‘Buffy’.
Mini-Review: This show is campy and cheesy, in the best and worst ways. Sometimes the special effects are hilariously awful (check out the pilot episode for a terrible use of green screen) and the storylines are ridiculous, but it’s fun to watch because it’s fun to make fun of. Gellar is an executive producer of the show, and based on her years of experience, there’s a chance the show might actually become good. Until it improves, this show is not a must-watch.
Consensus: Only If You’re Bored
Terra Nova
On Air: Fox, Mondays at 8 PM
Starring: Jason O’Mara, Stephen Lang, Shelley Conn
Synopsis: In order to escape the world that humanity has destroyed, the Shannon Family, led by father Jim (O’Mara) and mother Elisabeth (Conn), is given the opportunity to travel through a space-time rift to a new human colony in the late Cretaceous period of a prehistoric Earth, led by Commander Taylor (Lang). Together, humanity fights for survival against dinosaurs and those who disapprove of the colony’s purpose while trying to prevent making the same mistakes that destroyed their first planet.
Should you watch it?” The executive producers of this show, the most notable of the group being Steven Spielberg, have tried really hard to include something for everyone in this show. Whether you’re a sucker for romance, dinosaur chases, or mysterious background stories, this show really does have something for everyone.
Mini-Review: Because “Terra Nova” tries to have something for everyone, it stretches itself very thin, leaving some areas sparse in favor of others. The show creates an interesting mythology right in the pilot episode, but the fact that Fox has already announced that “Terra Nova” won’t get a full season is disarming, especially because it has more to do with its insane production costs as opposed to the viewer ratings, which are good for a freshman show. The story and amount of action are good though, which makes it one of the best new shows this season.
Consensus: Watch Online
Whitney
On Air: NBC, Thursdays at 9:30
Starring: Whitney Cummings
Synopsis: Whitney Cummings (playing a fictionalized version of herself) and her live-in boyfriend (Chris D’Elia) have decided to not commit to marriage, but because of her inner doubts and fear of “relationship boredom”, Whitney uses unconventional methods to keep their romantic flames alive.
Should you watch it?: As far as the NBC comedy line-up goes, this is definitely the weakest link. Despite the large amount of viewers the show has been getting, “Whitney” is on the opposite end of the spectrum of beloved NBC comedies like “Community” and “Parks and Recreation.”
Mini-Review: The show would be best described as the female version of “Two and a Half Men”. The concept is not original and the acting is weak, most notably Cummings in the lead role. The jokes are crude and the show does not have any emotional heart, and while it tries to depict a modern relationship, its founding concept isn’t strong enough to do so. It’s already been picked up for a full season and has been pulling in viewers, but it’s lacking the more important factor, quality.
Consensus: Skip
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Ithaca chapter.