Fall in the world of television is something that everyone looks forward to. From season premieres to series premieres, you’re guaranteed to either reaffirm your old addictions (Hello Scandal and Castle!) or come across something new to love. The Fall 2014 season has been particularly strong in returns as well as new shows. From political dramas to Sc-Fi thrillers and beyond, this season’s new shows are some of the strongest I’ve seen in a while. One of these new shows leading the pack is NBC’s new romantic comedy “A to Z.”
When How I Met Your Mother ended its nine season run earlier this year, many people were left confused (WHAT was with that ending?!) and without their favorite rom-com. Well look no further because A to Z is the not-so-typical romantic comedy, with a familiar face, that is bound to become your new not-so-guilty pleasure! The show opens up with a narration by Sons of Anarchy’s Katey Segal where you learn of Andrew (Mad Men’s Ben Feldman) and Zelda’s (How I Met Your Mother’s Cristin Milioti) love story. Andrew works for an online dating site and is a romantic at heart who is a strong believer in destiny and true love. Zelda on the other hand, having had a carefree hippie for a mother, is a practical, hardworking lawyer who keeps her heart guarded and isn’t a believer in the fates.
The pilot episode, titled “A for Acquaintances,” was great. You’re introduced to Andrew and Zelda the day they meet for the first time. Zelda’s friend made her an account on the dating site that Andrew works for. She ends up having a meeting at the company’s offices about a glitch (she was paired with a woman) where she meets Andrew and he shows her around. When they first meet, Zelda drops the old “Have we met before?” on Andrew because she recognizes him. It turns out her office has a bird’s eye view of his and that seems to solve the issue. Andrew recognizes her too but from something else: a concert a few years ago when he spotted her in a silver dress walking up the stairs wishing that whoever that girl was, that he was there with her. He tells her how he believes that meeting her is destiny on their first date and ultimately freaks Zelda out. Being a non-believer in all things destiny, and adamantly proclaiming she didn’t own a silver dress, she runs out on Andrew. However a couple nights later, after some soul and closet searching (she finds her silver dress) she confronts Andrew one night and tells him that she remembered everything but was too scared to admit that their meeting might have been . . . destined. The episode ends with Zelda coming to the realization that maybe she could “use some meant to be” in her life and a storybook kiss that it sure to make anyone swoon.
What is the most interesting thing about this show, and the introduction, is that you learn that the show chronicles Andrew and Zelda’s relationship from beginning to end, or A to Z, and that they will date for exactly eight months, three weeks, five days and one hour. While this might immediately conjure up thoughts of 500 Days of Summer, the mood of this show is far less melancholy and leaves you believing (and hoping) that their “Z” will stand for “Zelda said yes” culminating in a wedding. The chemistry on this show is electric from every member of the cast and the writing is superbly charming. If the rest of the season is as good as the pilot, I see this show sticking around for a long time. I don’t know what the future holds for Andrew and Zelda and I’m crossing my fingers for a happy ending.