Seasons: 5 seasons, 16 episodes. Starring: Bill Burr, Laura Dern, Justin Long, Haley Reinhart, Debi Derryberry, and Sam Rockwell. Description: F is for Family is an animated sitcom set in Massachusetts in the 1970s. Created by Bill Burr and Michael Price, it is said to be based on Bill Burr’s childhood. The sitcom follows the Murphy Family and their day-to-day lives. It makes use of the fact that political correctness was much less of an issue in the 1970s and there was more emphasis on making sure the fridge was always stocked with beers.
Why it’s lukewarm: The series, although smart in its concept, is also quite vulgar at times. It doesn’t mince words and is probably more suited to viewers who don’t mind a rude joke or five. Upon release, the show generally received positive reviews, even though it’s obvious it won’t be to everyone’s taste.
Collateral (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1 season, 4 episodes. Starring: Carey Mulligan, John Simm, Billie Piper, Nicola Walker, Nathaniel Martello-White, Jeany Spark, and Hayley Squires Description: When a pizza delivery man is fatally shot there are a number of repercussions that follow. The series breaks up into four days, where each episode being one day. The story is told from the perspective of Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie, who believes there may be some darker forces at work here and not just an act of gratuitous violence. As Kip digs deeper into the case, she sees that the murder was much more planned out and premeditated than she thought, but to what lengths is she willing to go in order to uncover the truth?
Why it’s a keeper: The show has a lot of potential for high drama, and there is good character development. However, the plot is somewhat unsteady and doesn’t always approach the storyline in a straightforward way. Instead, the collateral forces come together to create a mountain of issues as Kip goes to work trying to discover the truth behind the murder.
Bloodline (SO-SO)
Seasons: 3 seasons, 33 episodes. Starring: Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Linda Cardellini, and Norbert Leo Butz. Description: Life is pretty smooth sailing for the Rayburn Family, a typical American family living in the suburbs of sunny Florida. But things start to go wrong when one of the siblings, Danny, who is the black sheep of the family, returns for his parent's 45th wedding anniversary. Danny is planning to stay for good, but it’s left up to his three siblings to decide his fate. However, they’re filled with mistrust and paranoia, worried he might expose some dark truths from their past.
Why it’s a keeper: Bloodline has the potential to be a big hit but loses its pace as it progresses. It’s very intense and a little stressful to watch sometimes, trying to be a psychological thriller and an entertaining American drama at the same time. It’s definitely binge-worthy, but as the series progresses, it loses some of its suspense and ends a little flat.
Safe (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1 season, 8 episodes. Starring: Michael C. Hall, Amanda Abbington, Audrey Fleurot, Hannah Arterton, and Emmett J. Scanlan Description: Safe is a British TV series set in England. It follows the story of Tom, a widowed pediatrician and father of two teenage girls. His wife’s death still very much affects his day-to-day, as he struggles to raise the girls without her and grieves her loss. However, this is eclipsed when his eldest daughter goes missing and Tom sets about trying to find her. Along the way, Tom uncovers a number of dark secrets about some of the people closest to him.
Why it’s lukewarm: Safe is gritty and mysterious but sometimes takes itself a little too seriously, which leaves it feeling a little contrived. The ensemble cast is excellent, and they deliver solid and committed performances, but there is something about the show that doesn’t quite work. Perhaps it’s trying too hard to be overly dramatic, which, unfortunately, can end up seeming almost comical. Still, if you’re looking for some binge-worthy drama, look no further.
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day Of Camp (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1 season, 8 episodes. Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Michael Ian Black, Bradley Cooper, Judah Friedlander, Christopher Meloni, Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon, Lake Bell, Chris Pine, Jon Hamm, Michael Cera, Kristen Wiig, Jason Schwartzman, and John Slattery. Description: Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp is the second installment of the Wet Hot American Summer franchise and the prequel to the original version which was released in 2001. Many of the actors in the original movie went on the make big names for themselves but returned to play even younger versions of themselves, over a decade later. The show is full of witty references and the big-name actors make it an appealing option.
Why it’s lukewarm: Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp is a show you need to have a frame of reference for. There are tons of jokes relating to 80’s pop culture, and if you haven’t seen the original, some of the jokes will go over your head. This alienates a large portion of the audience. It is so intertwined with the original that it doesn’t really work as a standalone series, despite being amusing and well written.