Seasons: 1 season, 8 episodes. Starring: Sorcha Groundsell, Percelle Ascott, Sam Hazeldine, Nadine Marshall, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, and Guy Pearce Description: The innocents is about a young couple, June and Harry, who are in love. They are forbidden by their families to be together and run away in secret. On their travels, they discover that June has a special power that allows her to shape-shift, but she needs to learn how to control it first. Soon they find other people with the same powers, which throws them into an unlikely and dangerous path with a scientist who wants to capture and uncover the secret to her abilities. Desperate to rid herself of her shape-shifting power, June has to complete some tasks, but things aren’t as simple as they seem.
Why it’s lukewarm: There are two very opposing themes here, one is the star-crossed lovers and the other is the discovery of a supernatural phenomenon, which isn’t an obvious mix. Added into this is the dangerous scientist, and basically, there is just too much going on for there to be a cohesive plot. The love story is a bit overdone at times and feels pretty sappy. When you combine all of these factors, the show ends up losing itself in its disparate plots.
Lost in Space (SO-SO)
Seasons: 3 Seasons, 28 episodes. Starring: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins, Taylor Russell, Parker Posey, and Brian Steele. Description: Lost in Space is a remake of the 1960s sci-fi classic about a family traveling through space. Along the way, they realize that space is a hostile environment. When their ship is attacked and damaged, they find themselves thrown off course and light-years away from their destination. The family must work as a team to overcome their internal conflicts and save themselves from disaster.
Why it’s lukewarm: Lost in Space, much like their spaceship, fails to fire on all cylinders. Despite the show’s big budget and potential for excellence, it doesn’t reach new heights nor does it stay on par with its original version. The script is lacking and concentrates too much on the inner conflicts between the family members while neglecting the development of some of the more interesting characters, such as Doctor Smith. The show could have potential if the writers would change their focus.
The Fall (SO-SO)
Seasons: 3 Seasons, 17 episodes. Starring: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, John Lynch, Bronagh Waugh, Stuart Graham, and Archie Panjabi. Description: The Fall is about a man who, for all intents and purposes, looks like a typical family man. However, he is harboring a dark secret: he is a psychopathic serial killer. The task of catching him falls upon Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson, who is herself struggling with some of her own personal issues, and must try to compartmentalize them as she goes about trying to track down this dangerous criminal.
Why it’s lukewarm: The show gets off to a great start, with seasons one and two being big hits. However, the third season takes something of a nosedive as it comes to its conclusion. The viewer is expecting a reward after so much anticipation, but sadly, they are left disappointed. The sparse dialogue works to build the tension, which it does well, and the show does not follow the same formula as many other crime dramas, but the ending will leave you a little frustrated.
The Get Down (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1 season, 11 episodes. Starring: Justice Smith, Herizen F. Guardiola, Shameik Moore, Jaden Smith, and Skylan Brooks. Description: In the South Bronx of the late 1970s, music is very much dominated by the disco scene, but hip-hop, though in its infancy, is on the rise. The story follows a young guy called Zeke, who is a poet and dreams of becoming a music star. The viewer joins him in his journey, as he discovers how his artistic talents fit into the culture of the time. The Get Down has a nostalgic feel and reminds us of musical classics like Grease and West Side Story, which are very much defined by their eras.
Why it’s lukewarm: The premise of the show is excellent, and it does a great job of pulling you in through the music and drama. However, it feels as though there is an unnecessary level of detail given to the wardrobe and setting, which means the storyline and character development are a little weak.
Easy (SO-SO)
Seasons: 3 seasons, 25 episodes. Starring: Jane Adams, Malin Akerman, Zazie Beetz, Orlando Bloom, Hannibal Buress, Kiersey Clemons, Dave Franco, Jake Johnson, Elizabeth Reaser, Aubrey Plaza, and Judy Greer. Description: Easy is set in Chicago, and the show is a patchwork of storylines that interweave across age, ethnicity, race, and profession, much like they would do in day-to-day life. The cast has some big names that help carry the show, which goes about exploring the lives of the diverse population living in modern-day Chicago.
Why it’s lukewarm: Easy, as its title suggests, is also easy to watch and should be on the list for anyone who isn’t looking for anything overly complicated. Although the story has a number of threads that are nicely acted by some well-known faces, the show lacks that special something to make it binge-worthy.