Must See Fall TV
5 New Shows That Will Thrill, Chill, and Kill
We know, we know. The concept of “The Fall Lineup” of network TV hows is practically prehistoric to anyone under 20. And with streaming services like Netflix and Hulu releasing fresh content whenever the hell they feel like it, we don’t have to adhere to a seasonal schedule anymore. That being said, we still get a pang of nostalgia when September rolls around and the new season begins. Here are five new shows—not on a Network channel—that are on our radar.
Tell Me a Story (October 31)
Based on the Mexican series, Érase una vez, Tell Me A Story is a modern-day adaptation of classic fairy tale stories, with a dark and gritty twist. The timeless tales of The Three Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, and Hansel & Gretel are all reimagined for the show, with intertwining narratives adding up to a brand new take on the well-known myths, resulting in a raw, adult thriller set in modern day New York City. Content restrictions are virtually non-existent on CBS All Access, which means viewers can expect a ton of sex, drugs, violence, and adult content in the show. Hopefully, at least some of it involves Kim Cattrall, who is as gorgeous now as she was at the height of her popularity on Sex and the City.
You (September 9)
A subversive take on the romantic comedy genre, You follows a man, Joe, (Penn Badgley, Gossip Girl) who rescues a woman, Guinevere, (Elizabeth Lail, Once Upon a Time) from a near-fatal accident, love blooms, and they live happily ever after…of course, there’s a lot more to it than that, since Joe is dangerously obsessed, psychologically manipulative, and murderously physical. Shay Mitchell and John Stamos co-star in what’s shaping up to be a taut psychological thriller from proven hitmaker Greg Berlanti, who has already made a name for himself with The CW‘s impressive suite of super hero shows and the excellent queer romantic comedy, Love, Simon. He also produces Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, but we’ll get to that in a bit.
Cable Girls (September 7)
No, Cable Girls is not a sexy exhibition of the lovely ladies of cable TV. Rather, the Spanish-language Netflix series is a historical look at working women in 1920s Spain, during the rise of phone communication. One part historical drama and one part melodramatic soap opera, Cable Girls is all about its strong retro-chic style and fabulous cast of working-class women just trying to live their lives in an oppressive patriarchal society. Even though the show is set nearly one hundred years ago, and some progress has been made, not enough has changed.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (October 26)
The most well-known version of Sabrina the Teenage Witch is the TV adaptation starring Melissa Joan Hart, but the character has a long history in Archie Comics dating back to the early 1960s. As with any long-running character, she is open to interpretation and reinvention. Like The CW‘s Blue Velvet-inspired Riverdale before it, a surreal and sexy take on Sabrina is gearing up to launch on Netflix. Based on the graphic novel of the same name, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a horror-tinged take on the character; think, less Bewitched and more Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Mad Men‘s little Sally Drapper, Kiernan Shipka, is all grown up and stars as Sabrina in the Netflix original series, which has already been renewed for a second season.
Wanderlust (October 19)
This six-part BBC miniseries will be streaming on Netflix in the US, and stars Toni Collette and Steven Mackintosh as a couple who have lost their romantic spark. In an effort to get their groove back, they mutually agree to start seeing people outside of their marriage. Sex, drama, comedy, and romance ensue. The show aims to be a frank and unadulterated look at the importance and intimacy of sex and the way the so-called “dirty deed” is viewed by society at large, for better or worse. We’re confident the show can be enlightening and entertaining without feeling mean-spirited or flippant.
