2012-2013 TV Season Pilot Reviews
by whifferrack | created - 05 Sep 2012 | updated - 24 Aug 2013 | Public*Sorry about the blatant self-promotion, but I just started a blog that I think would be worth checking out.
http://polarbearstv.wordpress.com/
Requirements:
-All pilots I choose to watch (Not premieres of existing shows, NEW SHOWS)
-Both fall and mid season
-Anything from September 2012-August 2013 is fair game.
These are my impressions of the pilots only-they are not an indication of what I may think later.
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1.
Last Resort (2012–2013)
Episode:
Captain
(2012)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Drama, Mystery
Captain Marcus Chaplin is commander of the USS Colorado, a ballistic missile submarine. He has a good crew and all are quite good at their jobs. They receive an order to launch two missiles... See full summary »
Director: Martin Campbell | Stars: Andre Braugher, Scott Speedman, Daisy Betts, Camille De Pazzis
Votes: 882
9.5-amazing Wow. That was an amazing pilot. The acting (Andre Braugher is awesome, as always) was great and the intensity was through the roof. I commend Shawn Ryan And Karl Gadjusek for being able to create such a great atmosphere on the submarine, and I would definitely like to see more of the D.C. storyline (I got a little "24" vibe from that). My main concern was that everything moved a little too fast, but I understand given it was only a one hour premiere. I have no idea where the show goes from here (that could be good/bad), but hopefully this will turn out to be a great show.
2.
Arrow (2012–2020)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
Billionaire playboy, Oliver Queen, has been considered dead for five years. Now, he has returned. But something, during those five years, has changed him into a mysterious green hooded archer.
Director: David Nutter | Stars: Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, Colin Donnell, David Ramsey
Votes: 8,550
8-great It was an enjoyable pilot, that's for sure. The action was well done and I actually like how they tried to make it more of a darker superhero show. Amell is good, but there's not much special about him. I liked Paul Blackthorne and the rest of the supporting cast, but once again, nothing special. This show is very different from the rest of TV, however, and I look forward to seeing what their procedural and serial storylines will be like.
3.
Revolution (2012–2014)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
15 years after a global shutdown of all electricity, the Matheson family are hunted by an authoritarian regime known as the Monroe Militia.
Director: Jon Favreau | Stars: Billy Burke, Tracy Spiridakos, Giancarlo Esposito, Zak Orth
Votes: 2,106
7.5-good This obviously had massive expectations, coming from the Abrams/Kripke/Favreau team, and while I don't think it'll be as good as everyone thinks, it was still an enjoyable pilot. Tracy Spiridakos is a promising yet annoying actress (plus she's really attractive), and Giancarlo Esposito was magnificent as always. However, the rest of the characters seemed flat. Billy Burke was passable, but J.D. Pardo was not that great and Elizabeth Mitchell was underused. The visuals were excellent, and while the sword stuff can get cheesy, this show has massive potential. Remember Supernatural's pilot? It wasn't that great either, and look where that show is now. But, to be honest, the pilot was kind of boring. This family stuff will get old like that, and I wish the creators had the intelligence to come up with an original story. I've seen this all before. They could've explored our reliance on technology and the chaos ensuing rather than just jump forward in time. That aspect was sorely disappointing.
4.
Nashville (2012–2018)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-PG | 43 min | Drama, Music, Romance
Rayna, an aging country music star, is upset when her record company asks her to tour as the opening act to a new up-and-coming singer named Juliette.
Director: R.J. Cutler | Stars: Connie Britton, Hayden Panettiere, Clare Bowen, Eric Close
Votes: 514
8.5-great I'm surprised at how much I liked this show. Like 666 Park Avenue, the soapy elements are very fun and are definitely a necessary part of this show. Britton and Panettiere are both fantastic, and the singing isn't as annoying as I thought it would be. The supporting characters are also great, as well as the whole "Nashville" feel. This has the potential to be a hit like Revenge was.
5.
Vegas (2012–2013)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-14 | 46 min | Action, Crime, Drama
While the Chicago mob sends Vincent Savino to Las Vegas to take over a casino and uncover a rat, the mayor appoints local rancher Ralph Lamb sheriff to investigate the murder of the governor's niece.
Director: James Mangold | Stars: Dennis Quaid, Michael Chiklis, Carrie-Anne Moss, Taylor Handley
Votes: 240
8-great This is a beautifully shot, well acted, and ambitious pilot (especially for CBS). Much like "The Good Wife" and most recently "Person of Interest", this show does so much more than just the regular, boring procedural stuff. Hopefully the procedural stuff doesn't take too much away from the setup of Quaid vs Chiklis. Chiklis was fantastic (as always), and Quaid was a pretty good lead. The supporting characters were interesting as well, which is great. I can definitely see this getting boring (it's already slow paced), but I can also see it evolving into a great show.
6.
Go On (2012–2013)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-PG | 24 min | Comedy
Ryan King, a radio sports personality, returns to work after grieving for his wife's recent death. His boss says he is not ready to return to work and must attend counseling. He reluctantly... See full summary »
Director: Todd Holland | Stars: Matthew Perry, Laura Benanti, Julie White, Suzy Nakamura
Votes: 478
7-good Matthew Perry is funny enough, and you can see that it definitely is taking pointers from Community on how to run things. However, it definitely is no Community yet. It has potential, though.
7.
The Mindy Project (2012–2017)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-14 | 22 min | Comedy
Mindy is a 30 something Ob/Gyn whose love life hits a snag after a messy break up with her long term boyfriend. After getting drunk and making a scene at his wedding, Mindy vows to put the ... See full summary »
Director: Charles McDougall | Stars: Mindy Kaling, Chris Messina, Ed Weeks, Anna Camp
Votes: 625
7-good Mindy Kaling is kind of annoying. I found her annoying in this pilot as well. None of the other characters were memorable (I only remember Ed Helms' cameo), but there were some moments worth laughing at.
8.
666 Park Avenue (2012–2013)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-MA | 44 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Jane and Henry, a young, ambitious couple, are hired as resident managers at The Drake with a nice apartment. Henry works for the mayor, making Gavin interested. A mosaic in the basement makes Jane research The Drake.
Director: Alex Graves | Stars: Rachael Taylor, Dave Annable, Robert Buckley, Samantha Logan
Votes: 508
8-great This is a fun show. It's soapy,yes, but it's the kind of guilty pleasure stuff you would watch on TV. There are only a few to none scares, but the atmosphere and just the general "feel" of it is really great. Terry O'Quinn is great, and the leads are surprisingly watchable. There are a little too many storylines, but the pilot set up what is going to be an enjoyable, although quite stupid, series.
9.
Elementary (2012–2019)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-14 | 46 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Sherlock Holmes, fresh out of rehab, is teamed with a sobriety partner, a former surgeon named Watson. They have to learn to work together even as they tackle their first case, the mysterious death of a doctor's wife.
Director: Michael Cuesta | Stars: Jonny Lee Miller, Lucy Liu, Aidan Quinn, Dallas Roberts
Votes: 2,377
7.5-good It's an enjoyable enough series, and while it's obviously nowhere near the level of "Sherlock", I liked the overall vibe I got from it. Jonny Lee Miller was good as Holmes and Liu, while not making much of an impression yet, was okay but definitely interesting as Watson. The format, I'm sure, will get boring. However, I'm interested to see how they'll integrate the mythology.
10.
Ben and Kate (2012–2013)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-14 | 23 min | Comedy
When they were orphaned, goofy rascal Ben Fox broke away from his uptight sister Kate, who became a single but devoted mother to Maddie. Ben, years ago often drops by, using Kate's ... See full summary »
Director: Jake Kasdan | Stars: Dakota Johnson, Nat Faxon, Lucy Punch, Maggie Elizabeth Jones
Votes: 143
7.5-good This is definitely a promising show. The lead is remarkably similar to Zooey Deschanel and her quirky style. Ben gets annoying, but I laughed enough during this to make me hang around a little more.
11.
Animal Practice (2012–2013)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy
"Animal Practice" is a new comedy centering on Dr. George Coleman (Justin Kirk), a top veterinarian with an impressive list of famous animal patients at the Crane Animal Hospital - a ... See full summary »
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo | Stars: Justin Kirk, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Bobby Lee, Kym Whitley
Votes: 88
7.5-good I love the monkey. It's awesome. I don't see why everyone hates this so much, but it was an enjoyable half hour. It's not a show I think will be consistently good, but Kirk does a good job here in the pilot.
12.
The Mob Doctor (2012–2013)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-14 | 45 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Surgical resident Dr. Grace Devlin (Jordana Spiro) juggles her promising medical career with a secret deal to offer her medical services to a mob boss in order to save her ne'er-do-well younger brother's life.
Director: Michael Dinner | Stars: Jordana Spiro, William Forsythe, James Carpinello, Zach Gilford
Votes: 140
7.5-good Let me just say, this show is a mess. It really has no idea what it wants to be. The mob stuff is intercut awkwardly with the medical stuff, and the medical stuff is bland and unnecessary. There were some things to like, though. William Forsythe was excellent, and Jordana Spiro is a potentially good character. However, Zeljko Ivanek was wayy underused. I don't hate it as much as the critics, but it needs to find a way to make everything run smoothly.
13.
The New Normal (2012–2013)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-14 | 23 min | Comedy, Romance
Spoiled-rotten Angelino gay 'queen' Bryan Collins's latest 'must have' infatuation is a tall order, but nothing is cuter then a baby. His indulgent partner, doctor David Sawyer, even agrees... See full summary »
Director: Ryan Murphy | Stars: Justin Bartha, Andrew Rannells, Georgia King, Bebe Wood
Votes: 211
6-ok The lack of laughs was definitely a disappointment, and it tries a little too hard to be heartwarming/sweet IMO. I like Justin Bartha, but the lead seems a little flat. There were some seriously painful stretches to sit through in this pilot, and I'm not sure it can improve.
14.
Beauty and the Beast (2012–2016)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-PG | 43 min | Drama, Horror, Romance
When she was a teenager, Catherine "Cat" Chandler witnessed the murder of her mother. Cat would have been killed too, but someone - or something - saved her.
Director: Gary Fleder | Stars: Kristin Kreuk, Jay Ryan, Max Brown, Austin Basis
Votes: 1,508
15.
The Neighbors (2012–2014)
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-PG | 22 min | Comedy, Family, Romance
Soon after arriving in their new home, the Weavers discover all of their neighbors are from a distant planet called Zabvron.
Director: Chris Koch | Stars: Jami Gertz, Lenny Venito, Simon Templeman, Toks Olagundoye
Votes: 225
2-Disaster I don't know how this made it to TV. That's all I'll say.
16.
The Following (2013–2015)
Episode:
Pilot
(2013)
TV-14 | 46 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
In the series premiere episode, FBI Agent Ryan Hardy is called out of retirement to track down serial killer Joe Carroll who's escaped from prison.
Director: Marcos Siega | Stars: Kevin Bacon, Jeananne Goossen, Natalie Zea, Shawn Ashmore
Votes: 2,421
17.
Cult (2013)
Episode:
You're Next
(2013)
TV-14 | 43 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
When investigative reporter Jeff Sefton's (MATT DAVIS) brother disappears, Jeff uncover the dark underworld of the TV show "Cult" and its rabid fans - in the series premiere.
Director: Jason Ensler | Stars: Matthew Davis, Jessica Lucas, Alona Tal, Robert Knepper
Votes: 205
18.
The Goodwin Games (2013)
Episode:
Pilot
(2013)
TV-14 | 24 min | Comedy
Let the games begin!
Director: Peyton Reed | Stars: Becki Newton, Scott Foley, T.J. Miller, Melissa Tang
Votes: 96
19.
Zero Hour (2013)
Episode:
Strike
(2013)
TV-14 | 43 min | Drama, Fantasy, Thriller
Hank Galliston's wife, Leila, is abducted by an international terrorist.
Director: Pierre Morel | Stars: Anthony Edwards, Carmen Ejogo, Scott Michael Foster, Addison Timlin
Votes: 334
20.
Hannibal (2013–2015)
Episode:
Apéritif
(2013)
TV-14 | 42 min | Crime, Drama, Horror
The head of the FBI Behavioral Science unit, Jack Crawford, calls on profiler Will Graham to assist them catch a serial killer. The killer has now kidnapped eight women, all similar in ... See full summary »
Director: David Slade | Stars: Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Hettienne Park
Votes: 8,801
21.
Next Caller (2012– )
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
Comedy
Director: Marc Buckland | Stars: Tia Shipman, Reg Clinton Brown, Dane Cook, David John Craig
CANCELLED
22.
Chicago Fire (2012– )
Episode:
Pilot
(2012)
TV-14 | 43 min | Action, Drama
A month after a devastating loss, firefighters of the Chicago firehouse 51 fight to work past it and continue to serve the city.
Director: Jeffrey Nachmanoff | Stars: Jesse Spencer, Taylor Kinney, Monica Raymund, Lauren German
Votes: 1,069
23.
Brickleberry (2012–2015)
Episode:
Welcome to Brickleberry
(2012)
TV-MA | 22 min | Animation, Comedy
Steve is threatened when Ethel, a new ranger, comes to town. Malloy gets put on a diet.
Directors: Zac Moncrief, Carl Faruolo | Stars: Daniel Tosh, Kaitlin Olson, Roger Black, David Herman
Votes: 420
24.
Banshee (2013–2016)
Episode:
Pilot
(2013)
TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
After completing his 15 year prison sentence, an ex-con tracks down his former partner, now known as Carrie Hopewell, in Banshee County Pennsylvania who it turns out is now married to the ... See full summary »
Director: Greg Yaitanes | Stars: Antony Starr, Ivana Milicevic, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison
Votes: 3,619
25.
Hunted (2012)
Episode:
Mort
(2012)
TV-MA | 59 min | Action, Drama
Sam Hunter,an agent for private security firm Byzantium and is left for dead during an operation in Tangiers. A year later, having recuperated in a remote Scottish cottage, she returns to ... See full summary »
Director: S.J. Clarkson | Stars: Melissa George, Dhafer L'Abidine, Maurice Lee, Adam Rayner
Votes: 385
26.
The Americans (2013–2018)
Episode:
Pilot
(2013)
TV-MA | 64 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Phillip and Elizabeth Jennings are two seemingly normal Americans who are really undercover KGB agents. After kidnapping a Soviet defector they discover their new neighbor is an FBI agent assigned to their case.
Director: Gavin O'Connor | Stars: Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Maximiliano Hernández, Holly Taylor
Votes: 3,562
9.5-amazing
This was wonderful. All the actors are top notch, and the intensity is off the charts.
27.
Rectify (2013–2016)
Episode:
Always There
(2013)
TV-14 | 48 min | Drama
After 19 years on Death Row, Daniel Holden is suddenly released. Senator Foulkes plots to reopen the case. From the producers of Breaking Bad.
Director: Keith Gordon | Stars: Aden Young, Abigail Spencer, J. Smith-Cameron, Adelaide Clemens
Votes: 988
28.
Ray Donovan (2013–2020)
Episode:
The Bag or the Bat
(2013)
TV-MA | 59 min | Crime, Drama
Ray Donovan (Liev Schreiber) is the man called in to solve the most difficult problems for LA's elite. Ray's life is thrown into turmoil when his father Mickey (Jon Voight) gets out of prison five years early.
Director: Allen Coulter | Stars: Liev Schreiber, Paula Malcomson, Eddie Marsan, Dash Mihok
Votes: 1,953
Tell Your Friends