Previously I mentioned in passing my reluctance to get into any new TV series. Strangely, right now, the thought of perhaps something I get sucked into lasting years is enough to put me off watching anything new. Or maybe I’m still mourning Breaking Bad and fear that nothing will ever reach those heights.

Maybe that’s a fear worth having. Because honestly, the new TV pilots I did catch – what utter crap. That’s just my point of view, but it’s a point of view I’m standing by. American network TV has taken a serious nose dive. Right? Let’s take a look see at the ones I took a look at:

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

Despite The Avengers being one of my favourite films of the year it was out and not being able to resist watching Thor whenever it’s on TV and the fact that I am a long time Joss Whedon fan, I really wasn’t all that pumped about Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Not at all.

Why? Well, anything vaguely comic book-y that gets ported to TV turns into the cheesiest and uninteresting pile of gumpf. And it’s happened here with … let’s just call it Shield. I’m not typing the full title out over and over again.

I’ve signed myself out of those show after three episodes. I definitely gave it more time to settle with me than other shows because of my ongoing fan-ness of all things Whedon. I feel like I could probably still keep trying to give it a go. But I just can’t. Time is precious people!

Episode 1 – find a team. Episode 2 – test the team. Episode 3 – there’s a doohickey and team member A needs to be tested. Jesus Christ. It’s all so formulaic. Even the presence of Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson can’t lift this show up. In fact, it feels like they’ve dumbed his character down for TV.

I’m out. I’ll stick to the Avengers films. Not this made for TV bland-ness.

Brooklyn Nine Nine

I am not a fan of Andy Samberg. It’s not that I hate him, but I don’t particularly like him or find him terribly funny. But even then, the other talent behind this show gave me pause of for thought to try it. And try it I did. For two episodes.

Comedies are tricky for me. It takes something else in a comedy to make me want to stick with it. There was nothing much that made me want to stick with this. Sure, it was fairly funny. But fairly isn’t enough for me. I’m out. Sure, I might have missed the boat on the next Parks and Rec, but eh.

The Blacklist

James Spader on TV playing some mastermind-ish criminal? Sign me up. Three episodes later and I’m signing myself out. The pilot got me interested. But then it all went a little Alias. And I began to care less. The lead character – just did not feel an ounce of sympathy for her. James Spader is far from his best. Which is a shame. It just looks like he’s going through the motions. Then I fell asleep while watching the third episode, woke up sporadically throughout it, and realised I just didn’t care. That’s a sign that there’s no point to keep watching!

Sleepy Hollow

A TV show based on the myth of the headless horseman but in the current time? WUT?!

What is it with network TV and procedural shows. They seem to have a vaguely good idea and just want to make it a procedural of some sort. Yes, I get it. It’s got to be able to draw audiences each week. And what better way than having some sort of mystery of the week.

It felt like Sleepy Hollow was going to follow this pattern. Maybe it’s not any more. But the two episodes I saw weren’t enough to make me want to find out. I’m out!

Masters of Sex

Oh hello cable TV with your Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan! Finally! A TV pilot that drew me in, interested and engaged me to a point where I was looking forward to the next episode. And the one after that. And the next one after that too. FINALLY!

Three episodes in and I’m really enjoying this show. It’s the interaction between Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan’s characters. And the characters themselves. I want to find out more about their stories and where they’ll be going. I’ll quite happily sign myself up for the long run on this one. Or however long it’ll be.

The Crazy Ones

My second comedy I gave a try. And one I’m sticking with. For now. It’s Robin Williams. I have a soft spot for him. Heck, I’ve currently got Jumanji on on the TV in the background while I write this.

This show is all for him. I wonder how much of the show is just Robin Williams riffing off of everyone else. Or everyone else just reacting to Robin Williams going all improv on them. Either way, it’s amusing me. The subject matter of the agency and characters feel like they fit together well and the format works for me. I’m sticking with this one for now.

It looks like there’s still a bunch of new shows yet to start. We’ll see how they fare with me when/if I get around to seeing them.

Anything new that I should be giving a try?