Breanna Brink, staff writer
With the return of fall comes the slew of TV shows trying to get their names to stick before the dreaded month of January. New shows such as “The Good Doctor” and “The Gifted” are also starting to try to get their foot in the door, while other, popular shows are expecting season continuations. AMC’s “The Walking Dead” is returning for season eight of its long run, while Netflix’s “Stranger Things” is returning for a very hyped second season.
Television shows are hard to rate as a whole, especially since there can be good and bad episodes within a season. I expect good things from these new seasons and shows.
July 2016 was a landmark experience for Netflix’s original series, bringing about the critically acclaimed mini-series “Stranger Things.” A collection of eight episodes, each 55-minute chapter increases the suspense, bringing up darker secrets, and showing us the adventure no child truly wants to go on.
Unfortunately, the trailers for season two don’t give the audience much of a story but I am excited nonetheless. If you haven’t seen the series yet, I highly recommend it, as can Rotten Tomatoes, giving the show a 95 percent, as well as IMDb giving the show 8.9 out of ten. I’m sure you’ve all heard it is well-staged and completely creepy. “Stranger Things” combines the thrill of “Super 8” with the whimsy of “E.T.” It pays homage to the Stephen King super-child, yet makes sure that classic October vibe never leaves. It is the perfect show to kick off your Halloween, and since season two premiers on Oct. 27 it is the perfect time to catch up on season one.
Continuing on, “The Walking Dead” returns for season eight on Oct. 22 with the show’s hundredth episode. If you’ve been keeping up, you know “this season of AMC’s post-apocalyptic thriller series will follow the comics’ “All Out War” storyline, where the Alexandrians and their allies rise up against the totalitarian Saviors,” according to TV Guide. We have been informed that the series will refocus on its been-through-too-much Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) who is supposed to reclaim his show-throne from Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Fans of the comics will also recognize specific points in the trailer, such as elderly Grimes and his cane. The show has been stretching on for quite some time now, and some fans are wondering if this could be the wrap-up season for this beloved series.
There are some new shows on the block as well. The creators of the medical Sherlockian drama “House” are bringing us a brand new medical drama, “The Good Doctor,” which has already been receiving high ratings. According to Google, 97 percent of their users have given the new show positive reviews. Its pilot aired Sept. 25, and an entire season was released thereafter. IMDb has this description for new viewers: “Shaun Murphy, a young autistic surgeon who has savant syndrome, relocates from a quiet country life to join the surgical unit at the prestigious San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital — a move strongly supported by his mentor, Dr. Aaron Glassman. Having survived a troubled childhood, Murphy is alone in the world and unable to personally connect with those around him, but he finds his niche using his extraordinary medical skills and intuition to save lives and challenge the skepticism of his colleagues.” The representation of those on the spectrum is limited on television, and with a show like this breaking through the mold and showing us an example that is positive and interesting.
The last new show on the roster is a perfect example of how far Marvel is willing to go to expand its audience and exhibit dominance over DC. Premiering Oct. 2, “The Gifted” has received an 82 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. “The Gifted” treads close ground to the DC series “Heroes,” but incorporates its own ideals and creative spin on the idea of hunting super humans. IMDb states, “The series is about an ordinary suburban family whose lives change course forever when they discover their children have developed mutant powers. When the threat of a hostile government forces the family to go on the run to protect themselves, they join the ranks of an underground network of mutants. Together, the group fights to survive in a world where fear and misunderstanding put them at constant risk.” Fans of the X-Men will likely enjoy the series, and perhaps see tie-ins to the current X-Men film universe. There are plenty of returning and new shows to keep you captivated throughout the fall season.
The Belltower 