Last Updated on August 3, 2021
Also, both JoBlo.com and Arrow In The Head will be reviewing several of these new and returning shows throughout their run, so stay tuned for that! Here’s to a great Fall season!
November 24th – ASCENSION (SyFy)
SyFy is not exactly known for their quality films, but they have had a decent run of original television series. Following BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, HAVEN, and HELIX, their new series ASCENSION is an ambitious mini-series starring Tricia Helfer and Brian Van Holt. Taking place in an alternate universe where President Kennedy launched a “generation ship” to search for a new habitable planet, the series looks to mix the conspiracy theory mentality of THE X-FILES with elements from BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.
October 30th – ELEMENTARY (CBS)
The contemporary retelling of Sherlock Holmes’ adventures, ELEMENTARY has always been in the shadow of the BBC’s SHERLOCK starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. But, Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu actually make for a compelling pairing and the mysteries are fun diversions and one of the lone tolerable shows on CBS. Season 3 promises more back story involving Holmes’ father and even more socially awkward situations for his brilliant mind to solve.
October 24th – CONSTANTINE (NBC)
Fans have been chomping at the bit to get a look at the Vertigo comics anti-hero since the adaptation was announced last year. We got a glimpse at the pilot during San Diego Comic Con and were a bit underwhelmed. But, with casting changes after the first episode and the promise of stronger stories down the line, CONSTANTINE will hopefully surprise us all and be a valuable addition to the small screen comic book genre.
October 24th – GRIMM (NBC)
NBC’s fairy tale-inspired series is entering it’s fourth season which is a surprising achievement for any show on the network these days. GRIMM is a combination of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and ONCE UPON A TIME, presenting a deep mythology featuring supernatural beings and the line of hunters destined to protect humanity. Definitely a guilty pleasure, GRIMM looks to continue more of the same this year which is better than a lot of the genre shows on television.
October 12th – THE WALKING DEAD (AMC)
There are few shows on television that can be as frustrating as THE WALKING DEAD. As we prepare to enter the fifth season of the zombie apocalypse, THE WALKING DEAD is looking to give us the most action packed run of episodes yet and one that follows the strongest season since the show began. The question of who lives, who dies, and who the people of Terminus really are is going to be answered shockingly and the only question left is where will the show have left to go? Stay tuned for our weekly recap of every new episode.
October 12th – COMIC BOOK MEN (AMC)
The lone reality show on this list is also the only one featuring director Kevin Smith and his band of superhero loving cronies. COMIC BOOK MEN follows the same format as all of those pawn shop series on basic cable but with the added geek factor of a bunch of nerds talking about movies, memorabilia, and collectibles. If you are a fan of Smith’s various podcasts, this is the show for you and one that you can drop into at any time without having seen any prior episodes.
October 8th – AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW (FX)
After four vastly different seasons, Ryan Murphy’s anthology will tackle the world of circus sideshows. Expect Jessica Lange’s final season on the FX series to be full of surprises thanks to new cast members like Michael Chiklis and returning favorites like Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Evan Peters, and more. There is no doubt we will see some f*cked up imagery this year, hopefully in service of a great run of episodes.
October 8th – ARROW (The CW)
ARROW has evolved into a consistent fan favorite over it’s first two seasons thanks to a grounded storyline, well developed characters, and no fear when it comes to the fate of those who inhabit Starling City. Last year introduced the season-long arc involving Deathstroke. Expect this year’s big bad, Ra’s Al Ghul, to make things even more complicated for Oliver Queen and his crew. A trip to Asia and the return of Malcolm Merlyn should also make for quite a third series.
October 7th – THE FLASH (The CW)
After screening the pilot at San Diego Comic Con, THE FLASH has been steadily building buzz. Unlike ARROW, THE FLASH could not ground itself in too much reality, so expect some pretty original special effects, even for a network series. Star Grant Gustin has more of a child-like charm compared to the dour and stoic Oliver Queen, but the promise of cross-overs each season is going to be too good to pass up.
October 5th – HOMELAND (Showtime)
What do you do after essentially ending the multi-season plot that had enthralled fans? How about reboot the entire series? Claire Danes returns along with Mandy Patinkin to headline the spy/terrorism series, but HOMELAND will look very different than in years past. With topical plots and a no holds barred approach to storytelling, HOMELAND should welcome new fans and keep the existing ones tuning in week after week.
October 5th – BOB’S BURGERS (FOX)
While Seth MacFarlane and Matt Groening have cornered the market on prime-time animated series, FOX’s other cartoon sitcom is a brilliant work that goes unnoticed by far too many. BOB’S BURGERS has the same satirical bite as THE SIMPSONS and the pop culture acumen of FAMILY GUY, but there is also a wholesome nature to the show that is missing from even some live action shows these days. Do yourself a favor and jump in during the season premiere and find out what you have been missing.
October 3rd – STAR WARS: REBELS (Disney XD)
With the Expanded Universe becoming obsolete for the main STAR WARS mythology, the new REBELS animated series will be our first look into what we can consider official canon. REBELS producers have hinted that they work closely with the crew of EPISODE VII to make sure planets and alien races line up, so if you want a first hint of what may be coming from J.J. Abrams’ film next year, check this show out. CLONE WARS turned out to be pretty damn good, so hopefully REBELS follows suit.
September 28th – ONCE UPON A TIME (ABC)
A lot of folks brush ONCE UPON A TIME off as a chick show or a fluff piece, but the series is actually pretty entertaining if you are willing to up your suspension of disbelief a bit. Robert Carlyle as Rumplestiltskin is work the viewing time alone but this season they will introduce the characters from FROZEN to Storybrooke. This is worth watching just to see if they can pull it off.
September 28th – THE SIMPSONS/FAMILY GUY (FOX)
Both of these series have seen better days, but there are few shows on television as daring and insane as THE SIMPSONS or FAMILY GUY. This year, both shows kick off their seasons by crossing over with one another, something fans have been anticipating for years. The clips promise what could be the funniest episode for either show in years, something that hopefully reinvigorates them for a run of years to come.
September 23rd – AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)
A lot of fans gave up on AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. before the midway point of season one, but those folks missed out on the stellar final dozen episodes that tied directly in to CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER. With many mysteries left unsolved, AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. has a lot to work with for this second run, but expect there also to be significant build-up to the mid-season premiere of AGENT CARTER as well as May’s AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON.
September 22nd – THE BLACKLIST (NBC)
You can likely thank James Spader’s nefarious performance as Red Reddington on NBC’s smash hit THE BLACKLIST for helping him get cast as Ultron in the AVENGERS sequel. Almost like a Sherlock Holmes series that follows Moriarty instead of Holmes, THE BLACKLIST is an action-packed series that would not have worked nearly as well without Spader. Surprisingly, you can drop into this show without having seen prior episodes, although it does help with some of the conspiracy subplots, but definitely worth your time or at least your DVR space.
September 22nd – GOTHAM (FOX)
While the pilot was somewhat disappointing, there are great hopes for FOX’s ambitious Batman-less series featuring all of Batman’s friends and foes. This is an unconventional origin series focusing on Detective Jim Gordon and the villains who will go on to become the ultimate rogue’s gallery. Everyone is picking GOTHAM to be the big winner this fall, so hopefully we will be talking about how good it is versus how bad.
September 22nd – SLEEPY HOLLOW (FOX)
A series about Ichabod Crane awaking in modern day New York to team up with a cop to battle the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse sounds like the type of show that would get cancelled in a heartbeat, but SLEEPY HOLLOW found an audience for it’s unique riff on the X-FILES/FRINGE format. With John Noble joining the main cast, expect season two to up the chills and thrills and deliver more crazy genre entertainment.
September 9th – SONS OF ANARCHY (FX)
Another JoBlo.com favorite riding into the sunset this year, the final season of SONS OF ANARCHY promises to be anything but tame. We already got a 90 minute premiere episode full of brutal violence, plot twists, and new characters and the rest of the season should be no different. Creator Kurt Sutter has promised this Hamlet-inspired biker series will not go quietly into the annals of TV history, so everyone should buckle their seatbelts for a final rough ride.
September 7th – BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
For the shortened 8 episode final season, BOARDWALK EMPIRE opened with a surprising premiere last week that not only jumped the entire series ahead almost a decade, but also managed to include flashbacks to fifty years prior during Nucky’s tumultuous childhood. With so many characters and plot threads to tie up, it may be difficult for the sprawling historical crime series to live up to everyone’s expectations, but it sure will be a fun final run.
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