Fall TV Preview: Mondays

Appointment TV during the week is sketchy at best, given the 8-to-5 schedule I keep. If there are errands or lectures or workouts or art classes, TV most often will fall by the wayside.

I'm so glad the internet is usually around to help. I've tried to give up on downloading whenever possible. I mean, I'll still do it ::coughGameofThronescough:: but in most cases, I can find something through official channels within a week or so.

Mondays are pretty chill, TV-wise. Nothing I'd consider appointment TV, but a good handful of shows to keep things interesting.

Soon After Airing (thanks, internet)

• NEW: Gotham (9/22), 8 PM on FOX
  
  I am a sucker for origin stories--I think I kept up with Smallville up to its penultimate season, despite all the rage it inspired. And I dig the idea that this series is a slow tragedy, rather than a hero's journey. Gotham is about to hit a tragic decline, and we're all along for the ride. Hopefully it won't get too gimmicky.
  
  
• Sleepy Hollow (9/22), 9 PM on FOX
  This show, man. This show is all sorts of gonzo craziness. I mean, it gave us ZOMBIE GEORGE WASHINGTON. Plus, again, a fairly diverse line-up (though that might be diminished if they don't include zombie John Cho this season). Plus, who doesn't enjoy Ichabod's once-an-episode astonishment at modern times. I mean, just watch this six-minute summary of the first season. It's INSANE and I love it.
  
  
  
  
• NEW: Jane the Virgin (10/13), 9 PM on The CW
  This may or may not be fun. I imagine there will be a lot of cringeworthy stuff in the first few episodes because, well, that title. But, the idea of a young woman who's close to her family, fairly by-the-book, resonates with me. If it shows some compassion and grace towards its protagonist, it could be really wonderful. Plus, as I will continue to note, I want to support shows that try to reflect demographic realities.
  

I'll Get Around to It

• The Originals (10/06), 8 PM on The CW
  I've got to watch at least one vampire show, right? More than anything else, I love how well this show conveys its sense of history and music and place. Its main characters are intertwined with the ebb and flow of (fictional) New Orleans, and also, they're evil. Like, there is no redemptive arc happening: they are vampires and they have no angst about their people-eating. It's fascinating.
  
  
• Castle (9/29), 10 PM on ABC
  Castle is mostly coasting on the charm of Nathan Fillion, and I'm not going to quibble. That's why I watch it, too.
  

Bookmarking for Future Downtime

• NCIS: Los Angeles (9/29), 10 PM on CBS
  I watched, I think, the first couple of seasons and didn't dislike them. It's good to have on while I'm doing the laundry and such, but I'm not heart-broken when I miss episodes. Or, uh, even whole seasons.
  

So I guess that's it for Mondays! Not super-packed, but a nice mix of tones overall.