Fall TV Preview: Thursdays

We're reaching the end of the week, now. Thank goodness season premieres stretch over a month and a half--if all this was happening tonight, I'd keel over with joy and/or exhaustion.

Real-Time Devotion

• Reign (10/02), 9 PM on The CW
  
  This. Show. Is bananas. It is a gorgeous mix of Dawson's Creek and The Borgias, with a smattering of Supernatural, all wrapped up in the Claire's version of Ren Faire attire. The plotting is based more on what feels right rather than historical accuracy, but they commit to it so thoroughly that I almost don't care.
  
  Additionally, the best scenes are of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Catherine de Medici, Queen of France, having a steely Queen-off about how much more each is able to connive and sacrifice in the name of one's country. Also, one of Mary's handmaidens, Grier, is so far more committed to practicality than epic romance, and I love it. Also, NOSTRADAMUS.
  
  
• Elementary (10/30), 10 PM on CBS
  While I am a sucker for any version of Sherlock, because I like competency, I think this one is the best. Leaning heavily on Sherlock-as-addict, this show has blossomed by making him aware of how much he needs Joan's help, and Joan's friendship, in order to be a better human being. He's aware of how his flaws can detract from his humanness. And Joan is a being separate from Sherlock, even as she's aware of how she's learning from him. It's a wonderful, wonderful partnership, and slowly, the edges of that bleed out into the other characters.

Soon After Airing (thanks, internet)

• Scandal (9/25), 9 PM on ABC
  The last season got a little too gory and gonzo at times, but there were a lot of things I liked about the trials of Olivia Pope and company. First, that Olivia's father spoke truth to Awful, Awful Fitz. (While I would have liked it if he wasn't speaking on behalf of his daughter, his utter scorn of Fitz in "A Door Marked Exit" was so epic that I must include it below.) Second, the revelation that Melly is, in her desperation and heartache and hope. Third, the clothes. Always, the clothes.
  
  
  
• NEW: How to Get Away With Murder (9/25), 10 PM on ABC
  This runs along the same lines as Scandal, though it's not Shonda-run. I like Viola Davis, and this will be an intense, fun ride, as far as the previews hint.

I'll Get Around to It

• Bones (9/25), 8 PM on FOX
  It's kind of astonishing, but not, that this show is still running after so many years. As with all quirky procedurals, I love it for the character depth so many years allow. I like the squints. I like that they generate drama not from will-they-won't-they, but from genuine conflicts between loving and long-term committed partners. And I love it because David Boreanaz, against all reason, is growing more attractive as he ages.
  
  
• NEW: Gracepoint (10/02), 9 PM on FOX
  Honestly, this isn't really the kind of show that draws me in, what with the MOODY TONE and the small town with DISTURBING SECRETS. But I like David Tennant, and I get the impression this is a short-season sort of deal. So I might check it out--at least for a couple of episodes.
  
  
• NEW: A to Z (10/02), 9:30 PM on NBC
  The pilot for this, too, has been up on Hulu. It's...way too twee, a lot of the time, but I like all the actors involved. I'm a bit gunshy after the spectacular flameout of How I Met Your Mother, but who knows? This could be okay.

Bookmarking for Future Downtime

• Grey's Anatomy (9/25), 8 PM on ABC
  I stopped watching this...in the third season? Maybe? When Seattle Grace merged with that other hospital, but before that episode where they killed off half the characters. I've heard, however, that Grey's has taken a turn towards awesome again, so I'll have to catch up at some point.
  
  
• The Vampire Diaries (10/02), 8 PM on The CW
  I honestly don't remember why I stopped watching TVD. I really liked all the actors, and I was consistently impressed with how quickly and decisively the plot would move from episode to episode. I ran out of free time, I guess, and didn't love the show so much that I had to keep up. I'm watching the spin-off, though, so I may return to TVD again in the future.

And that's Thursday! It'll keep me busy.