Seasons: 4 seasons, 44 episodes Starring: Mireille Enos, Joel Kinnaman, Billy Campbell, Liam James, and Michael Forbes. Description: The Killing is based on a Danish drama called Forbrydelsen (The Crime). Season 4 features two detectives by the name of Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder who are trying to solve a number of murder cases in Seattle, Washington. In the process of the investigation, both detectives are forced to face their own demons in their personal and professional lives.
Why it’s lukewarm: With so many mysteries available, this one is just not special enough to ignite our imagination. The first two seasons received a positive response, but they lost their way somewhere in the middle. It stops focusing on the mystery and spends too much time dealing with the personal issues of the detectives.
Safe (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1 season, 8 episodes. Starring: Michael C. Hall, Amanda Abbington, Audrey Fleurot, Hannah Arterton, and Emmett J. Scanlan Description: Safe is a British TV series set in England. It follows the story of Tom, a widowed pediatrician and father of two teenage girls. His wife’s death still very much affects his day-to-day, as he struggles to raise the girls without her and grieves her loss. However, this is eclipsed when his eldest daughter goes missing and Tom sets about trying to find her. Along the way, Tom uncovers a number of dark secrets about some of the people closest to him.
Why it’s lukewarm: Safe is gritty and mysterious but sometimes takes itself a little too seriously, which leaves it feeling a little contrived. The ensemble cast is excellent, and they deliver solid and committed performances, but there is something about the show that doesn’t quite work. Perhaps it’s trying too hard to be overly dramatic, which, unfortunately, can end up seeming almost comical. Still, if you’re looking for some binge-worthy drama, look no further.
Wet Hot American Summer: First Day Of Camp (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1 season, 8 episodes. Starring: Elizabeth Banks, Michael Ian Black, Bradley Cooper, Judah Friedlander, Christopher Meloni, Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Molly Shannon, Lake Bell, Chris Pine, Jon Hamm, Michael Cera, Kristen Wiig, Jason Schwartzman, and John Slattery. Description: Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp is the second installment of the Wet Hot American Summer franchise and the prequel to the original version which was released in 2001. Many of the actors in the original movie went on the make big names for themselves but returned to play even younger versions of themselves, over a decade later. The show is full of witty references and the big-name actors make it an appealing option.
Why it’s lukewarm: Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp is a show you need to have a frame of reference for. There are tons of jokes relating to 80’s pop culture, and if you haven’t seen the original, some of the jokes will go over your head. This alienates a large portion of the audience. It is so intertwined with the original that it doesn’t really work as a standalone series, despite being amusing and well written.
Grace and Frankie (SO-SO)
Seasons: 7 seasons, 94 episodes. Starring: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sam Waterston, Martin Sheen, and Brooklyn Decker. Description: Grace and Frankie find themselves facing a new reality when they discover that their husbands, Robert and Sol, have not only struck up a relationship but are now in love. This is enough to turn anyone’s lives upside down, but the two women decide the best thing to do is to start a new life and move on together. As time goes on, the two women grow closer and realize all is not lost, as they have more in common with each other than they ever had with their husbands.
Why it’s lukewarm: Grace and Frankie is definitely watchable TV. The cast is strong, and the script is pretty funny. However, something fails to launch overall, and so we’d say if you're fans of the actors then this is worth seeing; otherwise, there may be other things you might enjoy more.
Everything Sucks! (SO-SO)
Seasons: 1 season, 10 episodes. Starring: Jahi Di'Allo Winston, Peyton Kennedy, Patch Darragh, and Claudine Mboligikpelani. Description: Everything Sucks tells the story of a group of kids trying to make their way through adolescence. The show is set in the 90s, which means it was a time before smartphones and the internet. To keep themselves busy, this group of misfits creates a movie to grab the attention of their peers, using their experience and talents from the AV and Drama club to create something amazing.
Why it’s lukewarm: The series does an excellent job of depicting teenage life in the 90s, and all of the angst that comes with it. Some of the dialogue is not so believable, but overall, the show manages to sensitively cover most of the issues that adolescents deal with. With all of the struggle and insecurities, it’s no surprise they decided to name the show Everything Sucks!