Now that the holiday break is over -- for us and for television -- it's time to take a look back at the most notable new network shows that debuted last fall, and how far they've come at the midpoint of the season. From
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to
Dads, we had our favorite -- and less-than-favorite --
pilots last fall, but how have they held up since those initial episodes? Read on for our mid-season report card on which new shows earned your eyeballs, and which ones still don't deserve a spot on your DVR.
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
In the interest of diplomacy, let's just say that
MAoS has had trouble finding its feet, shall we? There was tremendous excitement and expectation surrounding the series ahead of launch, and with good reason: Not only is it a new Joss Whedon-affiliated series, but one spinning out of mega-blockbuster
The Avengers, and Marvel Entertainment's first big shot at bringing its brand of irreverent, exciting filmmaking to television. Unfortunately, the show has proved uneven at best, filled with generic characters and moving far too slowly to reveal any sense of direction or reason to care about what happens. Easter eggs and goodwill can't save a show, and it seems that those responsible for
MAoS know that; the last couple of episodes -- including a
particularly strong Thor 2 tie-in directed by Jonathan Frakes -- have shown slight signs of course correction in terms of fixing its numerous problems. The question may be whether those problems can be fixed while enough people are still watching the show to save it in the long run.
Grade: C
