Freshman Show Roundup Part 2: 'Go On,' 'The Following,' and 'Nashville'

Like myself, most new shows of the 2012-2013 TV season have finished their freshman year. I decided that in order to save time, I will write brief assessments of all of the new shows that I watched. These include the ones that I highlighted back in September (with the exception of Elementary, whose pilot didn't hook me enough to keep watching) as well as a few that I picked up along the way. To avoid information overload (and also to give my fingers a break), I will do this in two posts, each one briefly summarizing and assessing three shows. I won't include spoilers since my hope is that you might decide to watch one or more of these shows if you haven't seen them.

For Part 2 I will discuss NBC's Go On, FOX's The Following, and ABC's Nashville. You can read Part 1 here.

Go On
Summary: After his wife passes away, cocky radio sportscaster Ryan King (Matthew Perry) is ordered by his boss Steven (John Cho) to attend group therapy sessions. With the help of group leader Lauren (Laura Benanti) and the group's odd members, Ryan tries to cope with his loss as well as become a better person.
Assessment: Although not the funniest sitcom on TV, I really enjoyed Go On. Unfortunately, despite its good ratings early on, NBC canceled it after the 22-episode season ended. However, the show did have some closure in its final episode, which is always nice. While Perry was great in this role, I especially liked all of the supporting characters. Every member of the group was funny in his or her own way, and there was a good variety of personalities. My favorite character was easily the wonderfully odd and creepy Mr. K (Brett Gelman). Cho was underused in the show's early episodes, but in the second half he had a bigger role. The diverse cast is what made this show, but it was probably hurt by its writing, which wasn't always the best it could have been. That being said, had it been given a second season, I think Go On could have become a hit. This one will be missed.
Rating: 4/5

The Following
Summary: Serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) escapes from prison, and former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) must consult on the case to track him down. The FBI soon learns that Carroll has gathered a cult following during his time in prison.
Assessment: Going in, I expected The Following to be a procedural show with each episode showcasing one of Carroll's followers. I was excited to learn that I was wrong and that it is, in fact, a serialized show. Bacon and Purefoy played off of each other well, and I thought Purefoy, for the most part, was great as the sadistic, manipulative, and brilliant serial killer. At some points he tried to be a bit too poetic, but I was able to overlook that. It seems that the writers tried to develop Bacon's character this season, but I don't think it worked the way they wanted it to. Hopefully they can flesh Ryan out some more in the second season. Also, I enjoyed Shawn Ashmore as young agent Mike Weston. He was given a good storyline in the second half of the season that I'm not convinced we've seen the end of. Finally, I appreciate the decision to keep the season to only 15 episodes instead of the usual 22. In fact, I think the season could have been shortened even more. The shorter season allows for a more fast-paced show (something that I think Revolution needs). Overall, there are definitely some kinks to work out next season, but I will continue watching.
Rating: 4/5

Nashville
Summary: Veteran country singer Rayna James (Connie Britton) and young sensation (think Taylor Swift) Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere) must put aside their differences--or at least pretend to--when they are forced to go on tour together. There are about a million other characters and plots but this is the main one.
Assessment: I'll be honest. I watched this pilot for two reasons: 1) it got amazing reviews, and 2) Hayden Panettiere. It was a good pilot, but I hate strongly dislike country music, so the only reason I continued watching was because my girlfriend wanted to keep watching. However, I will admit that despite the excessive drama, the acting and writing--and, yes, the music, if I must be objective--are pretty good overall. Although the drama was painful to sit through at times, the acting, especially by Panettiere, who excels as the bitchy and arrogant pop star, and Charles Esten, who was a surprise as Rayna's band leader and ex-boyfriend Deacon Claybourne, was enough to get me through it. That said, some of the plots--and maybe even some of the characters--should be cut out for the next season. If it were up to me, I probably wouldn't watch next season because it's not my cup of tea, but between my girlfriend and those darn cliffhangers in the finale, I'll most likely be tuning in.
Rating: 3.5/5

So there you have it. Those are the six new shows I watched this season. (I'm also watching Hannibal, but there's still two episodes left, so I will likely review that by itself.) As always, leave your thoughts in the comments. And if there are any other freshman shows you watched that you think I would like, by all means let me know. 

'The Following' Pilot Review: Death with a Side of Bacon

On Monday FOX premiered its newest midseason show, The Following, which stars Kevin Bacon as former FBI agent Ryan Hardy, who is called back into action when serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) breaks out of prison. Hardy had previously caught Carroll, preventing the murder of Sarah Fuller (Maggie Grace). Carroll, a university literature professor whose hero is Edgar Allen Poe, escapes so that he can try to finish what he started, that is, kill Sarah Fuller. Along the way, Hardy discovers that Carroll had gathered a following through the internet, effectively creating a cult of serial killers.

Creator Kevin Williamson has successfully created an enthralling crime drama that seems to have a big serialized aspect to it. Unlike most crime dramas, The Following focuses on a single killer through his cult of followers. Also, Carroll's murders are related to Poe's writings, which provides a common theme in what will surely be a case-of-the-week format. This common theme, along with the serialized aspect, make this show much more interesting than most crime dramas that I have seen.

Both Bacon and Purefoy were fantastic. Bacon portrays Hardy well, even if the character could use some work. In this episode, Hardy was written too one-dimensionally. He is a typical stoic ex-cop with a drinking problem. However, Bacon was able to show some emotion in his interactions with Carroll's ex-wife Claire Matthews (Natalie Zea). Bacon was also great in the final scene with Purefoy. All things considered, Bacon did well with what he was given. Carroll, however, was written perfectly, and Purefoy was outstanding as the professor-turned-killer. He gave Carroll all the creepiness and derangement that one would expect in a serial killer. I look forward to seeing more of Joe Carroll this season and find out what turned him into a killer.

That brings me to the flashbacks. I am always a fan of flashbacks that give insight into the characters' pasts, but some of the flashbacks in this episode distracted me from the main plot. If the writers continue to use flashbacks in the show, they need to integrate them better. Well-placed flashbacks will be able to show how Carroll became a killer or how he drew people in and turned them into killers. They can also show Hardy's relationship with Claire, with whom he seems to have a history.

Overall, I was intrigued by The Following and look forward to the rest of the season. As long as the writers make better use of the flashbacks and develop Hardy into a fully fleshed-out character, The Following will be a successful interpretation of the crime drama genre. If you haven't seen this pilot, I recommend giving it a try. But be warned: it is very violent and is not for the faint of heart.