Television’s fall calendar is pretty much in full swing, with most old shows back on the air and most new shows having already premiered. But with so many new shows this season, it can be hard to narrow down which ones are worth a look. Here’s five new TV shows critics and audiences have given their seal of approval this fall.
The Gifted – Mondays at 8 p.m. on Fox
Stephen Moyer and Amy Acker star in this new X-Men spinoff as two parents, Reed and Caitlin Strucker, who take their family on the run from the government after their children develop mutant powers. Set in a time where the X-Men have disappeared, the Struckers join an underground community of mutants who are fighting to survive. The show also stars Natalie Alyn Lind as Lauren Strucker, their daughter who can create force fields, and Percy Hynes White as Andy Strucker, their son who can destroy objects with telekinesis.
The Mayor – Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. on ABC
Brandon Michael Hall stars as Courtney Rose in this new comedy that follows a struggling young hip-hop artist who runs for mayor of his hometown as a gimmick to promote his music. When he unexpectedly wins, he has to rely on help from his friends and advisors to succeed. The show also stars Lea Michele as Valentina “Val” Barella, a former classmate of Courtney’s and his new chief of staff, and Yvette Nicole Brown as Courtney’s mother, Dina Rose. The pilot episode also features a special appearance by Daveed Diggs as Mac Etcetera, Courtney’s favorite rapper and idol.
The Good Doctor – Mondays at 9 p.m. on ABC
“The Good Doctor” follows Shaun Murphy (played by Freddie Highmore), a young surgical resident with autism and savant syndrome, who’s recruited into the pediatric surgical unit at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. Shaun uses his ability to note minute details and changes and his photographic memory to help his colleagues save lives even as his ability as a doctor is constantly questioned. The show also stars Richard Schiff as Aaron Glassman, the president of the hospital who has known Shaun since he was a teenager as well as Nicholas Gonzalez, Antonia Thomas and Beau Garrett.
Star Trek: Discovery – Streaming on CBS All Access
Set about ten years before “Star Trek: The Original Series,” the new series follows the crew of the USS Discovery and their exploits during a war between Klingon houses and the United Federation of Planets. It’s the first Star Trek television show in over ten years and stars Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham, a science specialist on the ship previously convicted of mutiny, and Doug Jones as Saru, the First Officer of the ship. Shazad Latif, Anthony Rapp, Mary Wiseman and Jason Isaacs also star as members of the Discovery’s crew.
Mindhunter – Streaming on Netflix
“Mindhunter” follows two FBI agents, played by Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany, as they interview imprisoned serial killers to better understand how criminals think, then use that knowledge to solve new cases. Based on a true crime novel of the same name, the show is set in the late 70s, the early days of criminal psychology and criminal profiling at the FBI and is produced by by David Fincher and Charlize Theron. The show also stars Hannah Gross, Anna Torv and Cotter Smith.
