Wrapped Up Like a Blog

This is the third and final installment of my Fall TV Preview. First I talked about a few new shows I'll be sampling. Then I considered a few older, creakier shows that I'll still be watching as they head toward the sunset. Now it's time to spotlight some shows that I picked up last year and see how likely I am to stick around.

Grimm: Last year, this show was a nice mix of procedural and supernatural, with elements that were reminiscent of Supernatural, Angel, and even Law & Order. I liked Nick well enough, but Monroe was the standout for me. This show came back on the air after the Olympics,and I have seen the first four episodes of the season. It's progressing along nicely, with the same "mystery of the week" format as before, but with more changes to Nick's status quo. It's not my favorite show or the most exciting, so it is perhaps in the greatest danger of falling off my list. (Moves to Fridays starting 9/21 at 9pm on NBC)

Person of Interest: This is another show with a "problem of the week" format and increasing continuity/character focus. I love the two leads (Jim Caviezel was great in Frequency and Michael Emerson was a true gentleman when we interviewed him on After LOST) and the premise is interesting. I want to know more about Reese and Finch, and I want to see more of the moral and ethical ramifications of the machine. The lack of strong, long-form continuity makes this one a potentially at-risk show as well. (Comes back 9/27 at 9pm on CBS)

Once Upon a Time: Since getting a sneak peak at the pilot of OUaT at New York Comic Con (I also saw an episode of Person of Interest there, too) it's been at the top of my list. It has a strong formula with a overarching plot as well as week-to-week stories, and it's character focus, flashfairy format worked well the first season (hey, it comes from LOST pedigree, so that makes me a bit biased, yeah?) The cast is extremely strong and there was a compelling cliffhanger at the end of last season. I am on board with this one for the long haul. (Comes back 9/30 at 8pm on ABC)

Scandal: This is a show I should probably dislike, as I should be ragingly jealous over Kerry Washingon's success (she was a classmate of mine at GW). But the show is compelling. Her performance is great, and much of the cast around her (Desmond!) is excellent as well. I liked the weekly problems Olivia Pope and her team had to solve, and the larger plot is juicy enough to have me intrigued. I hope the longer season does not sink this show, which I think will stay on my radar for a while. (Comes back 9/27 at 10pm on ABC)

One show that does not fit the above mold: The Walking Dead. It's on cable and is entering its third season, but I want to mention it here. It is based on one of my favorite comics, so I was predisposed to like it. I enjoyed the first season a lot and, though it was slow at times, I liked last season, too. This year it looks like they are chronicling my favorite period from the comics and introducing a couple of my favorite characters, so I look forward to this one, too. (Comes back on 10/14 on AMC)

So, what do y'all think?