Amazon's latest pilot season kicked off today with a slate of five brand new possible series released for sampling by the public.
For the next 30 days, people can provide feedback to the digital studio about the shows, which include comedies from Whit Stillman and Steven Soderbergh and a drama starring Sons of Anarchy alum Ron Perlman.
This marks the third time Amazon has, as part of its unique development process, opened up their pilots for feedback to determine which shows will be made into full series.
Perviously, the process has resulted in the production of shows such as Alpha House and Betas, as well as the soon-to-debut Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle and Bosch.
The five shows released today include three comedies and two dramas, which is a lot of TV. Hopefully, Mashable's own binge watch will help you decide which ones to check out on your own. Beware: There's spoilers.
Stars: Ron Perlman, Dana Delany, Alona Tal and Garret Dillahunt
The plot: World War Z director Marc Foster helmed this dark pilot about a morally corrupt judge (Perlman) named Pernell Harris whose involvement with a strange cult-like religious group and his fixation with finding the man responsible for his daughter-in-law's (Tal) brutal rape leaves him on the edge of a major unraveling.
Adding to the stress is his son's critical condition following a suicide attempt, brought on, says Harris, by the trauma of being forced to watch his wife's attack.
By the end of the episode, he's completely lost his marbles, despite his wife's (Delany) attempt to keep him on track. But, the show teases, Harris may not be as paranoid as he's made out to be.
The verdict: Heavy-handed as it is, the show looks great, has top-notch actors and carries an interesting premise. It will appeal to fans of dark, sometimes unsettling thriller-dramas such as FX's The Bridge.
Twitter's thoughts:
THIS SHOW IS AMAZING!! Watch "Hand of God" on Amazon Prime (free stream) Holy crap this show is good!! http://t.co/saZ9DudCj9— Coby Bell (@imcobybell) August 28, 2014
Absolutely love the pilot #HandofGod you have my vote and love your character!!! @DanaDelany— ♎fesha♎ (@lil_shante) August 28, 2014
I loved #HandofGod their acting is spectacular!— Ian Harding Italy (@IanHardingITA) August 28, 2014
Red Oaks
Stars: Craig Roberts, Oliver Cooper and Paul Reiser
The plot: Pineapple Express' David Gordon Green directed this Steven Soderbergh-produced comedy set at a Jewish country club in the 1980s. Roberts, best known for his roles in Neighbors and 22 Jump Street, plays a seemingly directionless young man who takes a fun (and sometimes demeaning) job as a tennis instructor for the summer.
The verdict: This show is basically Starz's far-superior Party Down meets ABC's highly underrated The Goldbergs. There's no shame if that sounds appealing to you.
Twitter's thoughts:
@AmazonVideo ok just watched Red Oaks and I gotta say I'm in! I love the 80's & I really enjoyed this pilot #RedOaks #AmazonPilots— Stefanie (@stefanieRibarra) August 28, 2014
5 minutes in and I'm already obsessed with #redoaks #Amazon !!— Jacqui Grilli (@JacquiGrilli) August 28, 2014
#AmazonOriginals Really enjoyed Red Oaks. Wonder Years+ John Hughes. Please commission the series!— Neil Sheard (@CCopies) August 28, 2014
The Cosmopolitans
Stars: Adam Brody, Chloe Sevigny, Adriano Giannini and newcomer Jordan Rountree
The plot: Americans in Paris do things that Americans in Paris think people in Paris do.
Not enough? Let's me try again.
Whit Stillman, best known for his 1990 film Metropolitan, presents a story about a group of expatriates trying to make their way through life in Paris, a task that is filled with less zany adventure and more wordy thoughts about life and love.
Well, the pilot does have one outing -- to a party in a giant house that's filled with people just like them.
The verdict: Ever wonder what it would be look like if Woody Allen made his own version of Girls? Kidding. Maybe. In all honesty, critics love this show. But if Amazon's entire pilot system is based on listening to The People and not Those People, this understated -- and, this commoner must admit, sleepy -- show may not have that full season as locked as it may seem.
Twitter's thoughts:
I don't think I've seen a better pilot than Whit Stillman's 'The Cosmopolitans.' You guys should give it a look on Amazon.— Walter (@MovieDweller) August 28, 2014
Trying to think of any TV pilot I've ever wanted to punch more than "The Cosmopolitans." Possibly "My Generation." #NoDisrespectToNoahHawley— Darren Franich (@DarrenFranich) August 28, 2014
Oh, yeah, "The Cosmopolitans" is super good and I love Adriano Giannini it since he maybe time-traveled to the show from 1961.— Christopher Rosen (@chrisjrosen) August 28, 2014
Really
Stars: Sarah Chalke, Selma Blair and Jay Chandrasekhar
The plot: The comedy stars Chalke and Chandrasekhar as a married couple (Lori and Jed) living in wine-soaked suburbia. And if that sounds like the description for a broadcast show, that's because it sort of is. Except with a lot more talk about blowjobs, scenes with blowjobs, and mishaps during blowjobs.
The verdict: Comedian Chandrasekhar, and ever-charming Chalke, are real bright spots in this digestible comedy, but the show gets lost in its attempt to use its off-broadcast freedom cheaply. Such coveted liberties should instead be used to find a new, nuanced angle on a very common story.
Not that it didn't try.
In one scene, Jed found his friend having a sexual encounter (read: blowjob) with another friends' wife, which hinted that the show would go beyond the antics of drunken nights with adult friends and dive into deeper issues. That was promising. Later that night, Jed receives multiple calls from his buddy, an apparent attempt to talk about the incident he'd witnessed. Jed doesn't answer the phone -- because he was getting a, well, I'm sure you get it.
A spate of recent comedies, including an Amazon original pilot I watched today, makes me wish we could declare a moratorium on...— James Wolcott (@JamesWolcott) August 28, 2014
"name" actresses positioned on all fours or blowjobbing knees for sake of quick visual punchline frisson. Be nice to give less-known actors— James Wolcott (@JamesWolcott) August 28, 2014
Loved the pilot #Really @sarahchalke Hoping @AmazonVideo is going pick up more episodes. U & @jaychandrasekha PERFECT pic.twitter.com/cn1hxvhZwh— CarolinaCHERCREW (@jameskwaters) July 21, 2014
Hysteria
Stars: Mena Suvari, Adan Canto, and T.R. Knight
The plot: The multi-layered thriller has a lot going on. On the top of the heap is this mysterious psycho-physiological illness that starts claiming victims, who experience massive, hard-to-watch spasms. That's when Suvari's character, a neurologist named Logan Harlen, comes into the picture and paints a scary future once she begins to figure out the cause. (Techies, we warn you, this one actually might make you step away from the computer for a bit.)
Then there's Harlen's dark past, which involves a murder and a very unrecognizable Knight.
The verdict: This one is odd, weirdly interesting and will make you incredibly paranoid. Enjoy!
Twitter's thoughts:
Best new pilot on Amazon goes to HYSTERIA!! I love it! Watch and rate here: http://t.co/5CTyM00teV #HysteriaTV— Ashley Hinshaw (@ashley_hinshaw) August 28, 2014
The pilot we cast #Hysteria TV for #AmazonPilots is avail today. It's SO Good Use link if you have Amazon acct http://t.co/19YFTY4vzF— Sharon Bialy (@SharonBialy) August 28, 2014
Creepy cool new TV series on Amazon: #hysteriatvhttp://t.co/LqI0i56iXx— Mark Frauenfelder (@Frauenfelder) August 28, 2014