Blog On The Motorway

I am, it has to be said, a little excited. For although Autumn ushers in an end to the warm weather and replaces it with biting chill and endless leaves thrown in your face by a vengeful deity (or just the wind, possibly) it does also herald an end to the drought of decent telly, as the schedulers presume that everyone has returned from the beer garden they have spent the summer inhabiting and are willing to dedicate endless weeks on several narrative threads.

First up was X Factor, which has defied its appalling start to become as insanely addictive as it always has been. The first new American debut is here too, in the shape of Flashforward, which Five seem to have secured extremely early access to (launching at the same time here as in America.)  First impressions are that it has the potential to be as addictive as the first series of Lost and Heroes were, but also that it could go into a ridiculous tailspin of confused plotlines and hammy acting as Heroes did in series two.

My only question is whether the Oceanic Airlines billboard in the pilot was a nod to the geeks out there, or a genuine attempt to link it into Lost’s dramatic reality? In which case we may find the whole flashforward was as a result of Locke tripping over a wire on the island. Come to think of it, what was up with the kangaroo in LA? Or does ABC have a new clause that all new dramas must have on out of place animal in its pilots in order to confuse the viewer?

But this week is when the most promising series are launched apon us.  Last year Criminal Justice was one of the most engrossing dramas right until the godawful last episode, when the writers proceeded to jump every shark they could find in the aquarium. This year it follows the same pattern of playing out over five nights, and I really hope they can maintain the quality of last years first four episodes, and this time provide a conclusion that doesn’t make the audience feel as dirty and used as I felt last year.

Elsewhere this week, channel 4 brings us two (allegedly) top drawer American imports which have already been seen on satellite, True Blood and Generation Kill, one after the other on Thursday nights.  Now, since two of my favourite things in the whole world are vampire myths and the writing of David Simon, it’s a fair bet that I will enjoy these enough to soil myself at some point during the evening. Just so you know, this will be the standard I will be looking for.  Don’t let me down, quality American imports.

There are more coming in the pipeline over the next few weeks and months, such as the return of Dexter and Heroes (I’m a sucker, I know) but as one week goes, it’s the best we’ve seen in months.  I realise that as a thirty year old man, being this excited about sitting at home makes me a very sad person, but these are the tastes I have been dealt.