Station 19

Station 19 (2018)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It's not obvious watching the series that this is a spin-off from Grey's Anatomy, though might be clearer if both are watched together. The story follows Andy Herrera and her firehouse 19 family through many changes, relationships, discoveries, cases, and more than a few challenges. Andy thought she always knew what she wanted growing up, but it turns out life isn't as linear as one may think. This is a very real life series, showing how a group of people can become a family, and how that family can grow, change, and sometimes threaten to break as they navigate the changing world around them and within their own house. There are a lot of subtle and not so subtle concerns raised through various episodes as well that put a light on difficult situations and real life issues that everyday people must face. 

NCIS: Origins

NCIS: Origins (2024)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


This series may be one of the newest filmed, but takes us all the way back to the beginning, even before NCIS, which makes the name an apt fit. Given the difference in the timeline, we have new actors playing long familiar characters as we see Gibbs' history with his first family unfold and his original enlistment into NIS (Naval Investigative Services), before NCIS is even a thing. That doesn't mean that the original cast is completely gone however, as the voice over narrating the story is the very same Gibbs everyone knows and loves at this stage, though the story and acting itself is portrayed by the new, younger cast. Even a younger Duckie makes a few appearances later on down the line. If you've paid attention to Gibbs; story from the original series, it's a bit easier to follow along with some of the events playing out. Even Gibbs' rules make a few appearances, though not nearly with the same regularity or expectation as they do in the original series - he'll have to work up to that. The one thing we wondered in the beginning was if this series would end with the creation of the NCIS unit given the tie in to the original series, which was indeed answered. While it's nice to see how things came to be, it's not so surprising that this is a shorter series given the original purpose and how the ending ties into the beginnings of the rest of the saga.

NCIS: Sydney

NCIS: Sydney (2023)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


While this follows a similar format as the previous NCIS series, it is different as it's the only one that has been overseas. There are some disputes between US and Sydney agents, though both work on the team together. It also loses some of the charm being overseas as that means there are none of the usual and sought after crossovers with other agencies. This is especially obvious if you watch the series in order of when they first started airing, as it then follows Hawai'i, which has frequent and close crossovers with Los Angeles along with features of other series. As a result of the internal conflict and lack of familiar faces, it loses some of the charm of the other series as they all pull together. Still enjoyable, just not as engaging as a whole.

CSI: Immortality

CSI: Immortality (2015)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is also simply known as "The Final Episodes" in some places, though it was aired a special 2 part "movie" when it first came out. Grissom and Willow are both brought back on the scene of Las Vegas as they race against the clock to stop the biggest explosion yet. It's high stakes and high paced, which does put it in the spotlight of TV drama instead of realism as some tests just can't be run that fast no matter how good the experts or their machinery may be. It falls in line with the rest of the series though, and brings back familiar faces from the start of the spin offs, making it a quick hit for long time fans.

NCIS: New Orleans

NCIS: New Orleans (2014)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Took awhile to get around to watching this one, but it's just as enjoyable as the others. The accents and the frequent references to Mardi Gras make it obvious this takes place in a different area than the previous series, though of course, it overlaps and features several characters from the other spin offs just the same as the teams work cases together and overlap in various investigations. Dwayne Pride takes center stage of this team, a man who is heavily involved not just in his work, but in his city as well. Doctor Loretta Wade is also very different from our previous medical examiners, though still a crack up and not one the other characters should try to pull the wool over on. She steps in more than once both for the team, and for the victims as they work through their many adventures. As with most NCIS teams, this team is a close knit family that are most likely to bend the rules when one of their own is in danger.

Absentia

Absentia (2017)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


This originally caught my interest because it is in a genre I watch a lot and features Stana Katic, who also plays Kate Beckett in Castle, one of my favorite series. This series doesn't hit as a favorite, but is very emotionally charged from the beginning. Emily Byrne has been missing for six years, during which time her husband has remarried to raise their son Flynn. When Emily returns suddenly, it puts the family in a tailspin of confusion as they try to reconnect old ties and find their new balance. In the midst of this, the case she was working on before her abduction comes back to haunt her as it ties to her own kidnapping and appears to frame her for murder, or maybe not. With her memories mostly lost and disjointed flashes at best from the time she was missing, Emily is hiding from the law as she tries to clear her name in a desperate attempt to reclaim her family. They admit that they should have trusted her, but perhaps there is still more unknown to the story given her obvious PTSD and the memory flashes still resurfacing. It's a lot of distrust and devastation in a very confined package as Emily fights to regain her identity and figure out what is happening.

Alphas

Alphas (2011)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


Dr. Rosen and his team of Alphas work with the government to investigate other Alphas and keep them from breaking the law or putting more people in danger. The first few episodes are a little difficult to follow as it drops you right into the thick of their world while their on a case and doesn't explain their abilities very well. As the show progresses, the world building is easier to follow, as well as who has what abilities. Things take a personal turn once Rosen's own daughter turns up as one of the Alphas they are after, leading to a series of discoveries tracing back potential Alpha influences and schemes working behind the scenes. The series ends abruptly at the end of season 2, alluding to a failed mission and multiple deaths without really showing what happens after the final events. 

Scorpion

Scorpion (2014)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This series was recommended to us after watching NCIS: Los Angeles, as everyone thoroughly enjoyed the character Hetty. While the actress does have a cameo is this series, it is a very minor role. This is still thoroughly enjoyable and different than many series. Scorpion is a team of brainiacs that don't fit the mold of standard society, except for Paige and Cabe. Cabe acts as their government link, providing intel and coverage to their operations so they don't always end up on the wrong side of the law. Paige helps them find their humanity and emotions in the midst of all the equations and probabilities constantly running through their heads. On the flip side, the team helps Paige understand her son, who is a genius like the rest of the team. Sometimes it seems like they approach things in a rather chaotic and confusing manner, but as always with their intelligence, there is some sort of logic underlaying their calculations and actions. That doesn't guarantee everything always goes as planned, but somehow, they manage to get the job done.

Vampire Academy

Vampire Academy (2018)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Perhaps because this is a TV series rather than just a movie, this is able to go into far more detail than the original adaptation was able to. Even with the additional details and expanded cast, it isn't able to put much of a dent into the original story. Even with a good deal of adaptation in this version as well, there is a lot more that goes into this world building and the number of characters that get far more screentime and information than in other versions. It somehow even manages to make Tatiana seem more vicious than in the original books, though she hides it well to the majority of of those around her. Unfortunately, given the time since this original aired, it seems unlikely to return for the rest of the story, though it does leave off at a very well positioned point in the story with a mix of resolution and cliff hanger. Rose is also a bit different overall, especially as they learn about the effects of spirit, but it works well with this version of the story.

Lord of Mysteries

Lord of Mysteries (2025)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

The story is a little difficult to follow, but that seems to be because of how complex it is and these overlapping abilities and stories. Klein Moretti is actually Zhou Mingrui, though he is not entirely clear on how he ended up in this life. He sets off on a rather unusual quest to gain power and solve this mystery as well as many others as a Beyonder. While originally his quest was to return to his original world, he seems to come to appreciate the world he is in and the connections he has made, which makes the ending of this season even more confusing on a whole. It is also interesting how even from the beginning, he seems to be set apart from these other Beyonders in "the grey". It feels like there is a lot more going on here and the story may not be entirely finished, but most likely would need to look to the original source material for those answers and any additional information to the complexities they face in the donghua.

Heaven Official's Blessing

Heaven Official's Blessing (2020)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I started this series a long time ago and remember the ghost scene at the beginning setting off some lingering paranoia from Attack on Titan, so I never finished it. Now having seen both seasons, this is a complex and beautifully drawn story with a lot of subtle underlying tones. Xie Lian has ascended to heaven three times, which is unusual in itself. Instead of being banished quickly, he is sent on a mission that it seems no one wants to deal with but needs to be taken care of. He doesn't expect this to also kick off a strange and unusual attachment with one of the four demon kings. If anything, this series left me finally wanting more, which may be just the right draw to finally get through the novels just in time before the comics begin publishing as well.

Mo Dao Zu Shi: The Founder of Diabolism

Mo Dao Zu Shi: The Founder of Diabolism (2018)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


I remember starting this series several years ago, but am unable to recall if I ever finished it, and doubtful I had watched the following seasons continuing the story. It has since been recommended multiple times in the original light normal format, and now has a color manhua release as well, lending to the series popularity. With all of this combined, and my daughter's own interest, it seemed time to pick this story back up again. The story itself is a little difficult to follow as it is very complex and pulls many clans together. In reality, the story mostly follows Wei Wuxian as he rediscovers life and the new trials of the cultivation clans. Perhaps reading the novels would give a clearer understanding, especially as the start of season 2 appears to take us back to the beginning of the original series, so it is difficult to tell if it is truly a continuation, a different point of view, or something else entirely at this stage.

Psychic Princess: Season 2

 Psychic Princess: Season 2 (2018)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Normally, I don't rate seasons separately unless they appear under different titles, however, the change in this story is so drastic that it needs a separate opinion. The art in the original animation was beautifully done, leading to an amusing and unusual courtship between the main characters. This new season picks up directly at the end of the last one, except the art is in a 3D style, and instead of the gentle story we had before, we have random riff offs, character dances, and the most cringe worth heart kisses complete with total NPC bad acting an movements that can make you cry (and not in a good way). Honestly I couldn't make it past the first episode with the sheer volume of cringe, changes in the art, and different character designs. Unsure if it may get better later on, but it's really hard to imagine with just how badly this deviates all around.

Psychic Princess

Psychic Princess (2018)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This tale seems to be adapted from a live action drama rather than usual printed variety that is common. With little to go off of other than that it was recommended along with several other series that I've thoroughly enjoyed, there wasn't much expectation or knowledge going into this series. The intro itself is hilarious, with upbeat music and silly dances to catch the watcher's eye before the story even unfolds. Qian Yun Xi is considered an outcast among her family, sent to live in the mountains due to her unusual abilities until it is convenient for the family to summon her back in order to take her sister's place in an arranged marriage with Prince Ye Youming. Given Prince Ye is part of the opposite faction as Qian's father, it isn't too surprising then that neither part seem too pleased with this arranged marriage and want nothing to do with each other - to the point they don't even recognize each other when they meet outside the palace. Ye is convinced that his new wife must be a spy for her previous family... that is, if she really is that good of an actress while also somehow being a constant surprise and somewhat childish at the same time. With the exception of Beauty Chu, who grips her position as the favored concubine and headmistress of the Ye Palace with an iron first, it's little wonder the rest of the royal family and those who get to know the new princess are taken by her charm and unique perspective.

The Fated Magical Princess: Who Made Me a Princess

The Fated Magical Princess: Who Made Me a Princess (2025)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This has been a long time coming, but the art is gorgeous. So far, the story seems to follow the written publication fairly well, though of course there are small adjustments for the media source to keep the story flowing and engaging. Anthy truly is adorable, though sometimes a little clueless. While it is clear that Anthy knows her "fate" in the beginning, her previous life and the reason why she can pick up on things so quickly at her young age is glossed over very quickly. If a watcher hadn't read the book, they most likely would think that Anthy just happens to have these dreams that forewarn her and show her the story of how her life is to play out rather than that she had read the story in a previous life. Regardless of that rather dramatic change, the interactions between Anthy and her caretakers are adorable, as are the interactions she has with Claude, even if she is still terrified of making him angry at the cost of her own life.

Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You A Wizard?!

Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You A Wizard?! (2024)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Though there is only one season in the anime, it covers a lot of the same ground as the manga, so fans of the original books will still recognize the series. The manga has since gone on beyond the point of this season, but they round out the main story well where we focus on Adachi and Kurosawa. We do see the foundation of Tsuge's relationship with Minato as well, though not as in depth in some ways as in the manga. The art is consistent as well, which is a big plus in the anime. There are even small details, like how Adachi's eyes are covered more in the beginning and when he's uncertain of himself, but as he grows comfortable in his relationship with Kurosawa, both of his eyes show consistently and clearly. It's a small detail, but is an interesting potential outward sign of his emotional state at the same time. 

NCIS: Los Angeles

NCIS: Los Angeles (2009)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


While each rendition of these series like NCIS and CSI are enjoyable, there's something special about this series. G is an unusual character to begin with as the majority of this series, he only knows the initial of his first name. There are many highs and lows this team goes through, but more than once they prove that they are family. The one who brings them all together initially is Hetty, a elder and mysterious operative that has a rather unique point of view when it comes to intel and how her team operates best. It's proven time and again that this team works in a unique format and is highly efficient in their own way, even though many other agencies often seem to take issue with how they operate. As is also common, there isn't really an ending to this series, which hopefully will indicate more information down the line with other adaptations as these often can and do overlap at times.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


This is a series that both of my kids have gotten into recently, so it's been a big deal to have "movie night" as a family and catch an episode or two before bed. As one might expect from the title and the focus on slaying, there are a lot of martial arts and high action scenes. Given the focus on demons as well, there's a lot that might look weird or wrong as demons just don't follow norms at all, other than lots of blood usually. That doesn't mean that the entire series is nothing but blood, though it has plenty of that. There are a lot of characters that each have their own take on the Demon Slayer Corps and their mission, and even those who know nothing about demons at all. For those who are aware though, the world is a lot more dangerous than normal. Tanjiro himself is actually rather peaceful and caring, yet pushes himself to train and gain skills to be able to go up against demons as quickly as possible. He breaks more than a few rules along the way, but all those who meet him and his sister, Nezuko, seem genuinely touched by their care for each other if not also surprised given the dynamics these siblings live with. They break more than a few norms themselves along the way, but maybe that's what the world needs. 

Daredevil: Born Again

Daredevil: Born Again (2025)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


While this is no longer with Netflix like the original TV series, the story picks up just after the end of the first story, with the same actors as well, though things quickly shift directions. Add as well that this is now considered officially part of the MCU lineup, and you have a lot of potential tie-ins to ongoing stories and other heroes. More than one Marvel character is referenced even in just the first 6 episodes that are currently available to watch. The story doesn't start out in the vein you may expect at all, but so far is building up the tension and puts Matt in one situation after another where he must reassess his choices, including if the world still needs vigilantes or not, and if he is still counted as one of them.

NCIS

NCIS (2003)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This series isn't marked as finished for the main arc, and already has several other offshoots just like CSI. If you pay attention to the dialogue, you'll even catch a few references to CSI in this arc, which is rather amusing. While there are verbal references to the other departments, there haven't been any character interactions that overlay, at least not yet, but it's possible somewhere down the line considering both a written and filmed by the same studio. Gibbs leads the show here and keeps the team on point, just as each other arc or season always has it's own focused leader that is the center of the charge, though we still see plenty of airtime for the other characters as well. Sometimes the leader may actually be rather scarce for a good portion of the episode, though he'll always show up when needed, often smacking the back of McGee's head for one comment or another.