Comic Television #1 – Week Beginning 15 February 2016

In this brand new column, I’m going to be offering previews and looks into comic-related tv series that are coming out this week that you should keep an eye out for. I’ll also be covering a few new shows each week that aren’t necessarily comic related, but still series that you should be keeping an eye out for. However as my main focus is on comic book-related TV series, whether they’ve been adapted from a comic like The Flash or Arrow or whether they’ve had an offshoot comic series like The X-Files or The Blacklist, so it’ll be interesting to see how this turns out. I have included promo images for the comics-based shows as well as trailers for them as well, but where I have found no promo images available I have simply left them blank.

MONDAY

No Supergirl this week but there’s plenty of other awesome shows on a Monday to look out for. The X-Files sees Mulder and Scully encounter younger versions of themselves whilst Lucifer has the devil up to more of his tricks in Vegas. Better Call Saul also returns and The Magicians get distracted whilst preparing for a new tournament. Plenty of exciting stuff there to watch then.

Comic-Related TV Series

The X-Files 10.05: “Babylon” (Fox)

An art gallery that’s showing potentially offensive artwork is bombed, and Mulder and Scully try to communicate with the comatose bomber to prevent a future attack. A pair of younger FBI agents on the case push Mulder and Scully to examine their own beliefs.

Lucifer 1.04: “Manly Whatnots” (Fox)

In an effort to get over his infatuation with Chloe, Lucifer decides that he must seduce her. Meanwhile the two team up on a missing girl case and Amenadiel confronts Maze about his concerns about Lucifer.

Non-Comic Related TV Series (That You Should Be Watching Anyway)

Better Call Saul 2.01: “Switch” (AMC) – SEASON PREMIERE

Jimmy and Kim’s relationship takes a new turn. Mike decides it’s for the best to sever his affiliation with an unrestrained associate.

The Magicians 1.05: “Mendings, Major and Minor” (SyFy)

The students each deal with a personal matter that keeps them from focusing on the upcoming Welter’s Tournament.

TUESDAY

Lots of comic shows hitting on Tuesday. Can The Flash escape from Earth 2? Meanwhile, there’s a double bill of Agent Carter and iZombie deals with a murder of a pathological liar. Meanwhile you should also keep an eye on The Shannara Chronicles and Limitless in a great night for television.

Comic-Related TV Series

The Flash 2.14: “Escape from Earth 2” (The CW)

On Earth-2, the team races to find Zoom’s lair and asks for help from the most unexpected source. Meanwhile, back on Earth-1, Caitlin rushes to perfect Velocity-9 so that Jay can stop the Geomancer.

Marvel’s Agent Carter 2.06: “Life of the Party” (ABC)

When Peggy realizes she needs help saving Wilkes, she turns to an unexpected adversary for help while Whitney tries to control the deadly Zero Matter.

Marvel’s Agent Carter 2.07: “Monsters” (ABC)

As Peggy plots a rescue mission, Whitney hunts for even more dark power; and Jarvis learns he should not make promises he cannot keep.

iZombie 2.13: “The Whopper” (The CW)

Liv and Detective Babineaux investigate the murder of Corey “Big Fish” Carp, who they learn got his nickname not because of his last name but because he was a well-known pathological liar. Ravi makes an unsettling discovery and Blaine is reunited with someone from his past. Meanwhile, Major finds himself in a precarious situation.

Non-Comic Related TV Series (That You Should Be Watching Anyway)

The Shannara Chronicles: 1.08 “Utopia” (MTV)

Wil and Amberle desperately search for Eretria to save her from the vicious elf hunters who kidnapped her. Little do they know, she’s stumbled upon a secret settlement of Humans and may finally feel like she belongs. But their utopia is much more than meets the eyes. Meanwhile, Allanon must inspire Ander to accept his destiny.

Limitless 1.15: “Undercover!” (CBS)

After a list with the real identities of undercover bureau operatives leaks, Brian develops a personal connection with FBI Agent Lucy Church, a tenacious rule-breaker, when he helps her finish a field case before she’s exposed. Also, Sands makes a surprising move to end Rebecca’s investigation into Senator Morra.

WEDNESDAY

 Only one comic book show to keep an eye out for on Wednesday, and it’s Arrow, where Oliver and his friends have uncovered HIVE’s plan to take them down. Elsewhere Supernatural has been having a good season 11 so far and time-travel episodes always look pretty awesome so hopefully this shouldn’t change. Especially when you throw Lucifer along for the ride as well. And if you’re a fan of Dick Wolf’s Chicago Trilogy then my personal favourite of the three, Chicago PD, deals with an interesting mystery.

Comic-Related TV Series

Arrow 4.14: “Code of Silence” (The CW)

Oliver and team uncover HIVE’s plan to take out Team Arrow once and for all. With HIVE’s next attack imminent, Lance wonders if Donna is safer without him in her life. Meanwhile, with the wedding fast approaching, Oliver begins to feel guilty that he hasn’t told Felicity about his son.

Non-Comic Related TV Series (That You Should Be Watching Anyway)

Supernatural 11.14: “The Vessel” (The CW)

Hoping to find a weapon powerful enough to defeat Amara, Dean convinces “Castiel,” who is still Lucifer, to send him back in time to the last reported sighting of the Hand of God. Lucifer sees the potential in getting his hands on this weapon so goes along as Castiel and sends Dean to 1944 to the fated submarine mission that sunk the Hand of God. Meanwhile, continuing his charade with Sam while they wait for Dean’s return, Lucifer plans his next move.

Chicago PD 3.15: “A Night Owl” (NBC)

While working at a sobriety checkpoint, Burgess finds a duffel bag full of heroin in the truck of a respected college professor who claims to know nothing about how the drugs ended up there. Voight decides to hold off on charging the unlikely suspect, and Olinksy and Antonio follow up on a lead to see who is behind the drug smuggling. At District, Roman expresses his desires to become a Field Training Office to Platt, and Mouse sets Halstead up with an off-duty security job working for the attractive owner of a medical marijuana clinic.

THURSDAY

Following the end of last week’s episode, several members of the Legends of Tomorrow cast are captured by the Russians during the height of the Cold War. Meanwhile, connected through Titan’s Blacklist comic-series, the show sees Red and Liz tracking a murderer through a dangerous underground news source. This show may not be great television, but it’s worth watching for James Spader alone, who’s always having fun. Outside of these two series, The 100 is something that’s essential viewing by this point as Season 3 sees things only get better and better, and Vikings finally returns for its fourth season. When you consider that I haven’t even mentioned How To Get Away With Murder in this article as I want to keep it for only two shows that aren’t comic-related, Thursday is no doubt going to be a good night for those who like to watch too much television.

Comic-Related TV Series

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow: 1.05: “Fail-Safe” (The CW)

After some of the Legends are captured and thrown into a Russian gulag during the height of the Cold War of 1986, Snart leads the team in an elaborate escape plan to free their comrades. However, Rip gives Sara a secret side mission that could prove not only to be a liability, but fatal to the team.

The Blacklist: 3.15: “Drexel” (NBC)

After the founder of a successful internet start-up is found dead, Red recognizes the crime scene as the work of a notorious killer. Liz and the task force work with Red to track the murderer through a dangerous underground news source. Meanwhile, Tom faces a life threatening situation, while Liz considers options for her baby.

Non-Comic Related TV Series (That You Should Be Watching Anyway)

The 100: 3.05: “Hakeldama” (The CW)

Clarke’s hope for peace are dashed by a new threat. Raven becomes a target. Meanwhile, Murphy is running a dangerous con.

Vikings 4.01: “A Good Treason” (History) – SEASON PREMIERE

Entry to Valhalla eludes Ragnar, but as he lies in his sick bed in Kattegat events unfold beyond his control. Bjorn orders the arrest of Floki for Athelstan’s murder while in Paris, Rollo betrays the last of his Viking supporters to strengthen his position in the French court. In Hedeby, Kalf announces joint earldom with Lagertha, but is power sharing Kalf’s true intention and is Lagertha actually willing to share what once was hers?

FRIDAY 

No direct comics adaptions on Friday but Sleepy Hollow continues its third season having recently just come back from a Winter hiatus. Elsewhere now on a Friday night, The Originals and The Vampire Diaries are also worth considering, but as usual, it’s a light evening at the end of the weekday.

Comic-Related TV Series 

Sleepy Hollow 3.11: “Kindred Spirits” (Fox) 

As Abbie, Crane and Jenny struggle to find normalcy, The Kindred reemerges as a new threat. While the team attempts to figure out why The Kindred has turned to evil, Crane finds that his romantic encounters with Zoe may have caused long-lasting trouble.

Non Comic-Related TV Series (That You Should Be Watching Anyway)

The Originals 3.13: “Heart Shaped Box” (The CW)

Determined to make her ultimate move against the Mikaelson brothers, Aurora uses Freya as bait to lure Klaus and Elijah into a dangerous trap. Meanwhile, after being recruited by The Strix’s powerful coven of witches to perform a spell that could save the lives of her closest friends, Davina finds a way to conjure up Kol, the only person who may know the key ingredient to completing the spell. Finally, Hayley is forced to make a heartbreaking sacrifice.

SATURDAY

No Comic-related TV series on Saturday, in fact there’s very few shows at all. But one you should watch if you enjoy some great piracy action is Black Sails, as Woods Rogers’ siege of Nassau continues.

Black Sails 3.05: “XXII” (Starz)

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find an episode summary online anywhere for this one, but given where we left off last Saturday, it should be pretty big as Blackbeard and Vane continue their escape from Rogers’ blockade, and Flint navigates his way through survival on the Island.

SUNDAY

The Walking Dead is arguably one of the, if not the biggest show of the week and its return last Sunday reminded us of just how good it can be. Hopefully it can live up to expectations here for AMC’s premiere drama series, but also, elsewhere, new HBO rock and roll drama Vinyl is well worth looking into as well. 

Comic-Related TV Series

The Walking Dead 6.10: “The Next World (AMC)

A simple scavenging run proves to be more tricky, when the survivors are not the only ones after a goldmine of supplies.

Non Comic-Related TV Series (That You Should Be Watching Anyway)

Vinyl 1.02: “Yesterday Once More (HBO)

With German Polygram executives in town to complete the deal for American Century, Richie delivers a bombshell that shocks the prospective buyers, as well as his partners, Zak Yankovich, ACR’s head of promotions, and Skip Fontaine, head of sales. When the dust settles, the Germans storm out of the ACR offices, leaving Richie to face the ire of Zak, Skip and company attorney Scott Levitt.