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(Photo by Netflix, NBC, The CW, AMC)
It’s the most wonderful — and stressful! — time of year for TV fans: fall TV season, a.k.a. “try to keep track of all the new shows you want to see until you hopelessly fall behind and just watch Friends again” season.
We kid, but know that we feel you: It’s overwhelming! In less than two months, more than 50 shows and TV movies have debuted already. From NBC’s Lost-esque missing-plane drama Manifest to CBS’ latest classic reboot (Magnum P.I.) and philosophical afterlife comedies (The Good Place season 3 and Forever) to critically acclaimed animation for adults (BoJack Horseman and Big Mouth), there is abundant programming to choose from.
That’s why Rotten Tomatoes has created this list ranking every fall TV premiere for 2018 by Tomatometer (both new and returning shows, along with TV and streaming movies that did not get a big-screen release).
We’ll continue updating the scorecard for the rest of the year, registering every new season and TV or streaming movie (starting September 1) that got at least 10 critic reviews. (So if you’re wondering why your favorite isn’t on here, it likely just didn’t have enough season reviews to make it.)
Final Update (12/21): With Fall officially over, our Fall TV Scorecard is officially done. The final update saw the addition of the new Australian Netflix series Tidelands, Certified Fresh Amazon miniseries Vanity Fair, and the second season of Hulu’s Runaways.
Drumroll please: The top spot on the 2018 Rotten Tomatoes Fall TV Scorecard goes to The Good Place. For the second year in a row, the latest Certified Fresh season of NBC’s morality comedy landed in first place with a 100% score, beating out the seven other series or streaming movies with the same score (two of which were also Certified Fresh) thanks to the number of reviews it received.
Also of note: While Amazon’s Certified Fresh Homecoming has a 98% score, its Adjusted Tomatometer score, which takes into account the number of reviews that make up the final score, would push it ahead of The Good Place to take the No. 1 spot.
24%
67%
Critics Consensus: While the show's likable cast has potential, poor attempts at cultural commentary and weak characterizations leave The Neighborhood stuck in a creative dead end.
Starring: Cedric the Entertainer, Max Greenfield, Beth Behrs, Tichina Arnold
31%
69%
Critics Consensus: Despite its promising pedigree, I Feel Bad simply isn't very funny.
Starring: Sarayu Blue, Paul Adelstein, Zach Cherry, Johnny Pemberton
30%
48%
Critics Consensus: Despite promising performers, Heathers' aspirational angst is let down by its blunt, misguided attempts at social commentary.
Starring: Grace Victoria Cox, Melanie Field, Brendan Scannell, Jasmine Mathews
34%
67%
Critics Consensus: Overcrowded, overwrought, and overly familiar, New Amsterdam plays more like an exquisite corpse of pre-existing shows than a breakthrough for the genre -- though that may be enough for medical drama devotees.
Starring: Ryan Eggold, Freema Agyeman, Janet Montgomery, Jocko Sims
27%
21%
Critics Consensus: The first season of Camping makes it difficult to determine who the least happy campers are: those on the screen or those watching it.
Starring: Jennifer Garner, David Tennant, Juliette Lewis, Arturo Del Puerto
45%
46%
Critics Consensus: This just in: while the nostalgia and wit are welcome, Murphy Brown's dated messaging tactics feel heavy-handed and smug, leaving this formerly formidably timely series feeling like a reboot reaching for the headlines.
44%
67%
Critics Consensus: Rel has a talented star supported by a solid ensemble, but none of it's enough to disguise an ordinary sitcom that hits a series of generic beats.
Starring: Lil Rel Howery, Jessica "Jess Hilarious" Moore, Jordan L. Jones, Sinbad
42%
61%
Critics Consensus: Bloated and boring, The Purge kills its own fleetingly fun premise and proves that not all stories work better on the small screen.
Starring: Gabriel Chavarria, Jessica Garza, Amanda Warren, Colin Woodell
49%
63%
Critics Consensus: Matthew Weiner's return to television is as handsomely made as it is ambitious and sprawling -- unfortunately, it's also fatally indulgent, asking for the utmost patience from audiences without a compelling incentive.
Starring: Corey Stoll, Marthe Keller, Hugh Skinner, Christina Hendricks
50%
82%
Critics Consensus: Despite a pair of likable leads, The Good Cop's reliance on procedural cliches sucks out much of the fun -- though those looking for an easy watch may find comfort in its familiarity.
Starring: Tony Danza, Josh Groban, Monica Barbaro, Isiah Whitlock Jr.
53%
85%
Critics Consensus: Despite a decent ensemble and a few intriguing elements, A MillIon Little Things breaks under the weight of its own emotionally lofty ambitions.
Starring: David Giuntoli, Ron Livingston, Romany Malco, Allison Miller
60%
63%
Critics Consensus: Despite an enticing cast and promising premise, Tell Me a Story's overly plotted, grim take on Grimm's Fairy Tales fails to enchant.
Starring: Billy Magnussen, Kim Cattrall, Danielle Campbell, Paul Wesley
57%
75%
Critics Consensus: The rebooted Magnum P.I. may not be quite distinctive enough to hold up to comparisons with its source material, but a charismatic star, slickly staged action, and a handful of modern twists hint at greater potential.
Starring: Jay Hernandez, Perdita Weeks, Zachary Knighton, Stephen Hill
56%
60%
Critics Consensus: Better action scenes and tighter pacing elevate Iron Fist's second season, but it remains a lesser light among MCU shows.
Starring: Finn Jones, David Wenham, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Henwick
58%
89%
Critics Consensus: Last Man Standing isn't the most realistic sitcom on the dial, but its idealistic representation of opposites living in harmony offers sorely needed hope during divided times.
Starring: Tim Allen, Nancy Travis, Héctor Elizondo, Amanda Fuller
56%
63%
Critics Consensus: Manifest's attempts to balance supernatural mystery and melodrama largely work thanks to its well-chosen cast -- though it could use a few more distinguishing characteristics.
Starring: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas, Athena Karkanis, J.R. Ramirez
63%
55%
Critics Consensus: Dick Wolf's new series sports a compelling cast and adrenaline-spiking spectacle, although some viewers may find this retread of the mega-producer's previous procedural formulas overly familiar.
Starring: Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zaki, Ebonée Noel, Jeremy Sisto
59%
87%
Critics Consensus: A sincere and thoughtful handling of spiritual themes helps God Friended Me overcome -- and even benefit from -- its earnest approach to a potentially off-putting premise.
Starring: Brandon Micheal Hall, Violett Beane, Joe Morton, Suraj Sharma
53%
74%
Critics Consensus: Happy Together's premise won't win may points for originality, but the show still earns laughs thanks to a winning trio of central performances.
Starring: Damon Wayans Jr., Amber Stevens West, Felix Mallard, Stephnie Weir
74%
73%
Critics Consensus: The Innocent Man will satisfy true crime aficionados looking for a slickly packaged mystery, but viewers seeking a more probing deconstruction of the justice system may come away disappointed.
Starring: John Grisham, Heather McPhaul, Erik Anthony Russo, Garrett Davis
65%
79%
Critics Consensus: Though the cheesy jokes and cliches are old hat, an all-too-uncommon focus on older characters makes it easier to forgive The Cool Kids' lack of fresh wrinkles.
Starring: David Alan Grier, Martin Mull, Leslie Jordan, Vicki Lawrence
71%
30%
Critics Consensus: Charmed's updates are as fun as they are surprisingly feminist -- and with a sharper focus, it could conjure up an even stronger show than the one that came before it.
Starring: Melonie Diaz, Sarah Jeffery, Madeleine Mantock, Rupert Evans
69%
67%
Critics Consensus: Into the Dark is a worthy horror anthology, offering viewers a selection of frightening and witty gothic tales like a tray of cobwebbed bonbons, making for a spooky Halloween treat.
Starring: Martha Higareda, Richard Cabral, Corey Fogelmanis, Hayes MacArthur
67%
59%
Critics Consensus: Dirty John might not live up to the thrills of its source material, but Connie Britton puts on a clinic with her interpretation of true crime treachery.
Starring: Connie Britton, Eric Bana, Julia Garner, Juno Temple
66%
74%
Critics Consensus: Sean Penn gives an intensely poignant performance as the driven but conflicted Tom Hagerty in The First's rather slow-moving first season.
Starring: Sean Penn, Rey Lucas, Natascha McElhone, LisaGay Hamilton
68%
90%
Critics Consensus: Nathan Fillion's reliably likable presence makes The Rookie worth tuning in, even if the show around him isn't particularly memorable.
Starring: Nathan Fillion, Alyssa Diaz, Richard T. Jones, Titus Makin Jr.
72%
77%
Critics Consensus: Mayans M.C. is a thrilling drama with compelling characters, but it struggles to find its pace and the Tellers are hard to forget.
Starring: JD Pardo, Clayton Cardenas, Edward James Olmos, Sarah Bolger
71%
97%
Critics Consensus: Making a Murderer's return may not yield closure for this maddening saga of crime and punishment, but the series' exploration of the U.S. justice system remains riveting.
Starring: Steven Avery, Dolores Avery, Allan Avery, Jerry Buting
65%
19%
Critics Consensus: House of Cards folds slightly under the weight of its labyrinthian ending -- thankfully Robin Wright's commanding performance is more than enough to keep it standing strong.
Starring: Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Jayne Atkinson, Patricia Clarkson
75%
80%
Critics Consensus: While the jokes can be a little juvenile, Single Parents earns brownie points for a likable cast and a funny focus on parental struggles.
Starring: Taran Killam, Leighton Meester, Kimrie Lewis-Davis, Jake Choi
71%
75%
Critics Consensus: Toni Collette creates comedy between the sheets in this unlikely sex-drama from acclaimed playwright Nick Payne for the BBC.
Starring: Toni Collette, Steven Mackintosh, Zawe Ashton, William Ash
77%
88%
Critics Consensus: Fans of Jim Carrey's slapstick may be disappointed, but other viewers may find a surprisingly poignant examination of life and grief in Kidding.
Starring: Jim Carrey, Frank Langella, Catherine Keener, Judy Greer
84%
71%
Critics Consensus: The Woman in White's campy convolutions can't quite sustain the intrigue it aspires to, but a game cast and pounding pace will satisfy those looking for a stylish -- if somewhat demanding -- whodunit.
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Ben Hardy, Olivia Vinall, Art Malik
77%
85%
Critics Consensus: Moody, murky, and full of mermaids, Tidelands spins an appropriately sexy and violent tale of siren lore.
Starring: Charlotte Best, Dustin Clare, Mattias Inwood, Aaron Jakubenko
80%
91%
Critics Consensus: Full of humor and heart, The Kominsky Method paints a surprisingly poignant -- if a little paint-by-numbers -- portrait of life and aging, elevated by two top-notch performances by legends Alan Arkin and Michael Douglas.
Starring: Michael Douglas, Alan Arkin, Sarah Baker, Nancy Travis
81%
90%
Critics Consensus: Though cynics may struggle to see it, Poldark's fourth season pairs a surprisingly multilayered side of social commentary with its soapy romantic delights.
Starring: Aidan Turner, Eleanor Tomlinson, Christian Brassington, Ellise Chappell
83%
66%
Critics Consensus: The Gifted continues to explore shades of grey, but with a more streamlined story that sets the show up for a stronger -- if slightly more simplistic -- sophomore season.
Starring: Stephen Moyer, Amy Acker, Sean Teale, Jamie Chung
78%
71%
Critics Consensus: Despite a few tonal growing pains, Titans does justice to its source material and truly shines when its titular ensemble finally assembles.
Starring: Brenton Thwaites, Teagan Croft, Anna Diop, Ryan Potter
84%
84%
Critics Consensus: Maniac enthralls with its dazzling visuals, adventurous narrative, and striking performances from both Emma Stone and Jonah Hill.
Starring: Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, Justin Theroux, Sonoya Mizuno
86%
81%
Critics Consensus: The crafty addition of minor sci-fi elements and a terrific William Forsythe to the show's already engrossing narrative make The Man in the High Castle's third season another worthy binge.
Starring: Alexa Davalos, Rupert Evans, Luke Kleintank, DJ Qualls
90%
90%
Critics Consensus: Dangerous, thrilling, and highly addictive, Narcos: Mexico's first season expertly expands the franchise by exploring new territory in the drug war's grim history and showcasing electric performances from Diego Luna and Michael Peña.
Starring: Diego Luna, Michael Peña, Alyssa Diaz
90%
98%
Critics Consensus: Mr Inbetween's familiar setup is quickly forgiven thanks to its expertly built tension and a mesmerizing performance from Scott Ryan.
Starring: Scott Ryan, Damon Herriman, Edmund Lembke-Hogan, Brooke Satchwell
95%
79%
Critics Consensus: The Little Drummer Girl marches to a steady beat of assured plotting, extraordinary art direction, and a uniformly terrific cast that makes the show's smolderingly slow burn pace bearable.
Starring: Florence Pugh, Alexander Skarsgård, Michael Shannon, Michael Moshonov
92%
81%
Critics Consensus: Brutal battles and epic quests help Vikings' fifth season remain an engaging, exciting journey.
Starring: Katheryn Winnick, Moe Dunford, Josefin Asplund, Alexander Ludwig
84%
78%
Critics Consensus: Runaways hits the ground running in its sophomore season, but though it deepens the connections between its expansive cast, formulaic stories and an over-dependence on plot devices holds it back from fully maturing into a compelling character study.
Starring: Rhenzy Feliz, Lyrica Okano, Virginia Gardner, Ariela Barer
94%
83%
Critics Consensus: You pairs thrilling drama with trashy fun to create an addictive social media horror story that works its way under the skin -- and stays there
Starring: Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, Luca Padovan, Zach Cherry
89%
94%
Critics Consensus: Escape at Dannemora's slow pace demands patience, but those willing to wait will be rewarded with a chilling mystery that provides the perfect showcase for its talented cast -- especially so for the incredible Patricia Arquette.
Starring: Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Benicio del Toro
92%
81%
Critics Consensus: Bewitchingly beautiful and wickedly macabre, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina casts an intoxicating spell and provides a perfect showcase for Kiernan Shipka's magical talents.
Starring: Kiernan Shipka, Miranda Otto, Lucy Davis, Ross Lynch
92%
85%
Critics Consensus: All American's ambitious attempts to tackle class struggles and classroom drama largely play thanks to its winning cast -- an auspicious start to a promising new series.
Starring: Daniel Ezra, Taye Diggs, Samantha Logan, Bre-Z
92%
92%
Critics Consensus: Like Midge herself, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel charges full speed ahead in a second season brimming with warmth, empowerment, and a whole lot of laughs.
Starring: Rachel Brosnahan, Michael Zegen, Alex Borstein, Tony Shalhoub
89%
89%
Critics Consensus: Olivia Cooke's brilliant portrayal of the feisty and scheming Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair makes this adaptation of Thackeray's classic novel more relatable for a 21st century audience.
Starring: Olivia Cooke, Johnny Flynn, Claudia Jessie, Simon Russell Beale
93%
70%
Critics Consensus: Star Wars: Resistance's streamlined story sets the stage for exciting adventures -- and seems poised to explore a canvas stocked with immediately relatable characters and plenty of potential.
Starring: Christopher Sean, Suzie McGrath, Scott Lawrence, Myrna Velasco
91%
59%
Critics Consensus: Carried by Desiree Akhavan's dry wit, The Bisexual explores identity politics with humor and heart.
Starring: Desiree Akhavan, Maxine Peake, Brian Gleeson, Saskia Chana
93%
39%
Critics Consensus: The Conners offers the comforts of its source show, but more focus on the family's ever-evolving dynamics adds a welcome layer of working-class empathy without losing any of the laughs.
Starring: John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Alicia Goranson, Sara Gilbert
93%
84%
Critics Consensus: Bodyguard maintains a palpable tension throughout its pulpy proceedings to create an absorbing and addicting psychological thriller.
Starring: Richard Madden, Keeley Hawes, Sophie Rundle, Gina McKee
93%
91%
Critics Consensus: The Haunting of Hill House is an effective ghost story whose steadily mounting anticipation is just as satisfying as its chilling payoff.
Starring: Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Timothy Hutton, Elizabeth Reaser
89%
78%
Critics Consensus: Nine seasons in, The Walking Dead feels more alive than ever, with heightened tension and a refreshed pace that rejuvenates this long-running franchise.
Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira
94%
77%
Critics Consensus: It's Always Sunny's winning formula keeps the laughs rolling and the stomachs turning in a thirteenth season that's topical, triumphant, and toxic in the best way.
Starring: Danny DeVito, Charlie Day, Kaitlin Olson, Rob McElhenney
95%
78%
Critics Consensus: Forever is a gently harrowing and mirthful dive into the ennui of matrimony, elevated by Maya Rudolph's dazzling turn of not-so-quiet desperation.
Starring: Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, Jason Mitchell, Hong Chau
90%
20%
Critics Consensus: Carried by Jodie Whittaker's boundless energy and charm, Doctor Who's latest regeneration manages to feel fresh well into the show's 55-year tenure.
Starring: Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill
93%
91%
Critics Consensus: My Brilliant Friend is an expansive epic that gleans rapturous beauty from the most desolate of circumstances, but it is the intimacy between the central duo -- and the remarkable performances that bring them to life -- that audiences will remember most vividly.
Starring: Margherita Mazzucco, Gaia Girace, Elisa del Genio, Ludovica Nasti
97%
87%
Critics Consensus: The Man with No Fear returns to top form with a third season that begins tediously slow but gradually generates comic book thrills, immeasurably helped by the welcome return of Vincent D'Onofrio's menacing Kingpin.
Starring: Charlie Cox, Elodie Yung, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson
97%
67%
Critics Consensus: The outrageously singular Julia Davis delivers yet another impeccable performance in Sally4Ever, masterfully walking the line between side-splitting and cringe-worthy comedy.
Starring: Catherine Shepherd, Alex Macqueen, Julia Davis, Julian Barratt
98%
95%
Critics Consensus: BoJack Horseman continues confidently down the thematic rabbit hole with a fresh and poignant season that's as devastating as it is hilarious.
Starring: Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Aaron Paul
98%
92%
Critics Consensus: American Vandal trades one type of potty humor for another in an ambitious second season that manages to double down on the explicit gags while subtly addressing serious social issues.
Starring: Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck, Travis Tope, Taylor Dearden
98%
73%
Critics Consensus: An impressive small-screen debut for Julia Roberts, Homecoming balances its haunting mystery with a frenetic sensibility that grips and doesn't let go.
Starring: Julia Roberts, Stephan James, Bobby Cannavale, Sissy Spacek
99%
85%
Critics Consensus: The Deuce's excellent character-driven drama returns with even more immersive world-building and a welcome focus on its leading ladies, carried by a tour de force performance from Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Starring: James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Carr, Margarita Levieva
100%
75%
Critics Consensus: Patriot Act stands apart from other like-minded comedy shows thanks to Hasan Minhaj's masterful blending of thought and feeling, catharsis and criticism.
Starring: Hasan Minhaj
100%
83%
Critics Consensus: Double the J.K. Simmons brings double the aplomb in the second season of Counterpart, which finds time to deliver relevant societal critiques while deepening its labyrinthine lore.
Starring: J.K. Simmons, Olivia Williams, Harry Lloyd, Nazanin Boniadi
100%
73%
Critics Consensus: By the grace of Grayskull, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power packs a powerful visual punch that hits even harder thanks to layered writing and multidimensional characters -- the perfect show for seasoned fans and little ones alike.
Starring: Aimee Carrero, Karen Fukuhara, Amanda Michalka, Marcus Scribner
100%
80%
Critics Consensus: Poignantly repulsive, Big Mouth continues to confront the awkwardness of adolescence with foul-mouthed glee and an added layer of maturity.
Starring: Nick Kroll, John Mulaney, Maya Rudolph, Jason Mantzoukas
98%
88%
Critics Consensus: Charming and curious as ever, The Good Place remains a delightfully insightful bright spot on the television landscape.
Starring: Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil





