Now that these two shows are well into their freshman season, I figured I’d let you all know what Alaska Daily and So Help Me Todd are all about.
In the former, Alaska Daily follows recently disgraced popular journalist Eileen Fitzgerald, as she tries to rebuild her career by taking an offer to look into the disappearance of missing indigenous women. Only catch is that it’s in Alaska. Oh yeah, and she has a partner. Obviously the show is leaning in on making Eileen less intense and actually forming a relationship with younger reporter, Roz Friendly. Eileen learns though that Roz’s indigenous connections makes her vital in this story. That’s what’s been the main focus of the season, although each episode has little mini-arcs, too. This is how we get more familiar with the other reporters on the very tiny team at the Daily Alaskan. Honestly, Hilary Swank’s intensity comes across as a little much sometimes, but I’ve really enjoyed this ensemble show.
In So Help Me Todd, the titular Todd gets reluctantly hired by his mother, Margaret, at her law firm. He used to work as a private investigator, but got his license revoked for some questionable practices. His mother hires him as a temporary investigator for her cases as a public defender, and obviously things tow the line. I really enjoy Marcia Gay Harden as Margaret. She just proves why she’s still such an in-demand actress, and she’s doing a mighty fine job leading this show. Skylar Astin is charming as her black sheep son, very quick-witted comedically, while also nailing some physical comedy aspects. Even though these two are mother and son, they do tend to lack in communication at times, but the writers do a good job referencing back to the past and why that might be.
Both of these series have been intriguing to watch. At this point, I can’t pick a favorite from the two, but we’ll have to see how the seasons progress. Alaska Daily just aired their fall finale episode, so we won’t be seeing them again until February. And what a wait that will be! In the last couple of minutes on the show, Eileen finally comes face to face (and gun) with a mysterious caller who’s been threatening her presence in Anchorage since she got there. It really seems like her life is on the line, so I’ll be interested to see how she gets out of that. So Help Me Todd presents its story in a more episode by episode basis, so there’s no hanging thread, although we still get a handful of more episodes to finish out the year. The cases are fun, but the familial interactions are the life-blood of this show. Check them out!