Watch With Us: March 2013

March is already upon us and with it comes a number of high profile returns and a few new faces. Find out what you can expect from the bitches in just a click …

In addition to our regular content, March marks the return of two NBC series as well as three high profile premieres – one original and two eagerly anticipated favourites. They are:

Grimm S2 Pt. 2

The way that NBC treats Grimm, you’d almost think they didn’t like the show. Its second season premiered early to capitalize on the Olympics games, but since then it’s been bounced around the schedule, pre-empted and shelved (unexpectedly) for four months. It’s last new episode was Nov 16 last year.

Luckily the show is a utility player for the network and thanks to its genre, there’s a dedicated fanbase. With Fringe‘s finale already passed back in January, the show will only need to contend with The CW’s low rated Cult, which relocates to the same timeslot on Fridays following its disastrous start in the ratings.

Our question: will NBC stick with Grimm if it returns to the expected soft ratings? cinephilactic thinks so (NBC has too many other timeslots to worry about) and he’ll be covering the second half of the show’s second season.

Returns: Friday, March 8 at 9 pm EST on NBC

Bates Motel S1

A&E tries its hand at scripted television with a prequel series to Alfred Hitchcock’s classic, Psycho. It’s got a great cast (movie star Vera Farmiga as matriarch Norma Bates and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory‘s Freddie Highmore as Norman Bates) and comes from Lost Producer Carlton Cuse. Add to that a buzzy ad campaign that features handcuffs, marijuana and a suspended burning body and this one becomes a must-see.

Our question: can Bates Motel compete with Fox’s The Following, The CW’s Cult and NBC’s forthcoming Hannibal as the year of the serial killer continues? TVAngie will stomach the gore in order to find out.

Debuts: Monday, March 18 at 10 pm EST on A&E

Revolution S1 Pt. 2

Another show returning to the Peacock network after a long delay, many are wondering what fortunes Revolution will bring to NBC. In the four months since the show has been off the schedule (read our take on fall finale here), NBC has fallen from first to fourth place and though many would (correctly) credit the lack of The Voice and football to the network’s disastrous Winter, all eyes will shortly turn to the blackout crew to see if the fall numbers hold.

Our question: does anyone care about this show anymore? NBC certainly hopes so! cinephilactic (who named the show 2012’s second worst) will be on deck to check out its return

For minor spoilers about what lies ahead, check out TVGuide.com’s preview here

Returns: Monday, March 25 at 10 pm EST on NBC

Happy Endings S3 

It’s tough being an unconventional comedy on ABC these days. After being used as a utility player – doubling up on Sundays and Tuesdays – the eye network shelved the irreverent comedy for a month. Now it’s back with double episodes in a Friday death slot, which likely means curtains unless the show can pull off some decent numbers.

The problem? In its last batch, the show has produced some of its funniest episodes ever as the crew rallied around one-time future spinster Penny (Casey Wilson) as she got engaged. Obviously the hope is that the show will provide some story closure in its remaining episodes and that the critical support will carry it through to a fourth season.

Our question: will the move to Fridays spell doom and gloom for this edgy comedy? yellowwait will keep you updated as he covers the double dose when this a-mah-zing show comes back.

Returns: Friday, March 29 at 8 pm EST on ABC

Doctor Who S7 Pt. 2

After kicking former companions Amy and Rory to the curb, the BBC smash celebrated the holiday season by (re)introducing a new friend for the eleventh Time Lord…and then promptly killed her off, too.

When the cult show returns after nearly five months, The Doctor (Matt Smith) is on a historical hunt to find plucky Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman). Along the way they’ll encounter some famous foes including the Ice Warriors, the Cybermen and some newbies such as the Spoonheads in a series of adventures undoubtedly filled with wit and British moxie. Oh…and it’s the 50th anniversary of the Time Lord, so we can expect a few callbacks to the series’ history (fingers crossed for a cameo or more from David Tennant!)

Our question: will Coleman be able to fill the void left by former companions as she joins the series full-time? TVAngie will provide plenty of commentary for the second half of S7.

Returns: Saturday, March 30 at 8pm EST on BBC & BBC America

Game Of Thrones S3

Last year solidified HBO’s Game Of Thrones as the real deal. The first season was beautiful, exotic and maaaaybe just a little slow until the last few episodes. The second season burst out of the gates with more characters, new locations, and a higher production budget (2×09’s epic ‘Blackwater‘) At this point Game Of Thrones has gone beyond “must see”; it’s now into “why do we have to wait so long” watercooler fodder territory.

Season three promises to be even more epic as the show cuts A Storm of Swords, what many fans believe to be George R.R. Martin’s best book of the series, in two (S4 of the series will cover the latter half of the book next year). This has gone a long way to appeasing fans who believe the move will help ensure the show does the book justice.

Our question: can the third season satisfy the growing legion of fans who want more drama, more bloodshed and maybe just a few more dragons? After ranking last season as the second best show of 2012, cinephilactic thinks fan satisfaction is all but guaranteed.

Returns: Sunday, March 31 at 9pm EST on HBO

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Check out all of the March premieres (including the ones we’re not covering like Red Widow & Vikings) here