WHAT’ NEXT FOR OUR FAVORITE SHOWS
‘This Is Us,’ ‘The Walking Dead,’ ‘House of Cards’ and others embrace change in the new season
So where were we?
A lot of time has passed since were we in the company of our favorite TV shows and memories can get fuzzy — especially when so many of us are drowning in small-screen programming.
With that in mind, we’ve put together this refresher guide covering some of television’s more notable cliffhangers, storylines and cast changes. Also: A quick look at what these shows have in store:
“The Good Doctor” (ABC)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> Shaun (Freddie Highmore) discovered that his mentor, Dr. Glassman (Richard Schiff), had a potentially fatal brain tumor. Also, Shaun made a near-fatal error during a surgery, a blunder that put him on thin ice at San Jose’s St. Bonaventure Hospital.
WHAT’S NEXT >> The Season 2 opener — written by Highmore — picks up soon after the Season 1 finale. Glassman resigns as the hospital’s president and ambitious Dr. Andrews (Hill Harper) takes over. Glassman will continue to struggle with his health while Shaun works to prove that he deserves to remain on staff. Lisa Edelstein joins the show, playing a famed oncologist who treats Glassman. (Returns 10 p.m. Monday)
“NCIS” (CBS)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> Director Vance (Rocky Carroll) was kidnapped by Nigel Hakim (Pej Vahdat), the terrorist who tortured Sloane (Maria Bello) in Afghanistan a decade ago.
WHAT’S NEXT >> The season picks up one month later. Gibbs (Mark Harmon) is now the acting director and the team is still involved in a worldwide search for Vance.
Diona Reasonover has been cast as Kasie Hines, the woman who replaces fan favorite Abby (Pauley Perrette) as the team’s forensic scientist. (Returns 8 p.m. Tuesday)
“This Is Us” (NBC)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> Kate (Chrissy Metz) and Toby (Chris Sullivan) got hitched. We were still weeping over Jack’s (Milo Ventimiglia) death and its impact on his kids.
WHAT’S NEXT >> After a season largely focused on Jack’s demise, the show will delve more into his life, including his time in Vietnam. In fact, Kevin (Justin Hartley) will visit Vietnam (with Zoe), looking to learn more about his dad’s wartime experience. The series also will expoints plore other plot teased in the Season 2 finale, indepression, cluding Toby’s and the mysterious “her” that Randall (Sterling K. Brown) and an adult Tess vaguely mentioned. Michael Angarano has been cast as Jack’s younger brother Nicky, who died in the war. (Returns
9 p.m. Sept. 25)
“Lethal Weapon” (Fox)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> Murtaugh’s (Damon Wayans) partner Riggs (Clayne Crawford) was planning to move back to Texas with Molly (Kristen Gutoskie) and her son. Instead, he was last seen taking a bullet to the chest from a gun fired by his half-brother Garrett. After the season, Crawford was fired for on-set misconduct and replaced by Seann William Scott.
WHAT’S NEXT >> No, Scott will not be another Riggs. His character is Wesley Cole, an ex-CIA operative who has just joined the Los Angeles Police Department to be close to his 12-year-old daughter, Maya (Shay Rudolph). The actor told TV Guide that “danger always follows Cole.” Pity poor Murtaugh. (Returns 9 p.m. Tuesday)
“Chicago Med” (NBC)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> When one cliffhanger isn’t enough, how about several? Will (Nick Gehlfuss) proposed to Natalie (Torrey DeVitto). Rhodes (Colin Donnell) received a job offer to join the Mayo Clinic. And Dr. Charles (Oliver Platt) seemingly didn’t try to revive Sarah’s (Rachel DiPillo) father, who had collapsed from an apparent heart attack. (Dr. Charles had moments earlier accused the man of being a serial killer.)
WHAT’S NEXT >> Producers promise that all these cliff hangers will be resolved in the season opener, and the inaction by Charles will be addressed. Also, Molly Bernard (“Younger”) and Colby Lewis (“One Tree Hill”) join the cast. (Returns 8 p.m. Wednesday)
“Empire” (Fox)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> The Lyons’ record label became the victim of a hostile takeover, but Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) and Lucious (Terrence Howard) got married. Anika (Grace Gealey) and Tory (Rumer Willis) both died. Hakeem (Bryshere Gray) was the victim of a shooting.
WHAT’S NEXT >> Season 5 will jump forward two years and Eddie (Forest Whitaker) is in control of Empire, but Lucious isn’t down for the count. He and Cookie attempt to launch a new venture with Jamal’s (Jussie Smollett) help. We’ll learn Hakeem’s fate in the opener. (Returns 8 p.m. Sept. 26)
“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> Alex (Justin Chambers) and Jo (Camilla Luddington) got married, and April (Sarah Drew) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) departed Grey Sloan Memorial for new jobs.
WHAT’S NEXT >> Season 15 has been dubbed “the season of love.” Does that mean single-mom Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) might find a romantic interest in the hospital’s talented new orthopedic surgeon, Link (Chris Carmack)? Kim Raver will scrub back in as a series regular and her character, Dr. Teddy Altman, is pregnant — most likely with Owen’s (Kevin McKidd) child. Uh-oh. Owen, of course, still has feelings for his ex-wife, Amelia (Caterina Scorsone). The season kicks off with a twohour episode. (Returns 8 p.m. Sept. 27)
“The Good Place” (NBC)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> With the permission of Judge Gen (Maya Rudolph), Michael (Ted Danson) dropped Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Chidi (William Jackson Harper), Tahani (Jameela Jamil) and Jason (Manny Jacinto) back on Earth, hoping they can discover the best versions of themselves.
WHAT’S NEXT >> Season 3 begins with an hourlong episode, the first three minutes of which are available online. Michael meets The Doorman (Mike O’Malley), who controls access to Earth. From there, Michael proceeds to prevent the deaths of the foursome in order to get his “experiment” started. Is redemption possible? (Returns 8 p.m. Sept. 27)
“The Walking Dead” (AMC)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> Carl died and the fans got riled. The war with the Saviors ended, but Rick’s (Andrew Lincoln) decision to spare Negan’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) life angered Maggie (Lauren Cohan) and Daryl (Norman Reedus).
WHAT’S NEXT >> The big news is that Lincoln is leaving the show. But when? And how? And if he dies, will we see him as a zombie? The season opener jumps ahead a year and a half and the show’s trailer indicates there are widening fractures among the communities Rick helped form. Meanwhile, a more assertive Maggie (Cohan is also
leaving the show) appears set to become the leader. And Negan apparently has designs on a comeback. Also, Jon Bernthal will reprise his role as Shane for one episode. (Returns 9 p.m. Oct. 7)
“Riverdale” (The CW)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> Hoo boy, where do we start? Archie (KJ Apa) was elected student body president, but he was also arrested on a murder charge. And it looks like Hiram (Mark Consuelos) had him framed. Jughead (Cole Sprouse) assumed leadership of the Southside Serpents street gang, recruited Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) to be a member, and asked Betty (Lili Reinhart) to be his Serpent Queen — whatever that means. Also, Betty’s father (Lochlyn Munro) confessed to being a serial killer, aka the Black Hood. Oh, and Moose (Cody Kearsley) kissed Kevin (Casey Cott).
WHAT’S NEXT >> Archie will stand trial, which figures to complicate his relationship with Veronica (Camila Mendes), as well as his student body presidency. The
season also will feature a flashback episode that spoofs “The Breakfast Club,” in which the young “Riverdale” cast members play their on-screen parents as teens. (Returns 8 p.m. Oct. 10)
“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (The CW)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> The musical comedy took a dark turn in Season 3 as Rebecca (Rachel Bloom) pleaded guilty to attempted murder after pushing Trent (Paul Welsh) off a rooftop to save Nathaniel’s (Scott Michael Foster) life.
WHAT’S NEXT >> The show’s final season, says Bloom, will be about “a girl rebuilding her life.” She promises it will have a lighter touch and feature more ensemble musical numbers. “Crazy” will also welcome back a familiar character, but played by someone new. Skylar Astin will assume the role of a “reimagined” Greg, who was originally played by Santino Fontana. (Returns 9 p.m. Oct. 12)
“House of Cards” (Netflix)
WHERE WE LEFT OFF >> On camera, ultra-corrupt Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) resigned, ceding the presidency to his ultra-corrupt wife, Claire (Robin Wright), with the idea that she would pardon him. She didn’t. Off camera, Spacey was fired amid a rash of sexual misconduct allegations.
WHAT’S NEXT >> A sixth and final season with a woman — and murderer — in the Oval Office. Spacey’s ouster deprives fans of witnessing what surely would have been a vicious smackdown between Frank and Claire. A preview trailer reveals that Frank is now dead, but how? Did Claire off him? (Returns Nov. 2)