When the new TV season started, I was surprised to see three new shows with what sounded like similar premises — Valor, a failed copter mission in Somalia; Brave, undercover military heroes; and this one, about Seals and weekly missions. That’s not unusual, multiple shows with a similar premise, but the fact that it was all hardcore military seemed unusual, particularly as few shows of this nature ever make it. If there’s too much rah rah rah, people tune out; if it’s all about the family drama, people tune out. The balance is hard to find.

From the original description, my prediction was:

CBS: Seal Team – It was a toss up with S.W.A.T., but I’m not convinced David B is right for the series – CANCELLED;

David Boreanaz is the leader of the SEAL team, and as you can see from my prediction, I wasn’t sold on his casting. Don’t get me wrong, I loved him as Angel. But I hated him in Bones and a few other quick roles. Yet I have to say, he doesn’t completely suck in the pilot. He’s still a bit uneven in places, using some sort of manic look to indicate his inner emotional turmoil, but for the team leader role, he’s not bad. Lots of quick scenes, good action, fits his abilities.

The rest of the team has a bunch of familiar faces, including A.J. Buckley. I watched him through five or six seasons of Justified and never realized he was Adam Ross from CSI: New York. How did I miss that? Some others, all fine, no issues. I really like the casting for the female roles…Michaela McManus (Aquarius, Awake, L&O: SVU) is relegated to playing David’s wife, not sure how big a role that will be for the series, but she’s capable of more. So is Jessica Pare (Jack and Bobby), as a CIA analyst.

Ratings are pretty good now that they’re nine shows in, and TV Grim Reaper is predicting renewal. Might be the first one I get wrong all year, and if so, I’m okay with that. I underestimated the show, and Boreanaz. Not enough for me to keep watching, but I can see where it might have grabbed some eyeballs.