25 of the most buzzworthy new shows for Fall 2018

From acclaimed producers Ava DuVernay and Greg Berlanti, THE RED LINE follows the lives of three vastly different Chicago families whose stories of loss and tragedy intersect in the wake of the mistaken shooting of an African American doctor by a white cop. THE RED LINE will premiere on the CBS Television Network during the 2018-19 season. Pictured: Noah Wyle and Aliyah Royale Photo: Elizabeth Morris/CBS ©2018 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The Red Line – CBS

What you’re watching: The Red Line is a topical drama from the dynamic producing duo of Ava DuVernay and Greg Berlanti. It begins with the accidental shooting of a black doctor at the hands of a white Chicago cop. The story begins to unfold from the point of view of those closest to the tragedy. CBS calls it, confusingly enough, “a then-and-now meets us-and-them tale about the often-personal politics of crime.” With TV faves like Noah Wyle and Noel Fisher, fans will instantly connect to this show.

What it reminds you of: Although this particular incarnation is new, using a transit system as a point of entry, this show follows in the footsteps of the recent true crime dramas. The American Crime Story saga, Seven Seconds, and True Detective are all predecessors of this drama — but it has such a pedigree that it might outpace these.

Long-term potential: I’d say the success quotient of this show is pretty high. Even though it’s taking on hot-button issues on primetime, I’ve never trusted anyone more than DuVernay to make it powerful and affecting. Greg Berlanti is no slouch either, and we imagine it’s going to explode off the screen.  We’ll all have to wait until mid-season, or maybe even until spring (depending on CBS), but I have a feeling it might be worth the wait.

There’s a lot of promise for some of these fall shows, some even looking to be big hits. Others, well, they’ll be lucky if they can make it to two seasons. Which shows are you looking forward to watching this fall?