25 of the most buzzworthy new shows for Fall 2018

THE VILLAGE — “Pilot” Episode 101 — Pictured: (l-r) Frankie Faison as Ron Davis, Lorraine Toussaint as Patricia Davis — (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)

The Village – NBC

What you’re watching: The Village is an apartment building in Brooklyn that serves as home to a close-knit group of diverse individuals. Lorraine Toussaint and Frankie Faison play Patricia and Ron, the heart and soul of the building. It also features a nurse and single mother, Sarah, just trying to get by and raise her creative teenager the best she can. There is also a young law student, Gabe, whose life gets a surprise upheaval with the addition of a much older roommate. And then there’s Ava, who must arrange care for her young son when ICE visits the apartment. Lastly, there’s the veteran Nick who has recently returned from war. The stories will undoubtedly be heartwarming and tear-jerking, and you’ll probably have to invest in shares in a tissue company.

What it reminds you of: NBC’s sleeper hit, This Is Us, has its tear-stained fingerprints all over this. Although it’s technically about a family of the participants’ own choosing, it’s meant to capitalize on the genre of television that borders on emotionally abusive. It also has a bit of a Parenthood feel to it, with all the parallel and intersecting stories. Either way, it seems like it’s going to fit right in with the fall TV landscape.

Long-term potential: Don’t let my skeptical little synopsis fool you, I’m gonna watch the heck out of this. I love anything that allows me to indulge in a good, ugly cry, and this is going to pair nicely with my This Is Us sob-fest. No word yet about when it will debut, but keep a watch for it around midseason.