Notorious

With two-dimensional characters and cringe-worthy dialogue, this is an ultimately laughable attempt to compete with successful female-driven dramas such as Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder. (And in case it's unclear, it soooo doesn't.) But that doesn't stop NOTORIOUS from throwing everything it has to offer -- including office sex, murder, and political blackmail -- at the proverbial wall to see what sticks. Trouble is, when all that muck slides down the wall where it belongs, you're left with an overdone template that's hardly worth your time.

In a sense, it's a shame, considering the series puts forth at least four potentially compelling female characters: Perabo's ethically ambiguous but occasionally principled Julia; Jennings Grant's scene-stealing Louise (in spite of her ridiculous antics); ambitious journalism grad Megan Byrd (Sepideh Moafi); and junior attorney Ella Benjamin (Aimeé Teegarden). But any hope of presenting them as multidimensional career women with complex minds and souls is hopelessly squandered with lines such as, "You're a tough-ass bitch! You can do anything." It somehow feels like the opposite of girl power.