Review by matthewdgabriel

The MONARCH premiere was exactly what I had expected it to be - mediocre and forgettable. Despite the star power of veteran Susan Sarandon, country star Trace Adkins, and the always likable and impressively talented Brits Anna Friel (Pushing Diasies) and Joshua Sasse (Galavant), the only glimmer of substance this pilot episode had was a well-done duet of the 1997 hit ballad, "How Do I Live." The introduction of its plots, subplots, and backstories, I could've easily lived without. This question remains: Do I want to continue watching a blasé series far too similar to other fleeting series like PROMISED LAND and FILTHY RICH simply because I like actors Sarandon, Friel, and Sasse -- despite the blatant fact that none of them could carry a Texas accent worth a darn? Moreover, do we really need another NASHVILLE? Hasn't this been done and done over dozens of times? "How do I live" without this series? My apologies to the fine cast, but the answer is...just fine!