Suburgatory is the most promising comedy pilot I've seen this season. With the single-camera format and great cast, there are few distinct weaknesses that arise. The premise naturally lends itself to plenty of plots in the future, with glimpses of the many places Tessa can go to, all couched in the satire of the show.
Exploring high school and showing the kind of people there is nothing new, but it's something that could work on television regardless of originality. Jane Levy, who plays Tessa, is very earnest in the role, and she comes off likable and recognizable among a sea of tanned, plastic women. The rest of the characters are not put off to the side, pegged as the irredeemable crazies. The writers want to find the good in the suburbs, the small acts by Dallas and those like her that go beyond the facile exteriors.
There is one problem that will cross everyone's minds as they watch the pilot, the initial reason why Tessa has to live in a new place. Her father finds a box of unopened condoms and won't believe Tessa when she tells him the truth (assuming her voiceovers are her telling the truth). This overreaction is quite wild and outlandish, more fitting in the land of Suburgatory than anywhere else. But then again, denizens of Surburgatory don't seem to care about boxes of condoms and don't freak out. The setup is an odd blip on the pilot that can't really be explained.
Score: 9.0/10
