Must-Watch TV Shows

No matter the occasion or mood, there are countless TV series to satisfy both thrilling new audiences as well as comforting older ones. Ranging from gritty crime dramas to futuristic sci-fi series – there’s sure to be something that sparks your interest!

The X-Files is an iconic TV show known for exploring unexplained phenomena. It gained widespread acclaim for its mysterious theme and thought-provoking writing, garnering many loyal viewers.

Game of Thrones

Before Game of Thrones came along, most considered fantasy in TV unviable. Yet its combination of violent mayhem, sharp cynicism and rampant nudity proved otherwise. Game of Thrones has inspired everything from straight historical epics to Sky Atlantic’s Britannia; all have drawn upon its DNA for inspiration.

Characters have become household names and phrases like “winter is coming” and “valar morghulis” have entered American vernacular. With deep world-building, intelligent dialogue, and epic set pieces still impressive despite later seasons’ flagging; cast and creatives should be applauded for their monumental achievement; no matter your level of expertise in TV watching this is one of the greatest shows ever created!

The Shield

All4 has just started streaming all seven seasons of The Shield, the 2002 to 2008 police drama that first premiered. Michael Chiklis stars as Vic Mackey, an uncompromising detective leading an anti-gang squad.

Handheld cameras and Steadicam give viewers a feeling of spying alongside Glenn Close, Forest Whitaker, and Walton Goggins – who all star in this acclaimed series.

This controversial show broke new ground in television programming and laid the groundwork for shows such as Peaky Blinders and Sons of Anarchy.

Justified

There’s never been more great television, with fans devouring shows like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire capturing their attention.

Justified has long slipped under the radar; yet one series stands out: Justified. Starring Timothy Olyphant as U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens on FX crime drama Justified makes its return with limited episodes to FX and Hulu this week; its basis lies within Elmore Leonard’s 1980 novel of the same name titled Justified; new episodes begin airing Tuesday on FX before continuing the next day on Hulu; its writing staff have apparently donned rubber bands with “WWED?” inscribed onto them to encourage viewers.

Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad revolutionized television drama by setting a gold standard of execution. From outstanding acting and cinematography, to some of the best characters ever written on TV – such as Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, Saul Goodman Mike Ehrmantraut and Gus Fring – Breaking Bad remains unparalleled when it comes to dramas.

This show provided incredible amounts of suspense and an exciting cliffhanger finale, without getting bogged down with unnecessary scenes as other shows may.

Bryon Cranston’s portrayal of Walter White, who is a tragic everyman thrust into drug trafficking, was truly outstanding and one of the best shows ever produced.

Orange Is the New Black

Parents should be aware that this series contains explicit language, nudity and drugs that could potentially upset some viewers. Furthermore, its strong themes of feminism and racism make for fascinating family discussion topics.

Orange Is the New Black is an entertaining television drama with a sharp script and superb acting performances by its ensemble cast of multidimensional characters. By using prison as its setting, this show humanizes those whom society marginalizes while exploring important issues such as immigration detention and prison reform.

Scandal

Scandal was an unparalleled television drama, featuring Kerry Washington at its heart as it showcased feminist values without losing its own distinct charm or relatability. When at its best, this ABC drama showed how network series could tackle darker stories while still remaining enjoyable to watch.

Example(s) include its depiction of Olivia and Fitz’s volatile relationship as an example of how privileged men abuse their power over women, or its portrayal of the Thorpe affair, an unfulfilling gay love story at a time when England wasn’t ready for it.