TV Shows You Should Be Watching

I love a good TV show, one where you can get to know complex and interesting characters, where the writers surprise you but you never feel like they're losing control of the plot. There's nothing worse than finding a great TV show and then watching it unravel (I'm looking at you Lost). I thought I'd compile a small list of my favorite TV shows that I'm currently watching.

Dexter

I just saw the season 6 finale, and it is honestly the best season finale I have ever seen. The writers of this show have proven that they're not afraid to take the characters in a completely different direction. The character of Dexter is really complex. He is a serial killer who kills serial killers. He does not connect with human emotions like we do and yet there's a side to him that is very protective of the ones he loves. Season four with the Trinity killer is the best season of this series so far. That doesn't mean the others aren't brilliant, it's just that no show I've ever seen has kept me as enthralled as that season did. Season 6 was probably the least exciting in terms of plot, except for the finale which completely blew me away. If you aren't watching this show you should be.

Fringe

I love Fringe. Each season is so different that there's never a risk of getting bored with the story. The characters are really intriguing. I like that the female lead, Olivia (Anna Torv) is strong and complex with a history that is relevant to the story. My favorite is Walter (John Noble), he is such a great character, conflicted in so many ways and yet always endearing. The relationship between Olivia and Peter (Joshua Jackson) is interesting because the things that keep them apart are supernatural (Alternate universes, alternate personas, time line rifts). They want to be together and yet each season there is some great thing keeping them apart. See if you can spot an observer in each episode, they're always there somewhere.

Game of Thrones

This show seemed to come out of the blue and it's a huge success. My husband is currently reading the series and he loves it. I really enjoyed the first season and look forward to the second, and hopefully many more after that. In the first season the writers killed off an important character, proving that no one is really safe. It was completely unexpected but also integral to the story. There are a lot of characters in the show but each has an intriguing plot line and they all weave together. I think season two is going to be just as good if not better than the first.

The Walking Dead

A show with zombies, how can you go wrong? The first episode was so awesome it's possibly my favorite pilot episode for any show. The first season was great. I really enjoy how the story followed Rick as he fought masses of zombies to reconnect with his family. The second season wasn't as good unfortunately. I felt as though the writers lost hold of the story for a while. There were also some terrible sound issues. The atmos track was so loud and then when characters would speak it would disappear until they stopped. The season finale was excellent though and has sparked my hope for a better third season.

True Blood

Vampires, they're so hot right now. I like how True Blood has taken the vampire craze and made it more interesting. The whole idea of vampires living out in the open with humans is different from the majority, which focus on them lurking in the shadows. The main character Sookie is fun and she has a pretty cool telepathy skill. The first two seasons focus on her love story with Bill the vampire, but by season three that had ended. I loved what they did with Eric's character in season four, it was a bit of a game changer. The show is on HBO which means nothing is really off limits. This is definitely a show that takes advantage of that. I loved the first season, wasn't as impressed with the second and really didn't like the third that much. The fourth however was great. The writers finally seemed to figure the plot out. Each character had an important part to play in the story. I hope they can keep it going in season five.

The Vampire Diaries

This is my favorite show. You can probably tell that I'm a vampire genre fan. When I first saw this show I thought it looked ridiculous and was just riding the Twilight wave. One day out of boredom I gave it a chance and have never stopped watching. The show is really well written. You can tell that each plot point has been carefully planned out. Nothing happens without a reason, and no one is really ever who you think they are. The main character, Elena, is nothing like co-dependent Bella. She's strong and a fighter which makes her much more enjoyable. The love triangle between her and vampire brothers Stefan and Damon is never stretched out. The writers seem to know what the audience wants and they deliver. If you like Vampire or Supernatural genres then check this out, you won't be disappointed.