We’re helping you wade through the waters of television.
There are 14 shows below that we highly recommend you watch NOW.
That aside, take the advice of TV Fanatics and check out at least one (or all 14) of the recommended programs you’ll find below.
Colony – Thursdays – USA
Although we’re still awaiting a third season renewal, the moral ambiguity presented as people fight to live on an earth that has been invaded and is controlled by aliens is like a political discussion in the real world. There is action, family drama and deep political thoughts as nothing in a world nobody expected to live in is as cut and dry as they expected. Week by week, viewers think they know where they stand, by as new layers of the various sides are unveiled, there are more gray areas to walk through to imagine what your next move would be. It’s edge of your seat stuff and the stakes are very high. Well-written, perfectly directed, with exciting special effects and compelling performances. Check it out!
The Arrangement – Sundays – E!
E! proved they could do pull off scripted television with The Royals, and their follow-up, The Arrangement is another soapy offering that has a bit of Tom Cruise and bit of Scientology wrapped up in a steamy Hollywood romance in which an ingenue is offered the deal of a lifetime with the biggest star in the world. Add to that a somewhat creepy producer and manager of the Institute of Higher Learning with a really cool wife and what appears to be a (serial) murder mystery coming up, and it’s juicy fun all around. And let’s be honest, Josh Henderson and Michael Vartan turn the heads of the ladies while they guys have it good with Lexa Doig and Christine Evangelista.
FEUD: Bette and Joan – Sundays – FX
Women are still to this day considered the lesser sex in Hollywood, so having a production like FEUD examining the lengths superstars the likes of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford went through to find parts, let alone good ones is amazing. Two of the best actresses of our time, Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange take on the roles of the women who had so much in common but who were never able to find common ground to become the friends they were likely destined to be. Even today, there is little the public enjoys more than women going head to head, and if it meant selling a picture, the men around these two powerful women manipulated the hell out of them.
Do yourself a favor, if your skeptical of the material, are afraid to watch “old ladies” on TV or think there are more important things to do on Sunday nights, at the very least, binge it when all is said and done. You owe it to these ladies of Hollywood who paved the way for everything we enjoy today.
Shades of Blue – Sundays – NBC
Why watch Shades of Blue? Because every episode offers a surprising twist or dramatic moment that most other shows wait until their season finales to deliver. You’ll find yourself holding your breath while Ray Liotta, Jennifer Lopez, Warren Kole and Drea de Matteo consistently deliver performances that won’t allow you to look away. In the world of law and order, this tight-knit group of Brooklyn detectives pushes the limits to defend their precinct and one another. Once you start watching, you won’t be able to stop.
The Magicians – Wednesdays – Syfy
Often called “Harry Potter in college”, The Magicians is so much more than a show about grad student wizards. The show defies genre. Sure, there’s a magical land called Fillory where four of the students have been elevated to royalty. But there are also real world issues to deal with like depression, loss, politics, and more shades of gray than anyone ever imagined.
The characters are complex. Humor and romance bring lighter moments and when you think you know where the plot is going, the show will spin your head around (in a good way).
Girls – Sundays – HBO
Girls gets a bad rap – mostly because Lena Dunham herself gets a bad rap, and it’s her brainchild. But particularly in its last season, the show has been doing a phenomenal job of wrapping up all of its characters’ storylines. There have been more than a few surprising twists, memorable episodes, and standout performances. You may hate the show’s subjects – privileged and narcissistic white women trying to figure out what their lives are all about in the big city – but that doesn’t mean the show’s not damn good at what it does.
The Americans – Tuesdays – FX
Now in its fifth season, The Americans is more nuanced and understated than ever. As KGB agents, Philip and Elizabeth Jennings are fighting the Americans, their enemy, while they live among them and raise their children as if they are nothing but. Their teenage daughter is in on the family secret and learning the trade.
Yet their thoughts are becoming more ambiguous as they learn more about the corruption in the Soviet Union and they are pushed to their personal limits on behalf of their country while their family suffers. As the leads, Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell know their characters as well as they know themselves, and their performances radiate more without words than others could even dream. Jump onto Amazon Prime to binge the early seasons. You want to know what all the fuss is about.
Jane the Virgin – Mondays – The CW
If you haven’t already fallen in love with Jane the Virgin, you need to get started now. Currently in its 3rd season, Jane has something for everyone to enjoy. In addition to a female protagonist that is ridiculously endearing and relatable, there are three generations of compelling women, love triangles, crazy telenovelas, crime lords, and an omniscient narrator that provides endlessly entertaining and hilarious commentary.
It can be tough to seamlessly switch back and forth from comedy to drama while also throwing in quirky stylistic choices, but Jane the Virgin pulls it off. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this gem of a show.
Designated Survivor – Wednesdays – ABC
If you’re looking for an exciting political thriller to take you away from the realities of the current political scene look no further than Designated Survivor. President Kirkman won’t entertain you with daily Twitter storms, but you’ll be intrigued by his intelligent decision-making in a time of crisis. Plus, there’s the great mystery of who was responsible for the capitol bombing. Could it actually be someone on his staff? Mystery, intrigue and drama. What more can you ask for?
Underground – Wednesdays – WGN America
This is not your standard slave narrative. Underground is an action-packed, suspense-thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat with every episode. There is always a twist and/or revelation that will leave your jaw on the floor. It has one of the strongest casts on television and some of the most incredible three-dimensional, complex characters that you’ll find anywhere.
Before you assume it’s archaic or stifling because of the time period and subject matter, you should know the show bolsters some of the strongest, fiercest, most well-written females you’ll find in any show, let alone a historical thriller. And it still manages to be relevant, tackling controversial and uncomfortable topics head-on without once being too preachy. It has action, suspense, romance, intrigue, great music, and incredible cinematography. Once you watch, you won’t be able to stop.
Scorpion – Mondays – CBS
Scorpion is a fun procedural that really puts the characters at the forefront of the show. Scorpion will warm your heart, make your stomach hurt with laughter, and make you fall in love with everyone who is a part of Team Scorpion. If you want a fun show that doesn’t take the cases too seriously, then Scorpion is definitely worth your time. Beware: the show does know how to make you bawl your eyes out, but the pain is oh so good.
The Blacklist: Redemption – Thursdays – NBC
The Blacklist: Redemption is one fun hour of television. You don’t have to be a fan of The Blacklist to enjoy the adventures of Tom Keen as tries to unravel the mystery of his parents while trying to save the world. If you were a fan of Leverage, this might be right up your alley!
American Crime – Sundays – ABC
American Crime often tackles controversial or heavy subjects, but don’t let that scare you away. This show is the opposite of preachy. The characters are strong and engaging, and it’s easy to get caught up in the emotion of each season’s storyline.
Every season the core cast returns to play all new characters in a brand-new story, and it’s fun to see them challenge themselves by playing roles completely different from what they played the year before. Plus the storyline keeps you guessing! You may not always agree with what the characters are doing, but you’ll definitely be entertained!
Big Little Lies – Sunday – HBO
I saved the best for last. You have run out of time on this one. The finale of the limited series airs Sunday, so you have days to purchase HBO and catch up before what is sure to be an amazing hour of television. Big Little Lies is what happens when two strong women (Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman) team up to make magic on television. The story is about relationships and pain and women finding themselves through the constraints they place on themselves because of what they believe they should be. They’re friends, mothers, wives and lovers. It’s obviously a passion project for all involved, and the actresses are giving some of the best performances of their careers. Kidman’s exploration of a woman in an abusive relationship is everything.
