11 Shows That Drew Us In and Wouldn't Let Go

This Is Us had me from the first few minutes of the pilot. The way the writing introduced the characters and tied them together felt very natural and in touch. It's been a long time since a show has drawn me into the world where I felt like I, too, could exist. It's beautiful, heart-warming and yet has the dribbles of ugliness we all experience, as well. Nothing is held back. Not only is this us, it's life.

The Good Place was either going to be horrible or absolutely fantastic. It's the latter, and it draws you in immediately with the first episode. It's a bizarre, endearing comedy that holds nothing back, and draws you in right away.

Pitch had one of the best pilots I'd seen in a long time, and it drew me in immediately. Most shows take a few episodes to find their footing, but this one delivered home runs right from the beginning. Fox better bring it back. They can't leave us hanging!

I wanted not to like The Exorcist because I don't like horror. But Ben Daniels and Alfonso Herrera have been amazing, the writing is genuinely complex and engaging, and the way they tied it to the film was neat.

The Crown on Netflix. I'm not really one for period dramas (and I fully admit I started watching because of Matt Smith), but this drew me in from the first moment. I found myself drawn to the story and to the characters. The performances are subtle but compelling, and you feel the weight of every conflict and decision. What's more, the production, costuming and set design are impeccable. I watched the whole series in two days, and I can't wait for season 2.

Stranger Things on Netflix. I've been waiting for the perfect 80's movie throwback and Stranger Things fits the bill to perfection. With influences from ET to The Goonies to Alien to Stand By Me, there was something nostalgic for everyone to enjoy, even if you weren't alive during that decade (me raising my hand). The story was compelling, the chemistry between all the child actors was phenomenal, the opening credit sequence and score instantly drew you in, and nothing made me happier than seeing Winona Ryder who's the queen of the 80's misfits.

Westworld had me at Westworld, to be honest, but they could have flatlined pretty easily. Thankfully, we were treated to a great blend of thought-provoking content, action and outright horror, which is exactly what Westworld should be. As soon as I saw the pilot, I knew we were all in it for the long haul!

BrainDead was really good from start to finish, but some people didn't have faith in what the show was trying to do. That's too bad, because it revved its engines and only got better as the season progressed. I'm pleased to have had the opportunity to review it and meet the cast before hand. Was well worth the effort!

Queen Sugar on OWN. Queen Sugar, an amazing drama, set in the South was like nothing else on TV. First, there aren’t very many shows with a black family at the forefront, and Queen Sugar gave us a view of their world. It also showed just how beautiful the landscape of Louisiana can be. Every character was complex, and with each episode they somehow made me want to cheer for them and slap them silly. The twists and turns were both honest and surprising. Best of all, I can’t wait for Queen Sugar season 2!

Lethal Weapon has been consistently amazing from the very first minute the show hit the air. It's full of action and humor, but has intensely quiet moments that pull at the heartstrings. The chemistry between the actors is amazing and is one of the things that makes this show worth every minute spent watching it. It is truly must-see TV.

Better Things was everything I would have expected from Louis CK and Pamela Adlon. There is so much heart and strength in Adlon's character, and she portrays a middle-aged working mother in such a way that it's hard to tell if she's anyone other than herself. She's instantly relatable, compassionate, sexy and funny as hell. Go back, watch it and fall in love.