1. Agents of S.H.I.E.LD
What’s it about?
Superheroes are all well and good, but what about everyone else who’s trying to save the world? The agents have to deal with strange cases and this little organisation called Hydra…
Why should you watch?
After a rocky first season (up until the last few episodes, which turned things up a notch!), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D is officially a show that Joss Whedon should be proud to call his own. So if you’re a Buffy, Firefly or Avengers kind of person, you need to tune in ASAP.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
2. The Walking Dead
What’s it about?
Sheriff Rick Grimes wakes up after a coma to find out the world has gone to hell in a hand basket and that the walking dead are trying to eat their way through the last survivors of humanity.
Why should you watch?
Season 5 has just kicked off and the gang are dealing with cannibals and toddlers along with their usual brood of flesh eating zombies so if you’re going to tune in, now is the right time.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
3. New Girl
What’s it about?
Manic Pixie girl Jess shares an apartment with three (or four, depending on what season) guys, all of whom are crazy in their own special way. Hilarity ensues.
Why should you watch?
After a frankly naff season 3, New Girl is back for season 4 and officially past its low point. Schmidt is back to being a loveable goofball instead of a despicable cheat, Nick and Jess’s infuriating relationship is back to being platonic, and all in all we’re loving every moment.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
4. Gotham
What’s it about?
Instead of a deep voiced vigilante, the action follows a young Jim Gordon as he attempts to fight against Gotham’s innately corrupt system.
Why should you watch?
It looks gorgeous, it’s utterly engrossing and you’ve got to love the early introduction of the characters everyone knows and loves. Basically, watch it.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
5. Finding Carter
What’s it about?
A teen discovers that she was actually kidnapped as a toddler and is reunited with her real family as the only mother she has ever known becomes a fugitive.
Why should you watch?
Despite is being kind of soap opera-esque at times, this show’s melodramatic storyline is utterly addictive. The ensemble cast are all completely amazing as well and the mysteries yet to be uncovered will keep you glued to the screen.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
6. Grey’s Anatomy
What’s it about?
A bunch of Doctors go about their daily lives at a hospital dodging shooters, bombers, plane crashes, jilted weddings, drownings, out of body experiences and every other crazy thing you can think of.
Why should you watch?
There’s a reason this show has gotten to its eleventh series, and that’s because the large ensemble of characters will take a piece of your heart and refuse to let go. Trust us, this show will make you feel feelings.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%
7. The Vampire Diaries
What’s it about?
A miserable teenager named Elena perks up when super hot vampire brothers Damon and Stefan move to her town. Oh, and she keeps a diary of it all.
Why should you watch?
Mostly because everyone needs a guilty pleasure, but also because not one episode is boring and you’ll always be paying the closest of attention to the action. Also Ian Solmerhalder is a main character, and he is just NOM.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%
8. Extant
What’s it about?
Halle Berry comes back from a 13-month space mission to find out she is pregnant, potentially with an alien child, despite already having a robotic (and freaking creepy) child named Ethan.
Why should you watch?
Halle Berry is fantastic in the role, and the frankly messed up futuristic world will definitely succeed in freaking you out.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 61%
9. Sleepy Hollow
What’s it about?
Ichabod Crane wakes up in the modern day Sleepy Hollow along with the Headless Horseman, and resumes his hunt for his nemesis along with bemused police officer Abbie Mills.
Why should you watch?
The whole thing is so, so random and absurd and yet SO good at the same time. If you’re having a rough time at work or the rubbish slushy weather is getting you down, this is definitely the one to stick on to put a smile on your face.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
10. Black-ish
What’s it about?
A high flying family man worries when his kids appear to be losing touch with their black culture, and tries to reconnect them with their roots.
Why should you watch?
The concept of Black-ish raised eyebrows when it was first announced, but now it’s a few episodes in we can safety say that the whole thing just works.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%
11. Orphan Black
What’s it about?
Ragamuffin fosterling Sarah finds out that she is just one of several identical clones who are being assassinated one by one. But who is killing them? Why were they created in the first place? What are they for?
Why should you watch?
Tatiana Maslany, for one. The criminally underappreciated actress plays each clone so perfectly you forget you’re watching one person. The plot is also the perfect blend of mystery and drama, the action never gets old, and the crazy clone stuff happens so naturally you barely have time to register you’re watching sci fi.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
12. Modern Family
What’s it about?
It follows the lives of Jay, his much younger wife Gloria and stepson Manny, along with Jay’s grown-up children and their subsequent families. It sounds like a simple enough concept, right? But trust us when we say it is hilarious.
Why should you watch?
If winning the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series for five years running doesn’t convince you, just know that this is laugh-out-loud-even-when-you’re-alone stuff where every single character is developed to perfection.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%
13. Downton Abbey
What’s it about?
Following the lives of the Aristocracy and their servants in the early 1910s, Downton Abbey explores many historical issues with plenty of drama - and amazing costumes.
Why should you watch?
Season five of Downton continues to intrigue, and for winter it is just too perfect to watch whilst snuggled up on a Sunday evening.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%
14. Orange is the New Black
What’s it about?
Good girl Piper has to spend a year in prison for something she did during her ‘wild child’ period. It soon transpires that corruption is everywhere you turn, one word out of place can ruin your life, and no one can be trusted. Bitches got to learn.
Why you should watch?
Get a free month of Netflix if you’re not signed up already, click on the first episode, clear your weekend schedule and just enjoy. OITNB is funny, dramatic, shocking and amazingly well acted. You’ll enjoy every minute, we promise!
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
16. How To Get Away With Murder
What’s it about?
Professor Annalise Keating and her law students become embroiled in a murder plot.
Why you should watch?
Because everything Viola Davis touches turns to gold, that's why.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 84%
15. The Flash
What’s it about?
The Arrow spin off follows Barry Allen in his adventures as the super speedy superhero The Flash whilst aided by a team of scientists and his BFF Iris.
Why should you watch?
It promises to be everything a superhero show should be: smart, funny, light-hearted but not without it's fair share of emotional drama and mystery. Since we're only one episode in we can't say much more, but we're definitely in it for the rest of the season!
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
19. Girls
What’s it about?
Think Sex and the City but without the glamour, money or likability and you've got Girls. The four title girls are bratty, selfish twenty-somethings who are far too easy to relate to.
Why should you watch?
The show is legitimately well written, at times so weird that you can't look away, and a real reflection of how it is to be a graduate starting out in the real world for the first time nowadays. The boys, friendships and careers have absolutely no sheen of glamour to them, which makes it so satisfying to watch. Also, one of the girls is a neurotic, daytime TV addict called Shoshanna, and she will make your life.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%
17. Outlander
What’s it about?
World War II nurse Claire messes around with some ancient stones and winds up in 18th century Scotland where she meets the dishy Jamie, despite having a husband waiting for her back in her time.
Why should you watch?
If slower, more character-focused shows are your thing, this will definitely be worth your while. This show is an amazing blend of what happens when period dramas meet time travel. It has already been commissioned for a second series and reviews are universally incredible. Basically, get there and watch it before everyone else does!
Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
18. The Knick
What’s it about?
Clive Owen plays Chief Surgeon John Thackery who has to battle his drug addictions to make incredible medical discoveries in 1900.
Why should you watch?
If you're a fan of period dramas, House MD, and Clive Owen's smouldering face, this is definitely one for you.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 89%
20. Elementary
What’s it about?
Sherlock Holmes appears in the form of Jonny Lee Miller - a recovering drug addict living in New York along with his 'sober companion' Joan Watson whilst solving crimes and hurting everyone's feeling with his blunt personality.
Why should you watch?
Normally we'd be all about Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock, but since season 4 isn't coming around till Christmas 2015, maybe you should give this one a try! It isn't quite as good as the BBC version, but it's a lot longer so there's much more to get your teeth into. Plus Jonny Lee Miller is great to watch.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
Which of these are on your hit list? Tweet us @sofeminineUK!
This article was written by Emmy Griffiths. Follow her @emmyfg!
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