TV Shows to Watch by Isha Wagle

TV shows to watch

Good TV shows can be hard to come by sometimes. It sometimes seem that all the shows follow the same cookie cutter format and it is hard to separate the good ones from the bad ones. I like a variety of different shows and here are some of my favorite shows that I have watched/still am watching. The list also includes where you can find the shows.

1.       The Newsroom. The Newsroom goes at the top of this list because it is one of my all time favorite tv shows. It is only 3 seasons but every single episode is absolutely amazing. You can tell that it is a good show because it is made by HBO, who are famous for their high quality shows. Episodes range from 50 to 70 minutes. The banter between the characters is so fun to watch and you will find yourself falling in love with the characters themselves. Aaron Sorkin is the writer of this show and he is famous for his fast paced shows with witty jokes and intelligent conversation. This is not one of those shows that you play in the background while doing your homework. You will be completely invested in this show and its characters. You will cry, laugh out loud, get frustrated and so much more. It was created a few years ago and the premise of the show is relatively simple. The characters have to produce the evening news and the main character is the news anchor. They try to reimagine the way that they cover the news. Another interesting aspect of this show is that it follows real life events that have already happens and shows a fictional news station covering it. Watching this show will not be a mistake. The character arcs that are seen throughout the seasons are incredible. You can watch this show on Hulu, HBO Now and Amazon Prime. For $1.99, you can watch it on YouTube, iTunes and Google Play.

2.       Grey’s Anatomy. This is a very popular show and if you haven’t watched it yet, I recommend you do. The level of squeamishness you will feel when watching the surgeries is relatively limited, but if you really want to you can cover the screen or shut your eyes during those brief scenes. The show is full of drama and romance. You will quickly become addicted to the show and its plotline. This is the show to watch if you’re looking for something to kick back and relax with. It doesn’t require a lot of concentration and is enjoyable to watch. There are extremely sad and intense parts of the show and it oftentimes includes the social issues of today in it. You will love the characters and quickly find your favorite ones. It is the perfect show to binge. It never seems to run out of episodes with 16 seasons so far. The show is full of plot twists and surprises. It also has two spin off shows, Station 19 and Private Practice. However, those start later on in the Grey’s Anatomy timeline. A fair warning though, there are a lot of spoilers that you are exposed to if you start talking about this show or search it up. You can find this show on ABC for free, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV and Philo. It is also on YouTube for $1.99.

3.       Madam Secretary.  The main character in this show, Elizabeth McCord, is an ex-CIA agent who is asked to become the Secretary of State after a tragedy killed the last one mid-term. She has to deal with this completely new world of politics and foreign affairs. She has a team that helps her through this and she brokers incredible deals and is extremely smart. You will love this show because of the adorable relationship between Elizabeth and her husband, Henry. You will also find the characters funny and lovable. The show is interesting and the first few seasons are full of mystery. 5 seasons of Madam Secretary are available on Netflix and the 6^th season has not been added yet. Madam Secretary is also available on Amazon Prime and CBS. For $1.99, it is on YouTube, iTunes and Google Play. 

4.       Sherlock. BBC’s Sherlock Holmes features Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Cumberbatch plays a funny, witty and weird Holmes and Freeman plays the lovable and smart Dr. Watson. The dynamic between the two characters in enjoyable and fast paced. It follows the exciting and classic adventures from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is different than the usual Sherlock adaptations because it has a more modern take. It takes place in the 21^st century with phones and modern technology. It is fun to see Sherlock’s intelligence and powers of deduction in the show. It contains a quality that only detective shows have: a gripping interest in the incredible talents that normal humans can have. The show is also more complex than the original Sherlock story with may plot twists and romantic relationships throughout. This show is on Netflix. For $4.99, its on YouTube, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu. For $6.99 it is on Amazon Prime.

5.       West Wing. West Wing is another fun political TV show. It is by the same writer behind Newsroom, Aaron Sorkin. This show presents the same witty banter that Sorkin is known for. It is 7 seasons so the show will last you for a while. It is a mix of continuous plots as well as new plots every episode. There are moments in the show, usually in the middle or end of the season, where you are at the edge of your seat. There are many cliffhangers and times where the characters find themselves in life or death scenarios. It can be pretty action packed at times for a political TV show. The characters are lovable and it is a fun watch. Another fun part about the show is that famous actors pop up every once in a while, but it is before they are famous. Some of these include Kristen Chenoweth, Lily Tomlin, Amy Adams, Jane Lynch, Zeljko Ivanek (from Madam Secretary), Taye Diggs, Mathew Perry and more. This show can be found on Netflix. For $1.99, you can find it on Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu.