Audrey Benedetto

A delicious blend of the suspense and historical elements of “The Americans” and the mystery and dreariness of “The Leftovers.” I so hope this is picked up by Amazon. If you enjoy it as much as I did, take the survey and let Amazon know! This show has to make it on the air.

I have to admit, when I first heard about this show I did not have high hopes. But after a strong first season, Season 2 continues to impress with non-stop action and surprising emotional depth. The 100 is smart, entertaining, and definitely worth the watch!

Sci-fi meets spirituality as the lines between self are blurred; Sense8 follows eight people across the world who begin to experience a telepathic connection to each other. The link between the characters starts gradually but eventually they can share thoughts, emotions, skills, and even project themselves into each others’ bodies, resulting in more than a few amazing fight sequences. This show has it all: it is funny, suspenseful, sexy, and thought-provoking. The Wachowskis' creation was a win for misfits everywhere - putting a spotlight on gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic/cultural differences in an overwhelmingly positive way. It was brought back from the dead after Netflix gave it the axe and the two-hour finale special will no doubt be epic!

I’ll admit, I haven’t seen the 1995 movie, but I did watch the trailer. While Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis look top-notch, I don’t really feel that it’s a prerequisite for enjoying Syfy’s reimagining of “12 Monkeys.” In fact, I don’t plan to watch the movie because after the first episode I am too invested to risk ruining any of the plot twists for myself! I was hooked within the first few minutes of the pilot. This show is exciting and feels fresh (despite, of course, being a reimagining.) It is fast-paced, but breaks down enough of the plot early on so it’s easy to keep up with the dizzying concepts of time travel. This show blends the grittiness of dystopia and the magic of science fiction in the best way possible. I'll definitely be tuning in for the next episode - I can’t wait to see how this progresses!

This re-imagining puts an elegant twist on the story we all know well by now. Hannibal combines the gore of The Walking Dead with the somber grace of True Detective and the result is mesmerizing. The imagery, while necessarily gory, is also almost hypnotically beautiful; angel wings made of human skin, cellos strung with vocal chords, mosaics made from bodies, all take a back seat to Hannibal’s exquisitely prepared meals, which will have you salivating in a way that will make your skin crawl. Mads Mikkelsen is chilling in the titular role, portraying Dr. Lecter not as a crazed criminal, but as the picture of restraint in his manipulation of profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy). Pro tip: Don’t watch this alone at night with the lights off.

Wow, to be honest I was kind of getting bored of The Flash, but the most recent episode (S1 Ep15) really upped the ante and renewed my faith in it! Will definitely be tuning in next week!

Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, who also produced and co-created the show, The Leftovers takes a bleaker outlook than its source material. After two percent of the world’s population vanishes in a Rapture-like event, the remaining survivors are left to deal with the fallout. Make no mistake, this is not a triumph of misfits banding together in the face of hardship. Some attempt, and ultimately fail, to understand The Departure, while others seek to move on and build a new way of life for themselves. Each character struggles in their own unique way, their flaws made increasingly obvious as the show goes on, resulting in an exquisite slice of the human experience that is as painful to watch as it is beautiful. The show expands the scope of the world after the Departure, growing stranger and more compelling with each season. Watch this show - you won't regret it.

Based on the 2004 movie of the same name, Friday Night Lights focuses on a small town in Texas whose football team is its pride and joy. This is sports drama at its prime, and you don’t even have to be a football fan to love it. In fact, if you love football, you probably won’t love this show. Coach (Kyle Chandler) and Tami Taylor (Connie Britton) are the heart of the show, which is light on the actual sports playing and heavy on family drama, teenage angst, young love, and what becomes of a high school football legend after he graduates. Plus it’s produced by Parenthood creator Jason Katims, so expect a lot of underdog scenarios, gripping storytelling, and of course plenty of tear-jerking moments. Texas forever!

I have to admit, I only stumbled upon this show because I was going through Skins withdrawal and needed something to fill the void. I was pleasantly surprised by this gem. Misfits is the story of a group of juvenile delinquents (including Iwan Rheon aka Ramsay Bolton) who gain superpowers after getting caught in a freak lightning storm during their community service. The chemistry between the five kids is just right, making this somewhat raunchy comedy equally hilarious and poignant. A reboot after the first three seasons did put a damper on the show for me, since the cast dynamic was what made me fall in love, but regardless Misfits is smart, funny, and original. Definitely worth the watch.

People just get murdered left and right on this show and apparently no one is safe. They don’t shy away from the gore; I didn’t think it was possible, but it seems like the murders actually get more gruesome each season. What will really make you cringe however, is the idea that lawyers carry on this way in real life. In her spare time between cases, Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) runs around framing people for murder, orchestrating an increasingly complicated web of coverups, and occasionally visiting clubs and flirting inappropriately with her law students. Not exactly who I’d want representing me, but it certainly makes for amazing television.