Top 100 Everything of 2014, Vol. 7: Items 40–31

Will this Top 100 list ever end? Is it possible that 100 is just an arbitrary number and we're making this up as we go along? Do we even know what's going to be in the Top 10 right now? We'll take the answers to our graves, so if you want to know the truth, you'll have to wait 'til we die, dig up our bones, cast a Reanimate Corpse spell, and then butter up our decayed bodies with compliments (your 15-inch-long fingernails look great!) until we give up the goods. It shouldn't be too hard. However, in the spirit of of the holidays, there is one secret we're willing to part with while we're still breathing: Items 40 through 31 on our annual Top 100 Everything list! Ready? Here we go...

40. Review rockets into space

Much was made about Review's pancakes episode (and with good reason), but the funniest moment of Andy Daly's excellent Comedy Central series came when he brought his father-in-law (Fred Willard) into space and things went horribly wrong. Of course, that didn't stop Lance Bass from being a corporate whore while a dead body floated overhead!

PREVIOUSLY: The Best Comedies of 2014

39. Shameless's Lip service

Once Fiona fell victim to her inner Gallagher in the Showtime drama's fourth season, the mantle of being the family's most responsible and sensible sibling fell to Lip, who'd just started college after finally accepting that maaaaaybe he could be more than just a screw-up if he put his mind to it. His attempts to keep up with his academic pursuits—which he couldn't half-ass the way he did in high school—while serving as the sole provider and caretaker for Debbie, Carl, and Liam forced Lip to step up in a way that he'd never had to do before. The result was an emotionally heated storyline that produced powerful and memorable performances from both Emmy Rossum and Jeremy Allen White.

PREVIOUSLY: Shameless "Iron City" Review: She's Family

38. Yeah science!

Nerds are slowly starting to rule the world, what with all the superheroes and computer stuff currently dominating our lives. But one aspect of nerddom really broke out on TV in 2014, and that was science! It was all over the place, between Fox's exploration of the universe onCosmos, WGN America's atomic bomb-building on Manhattan, Lifetime's fertility experiments onThe Lottery, Cinemax's turn-of-the-century surgery on The Knick, FX's biological look at vampires on The Strain, and AMC's computer pioneering on Halt and Catch Fire. In the end, we were entertained AND we learned a thing or two. Move over cops and lawyers, some badasses in lab coats are coming through!

37. Sarah Lancashire, Happy Valley's badass grandma cop

Netflix's British import was a surprise in every sense of the word. All six episodes were damn near flawless, with each twist and turn setting up the next in what was ultimately one of the year's best crime dramas. And leading the way was Sarah Lancashire, an actress who's well known in her native England but barely recognized here in the United States. Lancashire aced her role as Catherine Cawood, a Yorkshire bobby with bigger balls than most of her male coworkers. Oh, and did we mention the character is a grandmother, too? Believably pulling off the "tough cop" routine is no easy task, but Lancashire managed it with aplomb while also tiptoeing delicately into Catherine's more sensitive scenes; the result was a multi-layered character who leapt off the screen. Now the only question is whether American awards shows will do the right thing and recognize her amazing accomplishment.

PREVIOUSLY: The New Fall Shows Aren't So Great, So Here Are 6 Recent Winners to Watch Instead

36. Daniel Holden's friend Kerwin returns to Rectify

Amantha working a cash register at a budget store also could've made this year's list, but for our money, the highlight of Rectify's second season came in its very first episode, when a comatose Daniel received a visit, in his mind, by his jailbird friend Kerwin. After 19 years in prison, Daniel often feels alone on the outside. But he had one friend who shared his experience on the inside, and that friend understood his plight. Kerwin's words of encouragement for Daniel to wake up melted our souls, and everyone cried. EVERYONE.

PREVIOUSLY: Rectify Season 2 Premiere Review: Wake Up, Partner

35. The surgical precision of The Knick

The Knick may get a lot of attention for its grisly portrayal of what surgery was like at the dawn of the 20th century, in all its bloody glory. However, what makes the series tick is all the expertise that goes into creating its unique flavor. Steven Soderbergh's careful direction propels the show forward in a way that only Soderberg could achieve, transforming what could've been a stuffy period piece into a modern work of art. And Soderbergh's frequent collaborator Cliff Martinez kicked tradition in the groin by pairing a modern, electronic score with scenes depicting horse buggies and flickering light bulbs. Together, Soderbergh's direction and Martinez's pulsating soundtrack emphasized what The Knick is actually about: technical progress.

PREVIOUSLY: The Knick Series Premiere Review: The Period Piece of the Future

34. Everyone's splitting up the storytelling!

Telling one tale at a time has long been television's tradition. But in today's multitasking and attention deficient society, we demand more! This was the year when dual storytelling became an honest-to-goodness trend, with multiple shows jumping around in time and exploring different perspectives to sweeten the plot. True Detective made us question its protagonists until the very end with a pair of paths set almost a decade apart, The Missing took the before-and-after approach to a missing-child case, and The Affair squeezed every bit of drama out of a "he said, she said" debate. Is this the future of drama?

33. Boardwalk Empire cleans house in a bloody, deadly, and fitting series finale

We knew darn well that some of our favorite characters weren't going to survive the final, unfortunately truncated season of Boardwalk Empire—history tells us as much. Nonetheless, Terence Winter and his team made sure that our closing moments with characters like Van Alden, Chalky, and ultimately, Nucky, were so worthwhile that their violent deaths were thatmuch more painful to swallow. Sure, it would've been nice for Chalky to get a more prominent storyline, and maybe the return of Jimmy's son Tommy didn't quite make chronological sense, but few shows know how to build and then flawlessly execute character deaths like Boardwalk Empire. For that reason—and for so many others—we miss HBO's sprawling, sometimes frustrating period drama already.

PREVIOUSLY: Boardwalk Empire Series Finale Review: What Are You in the End?

32. Thanks, Obama

President Obama showed up in a couple unexpected and hilarious places this year to cement his standing as one of the most pop-culture savvy presidents our country has ever had. His appearance on the weirdo Funny or Die web series Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakiswas revolutionary for a sitting president, and proved that he's hip with the kids. He also helped Stephen Colbert say goodbye to The Colbert Report when he dropped by to take over "The Word." What's next, Obama as a member of the Night's Watch? Let's get HBO on the phone!

31. Vanessa Ives goes totally cuckoo bananners onPenny Dreadful

No actress gave her mind and body to a role in 2014 quite like Eva Green did as the possessed Vanessa Ives on Penny Dreadful. Just watching her twist and contort while wretched spirits coursed through her soul was enough to burn a day's worth of calories. Her first possession scene left us breathless, and by the time she herself possessed the Vanessa-centric episode "Closer Than Sisters," it was clear that Penny Dreadful is Green's show and everyone else in the cast is just trying to keep up with her. Someone give this beauty an award.

The Legend of Korra's Creators Have Confirmed That Korrasami Are a Couple

The Legend of Korra creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino have confirmed that Korra and Asami are, in fact, a couple.

The final shots of Korra's recent series finale depicted Korra and Asami holding hands and walking into the sunset spirit portal together. Many fans subsequently assumed that "Korrasami" really was canon, and on Wednesday, the creators took to Tumblr to confirm the characters' relationship.

"You can celebrate it, embrace it, accept it, get over it, or whatever you feel the need to do, but there is no denying it. That is the official story," Konietzko wrote. "We received some wonderful press in the wake of the series finale at the end of last week, and just about every piece I read got it right: Korra and Asami fell in love. Were they friends? Yes, and they still are, but they also grew to have romantic feelings for each other."

Konietzko also revealed that Korrasami wasn't the endgame from the beginning, and that he and DiMartino were initially hesitant to approach Nickelodeon, assuming the network would never be allowed to feature a lead character in a same-sex relationship. "It was just another assumption based on a paradigm that marginalizes non-heterosexual people. If we want to see that paradigm evolve, we need to take a stand against it. And I didn’t want to look back in 20 years and think, 'Man, we could have fought harder for that,'" Konietzko wrote. "Mike and I talked it over and decided it was important to be unambiguous about the intended relationship. ... I'm only sorry it took us so long to have this kind of representation in one of our stories.

However, while Nickelodeon was supportive of the pairing, "there was a limit to how far we could go with it," he explained.

DiMartino also weighed in, via his own Tumblr page:

"I’ve already read some heartwarming and incredible posts about how this moment means so much for the LGBT community," DiMartino wrote. "Once again, the incredible outpouring of support for the show humbles me. As Tenzin says, 'Life is one big bumpy ride.' And if, by Korra and Asami being a couple, we are able to help smooth out that ride even a tiny bit for some people, I’m proud to do my part, however small it might be."

You can read Konietzko's full post here, and DiMartino's full post here.  

What did you think of Korra's ending? Are you happy to know that Korrasami are officially a pair?

The 11 Biggest TV Disappointments of 2014

As we near the end of 2014, we're doing what what we do best at the end of each year andlooking back at the last 365 days in TV. We've already named the best shows of the year, and we're still counting down the best of what the medium had to offer with our annual Top 100 Everything list. But just like with most things in life, television exists on a spectrum. There's good TV and there's bad TV. (And then there's Under the Dome.) Thus, it's time to interrupt our ongoing Best of 2014 lovefest to discuss this year's most unfortunate disappointments. Below, we've listed the 11 missteps that left us shaking our heads this year; you might agree with our choices or you might not, but that's what the comments are for! What fell short for YOU this year?

Editors' Note: In related news, some TV.com users have spent the better part of December celebrating the very worst TV of 2014 with the 2nd annual user-created Blowie Awards. You can join the fun here.

11. Extant wasted its potential by focusing on the wrong storyline

It's not like we ever expected great things from Extant, but the Steven Spielberg-produced summer drama could have been—and should have been—much better than it turned out to be. The brainchild of a first-time TV writer, the show ultimately fell victim to obvious sci-fi tropes, but its greatest sin is that it failed to capitalize on the potential of its artificial intelligence arc. Instead of placing so much importance on Halle Berry's alien baby and a mother's unconditional love, Extant should've focused its attention on robokid Ethan and explored the question of what qualifies as humanity; the tale of two parents loving their android like a real human son would've been far more compelling, and it certainly would've had a greater emotional impact. Ethan was the story worth exploring on a deeper level, especially since he eventually sacrificed himselfto save the world. Now that the series has been renewed for Season 2, we don't know where it'll go next, but we don't have high hopes.

10. ABC kills Trophy Wife to make room for series that are already canceled

It always hurts to lose a beloved show to the mighty axe of cancellation, but ABC cutting downTrophy Wife is one blow that still hurts. The series' silly title certainly didn't help bring in viewers, but the network didn't do much to help the low-rated but hilarious comedy find its place, either. And to make matters worse, the shows that replaced Trophy Wife this fall—the romantic comedy Manhattan Love Story and the My Fair Lady adaptation Selfie—didn't even make it to a full season (and rightfully so in the case of the former). Sigh. At least we'll always have those fond memories of Bert to remind us of what was good.

9. Mulaney fails to deliver the laughs

John Mulaney is a funny man. Nasim Pedrad is a funny lady. Martin Short is Martin freaking Short. So why wasn't Mulaney a funny show? Based on the talent behind the scenes and in front of the camera, we expected much more, and when it didn't make us laugh we were left with an empty feeling in our hearts and a year's supply of unused adult diapers. What a shame that Pedrad left Saturday Night Live for this; now all she has to show for it is a half-assed cancellation from Fox.

8. Doctor Who's Season 8 unevenness is a problem not even the Time Lord can fix

At this point, it might be easier to just accept that Doctor Who is never going to be great, mind-blowing television; to be honest, doing so would probably make the entire viewing experience more enjoyable for everyone. But with a new actor taking on the role of the Doctor in Season 8, expectations were always going to be high. And to be clear, Doctor Who's recent issues are no fault of Peter Capaldi's—they're the fault of the writing itself. Sure, there were definite highs—"Listen" proved that Steven Moffat can still produce high-quality standalone stories that keep time travel exciting even after 51 years—but then there was "Robot of Sherwood." The show was simply far too uneven on a week-to-week basis. While it still deserves props for attempting large character arcs for both the Doctor and Clara, not to mention the Master's brilliant return, it wasn't enough to erase most of "Kill the Moon" from the collective conscience.

7. Go home, Justified, you're drunk

Look, this one hurts. At its best, Justified is one of the most excellent and underrated shows on television, and we'd be hard-pressed to name a show with better written dialogue. But not evenBoyd using a pack of cigarettes to blow someone up was cool enough to save the sad and disappointing fifth season. The criminal exploits of the despicable Crowe family were a boring follow-up to the exciting Drew Thompson mystery of Season 4, and heck, even the slight stumble the show took in Season 3, with Robert Quarles and Ellstin Limehouse, sounds favorable in comparison to sending Boyd off to Mexico. Throw in Ava's stint in jail, and Justified Season 5 resembled someone who spent a little too much time on a barstool at Boyd's bar. You can do so much better, show. Here's hoping the final season ends up on a different list next year.

6. True Blood's series finale was a bloody mess

Even if we set aside the fact that the vampires of True Blood have always been a metaphor for the LGBT community, Bill's suicide—with the help of his "true love" Sookie, no less—sends a very powerful anti-acceptance message, and the series time-jumping series finale was a major letdown. Sookie moved on with someone else, of course, but there was no closure for Lafayette, Jessica and Hoyt got married in a super-rushed wedding that monopolized the episodes, and Eric and Pam—arguably the show's two most interesting characters—barely had any screentime. The entire thing left a sour taste in our mouths.

5. A lady-less late-night lineup

2014 was the Year of Late-Night TV Shake-Ups, and yet we're heading into 2015 without a female presence in the landscape. How is that possible in the 21st century? Jimmy Fallon crushed it in his first year as host of The Tonight Show, and Seth Meyers has found a good rhythm at Late Night, but after Chesea Lately signed off, David Letterman announced his retirement from the Late Show and Stephen Colbert stepped up to replace him, and Craig Ferguson said sayonara to the The Late Late Show, it's a bummer that there won't be anyestrogen entering the fray. Maybe no ladies wanted the gigs, maybe they realized they've got better stuff to do, like collaborating on a plan for world domination, but if that's the case, would they please announce as much so we're not left wondering why it still feels like 1982 up in here?

4. The Strain drained us of our initial enthusiasm

Sometimes, the most disappointing shows are the ones that have the furthest to fall. And since we anointed FX's vampire drama our most anticipated new show of the summer, the thud it made when it hit the ground was esepcially loud. The Strain had some great things going for it: a scientific look at vampires, turning those bloodsuckers into actual monsters instead of sexy teens, and a fantastic leading man in Corey Stoll. But the series never took advantage of its strengths, instead spending too much time on bland personal stories in a lame attempt to develop its characters. And eventually, the scientific focus backfired a bit, serving to underscore inconsistencies with the spread of the plague. Was New York City in a state of total f'ing chaos, as was sometimes implied? Or was it business as usual, just with slower internet? And does the main villain—who's supposed to represent pure evil and is intent on bleeding mankind dry—need to look like something that belongs on a cereal box? For fans of cable-quality horror, The Strainwas a pretty big bust.

3. Sleepy Hollow falls victim to the dreaded sophomore slump

There's a difference between a series not living up to expectations and watching something you know can be great slide downhill into mediocrity. The latter is monumentally more painful, and even though Sleepy Hollow's sophomore season hasn't been truly awful, the show certainly hasn't maintained the potential it displayed in its first season. Though Season 2 started out strong, with a quick pace and interesting new characters (O Kindred, Kindred, wherefore art thou, Kindred?), but the increased episode count eventually led to a string of standalone filler installments that were more clunky than compelling. Whether the problematic episodes were a product of a network executives hoping to bring in new viewers, we'll never know, but Sleepy Hollow obviously works best when there's no time for detours.

2. The new fall shows are mostly a stinking pile of hot garbage

The sad state of the new fall shows is the only repeat from last year's list, and despite registering fairly low last year, it rocketed straight toward the top in 2014. From Gotham's weak debut (yes, it's gotten much better, but that changes little for a series that was supposed to be the Next Big Thing), to the face-palm inducing (and now canceled) Bad Judge to the flatManhattan Love Story, to the unmitigated disaster that was Utopia to the uninspired NCIS: New Orleans to—well, you get the idea—it's as if the fall season was content to start out needing CPR. Sure, there were a few highlights, but for every exciting moment of The Flash, let us not forget that NBC ordered a full season of MomCop. Every time we laugh at a joke onBlack-ish, recall that The McCarthys is still on the air. As we look ahead to 2015, we'll be wishing on the bright star known as Jane the Virgin that the third time will be the charm and that, by the time next fall rolls around, the networks will have relearned how to launch a new season.

1. How I Met Your Mother's series finale erased years' worth of character development for no reason

After nine years and a strong lead-up to the one-hour final episode, to say our expectations were high is an understatement. When a show lives for nine years, its characters become family and their relationships become personal. But while we all know that satisfying series finales are immensely difficult to execute, How I Met Your Mother's felt more like an addendum rather than the destination the show had been traveling toward. The sting of Robin and Ted ending up together has lessened with time, but it doesn't change the fact that How I Met Your Mother's writers refused to admit that the show and its characters had changed over the course of the series and used the show's non-linear structure to cheat their way to the ending they wanted. All of this could've been resolved if they'd spent less time on a doomed-to-fail marriage and more time on what transpired between said marriage and the reunion that lit a thousand fires. Plus, Marshall and Lily were sidelined for most of the hour, and no one puts Marshall in a corner.

Watch the First Trailer for the Entourage Movie, Featuring Vincent Chase as... a Cyborg DJ? (VIDEO)

Dudes and bros, fistbump me a high one right here and don't forget to make it 'splode. *POW* Why the brodown? Because the first full trailer for the Entourage movie is here and it's time for fans to hug it out, bitch.

After eight seasons and 96 episodes on HBO, the boys from Queens are officially together again and ready for their big-screen debut in the much talked-about feature film following the exploits of Vincent Chase and his coattail-riding friends.

Sure, the whole gang is back, but the trailer is full of eyebrow-raising situations: Ari is off his anger meds, a slimmer Turtle no longer fits in his chubby shell, and Vince has decided to market his directorial debut—a big-budget project that seemingly centers on a cyborg club DJ—as "from the executive producer of Medellin." We all remember what kind of reception Medellin received, right?

Hit play below to see for yourself. And in addition to returning familiar faces Emmanuelle Chriqui (Sloan), Perrey Reeves (Mrs. Ari), and Rex Lee (Lloyd), keep an eye out for appearances from Billy Bob Thornton, Haley Joel Osment, Emily Ratajkowski, and Calvin Harris.

Entourage (the movie) will be released in summer 2015. Are you pumped?

The Great Midseason TV Cram (2015 Edition): 10 Shows to Catch Up On During the Holiday Hiatus

Even though most shows have gone home to Hiatusville for the holidays, the TV schedule will be packed again before you know it. Thus, it's very important that you start marathoning the returning shows on your to-watch list immediately, before the January onslaught. Below, we've highlighted a handful of young series you might've missed in 2014, all of which we think are worth your time. Pile up a plate of holiday desserts, ignore your loved one's requests to hang out (or just invite them to join you), and dig in!

Note: You won't find The Americans, Archer, Hannibal, Banshee, Orphan Black, Veep,Shameless, or Rectify on this list, simply because they've appeared on it in the past and we wanted to highlight different shows. But you should totally catch up on those, too.

Broad City
Season 2 premieres Wednesday, January 14 on Comedy Central

COMMITMENT: Just 10 half-hour non-stop laugh riots

WHY YOU SHOULD CATCH UP NOW: Comedy Central has been on fire lately, but its best new series of 2014 came from an unexpected place. The Amy Poehler-produced Broad City flawlessly made the leap from web series to television series, introducing the greater world to its two live-wire centerpieces: Abbi Jacobsen and Ilana Glazer. The two play off each other like comedy vets and joke with the voice of New York's new generation of post-college wanderers. They don't do much beside smoke weed and try to make money, but their journey is both honest and hilarious. Oh, and keep an eye out for the awesome Hannibal Buress as Lincoln, an easygoing dentist (LOL) and friend of the girls whom Ilana is sleeping with.

CHEAT SHEET: You could pick any episode and be golden. They're all great. —Tim Surette

Chasing Life
The second half of Season 1 premieres Monday, January 19 at 9pm on ABC Family

COMMITMENT: 11 life-changing, hour-long episodes

WHY YOU SHOULD CATCH UP NOW: Chasing Life's heartwarming embrace of difficult topics rarely covered by teen-oriented programming will feel somewhat familiar to fans of ABC Family's other dramas. The series chronicles the ups and downs of April Carver, an ambitious young journalist and newly diagnosed cancer patient. But the show is far from depressing; in fact, it never wastes time asking you to feel sorry for April, choosing instead to focus on how her illness allows her to see the world in a new light. Furthermore, the show filters April's illness so it's seen through multiple points of view—including those of her mother, sister, and best friend—which results in an all-inclusive story about family, friendship, love, and more. Chasing Life is uplifting, it's never melodramatic, it boasts a strong female cast and two swoon-worthy love interests, andit's a Wings reunion because it features both Steven Weber and Rebecca Schull. What more could you ask for?

CHEAT SHEET: "Pilot," "Help Wanted," "The Family That Lies Together," "Unplanned Parenthood," "Death Becomes Her," "Finding Chemo," and "Locks of Love" are all on the must-watch list. —Kaitlin Thomas

The Fall
Season 2 premieres in the U.S. on Friday, January 16 on Netflix

COMMITMENT: Five slow-moving yet anxiety-inducing hour-long episodes

WHY YOU SHOULD CATCH UP NOW: Along with Top of the Lake and Hannibal, The Fall has helped to prove that TV shows can center on serial killers/murder sprees without relying on shock and gore to be dramatically compelling. Anchored by Gillian Anderson as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson and Jamie Dornan as Paul Spector—father, grief counselor, and SERIAL KILLER (not a spoiler)—the U.K. import features the same type of cat-and-mouse game that Hannibal excels at, combined with the exploration of feminism and misogyny that was at the core of Top of the Lake. If you like(d) either of those, The Fall is for you. And if you like(d) both, you've probably already seen The Fall, but why not watch it again?

CHEAT SHEET: It's only five episodes. Just watch them. —Noel Kirkpatrick

Helix
Season 2 premieres Friday, January 16 on Syfy

COMMITMENT: 13 one-hour trips through a claustrophobic haunted house

WHY YOU SHOULD CATCH UP NOW: Helix has its flaws. Some of the dialogue will hit your ears like a jackhammer, the story stops making sense at random intervals, and you'll just have to trust the hokey science. But the show—which in Season 1 followed a CDC team investigating a strange virus in the Arctic—is insanely fun and more interested in throwing its viewers off balance than it is in keeping the plot on the tracks. Crazy editing and curious song choices provide a creepy atmosphere that frequently boost Helix to another level, and when it's all clicking, it's unlike anything else on television.

CHEAT SHEET: Helix's Season 1 finale was super confusing, and as we saw in the first trailer for Season 2, the show is about to shift gears and replace the snowy blanket of the Arctic with the verdant jungle of the tropics, so I'm not sure how much continuity we can expect. Season 1 was heavily serialized, but checking out "Pilot," "Vector," "274," "The White Room," "Level X," and "Black Rain" should give you a feel for the show. —Tim

Looking
Season 2 premieres Sunday, January 11 on HBO

COMMITMENT: Eight half-hour episodes that will ruin your life in a good way

WHY YOU SHOULD CATCH UP NOW: The criminally underrated Looking is notable for the way that it's content to just exist. Set within the gay community of San Francisco, it's not particularly flashy (except for when it visits the Folsom Street Fair) and it's not out to shock you. Instead, it aims to tell incredibly rich and relatable stories about our perception of the world and where we fit into it. A rare gem that's comfortable to grow alongside its protagonists as they search for love, happiness, success, and a sense of purpose, Looking has plenty of humor and heart—but it mostly serves to remind us that not every TV show needs zombies, scandals, or complicated narratives to catch our attention. Sometimes it's the quiet ones that have the most to say.

CHEAT SHEET: If you MUST pick and choose, go with "Looking for Now," "Looking at Your Browser History," "Looking for $220/Hour," "Looking for the Future," and "Looking Glass."
—Kaitlin

Outlander

The second half of Season 1 premieres Saturday, April 4 at on Starz

COMMITMENT: Eight breathtaking hours full of kilts, sex, blood, and beautiful scenery

WHY YOU SHOULD CATCH UP NOW: If you passed on Starz's time-traveling love affair when it debuted in the fall, now would be the time to catch up, because it's about way more than heaving bosoms and hot guys in kilts (though there are plenty of those, too). The series centers on a married World War II nurse who accidentally travels backward through time and falls in love with a scarred and hunky Scotsman; it's a little bit sci-fi, a little bit historical romance, and a little bit political drama thanks to the inclusion of and focus on the English and the Jacobites. Instead of feeling disjointed, the show actually benefits from the mash-up of genres; since Outlander has a little bit of everything, there's something for almost everyone. Plus, Bear McCreary's lovely score and the natural beauty of Scotland (where the show films on location) combine to makeOutlander one of the most aesthetically pleasing shows currently on the air.

CHEAT SHEET: You really need to watch all eight episodes to fully understand Claire's unique predicament. But it's not like you want to cheat yourself out of ogling muscled men in kilts, right? Carve out a Sunday and enjoy the view. —Kaitlin

Penny Dreadful
Season 2 premieres in 2015 on Showtime, probably in mid-May

COMMITMENT: Eight frightfully sexy and intense hours

WHY YOU SHOULD CATCH UP NOW: Showtime's Super Squad of Literary Monsters has infused Victorian horror with a new level of class. Penny Dreadful's first season was artsy and macabre, combining the stories of Dracula, Dorian Grey, Frankenstein, and other classic characters to rewrite the legends we're familiar with. Written by John Logan and starring Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton, and Eva Green, Penny Dreadful is more than just a shlocky frightfest that romanticizes goth. Come for the legitimately scary vampires and emotional reimagining of Frankenstein's monster, stay for Eva Green's incredible wackjob performance as a woman possessed by an evil and horny spirit.

CHEAT SHEET: WHAT!? You can't handle eight episodes? Fine, be absolutely sure to watch "Seance," "Closer than Sisters" (Eva Green at her best), "Possession," and "Grand Guignol." —Tim

Sirens
Season 2 premieres Tuesday, January 27 on USA

COMMITMENT: 10 raunchy half-hour episodes full of EMT hijinx

WHY YOU SHOULD CATCH UP NOW: Adapted from the British series of the same name by Denis Leary and Bob Fisher, Sirens offers a crass look at the lives of three Chicago paramedics. On the surface, it's little more than a workplace comedy about three guys whose jobs often take surprising turns, and who and get into plenty of trouble along the way; if that's all it was, it would still be worth checking out, but by adding a little extra weight and depth to the slapstick through various familial and romantic relationships, Sirens is successful on several levels. The show's coarse tone shouldn't be surprising to fans of Leary's previous work, but it does stand out quite a bit from the rest of USA's more typical "sunny skies" fare. If that sounds good to you, I sugging moving Sirens to the top of your binge-watching list and stocking up on tissues, because it's bound to leave you crying from laughing so hard.

CHEAT SHEET: "Pilot," "Rachel McAdams Topless," "Famous Last Words," and "Shotgun Wedding." —Kaitlin

Vikings
Season 3 premieres Thursday, February 19 on History

COMMITMENT: Two seasons, the first featuring nine bloody episodes, the second featuring 10 even bloodier episodes!

WHY YOU SHOULD CATCH UP NOW: Vikings is a historical drama depicting the brutish Scandinavian marauders of the 13th century, and after watching it, I'm glad I didn't live in those times. But it sure makes for great television! Often mistakenly compared to Game of Thrones,Vikings shares the brutal nature of the HBO hit, but thrives because of its historical context. The writing is surprisingly deft for a show on a network known for black-and-white footage of World War II, crafting satisfying mini-arcs that pay off every two or three episodes. You'll also be surprised at the quality of the acting, particularly from the steely blue eyes of ex-model eyes Travis Fimmel, who brings a playful yet stern presence to his badass character, Ragnar Lothbrok. But let's be honest here, the main draw is all the live-action battle recreations featuring hulking men screaming their faces off.

CHEAT SHEET: There's a lot of serialization so you should watch everything, but if you must skim, watch the Season 1 mini-arc of "Trial," "Raid," and "Burial of the Dead" (Episodes 4, 5, and 6) and then wrap up that season with the final three episodes. Season 2 kicked off with a few un-Vikings-like soap stories, so skip the overproduced premiere and start with the time jump in Episode 2. Also, be sure not to miss "Unforgiven" and "Blood Eagle." —Tim

Breaking Bad
Premiere date: N/A (but its new prequel, Better Call Saul, debuts Sunday, February 8 on AMC

COMMITMENT: 62 intense, complex, and all-around excellent hours of one of the best shows in the history of television

WHY YOU SHOULD CATCH UP NOW: Come on, like you need an excuse to re-watch Vince Gilligan's masterpiece. But just in case you haven't already seen it, now's the time to take the plunge—how else will you ensure that you're adequately prepared for Better Call Saul?

CHEAT SHEET: Take the Pokémon approach: Gotta watch 'em all. —Jen Trolio