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.
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
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
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
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
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
—Kaitlin
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
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
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
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
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