At the end of a busy day (or even a not-so-busy-day), there’s nothing like pouring a glass of wine and settling in on the couch to lose yourself in a little TV fantasy. Scrolling through the episode guide on your screen, however, can be a nightmare. Which shows are even worth watching? Well, here at BrazenWoman, we’ve gone ahead and taken charge of your TV remote. Dilemma solved. Read on for our list of favourite shows from the hilarious to the more serious and the reasons we love them. So sit back, relax and get watching.
Our Top 5 Must-Watch TV Shows for 2014
The Mindy Project
Created by and starring Mindy Kaling (from The Office), this comedy series follows a young Ob/Gyn (Kaling) as she struggles to balance her life and career while searching for love.
Why We Love It: Quirky and cute, we can’t help but laugh when watching this hidden gem. Mindy is smart and adorable and because she has a skewed view on love and relationships, we find ourselves rooting for her. Plus, we can’t help but love the hilarious ensemble and guest stars, including some familiar faces such as the hilarious Bill Hader and Mindy’s “The Office” co-star, B.J. Novak. Apparently on a mid-season hiatus, we can’t wait to watch new episodes starting in April.
Orange Is The New Black
The story of a 30-something upper-class woman sentenced to 15 months in prison for a crime committed 10 years prior, this series, created by Jenji Kohan (of Weeds fame) is an easy top pick. The darkly comedic story is loosely based on the memoir written by the real Piper, who served 13 months of her 15-month sentence.
Why We Love It: Orange Is The New Black is original, entertaining and addictive. It’s a binge-watcher’s dream. You can park yourself in front of the TV on a rainy day or a snowy day (or any day) and before you know it, you’ve watched an entire season in one sitting. While we love Taylor Schilling as Piper, it’s the entire ensemble that’ll keep you coming back for more. Plus, it’s a Netflix original series so you can watch it when you want. wherever you want.
Devious Maids
From the creator of Desperate Housewives and produced by Eva Longoria, this new series (inspired by the hit telenovela Ellas son…la Alegría del Hogar) follows a group of Latina maids who work for none other than the Beverly Hills rich and famous. The plot follows their twists and turns when one of their own is murdered – and they seek to uncover the truth. The strong cast of women includes Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty) and Judy Reyes (Scrubs).
Why We Love It: There’s nothing like a murder in the first few minutes of the first episode to hook you, and feisty female antics to keep you hooked. It’s an upstairs-downstairs tale that’s got it all – excitement, intrigue, and the plot lines of a soap opera without the long commitment. While it smacks of Desperate Housewives, it’s unique enough that we definitely don’t feel like we’ve “been there, seen that”.
The Originals
A supernatural drama, right up there with the best of ’em, this is a spin-off of the hit CW show The Vampire Diaries. It follows original vampire/hybrid Klaus Mikaelson (Joseph Morgan) as he returns to New Orleans to reclaim power in the city he and his family helped build. Get ready to see some familiar faces from TVD including the sexy Marcel (Charles Michael Davis) and Klaus’ charming brother Elijah (Daniel Gillies).
Why We Love It: While spin-off shows can be hit and miss, in The Originals, we can’t get enough of watching Joseph Morgan. Well, was there really any doubt? Those eyes, the smirk, that accent! He’s a bad guy with a sensitive side – what could be better? We also love the lack of high school flavour that comes with the territory on TVD, preferring our vampires to be a little more Lestat and a lot less Edward Cullen.
Masters of Sex
Adapted from the biography Masters of Sex: The Life and Times of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, the Couple Who Taught America How to Love, this Showcase drama is all about gynecologist Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen). Set in the mid 1950’s, the story follows brilliant but emotionally disconnected Masters as he sparks a professional relationship with Virginia Johnson (Lizzie Caplan), a forward thinking, twice-divorced single mom of 2. Together, Masters and Johnson, who are pioneers in the study of human sexuality, begin their quest to study the physical effects of sex but quickly find themselves entangled in the psychological effects as well.
Why We Love It: Seductive, smart and fearless, this show leaves us wanting more with every episode. We secretly want to be Caplan’s Virginia Johnson with her unwavering strength and confidence, never mind those shirtless “test subjects” who definitely get our blood pumping.