At the moment, there are plenty of TV shows that everyone is raving about. And with the rest of 2014 to go, there’s a range of new and returning shows coming to the box that might make choosing what to watch a bit difficult.
If you’re a big fan of drama, you aren’t about to be disappointed. We’ve come up with a list of unmissable American TV dramas that it’s well worth watching or catching up on.
1. Breaking Bad
Available on catchup services such as Netflix, Breaking Bad is one of those shows that people talk about a great deal. It’s well-written, features some great acting and has a story which grips you from start to finish.
The series follows the story of a financially-struggling chemistry teacher, played by Bryan Cranston, who is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. In an attempt to provide some financial stability for his family for after his death, he teams up with a former student to make methamphetamine. What follows is a series of dramatic encounters including stand-offs with drug dealers, and the steps he takes to ensure that his family don’t find out about what he’s been up to.
While it is a dark show, it has won numerous awards and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest rated show of all time.
2. Mad Men
The AMC show Mad Men, set in the 1960s, follows the story of a group of advertisers working on Madison Avenue, New York City. The main character is Don Draper, played by Jon Hamm, who takes the role of a creative director, and Sterling Cooper. The story follows the events in his life, with the plot centering on the agency business in addition to his personal life and the lives of those around him.
With seven seasons, Mad Men is a critically-acclaimed show which has won a host of awards, including 15 Emmys and a total of four Golden Globes.
3. True Blood
True Blood is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harries, and follows the lives of a group of humans and vampires living in a fictional town in Louisiana. Most of the action follows Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress who also happens to be telepathic.
You can still catch this show on HBO; even if you aren’t a big fan of the supernatural, the show which has won several awards, including an Emmy and Golden Globe, is well worth a watch.
4. Penny Dreadful
A relatively new show, Penny Dreadful is a quirky and gripping horror series which features a host of stars within the cast, including Timothy Dalton, Billie Piper and Josh Hartnet.
The series features a number of fictional horror staples, such as Mina Harker of Dracula and Victor Frankenstein of Mary Shelley’s classic novel. A second season has already been signed off for broadcast next year.
5. Orange is the New Black
As one of Netflix’s more sharp and ground-breaking series, Orange is the New Black is definitely worth a look if you haven’t seen it already.
The story is set in a USA women’s prison, in which the storyline and characters are very diverse and gripping.
6. Hannibal
The NBC show Hannibal aimed to breathe new life into the Hannibal Lecter character we have all grown to love and hate, and that’s exactly what it managed to do. Starring Mads Mikkelson as the famous fictional cannibal, the show follows him closely in the years prior to him getting caught.
7. Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is one of the most talked about shows on the TV right now, and after watching it you will see why. With epic plotlines, a host of enchanting characters and some genuinely emotional moments, no must-see TV list would be complete without it.
Based upon the fantasy novels of George R. R. Martin, the series has recently been renewed for a fifth and sixth season.
