Summer has arrived for many of us, and along with the warm weather, there comes an exciting amount of free time. There are many ways to spend this free time: sports, bonfires, amusement parks, hiking and, of course, television. I have watched far too much television in my lifetime and have compiled a list of shows that many people would greatly enjoy. Now if you have Netflix, then all of these shows are easily accessible. Even if you don't, I would highly suggest finding a way to watch one of these series, if not all of them. I will also give my recommended age range for these shows, as a couple are pointed for older audiences. No matter how busy your summer is, I would strongly recommend spending a little less time exercising and a little more time watching some television.
1. Sense 8 (Dramatic, Ages 18 and Older)
This show, at first, looked incredibly stupid to me. A show about a telepathic connection between eight random individuals seemed a bit too "sci-fi" for me, and I almost blew it off. In a period of boredom, I decided to watch the pilot episode, and I fell in love. It is intense, exciting and overall extremely well written. The show doesn't overplay the telepathy idea, and it is the ideal balance of realism and sci-fi. Even better, you can understand it on a surface level, and you can understand on a deeper philosophical level as well.
2. Gotham (Superhero Drama, Ages 16 and Older)
I am extremely wary of any superhero show, but this one impressed me much more than I expected. "Gotham" is so well written, with incredible character development, unforeseen plot twists and extremely well played roles. Every actor in the show plays their role perfectly, and I would have watched the whole season in one sitting if I could have. Whether you are a super hero fanatic or not, "Gotham" pleases most viewers.
3. Dexter (Drama, Ages 16 and Older)
"Dexter" deserves to be considered a classic in my opinion. The first season alone is enough to vault the show into Television Classics, but Dexter kept going. Even though the show has a rough ending, it is so well done that it makes watching it more than worth it. I loved "Dexter," and the psychological thrill ride it took me on was very enjoyable. It is exciting and thrilling, and it poses fun ethical questions to discuss.
4. The Blacklist (Drama, Ages 16 and Older)
James Spader makes this show. He plays his role perfectly, and if any other actor played this role, it would greatly decrease the value of the show. Aside from Spader, the plot is incredible, the characters grow and develop well and the overall story of the show progresses perfectly. This show is a must watch for anyone who enjoys thrilling television shows.
5. Psych (Comedy/Drama, Ages 14 and Older)
I love this show, and its track record shows how good it was. It is a crime TV show that is extremely unique because of how comical it is. The characters grow throughout the show, and you see the chemistry between the actors grow exponentially. I don't have much else to say about it; just pick a friend and watch the show in its entirety this summer.
