I will be the first to admit that I am an absolute TV fanatic. I watch everything; from "Game of Thrones" to "The Real Housewives of Dallas," from "The Wire" to "Cops." I believe that while some may see TV as a mind-sucking, numbing waste of time, TV can move mountains.

Both documentary based and fictional TV have incredible merit, but good ole classic story telling can make a massive impact on the lives of viewers. I speak especially of the latest season of Netflix's "Orange is the New Black." If you haven't watched it, take the time to. The show that seemed to plateau in its third season found new life by addressing our country's darkest issues of race and power. The season finale left me breathless, and the episode before showed a death that mimicked the brutal fatalities we see in the new far too often (No details to avoid spoilers, but your heart will crumble). My TV escape hit too close to home, and left me thinking "We have to do better. We have to do more. We have to do something."

TV has the amazing ability to develop stories and characters in a way that only books could previously. However, with the added prowess of the visual experience, TV can impact viewers in a deep and affecting way. Through a season or series of a show, an audience member can view a character's struggles, witness the wrongdoings of the villain, root for the underdog and, ultimately, find pieces of themselves in the fiction laid out in front of them. This is beyond powerful.

TV can be used for a escapism, sure - for the finding of pleasure in distancing yourself from your life. Why else do we all watch? It can be informative; I learned more about the war from "Band of Brothers" than almost any history class. "Breaking Bad" and "Dexter" made me question the black and white moral system I previously held. "How to Get Away with Murder" taught me about the legal system. My TV and film classes are the hardest classes I take in school, because they tackle social constructs and issues reflected in the media. How we live in society can be seen in our TV. Watch more closely, you will see it too.

And TV is only getting better! With untied streaming programs like Netflix, and networks like HBO and Showtime, TV is able to tackle the harder issues that often get swept under the rug. We are able to discuss race, sexuality, gun violence, politics, power and gender. Tune in to see all that will happen on TV and you will see what is happening in the world.