1. The Detectorists

This is one of the oddest shows I've seen recently but it's so refreshing that I can't help talking about it. With two incredibly identifiable actors that often play supporting roles in other projects, Toby Jones, and Mackenzie Crook make a fantastic duo in this hilariously simple concept. The entire show is based around two guys just going out to do some metal detecting. It may sound deceivingly boring, but the dialogue and fantastic character development turn this show into a must watch. With treasure just out of reach, this seemingly harmless hobby is fraught with challenges to discover historical treasures before their competition. These races to the finish line often result in pretty awkward encounters when examining how serious this duo takes their unusual hobby. Having never metal detected a day in my life this is without a doubt one of the most enjoyable shows I've seen in recent memory.

2. GLOW

The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling is a show that has been redone with some new spunk. You probably haven't seen the original and if you haven't I'd like to say that's ok because I haven't either. I originally only watched an episode to humor the concept, but quickly realized that there's actually some good shit going on episode to episode. I found the characters strangely likable and with a nicely balanced taste of each woman's personality. It's an oddly compelling look into a world and subject matter that I never imagined would be even remotely interesting. The protagonist Ruth (Played by Alison Brie) is this spunky and energetic actress who just can't manage to land a part in anything until she comes across GLOW. She and a bunch of other misfit actors are cast and they quickly find their places on the show. Each of the girls dawn these various personas; some racist, but most are simply stereotypes of various things, people,countries, and cultures. These personas are taken into the ring where they ladies of GLOW put on live shows with ongoing stories for the crown. That's the basic concept of the show within the show. Other than the show itself, the majority of each episode is dedicated to the development of relationships and the difficulties creative projects face when being developed. The second season has just recently been released and I'm cruising through the new episodes with the pleasant discovery that the second season tops the first. Go check it out and keep an open mind, as the Russian accent can be a bit much in a way that I find to be awkwardly charming as the show goes on.

3. The Resident

Great, another fucking doctor show where everyone from the nurse to the resident doctors flaunt their egos and use words nobody understands. That was my first thought and though I found the first few episodes to be pretty general the show took a brief break before coming back with a heavy hitter episode that actually piqued my interest. Yeah, this show is primarily a drama, but it also gives a harshly realistic depiction to how brutally dismissive our healthcare system is. It takes a look at the level of corruption the continually plagues almost every industry and business in our country, but really lays it out there for an audience to digest. I don't presume to say that I know everything about the medical field, but I think we can all agree it's more business and less care. The show follows a brilliant young doctor with a great moral compass though he's not without his troubles as he and his fellow medical practitioners battle a system of oppression and cover ups. I'm not going to say this is brilliant TV, but I'm not someone who will sit through a 14 episode season if something isn't happening and things are certainly happening. If you're into medical dramas, give this one a chance because I found it to be compelling.

4. Mindhunter

This was some of the best writing on television last year and was missed by almost everyone I've talked to. It's a crime drama that follows FBI agents as they attempt to identify and categorize the psychology of serial killers. What's more interesting, is that the show takes place at a time when there was no terminology to describe or understand these types of behaviors. The show follows two agents, Holden Ford (Played by Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Played by Holt McCallany), both of which give pretty awesome performances. If you love crime dramas that give you the never-ending feeling anything could happen at any time, you'll probably enjoy this show. What's more, the show puts you in the room with some of the best known serial killers the United States has ever had to deal with. The stories and deeply unsettling mystery kept me interested in a way I hadn't been since True Detective.

5. Vikings

I'll say it a thousand times. I think History's Vikings is a better show than Game of Thrones. That's a pretty bold claim to make, but I believe it to be true. The only way you'd know for yourself is if you give it a watch. The acting in this show is superb and the merit of this show is hugely due to the writing of Michael Hirst. Of the 90 episodes, Michael Hirst has written 89. It's never too late to start watching, so even if you're just waiting to for that new season of Game of Thrones, History's Vikings will tide you over and may even sway your allegiances.

One of the greatest aspects of Vikings, is the life sized viking village the show made to film in. It's a world we've all heard of, but there is always a bit of mystery surrounding the lore and religion of viking paganism. I will say this, the way this world is created makes viking gods feel real. It makes you believe that these events are happening due to the will of greater powers and that the characters are either helped or hindered by these unseen forces.