TV shows have the amazing power to draw you into a reality unlike your own. You get to see events of a different world unfold before your very eyes. You get to feel like you personally know the characters. However, it can be difficult to find a show that keeps you engaged. Sometimes the characters you love become unrecognizable. Often new characters that you don’t like get introduced, and the plot just seems to just lose its momentum. Finding a good show to invest your time and interest in is hard with all of these possible roadblocks, but don’t worry: here are three shows that are worth your time and attention. 

Sherlock

With every new case comes a new story. War veteran John Watson (Martin Freeman) becomes roommates with private detective Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) to share the rent. However, not too long after they move into 221b Baker Street, Watson becomes fascinated with Sherlock’s highly unconventional methods of solving mysteries. They develop a partnership, where Sherlock solves cases as John writes about them on his blog. With every case, there seems to be a common perpetrator behind all of these attacks. And one name comes up the most often: Moriarty (Andrew Scott). Even though it can be a bit gory at some moments, the plot is absolutely brilliant. Every detail is thought out and the story-line is highly unpredictable, which makes the mysteries that Sherlock solves super captivating, to the point where you can’t look away. The characters are different from typical TV characters, as they are shrouded in mystery. The actors do an amazing job at portraying their characters, and they build this mesmerizing suspense that draws viewers in. Not to mention the way Cumberbatch and Scott perfectly captured their characters as the rivalry between Sherlock and Moriarty is astonishing. If you love mysteries that draw you in and completely blindside you, Sherlock is the perfect show for you. Warning: this show contains mature themes so viewer discretion is advised. 

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Sherlock. Photo Credit: npr.org

The Good Place

“Welcome! Everything is fine,” Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), wakes up in the afterlife to discover that everything, indeed, is not fine. After spending a lifetime on Earth treating people poorly and making selfish decisions, Eleanor has earned her spot in the Bad Place. However, the system has accidentally sent her to a Good Place neighborhood, where the head architect of the neighborhood, Michael (Ted Danson), mistakes her for a different person. Living as an impostor, Eleanor enlists the help of Chidi Anagonye (William Jackson Harper), an ethics professor, to try to earn her spot in the Good Place for real. This show is extremely captivating as it is full of plot twists and lovable characters. Danson does an excellent job at portraying Michael whose personality is comical, as he can’t really grasp human tendencies at the beginning of the show. Bell also does an incredible job as she is able to spark emotion in viewers as her character grows as a person. The Good Place is definitely a feel-good show, as it is both funny and heartwarming. Not to mention, it tackles the concept of death in a way that makes it seem less scary. The Good Place is perfect for you if you are looking for a show that will make you grin from ear to ear.

Stranger Things

After the mysterious disappearance of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), the people of Hawkins, Ind. are left feeling lost, especially his friends and his mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder). However, when his best friends, Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), encounter a strange girl with telekinetic powers named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), they learn that Will’s disappearance may be even more out of the ordinary than they had imagined. With the help of Eleven, they attempt to find and save Will from the Upside Down, the parallel world where Eleven claims he is. This show is absolutely brilliant, because the plot is full of twists and turns, and every episode reveals something new. The characters are often placed in suspenseful situations, and with the show’s unpredictability, you don’t know whether or not they’ll be able to make it out of those situations. The characters are lovable and relatable. Not to mention, they undergo major character development. The set design and special effects are stunning, and everything looks incredibly realistic. You definitely need to watch Stranger Things if you enjoy suspenseful sci-fi movies that keep you hooked.

Finding a good show to stay interested in can be difficult. So, if you ever need a show to pass the time, try one of these!