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I’m sure you’ve all seen the recent posts about people’s favorite movies. I thought I should write an article about my favorite TV Series. Why should you read it? Because it’s a way to discover new shows that might interest you!

I’m studying to become a TV writer so I spend a lot of time just watching shows. However, I want to specify that these are my favorite TV series, not necessarily the ones I think are the best.

5. Game of Thrones

HBO’s Game of Thrones is a fantastic show. If you haven’t seen it, go and watch it. Now! Nowadays, it’s common to see something described as epic. But this show deserves the word.

It’s extremely well written, the characters are interesting and you always feel emotionally invested. The world is presented to you as well as Middle Earth was presented in the LotR trilogy. Also, you’re just in time! You have 3 weeks until the second season of this masterpiece premiers.

4. Modern Family

First of all, I confess I’m Colombian so I’m biased to whatever show Sofia Vergara appears on. But Modern Family is a fantastic comedy and it still would be, even without the Colombian actress.

Even though Big Bang Theory has the biggest ratings, this is clearly the best comedy currently on air. All the characters are funny and have defined personalities and characteristics. The chemistry between the cast is amazing and you get all kinds of humor: Sketch, slapstick, double entendres…Modern Family has it all. If you liked Arrested Development and you’re excited for its return, you should watch Modern Family. It was clearly influenced by the 2003 comedy series.

3. Shameless

Now, I think this is the least known show of my list. It airs on Showtime and it’s currently on its second season. It’s based on a UK Series of the same name but, in my opinion, this version is superior to the source material.

Maybe it’s Emmy Rossum’s breathtaking performance as Fiona Gallagher, the daughter of Frank, (played by William H. Macy) an alcoholic father who hilariously spends his days trying to get even more drunk. Meanwhile his 6 children have to fend for themselves, lead by Rossum’s Fiona.

What’s great about this show is how funny it manages to be whilst dealing with the very serious issues of a dysfunctional family. The show will have you laughing only to change the tone perfecto with one line and have you tearing up. It’s brilliant.

2. Doctor Who

Oh, Doctor Who. You beautiful thing. The British sci-fi show has been around for half a century, but it’s been 7 years since BBC brought the TARDIS back. If you haven’t seen of all 33 seasons, you can easily start with the 2005 pilot. You could even start in Season 5, when we start following the Eleventh Doctor (played by Matt Smith) although then you’d miss Rose, and David Tennant’s Doctor…

Anyway, Doctor Who is an amazing series that can make you laugh, cry and cower in fear, all in one episode. Even if you don’t want to listen to all of us Who fans, you should just watch the tenth episode of the third season, Blink, and then decide if you give the show a chance. It’s a brilliant episode written by Steven Moffat, who is now the show runner of Who and…

1. Sherlock

Now, this is my favorite show AND it’s the best one I’ve seen. That doesn’t happen often.

BBC’s Sherlock follows the lives of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in 21st Century London. Each episode is basically a feature film, clocking at 90 minutes. And they’re much better better than 90% of the films that come out every friday. The way Moffat and his team adapt Conan Doyle’s stories is simply beautiful and Benedict Cumberbatch plays the legendary detective so well, you’ll want to cry.

On top of that you have Martin Freeman as a much-more-active-than-usual Watson and their chemistry is just perfect. There’s an exchange in the Second Season’s first episode that shows this perfectly:

Sherlock Holmes: Punch me in the face!
Dr. John Watson: Punch you?
Sherlock Holmes: Yes, punch me in the face! Didn’t you hear me?
Dr. John Watson: I always hear “Punch me in the face” when you’re speaking but it’s usually subtext.

If you haven’t seen this, each season is only 3 episodes long. It’s only 6 episode of pure awesomeness!