There is a wide variety of dramas hitting the market in Fall 2014, so we figured we’d help you out by choosing five that we think have what it takes to be around for the long haul.
Last week we gave you our picks for the least promising new dramas and least promising new comedies for Fall 2014, and now we look to the best. Every pilot season brings shows great and not-so-great to our screens, and there’s nothing harder than getting attached to a show that doesn’t stick around. Here’s our take on five solid bets for staying power this fall.
‘How to Get Away with Murder’ (ABC)
There are very few things in television that can be called a sure thing, but when you have Viola Davis starring in a sexy new drama from Shonda Rhimes with a title as flashy as How to Get Away with Murder? It’s pretty safe to say that this show has staying power. The premise sounds absolutely intoxicated with potential for an intense new world of characters with which Shonda can play, and as we are huge fans of her past (and present) work with hospitals and politics, we couldn’t be more excited to see what she has up her sleeve for the world of academia.
‘The Flash’ (CW)
Grant Gustin won over Arrow viewers last fall when he guest starred in two episodes of the hit CW drama as the charming, geeky forensics expert Barry Allen, and we fully expect for that admiration to continue. The Flash has a solid premise, a stellar cast, and a rich world of characters to dive into, all of which lend themselves to a very promising future for the CW drama. If you throw in the potential for an occasional visit to Starling City, this series opens doors for incredible storytelling and we can’t wait to see what the powers-that-be behind Arrow and The Flash do with this treasure trove of opportunities.
‘Gotham’ (FOX)
There are few ways to make crime drama seem fresh on TV these days, but Gotham has seized one that we never even considered possible. The world of the Caped Crusader contains criminals aplenty, and centering the story around Commissioner Gordon’s rise to the top gives both a fresh take on the comic book genre and a creative way to structure a crime drama. Names like Penguin, Poison Ivy, and the Riddler are almost as recognizable as Batman himself, so we couldn’t be more excited to see Gotham City’s origin story, before it became the home of The Dark Knight.
‘The Red Band Society’ (FOX)
There are a lot of high concept series hitting your screens this fall, what with superheroes taking over and aliens talking to your kids, but in their midst is this humble little show about a group of kids that make the best of an awful situation. The Red Band Society is described in the trailer as “The Breakfast Club in a cancer ward” which peaked our interest. The Breakfast Club brought high school kids from drastically different cliques together, and this show will try to illustrate how cancer could be a force to unite these otherwise very different people. Sure, this show will be ripe with heartbreaking stories, but watching these kids hang on to hope in the midst of their struggles is sure to make your heart swell with pride for the human race.
‘Constantine’
Constantine promises a little bit of everything this coming Fall season. John Constantine is the epitome of the anti-hero. He has a dark past that he’s trying to put behind him, but he just can’t help needle everyone he comes in contact with. With humor, wit, drama, and the promise of some terrifying television, Constantine is just begging us to tune in every Friday this October. It seems like they’re not holding back on the horror, and if you think you can handle it, we definitely suggest giving this show a chance. But you might want to keep your lights on while you watch. — Written by Karen Rought