Shows I'm excited about: Homeland

Homeland is a slow-moving but gripping tale that follows Nicholas Brody, a US Marine who if rescued after being held captive by Al-Qaeda since 2003, and Carrie Mathison, the CIA investigator who gets the impression all is not what it seems with Brody.

Homeland is a unique series that keeps viewers guessing right till the very end. For most of the season viewers don’t know if Brody has returned as a sleeper agent or if Carrie’s past mental health issues have clouded her judgement. Or are both assessments true?

Homeland not only deals with hard-hitting topics such as religion and terrorists but it also looks at the impact these things have on a modern family. While Nicholas was gone his wife and his best friend began a relationship that could tear the Brody family apart. Meanwhile Carrie is dealing with being under suspicion from her own side.

Homeland is definitely a series to watch. It does take a little while to build up, but before you know it, you’re hooked.

Claire Danes stars as Carrie with Damian Lewis as Nicholas, Morena Baccarin as Nicholas’s wife and Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson, Carrie’s mentor at the CIA.

Homeland season two will air on Showtime September 30.

Themes: Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Morena Baccarin, Mandy Patinkin, Homeland Security, terrorists, Carrie Mathison, Nicholas Brody, Saul Berenson, Showtime, drama

Shows I'm excited about: Sons of Anarchy

There is a difference between the synopsis of a show and what that show is about. For FX’s Sons of Anarchy, this difference is more like a vast chasm.

The synopsis of Sons would go something like this: sex, drugs, and guns are all a part of everyday life for members of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club from the small California town of Charming. But if you think that’s what the show is about, you’re wrong.

SOA is about family; namely, what would you do for your family. To members of SAMCRO (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original), everyone who wears the cut is your brother. The men who ride always have their brother’s backs no matter what, whether that means seeking revenge or just hiding you from your old lady after you’ve had a rough night out.

The show also explores other types of familial relationships, such as the thin connection between mother and adult son, son and step-father, and, of course, new girlfriend and his mother. It also delves into what makes a family, is it blood or bond? And what does your family really need from you, your presence or your pay check?

Set against the backdrop of bikes, bimbos, and booze, Sons of Anarchy tells an interesting tale of love in all its forms.

Sons of Anarchy stars Charlie Hunnam (Jackson “Jax” Teller), Ron Perlman (Clay Morrow), Katey Sagal (Gemma Morrow), and Ryan Hurst (Harry “Opie” Winston), and is executive produced by its creator Kurt Sutter. It will return September 11 on FX.

Themes: Charlie Hunnam, Jax Teller, Ron Perlman, Clay Morrow, Katey Sagal, Gemma, Ryan Hurst, Opie, Harry Winston, Tara Knowles, Maggie Siff, Kurt Sutter, SOA, SAMCRO, Sons of Anarchy

Shows I'm excited about: Once Upon A Time

Once Upon a Time is a series that I am very passionate about. A great story about good and evil, Once Upon a Time follows Emma Snow and the residence of Storybrooke. According to the series there are many different universes that exist, and some, like the world where all of our fairytale characters exist, have magic. When Snow White and Prince Charming wed, the Evil Queen gives them a chilling warning; your happy days are numbered. The Queen (with some help from Rumplestiltskin) finds a curse that will take away everyone’s happy ending. This means sending them to a truly horrific world, a world without magic... Our world.

Fast forward 28 years and Emma Snow is confronted by her ten year old son whom she gave up for adoption. Her son Henry comes bearing chilling news; Emma is the child of Snow White and Prince Charming, and she alone can break the curse.

Once Upon a Time gives us a ‘behind the storybook’ approach to the characters we all know and love. Throughout the first season we got a look at why Jiminy Cricket is so moral, why Grumpy is so... angry, and just what Snow White did to get the Evil Queen to want her dead. Season two can only bring us more insights as well as terrific acting from Ginny Goodwin (Snow White), Jennifer Morrison (Emma Snow), Josh Dallas (Prince Charming), and Lana Parrilla (Evil Queen). Once Upon a Time was created by LOST writer’s Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, and they both write for the show, too.

Season two will begin airing September 30 on ABC.

Themes: Ginnifer Goodwin, Snow White, Jennifer Morrison, Emma Snow, Josh Dallas, Prince Charming, Lana Parrilla, evil queen, Rumplestiltskin, Edward Kitsis, fairytales, Once Upon A Time, Once upon a time TV, Raphael Sbarge, TV series, Robert Carlyle, Adam Horowitz, 

Shows I'm excited about: Grey's Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy is an oft-talked about show full of drama and suspense. Following the lives of a group of interns at the fictional Seattle Grace/Mercy West Hospital, Grey’s Anatomy takes a hard look at topics that many shows shy away from. Sure, each episode structure is like every other medical drama, but it’s what they do within this that counts. Grey’s has had episodes about adultery, abortion, adoption, and same-sex marriage to name but a few.

Another great thing about this series is the characters. At first they all seemed very stereotypical, but as the episodes progressed you could see that the writers and actors banded together to tell something more, something stronger with these people.

This next season of Grey’s promises to bring more action and more drama to the table than ever before. At the end of last season a number of main characters were injured in a small plane crash. A number of things are still unknown, not only who will survive but how will those who lived through the crash deal with the aftermath? Plus, there’s bound to be a lot of drama and excitement ahead!

Grey’s Anatomy is aired on ABC and season 9 will commence September 27^th. 

Themes: Grey's Anatomy, ABC, medical drama, Meredith Grey, Christina Yang, Alex Karev, Miranda Bailey, Callie Torres, Mark Sloan, McDreamy, McSteamy, Lexi Grey, Owen Hunt, Arizona Robbins, Teddy Altman, April Kepner, Jackson Avery, Derek Shepherd, Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson, Sara Ramirez, Eric Dane, Chyler Leigh, Kevin McKidd, Jessica Capshaw, Kim Raver, Sarah Drew, Jesse Williams, Patrick Dempsey, Shonda Rhimes