Television I'm Excited For in 2014

 The Second Half of Pretty Little Liars' Fourth Season

I inhaled all three and a half seasons of Pretty Little Liars in a span of four days and since then, I've asked people who'd be in the know (i.e. my 21 year old sister who is into White Collar) what they thought of it. She told me that she stopped watching because "it was just the same thing again and again". She's right. But like the Vampire Diaries, PPL is the crack cocaine of teen drama. If you watch them fast and dirty, you begin to seriously look past plot inconsistencies, poor acting, and the tedious drone of "WHO (THE FUCK) IS A?!" and when I got to the end of the first half of the fourth season, I had a horrible rolling-on-the-kitchen-floor-while-moaning withdrawal. I cannot, for the life of me,  figure out what they'll do next with the Ezra is A, isn't A, or A's minion dilemma. But I won't have to wait too long for answers, it's back January 7th on ABC Family.

 True Detective

The question isn't really if True Detective will be good or bad, but whether or not I can handle the black crime drama's ickiest scenes. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are amazing on their own so I can only imagine how brilliant they'll be in the same series and as a born and bred New Englander, I'm always up for southern gothic setting. But the best part? In a particularly rare and wonderful turn, Cary Fukunaga, one of my favorite directors, is behind the helm of this project. He previously directed Sin Nombre and Jane Eyre, both films I loved with a passion, so True Detective has been mixed into a television cocktail of my dreams. Here's hoping I can stomach the whole "murdered girl" rigamarole. Series premiere January 12th on HBO.

Girls, Season Three

Oh dear heaven, I relate to this show so much that after last season's finale, I was in tears. I know there are people out there (maybe many of them) who don't enjoy this show and have a fine time hating on it. I don't understand those people. I'm far from the bourgeoisie hipsterness of Brooklyn, but as a twenty something who sometimes feels as if she's a slow and stylish train wreck, I get it. I'm not Hannah Horvath, but she's enough like me that I feel as if there's someone out there -- finally! -- telling my story in all the awkward sex and missed deadline glory. Lena Durham, I salute you. The show returns to HBO on January 12th in a special two episode premiere.

Star Crossed

On so many levels, Star Crossed is the my ultimate guilty pleasure show: the Romeo and Juliet romance, lightly sprinkled supernatural/fantasy element, high melodramatic tone, not-so-subtle references to an actual historical event (the Little Rock Nine), and hot guys with facial tattoos. What else could a girl want!? But that's where this love affair hit a major road bump, the girl is Aimee Teegarden. Whhhhhhy!? The former Friday Nights Lights star drives me nuts and her scenes in that excellent series left me irritated, slightly bored, and utterly unsympathetic to her character. Physically, she fits the CW brand perfectly: her willowy gait, doll face and vaguely vulnerable/confused expressions are an exact match with Nina Dobrev's Elena, Kristin Kreuk's Catherine, and Rachel Bilson's Dr. Zoe Hart. However, I'm not above second chances (especially when they're related to hot tattooed aliens) and who knows, maybe I'll be into the older brunette Aimee Teegarden. Series premiere  February 17th on the CW.

House of Cards, Season Two

Around the time of Breaking Bad's series finale, I saw theories that the golden age of male antihero dramas has come to an end. Tony Soprano, Don Drapper, Dexter Morgan, and Walter White have had their day in the sun and now must step aside for fresher voices, but Kevin Spacey's Francis Underwood belongs to a different breed of bad guy. While The Sopranos and Breaking Bad were engineered to arouse our sympathies and Dexter and Don are too charming to ever detest, House of Cards pivots upon a rampaging, power-craving heart of steel. He's Grendel, not Godzilla. The entire second season will debut February 14th on Netflix.

 The Americans, Season Two

I haven't watched the preview above because I'm not finished with the first season but let me tell ya, The Americans might be my favorite show ever. I know I've felt similarly about other shows (Dollhouse, Party Down, the 1995 Pride and Prejudice miniseries) but I'm not sure any of my former loves can stand up against The Americans. I've been a fan of Keri Russell's particular blend of delicate strength since her turn in Waitress and she soars as Elizabeth Jennings. Matthew Rhys breaks my fucking heart into tiny pieces every episode, his yearning, disappointment, and tender glances feel so real. Add an awesome supporting cast, thrilling action, and a historic setting and you've got me hooked 4life. Season premiere February 26th on FX.

The 100

Take The Hunger Games, add a sprinkling of Battle Star Galactica, finish with a drizzle of Lord of the Flies and you've got the CW's post apocalyptic teen adventure The 100. I love that our heroine is less concerned with love than making sure everyone gets their shit together on Earth. She's not the sole strong female either, her mother and her fellow juvenile offender (the bad girl brunette) perpetuate plot action and voice strong opinions. The creators have a great premise for the show and the setting is ripe for creativity, the preview alone raised several questions I'm dying to know the answer of: What's in the lake? Are all the animals two-headed or just that unfortunate dear? Who else is there? Alien species, cavemen, or nuclear blast enhanced humans? Series premiere March 19th on the CW.