So far, we've covered pitches from #-Q. With only one more set of pitches to come tomorrow, today's nominations cover R-S Thanks again to everyone who made their pitch. I am truly sorry if your nomination is not in here. Know that I appreciate your time and pitches. Making the choice of what went into the articles was difficult. Tomorrow, I will include a link to the original spreadsheet so you can read them all in their entirety.
To keep the articles short and readable, all pitches were edited for length (less than 200 words), clarity, and grammar. I have also limited nominations to 2 per show with a couple popular shows having 3. I hope that every reader finds at least one show they are interested in trying. If you do, please comment in the section below. I know those who nominated would love to hear from you. Also, if you would like to add something to a show's nomination, please add your thoughts in the comments. Thanks again to everyone who created pitches. They have been a fun read and I have been busy adding things to my to-watch list already. Without further ado, here are the pitches for TV shows R-S.
Shameless plug - If you haven't nominated your favorites for our Character Cup, nominations close this weekend.
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1 season, 14 episodes
It might be a beautiful day to save lives in some medical dramas, but this one starts off with a renowned surgeon, Dr. Bell, accidentally killing a patient and covering it up. Yet Bruce Greenwood (from National Treasure: Book of Secrets) is so good in his portrayal of Bell that you won’t entirely despise him. He’s a fascinating snake to watch. Not everyone at the hospital is chill with Bell, especially hothead Conrad Hawkins (a never more charismatic Matt Czuchry), a brilliant and compassionate resident. Other characters you’ll absolutely love are head nurse Nic (the one and only Emily VanCamp), cocky surgical genius Mina (Shaunette Renée Wilson) and new resident Devon (Manish Dayal). Together, they seek to uphold their oaths to heal their patients, in spite of the real-world corruption that has infiltrated every level of the hospital. Darker demons than Dr. Bell lurk in the corridors. This hospital, potentially its patients savior and potentially their pallbearer, sets the show apart. A very real sense of jeopardy permeates every case and sweetens the victories. (Ellys Cartin)
4 seasons, 89 episodes
“When you embark on a journey of Revenge, dig two graves.” That quote opens this wonderful show, which changed my entire life. I myself embarked on this journey in the summer of 2013 when I discovered this gem. It was the amazing foreshadowing, beautiful setting, shocking twists and turns, and, most importantly, the two leading ladies that got me instantly hooked on this show. Emily VanCamp and Madeline Stowe are outstanding, portraying these very different yet deliciously powerful women who carry the show. From its intriguing opening scene to its dramatic final scene, Revenge remained one of the most unique, entertaining, and intense shows on TV, although not always flawless of course. It has you rooting for the main character, who is seeking revenge on the people who destroyed not only her deceased father’s life but also her own. The twists are refreshing and shocking, the style is unique, the dialogue is smart, and the characters are compelling and entertaining. Set in the Hamptons during the summer, this is the perfect summer binge that will probably actually keep you from going outside because it is so incredibly addicting. Embark on this journey yourself! (Missions)
2 seasons, 35 episodes
Netflix, CW app
Many people have at least one show they refer to as their “guilty pleasure”, and mine is Riverdale. You have probably heard negative things like the acting is weak, the writing is a mess, and many characters are living stereotypes. I cannot necessarily deny these, but I still enjoy the show a lot. During my stressful school time, I needed ONE show, where I didn’t need to use my brain and could just relax. Riverdale is an entertaining, fun, crazy, and dark teen drama with a lot of twists and turns. It stands out from any other network drama because of its visuals. The cinematography, setting, and music are really outstanding and create a certain atmosphere. It is also darker and more mysterious than most teen dramas are. The acting has gotten considerably better as the show progresses, and I am sure that this uphill trend will continue. If you want an entertaining show that you can binge on a rainy day when you need some downtime, Riverdale is the perfect show for you. Plus, they do have some really intense episodes that will have you at the edge of your seat. (Missions)
4 seasons, 40 episodes
Amazon Prime
In the first episode, there’s death, scandal, glamour, and an emotional pie-eating scene. Prince Robert, heir to the English throne, perishes in a plane crash. His grief stricken father begins to consider a drastic response to this tragedy, with immense potential consequences for the remaining family members. Helena, the Queen Consort, part Cersei and part Alexis Carrington, is not having it...even if her twins, Liam and Eleanor, couldn’t run away from their royal titles fast enough. This show revels in being gloriously soapy and downright naughty, but it doesn’t forget to give you someone to care about. Almost everyone is insanely gorgeous and scheming, which creates fantastic clashes. There’s family drama, star-crossed love, murder, fabulous outfits, and very handsome men! It’s a pleasure you won’t feel guilty about. Also, Princess Eleanor, as created by Alexandra Park, is easily one of my favorite TV characters ever! Plus, there’s an endless supply of very witty dialogue. You could have an entire wardrobe with t-shirts bearing “The Royals” quotes. Joan Collins guest stars too! I can’t properly express my love for this show. It gets better and better. (Ellys Cartin)
4 seasons, 51 episodes
Netflix
Schitt's Creek takes a bunch of selfish, shallow people and develops them in such unexpected and delightful ways. The best comedies are the ones that allow their characters to grow rather than stagnate. When we first meet the Rose family, they can be a little hard to sympathise with but four seasons on, as they continue adapt to their new reality with no money in a small town, it is impossible not to love them. Creator and star Dan Levy has spoken about how they call the show “Breaking Good”. Instead of the moral decline that Walter White goes through in Breaking Bad, the Rose family and their friends learn how to be good people and learn how to love - and really don't we all need a bit of joy in our lives right now? (Lou)
The name of this gem was enough for me to research it, and once I did, I fell in love with the Rose family. The show is about a family that has everything but actually has nothing of meaning…until they lose their fortune and are forced to live in the town of Schitt’s Creek that was bought as a joke. Along the way, they find out who they are and learn what it means to be a family and care for something or someone other than themselves. The show has laughs, heart, and emotion, which makes you feel good while watching. (Beth)
4 seasons, 93 episodes
CBS All Access
Interested in science? Interested in saving the world? Interested in feeling? Yeah? Then, Scorpion is for you! It's a great cocktail of all this and more - some love, friendship, education, and no bullies. Have a look and you'll click on next episode. (Melissa)
Scorpion is a company composed of a quartet of geniuses with lots of brains but very little ability to interact with other humans. Enter Paige, a former waitress with a genius son, and Cabe, a Homeland Security officer who has a past with Walter. When they join Scorpion, the business really takes off. Although most of the storylines are implausible (think MacGyver but with more genius attitude), they suck you in and even leave you on the edge of your seat. Plus, the business team slowly grows into a real family. (Dahne)
3 seasons, 43 episodes
Everyone should watch Shadowhunters because it's an amazing show with amazing actors. It's the first show I've seen that has this much LGBTQ+ representation: it has heterosexual characters, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and the first asexual representation that I've seen on TV. It has helped so many people to understand themselves, to gain the courage to come out to their friends and family, and to learn to love themselves and others. It's our safe place. No one could ever ruin that. Everyone should watch it. (Marta)
Shadowhunters has amazing LGBT representation, women in power, men showing emotions, and POC representation. It also has potential to have autism representation. (Nicole L.)
5 seasons, 110 episodes
First airing in 2002 , The Shield put FX on the map. This show focuses on Detective Vic Mackey (Micheal Chiklis) and his strike team, who take on gangs in the fictitious Farmington District of LA. Known for his often illegal tactics, Vic takes it up a notch and then some. In addition to the criminals, Vic and his team face adversity from fellow cops like the ambitious Captain Aceveda (Benito Martinez), who schemes to bring Vic down while at the same time often seeking his help. Other cast members include self-righteous detectives Dutch (Jay Karnes) and Claudette (CCH Pounder), Shane Vendrell (Walton Goggins), Vic’s reckless but loyal right-hand man, and Lem (Kenny Johnson). (The North Remembers)
1 season, 8 episodes
Netflix
I just finished watching The Sinner, which wasn’t on my radar until it started garnering critical love. All I can say is that it absolutely exceeded my expectations. It’s not your typical murder mystery; it’s more about what led to someone into committing this heinous crime. The story is intriguing, twisted, disturbing, complicated, and incredibly sad. The writing is tight, the foreshadowing is brilliant, and the imagery is haunting. They did a wonderful job turning this novel into a miniseries, always having the viewer at the edge of his or her seat. Jessica Biel is a revelation portraying this very complicated woman, who doesn’t really know what is going on herself. With every episode, you dig deeper into the past and realize that there is much more to a murder than the act itself. In some way, there is always a reason, or several in this case. So, to those out there who are tired of the typical whodunnit yet love murder mysteries, this is for you. I advise you watch it in one or two sittings without going on the internet. The twists and turns are so unique and so crazy that I don’t think anyone saw them coming. (Missions)
1 season, 10 episodes
A violent incident during a stormy night at sea sets in motion a chain of events in Bristol Cove, a seaside town rich with mermaid lore. Shortly afterwards, local marine biologists Ben and Maddie encounter a siren, and she is not being trailed by a parade of musical ocean life either. In fact, Ryn is much more of a predator, a distraught one seeking a lost family member at that. A local fisherman is missing as well. With the military and the local sheriff’s department all looking for their part of the filet, the situation becomes more dangerous. The visuals enthrall, with just enough magic to balance the great character drama. Wonderful to binge watch or catch week to week. I particularly love that the characters handle things maturely, and the show avoids common cliches that mar YA television. Eline Powell is absolutely captivating as Ryn. The whole cast just impresses. (Ellys Cartin)
When I first heard that FreeForm ordered a series about mermaids, I was expecting a campy fantasy show filled with contrived romance drama. Well, I happily admit my presumptions were dead wrong. In Siren, the network delivers an atmospheric action/conspiracy fantasy show with well thought through mythology that relies on the plot to move the story along. The characters are very relatable, act their age, and react smartly enough given the circumstances they find themselves in. Any romance drama (if one can even call it that), is rooted in the actual story of the show, instead of being thrown in the mix just to stir up conflict. More importantly, they deal with the romance with a maturity that is rarely found on TV in general, let alone in these types of shows. Siren also uses its, admittedly, limited budget as best as it can, knowing to throw most of its money to the mermaid affects, to pretty great results. For fans of the “mystical creatures” genre, I think this a must watch. But considering that it is a show that can exceed people’s expectations, I would recommend anyone to give it a try. (Folie-lex)
7 seasons, 92 episodes
Netflix, Amazon Prime
This fall, a spin off of Sons of Anarchy is coming called Mayans MC. So with that in mind, why not try Kurt Sutter’s original universe? The story of Jax Tellar is a wild ride and I can promise you will laugh, cry, get angry, and feel a gamut of emotions. Sons of Anarchy tells the story of a gang of outlaw bikers, who make you actively root for the bad guy. It has complicated family dynamics and a compelling story of love between two characters that were destined and, at times, cursed to love each other. The show explores not only the inner workings of how the biker culture is, but also how a family legacy can dictate the choices we make. (Beth)
Described as a contemporary western, the show centers around the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club, led by single father Jax Teller. He’s divided by his loyalty to his family and to the gang, which dabbles in illegal arms dealing, all while trying to protect each other from the threats of rival gangs and police. (The North Remembers)
3 seasons, 75 episodes
A sequel to Clone Wars set in the early days of the Empire and before the events of A New Hope, the show features the ghost crew - a gang of outsiders and misfits, who fight against the oppression of the Galactic Empire. Consisting of the hopeful and gifted Ezra Bridge, expert pilot Hera, tomboyish rogue Sabine, the muscle brute Zeb who also has a heart of gold, and the enigmatic Kanan, this group of unlikely heroes set out to end the Empire's tyranny and spark the fires of rebellion. (The North Remembers)
Before The Force Awakens kicked off the big screen renaissance of the Star Wars universe, Star Wars Rebels was carving out a corner of the TV landscape. The Rebellion is just rising when an unlikely “found family” bands together to survive and later fight Imperial oppression. Kanan Jarrus, survivor of Darth Vader’s Jedi temple massacre, no longer considers himself a Jedi and is conflicted about training cunning orphan Ezra Bridger in the ways of the Force. They are joined by Hera Syndulla, the leader and pilot, Sabine Wren, a weapons and explosives expert, as well as an artist, and Zeb Orrelios, last survivor of an Imperial genocide. (Plus plucky droid Chopper). What begins as an unusually exciting children’s show grows into a visually rich drama. Jason Isaacs voices the Grand Inquisitor, a formidable foe hunting down any potential Jedi. Another opponent is David Oyelowo’s Agent Kallus, who has ties to Zeb’s tragic past and is the best Imperial character of the Star Wars universe. There are space battles, heists, sorrows, lightsaber duels, and unforgettable arcs with notable character like Darth Vader, Admiral Thrawn, and Anakin Skywalker’s former apprentice Ahsoka Tano. The most satisfying Star Wars work since the original trilogy. (Ellys Cartin)
4 seasons, 46 episodes
Described as The Walking Dead in an urban setting, Dr. Ephraim Goodweather leads the CDC investigation of a flight where the passengers became afflicted with a strange ailment. Eph soon discovers the outbreak is similar to a strain of vampirism and teams up with vampire hunter Professor Setrakian and an unlikely group of people to fight for the fate of mankind. (The North Remembers)
