22 TV shows to watch in 2013 [Updated]
New series like Hannibal and Da Vinci's Demons take their place alongside old favorites like Game of Thrones and Mad Men
The cast members of Hannibal, including Mads Mikkelsen (right), look ready to sink their teeth into their inaugural season.
Robert Trachtenberg/NBC
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f the beginning of the fall TV season is a time when new TV shows desperately vie for viewers' attention, the winter TV season is a calmer affair, when the bona fide hits of the fall take their place alongside both beloved regular series and a few new TV shows that were late out of the gate. Looking ahead to the next few months, which new and returning TV shows are worth tuning into? A guide:
1. Bates Motel (A&E, March 18)The creative team behind A&E's Bates Motel has taken great pains to emphasize that the series is a loose "contemporary prequel" to Alfred Hitchock's beloved thriller Psycho. Bates Motel wants to be taken on its own terms — even though it's centered on a young Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and his much-discussed mother (Vera Farmiga) as they move into a very familiar-looking motel. Still, this slow-burn creep show should provide an intriguing, in-depth looking into the psyche of one of cinema's most famous psychos.
2. Top of the Lake (Sundance Channel, March 18)The Sundance Channel is earning unprecedented buzz for its moody seven-part miniseries Top of the Lake, which follows a young detective (Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss) as she investigates the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl. And if the intriguing mystery and eerie visual style aren't enough to hook you, the series carries an impeccable pedigree as it reunites writer/director Jane Campion and star Holly Hunter for the first time since 1993's The Piano, for which Hunter won an Oscar.
3. Game of Thrones (HBO, March 31)Game of Thrones fever is at an all-time high. The series' third season, which is adapted from fan-favorite book A Storm of Swords, sees the war between Westeros' would-be kings continue after the second season's epic Battle of Blackwater, as Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and her dragons attempt to make their way across the narrow sea.
4. Hannibal (ABC, April 4)Like Bates Motel, Hannibal offers a small-screen exploration of a famous cinematic killer. But while Bates Motel takes on Norman Bates in his formative teenage years, Hannibal begins with Dr. Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter as a fully formed psychopath — even though nobody knows it yet. Hugh Dancy stars as troubled FBI agent Will Graham opposite Casino Royale's Mads Mikkelsen, who steps into Anthony Hopkins' formidable shoes as a younger Dr. Lecter in a series set years before The Silence of the Lambs.
5. Mad Men (AMC, April 7)Over its five seasons, Mad Men has remained one of the most stunning (and remarkably consistent) dramas on television, and there's no reason to believe that the series' sixth and penultimate season will be any different. As always, series creator Matt Weiner has been exceptionally tight-lipped about the upcoming season, but by now fans should know what to expect: Brilliant writing, terrific performances, and a seemingly endless supply of booze and cigarettes.
6. Da Vinci's Demons (Starz, April 12)Following in the footsteps of shows like Showtime's The Borgias and History's Vikings, Starz is launching an openly ahistorical "historical drama" about the life of Leonardo da Vinci. Series creator David Goyer — best known as the writer behind Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy — offers a decidedly fantastical take on da Vinci's younger years as he investigates a mysterious cult in 15th-century Italy.
7. Hemlock Grove (Netflix, April 19)With a few key exceptions — including recent hits like FX's American Horror Story and AMC's The Walking Dead — horror fans have been woefully underserved by their options on the small screen. But Netflix is doing its part to right that wrong with the Eli Roth-produced Hemlock Grove, a 13-episode adaptation of Brian McGreevy's 2012 novel of the same name. The series follows two young men — one of whom may be a werewolf — as they investigate a murder which they're both suspected of committing.
8. Arrested Development (Netflix, May)Netflix hasn't announced the exact date it will premiere the fourth season of Arrested Development — but you can expect a lot of series devotees to call in sick and binge-watch the entire slate of episodes that day. If you're among Arrested Development's legion of obsessive fans, we don't need to sell you on the show; if you're not, the first three seasons are already available on Netflix, so get watching.
9. Under the Dome (CBS, June 24)CBS has adapted Steven King's best-selling 2009 novel Under the Dome, which clocks in at a hefty 1,074 pages. The sci-fi drama follows the residents of a small Maine town after an invisible barrier suddenly and mysteriously appears, cutting them off from the rest of the world and trapping them inside together. King and Steven Spielberg both serve as executive producers.
10. Breaking Bad (AMC, July 14?)As its final season approaches, Breaking Bad has already earned a spot in the pantheon of TV's all-time great series. And as newly minted drug kingpin Walter White prepares for his ultimate fate in what Bryan Cranston has called "a roller coaster ride to hell," the show should be sharper and more compelling than ever. Though co-star Aaron Paul originally tweeted that the first of the last eight episodes would premiere on July 14, he later changed his tune to a nonspecific date "before the end of the summer." Whatever date the premiere turns out to be, don't miss it.
Shows that have already premiered:
(Our original preview of each of these shows was first published on Jan. 3. We've left those curtain-raisers untouched, but have appended updates to each item.)
11. Downton Abbey (PBS, Jan. 6)
British viewers have already completed Downton Abbey's third season, which premiered overseas on ITV in September. But American viewers who have managed to avoid spoilers can finally settle in for the costume drama's third season on PBS, which follows the Crawley family and their household staff as they scheme their way through the early 1920s.
British viewers have already completed Downton Abbey's third season, which premiered overseas on ITV in September. But American viewers who have managed to avoid spoilers can finally settle in for the costume drama's third season on PBS, which follows the Crawley family and their household staff as they scheme their way through the early 1920s.
UPDATE: Downton Abbey's third season drew to a close as tragedy struck the Crawley family. But never fear, fans: A fourth season has already begun filming, though neither a U.K. nor a U.S. premiere date has been announced.
12. Justified (FX, Jan. 8)
FX's crime drama picks up again after a third season that saw U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) squaring off against a series of charismatic criminals in Harlan County. As the fourth season begins, Raylan faces the impending birth of his child with ex-wife Winona (Natalie Zea) and confronts villains both old and new as he stretches the law to do what he thinks is right.
FX's crime drama picks up again after a third season that saw U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) squaring off against a series of charismatic criminals in Harlan County. As the fourth season begins, Raylan faces the impending birth of his child with ex-wife Winona (Natalie Zea) and confronts villains both old and new as he stretches the law to do what he thinks is right.
UPDATE: Justified is nearing the end of another strong season, with three episodes left to air.
13. Girls (HBO, Jan. 13)
Coming off of its buzzed-about, critically beloved freshman season, HBO's dramedy Girls arrives with protagonist Hannah (series creator Lena Dunham) newly resolved to get both her professional life and her love life in order. In addition to the first season's returning cast members, newcomers include guest stars like Donald Glover and Rita Wilson.
Coming off of its buzzed-about, critically beloved freshman season, HBO's dramedy Girls arrives with protagonist Hannah (series creator Lena Dunham) newly resolved to get both her professional life and her love life in order. In addition to the first season's returning cast members, newcomers include guest stars like Donald Glover and Rita Wilson.
UPDATE: Girls' second season has been more uneven than its first, which has begun to frustrate some critics (including this one). Two episodes remain, and a third season has already been ordered.
14. Shameless (Showtime, Jan. 13)
Showtime's Shameless isn't a perfect show, but there's plenty of charm to be found in the warped adventures of the blue-collar Gallagher family — particularly in the exploits of eldest child and makeshift matriarch Fiona (Emmy Rossum). The third season follows the clan into the rabbit hole of the latest moneymaking scheme by Frank (William H. Macy) as Fiona attempts to hold it all together.
Showtime's Shameless isn't a perfect show, but there's plenty of charm to be found in the warped adventures of the blue-collar Gallagher family — particularly in the exploits of eldest child and makeshift matriarch Fiona (Emmy Rossum). The third season follows the clan into the rabbit hole of the latest moneymaking scheme by Frank (William H. Macy) as Fiona attempts to hold it all together.
UPDATE: Shameless is midway through a solid third season, and Showtime has already ordered a fourth.
15. The Carrie Diaries (The CW, Jan. 14)
There's every chance that The CW's attempt to squeeze more story — and more money — out of HBO's Sex and the City with this Carrie-focused prequel will go up in flames. But there's hope in the casting of talented young actress AnnaSophia Robb in the title role, and in the presence of The O.C. and Gossip Girl producer Josh Schwartz, who knows how to make this kind of material as frothy and self-aware as it should be.
There's every chance that The CW's attempt to squeeze more story — and more money — out of HBO's Sex and the City with this Carrie-focused prequel will go up in flames. But there's hope in the casting of talented young actress AnnaSophia Robb in the title role, and in the presence of The O.C. and Gossip Girl producer Josh Schwartz, who knows how to make this kind of material as frothy and self-aware as it should be.
UPDATE: The Carrie Diaries has earned its fair share of critical support, but so-so ratings have made it unclear whether the show will be renewed for a second season. Four episodes remain.
16. Archer (FX, Jan. 17)
There's no shortage of James Bond parodies, but FX broke the mold with its weird, hilarious animated comedy Archer, which begins its fourth season on Jan. 17. H. Jon Benjamin leads a stellar cast of voice actors, including Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell, and Jessica Walter, as they chronicle the missions of the inept team at the International Secret Intelligence Service.
There's no shortage of James Bond parodies, but FX broke the mold with its weird, hilarious animated comedy Archer, which begins its fourth season on Jan. 17. H. Jon Benjamin leads a stellar cast of voice actors, including Aisha Tyler, Chris Parnell, and Jessica Walter, as they chronicle the missions of the inept team at the International Secret Intelligence Service.
UPDATE: Archer has remained as warped and irreverent as ever. A fifth season will premiere on FX next year.
17. Parks and Recreation (NBC, Jan. 17)
After a break over the winter holidays, Parks and Recreation returns to complete a strong fifth season that has seen series protagonist Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) take office as a city councilwoman and get engaged to boyfriend Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott). For the second half of the season, fans can expect more politics, more high jinks, and the big wedding promised in the season's first half.
After a break over the winter holidays, Parks and Recreation returns to complete a strong fifth season that has seen series protagonist Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) take office as a city councilwoman and get engaged to boyfriend Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott). For the second half of the season, fans can expect more politics, more high jinks, and the big wedding promised in the season's first half.
UPDATE: Parks and Recreation hasn't yet been picked up for a sixth season by NBC, but if this does turn out to be its final season, it will be a wonderful swan song, with Leslie and Ben entering married life together.
18. The Following (Fox, Jan. 21)
Kevin Bacon makes his series TV debut as former FBI agent Ryan Carroll, who squares off against a Hannibal Lecter-esque serial killer inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe (James Purefoy). The premise is fairly ludicrous, but no more so than the average network police procedural, and there's always the possibility that the very strong cast will find a way to elevate some of the more ridiculous material.
Kevin Bacon makes his series TV debut as former FBI agent Ryan Carroll, who squares off against a Hannibal Lecter-esque serial killer inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe (James Purefoy). The premise is fairly ludicrous, but no more so than the average network police procedural, and there's always the possibility that the very strong cast will find a way to elevate some of the more ridiculous material.
UPDATE: To its great detriment, The Following has been heavy on gore and light on plot — but the show will get another chance at a first impression now that it's been renewed for a second season.
19. Spartacus: War of the Damned (Starz, Jan. 25)
Starz's small-screen take on the story of Thracian gladiator Spartacus has been marred by off-screen tragedy; first season star Andy Whitfield died of cancer in September 2011, necessitating his replacement by Liam McIntyre. But on camera, the series' third and final season, which Starz has dubbed Spartacus: War of the Damned, has retained the distinct blend of action and visual splendor that has made it Starz's longest running original series.
Starz's small-screen take on the story of Thracian gladiator Spartacus has been marred by off-screen tragedy; first season star Andy Whitfield died of cancer in September 2011, necessitating his replacement by Liam McIntyre. But on camera, the series' third and final season, which Starz has dubbed Spartacus: War of the Damned, has retained the distinct blend of action and visual splendor that has made it Starz's longest running original series.
UPDATE: Fans of Spartacus haven't been disappointed by its bloody, climatic final season, which is currently halfway finished.
20. The Americans (FX, Jan. 30)
Keri Russell returns to the small screen opposite Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich in this ambitious new period drama, which follows two deeply embedded Soviet sleeper agents during the Cold War. And on top of the intriguing cast and premise, the series has a secret weapon: Executive producer Graham Yost, who made FX's Justified such a sharp, nervy success.
Keri Russell returns to the small screen opposite Matthew Rhys and Noah Emmerich in this ambitious new period drama, which follows two deeply embedded Soviet sleeper agents during the Cold War. And on top of the intriguing cast and premise, the series has a secret weapon: Executive producer Graham Yost, who made FX's Justified such a sharp, nervy success.
UPDATE: The Americans has more than lived up to its promise, offering as dense and rich a spy drama as anything on TV. FX has already renewed the series for a second season, though ratings will need to rise for the show to earn a long-term future on the network.
21. Community (NBC, Feb. 7)
At this point, there's more drama off camera than on for the troubled NBC sitcom, which begins its fourth season after the very public departure of creator and former showrunner Dan Harmon. But a last-minute delay that saw Community's fourth season premiere pushed from the fall until February has left the show's die-hard fans clamoring for new episodes — and crossing their fingers that they'll be able to live up to the ultra-distinctive quirkiness of the old ones.
At this point, there's more drama off camera than on for the troubled NBC sitcom, which begins its fourth season after the very public departure of creator and former showrunner Dan Harmon. But a last-minute delay that saw Community's fourth season premiere pushed from the fall until February has left the show's die-hard fans clamoring for new episodes — and crossing their fingers that they'll be able to live up to the ultra-distinctive quirkiness of the old ones.
UPDATE: Community has stumbled a bit out of the gate, but even without Harmon it remains one of the stronger sitcoms on network TV. No word yet on a fifth season.
22. The Walking Dead (AMC, Feb. 10)
AMC's zombie drama took a break in the middle of its highest-rated and most critically acclaimed season ever, and based on early buzz, The Walking Dead's third season shows no signs of slowing down. All indications seem to herald a major clash between the groups led by series protagonist Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who's still reeling from the death of his wife, and the followers of the sinister Governor (David Morrissey).
AMC's zombie drama took a break in the middle of its highest-rated and most critically acclaimed season ever, and based on early buzz, The Walking Dead's third season shows no signs of slowing down. All indications seem to herald a major clash between the groups led by series protagonist Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who's still reeling from the death of his wife, and the followers of the sinister Governor (David Morrissey).
UPDATE: The Walking Dead has spun its wheels a little as it shambles toward its inevitable, climactic battle in the March 31 finale, but ratings are higher than ever, and a fourth season is already in the works.
This article — originally published on Jan. 3, 2013 — was last updated on March 8, 2013.
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