10 TV Shows you Need to be Watching (if you're not watching them already)

First off, let me just start by saying that if you haven't watched these shows before then 1. Shame on you and 2. I'm insanely jealous! I would LOVE to be able to go back and re-watch these all for the first time again, and follow the magic as it unfolds. It's just not the same when you already know what the story line contains and in which direction it's going to go!

The shows that I'm going to share with you are all well-known programmes, however, it still surprises me how many people out there haven't watched these gems! Most of them are dramas, however, they're not all targeted towards women. There's really something for everyone here so check it out after the jump!

1. The first TV show is the longest-running out of this list and is one that the majority of you will be familiar with - Grey's Anatomy. This medical drama is the real deal. It has been airing for eleven seasons and I have watched every single one. Not once have I said "Ah here, I'm sick of this now!" Great story lines abound and have done so for the last ten years. What I love most about Grey's is the fact that the characters are all so real, which is a credit to the creator Shonda Rhimes (a.k.a. The Queen of Drama!). They are not perfect, they are all flawed, and yet they are so, so loveable. It can get quite emotional at times but it can also be really funny - a real whirlwind of emotions! If you're looking for something substantial to get your teeth into, then this is it. Eleven long seasons with hour long episodes should keep you going for a while!

2.  Second up we have Pretty Little Liars. I'm writing this post off the back of the Season 6 Mid Season Summer Finale and, oh boy, oh boy, just you wait. I've watched this show since it began airing in 2010 and, in all honestly, we've had our ups and downs. I have to admit that halfway through season 3 I gave up on PLL and I stopped watching it altogether. That is, until this Summer, when I caught up to the current episode of season 6 on Netflix a few weeks ago. (I am now totally caught up and looking for something to fill its void!) During this binge session I was absolutely HOOKED. I don't understand why I stopped watching it in the first place! At first glance, PLL looks like a high-school American drama targeted at teenage girls, but it is so much more than that. This show lies somewhere between drama, mystery and thriller and I can safely say, that at times, I was freaked out watching this. It can be quite tense and a lot scary! So, if you're into mystery thrillers then definitely give this one a go. The beautiful girls and all the gorgeous guys are simply a bonus! 

3. Number three is something a little more lighthearted - The Mindy Project! This romcom TV series is written by Mindy Kaling, who also plays the lead character 'Dr. Mindy Lahiri'. This is perfect viewing for when you really want a good laugh. The episodes are short so it's not as much of a time commitment as some of the others. The character's in this show are just bordering on ridiculous but, for some reason, it just works, and its the type of show you can watch over and over again and the LOLs never end! Mindy and her co-workers are a must for easy-viewing!

4. Suits. You should all watch Suits. Why is everyone not watching Suits? This programme is just magic. It's witty, it's funny, it's smart. Suits is a legal drama set in New York City and it centres around the employees at the fictional law firm Pearson-Hardman. If the main character, Harvey Spector (*drool*) wasn't enough of a reason to watch this show alone, then the rest of the characters will draw you in! Another main reason why I love this show? The women are as bad-ass as the men. Awesome. Shoo. Go watch it now!

5. If you haven't been watching Game of Thrones then maybe you've been trapped under a rock somewhere. If you have been trapped under a rock, then I'm really sorry for ya and I hope you're doing swell! Seriously though, this fantasy drama is unreal! Based on the books (tomes!) written by George R. R. Martin, this show follows a whole host of characters in the land of Westeros. Some of these characters you'll love, and quite a lot of them you will hate. This show is famous for it's violence and it's nudity, but that's not all there is to it (although it does make up quite a large portion!) It also has some serious twists and turns that will keep your mouth hanging open! Once you get past the vast number of characters (you may need a pen and paper) then this show really is a good one to watch! Also, dragons.

6. Let's bring things up to a lighter note with another comedy - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. This American sitcom began airing in 2005 and continues to this day. I started watching it earlier this year and I've watched all 10 seasons (the episodes are only like 20 minutes, don't judge!). Once again, the plot is outlandish, but it just works. The characters are bonkers - that's all I can say. Charlie is a gem, God bless him! It's written and produced by the cast themselves and I love how, at times, you can almost see them laughing at things that they've written. Again, it's another really good one if you need a bit of a lift!

7. Outlander is my next choice. This is a historical romance drama based on the books by Diana Gabaldon. The series centres around Claire Randall who travels back in time by 200 years, and Jamie Fraser, a Scottish Highlander! This is probably one for the girls, in all honesty, but I absolutely love it. I love the historical accuracy and I love the romance between Claire and Jamie. It's only two seasons in - and the're short so it'll be easy for you to play catch up. Jamie will make it worth it, I promise!

8. Both Suits and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia were recommended to me by my boyfriend and so when he suggested that I watch the BBC's version of the sleuthing detective Sherlock Holmes, I wasted no time. Sherlock is fantastic! It's extraordinarily smart and fast-paced, and you need to watch every minute carefully for fear of missing anything. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Holmes brilliantly and it's hard for me to accept anyone else in the role now! I also love Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson. Interestingly, the show has very few episodes per season, but each episode is 90 minutes long so it's great for really getting stuck in! Give it a watch it's excellent!!

9. I mentioned above that I've been searching for something to fill the Pretty Little Liars shaped void that has been in my heart since I've gotten up to date with the show and I think that I've found it in Scandal. Considering that it's created by the same Queen (Shonda Rhimes) that created Grey's Anatomy, it's taking me a long while to get to watching this - I only started last week! My sister has been pestering me to watch Scandal for years now and I've always kinda avoided it. What. A. Mistake. The lead character, Olivia Pope, is everything I want to be. She's smart, she's sassy, she's strong and she has a fantastic wardrobe. Also, did I mention her cheekbones?! She's a brilliant leading lady and plays her role in this political thriller fantastically. Get past the first couple of episodes and you won't be disappointed!

10. Finally, Homeland. What can I say? Never, and I mean never, has a show left me so shocked and strung out as this one. Some of the episodes have left me with my pulse racing and my blood pressure through the roof! This political thriller show is tense as hell. It follows CIA officer, Carrie Mathison during her operations for the Intelligence agency. It contains terrorism, intrigue, politics and romance and it is hands down one of the best shows on TV at the minute. It's definitely one of my all time favourites and I cannot recommend it highly enough! It's won plenty of awards and once you start watching then I think you'll understand why!

Honorable mentions that just didn't quite make the cut but I still love include:

Once Upon a Time

Orange is the New Black

The Vampire Diaries

What do you think I should watch next? I'm planning on sinking my teeth into True Detective and I have high hopes for it.

What shows do you love and think should be on this list?

Thanks for reading and happy watching! :)

Clare