From a pre-Batman Gotham City to the return of Raymond Reddington, the fall 2014 television season is an exciting time in the world of entertainment. With a roster of both brand new and returning series, here’s a look at the shows everyone will be talking about.
Gotham: DC Entertainment is currently dominating the small screen, with a total of four shows set to air this month. Set in the world of Batman long before Bruce Wayne dawns the cape and cowl, Gotham follows a young Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) as he’s plunged into a world of crime and corruption. Viewers also witness the origins of some of Batman’s greatest villains, including Penguin (Robin Lord Taylor), Catwoman (Camren Bicondova) and the Riddler (Cory Michael Smith). With mixed reactions to the pilot from fans and critics alike, it will be interesting to see if the show garners enough interest to survive more than one season.
The Blacklist: With high ratings and a Golden Globe nomination already under its belt, it’s no surprise that NBC’s The Blacklist is back for a second season. The show follows criminal mastermind turned FBI informant Raymond Reddington (James Spader) as he teams up with rookie agent Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) in order to take down the most notorious criminals and terrorists alive. Between a stellar cast, knockout action sequences and top-notch storytelling, this is a thriller that isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Season one is currently streaming on Netflix and new episodes air Monday nights at 8 p.m. on NBC.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Despite its popularity, ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. had a rough start when it premiered last year. Now, however, the show seems to have matured with more engaging story lines that came about in the latter half of season one. By exploring the government agency responsible for forming the Avengers, Joss Whedon and company have proven that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has its place in television. My hope is that the new season will leave room for a few superhero cameos, but we’ll have to tune in to see.
Arrow: Also an example of a series which went from mediocre to really good TV, Arrow is one of the best and most popular things happening in the DC Universe. Following the story of billionaire playboy turned crime-fighting vigilante Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), the show returns for its third season on Oct. 8. With several major twists at the tail end of season two, this next chapter in the series appears to have plenty of more surprises in store for fans. Perhaps the most exciting component of this season is the return of season one antagonist Malcolm Merlyn (John Barrowman).
The Flash: Although DC is leagues behind Marvel in the movie universe, The Flash is further evidence that its creators are putting all their efforts into providing top-notch entertainment on the small screen. A spinoff of Arrow, The Flash stars one of DC’s most iconic characters, whose last good adaptation was in the animated universe. Chronicling the origin of Barry Allen (Grant Gustin), the series will show his transformation from forensic scientist to the fastest man alive. Coinciding with the new season of Arrow, The Flash will premiere on Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. on the CW.
The Walking Dead: With its widespread popularity, AMC’s The Walking Dead has made Sunday night zombie violence a regular part of one’s October viewing. Returning for its fifth season on Oct. 12, the show will no doubt have fans who are eager to see which characters will survive tuning in.
And those are only some of the highlights of the fall 2014 television season. Fans will also have book four of The Legend of Korra, season eight of The Big Bang Theory, and the premiere of the occult-based DC series Constantine at the end of the month. For all lovers of pop culture, the small screen currently offers a wide range of shows to tune into.
