1. Sherlock

You’ve all heard of the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Ideas from his short stories are taken and transformed into a modern day rendition of the detectives. Although there are only six episodes, each one contains 90 minutes of clever dialogue, brilliant editing, and flawless acting. Sherlock is one of the most addictive TV shows I’ve been lucky enough to stumble across and I highly recommend giving it a try. No rush.

2. Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is my current obsession. It tells the story of a chemistry teacher dying from cancer who needs a way to provide for his family. He decides to do what anyone in his situation would-start cooking meth. He teams up with a former student played by Aaron Paul whose good looks are a good enough reason to start watching the show. If you’re offended by cursing or violent situations, you should pass on this one. But if you like action and realistic character development, turn on Netflix!

3. Battlestar Galactica

This one’s for all of you science fiction fans. Long ago, humans created Cylons and now they’re in a war with one another. The show begins when the Colonies, where the humans lived, are attacked. The remaining citizens are forced to survive in ships, traveling through space to find a new home. The story contains multilayered characters, mysterious circumstances, and new lingo. If you want to watch something that’ll keep you guessing, try out Battlestar Galactica.

4. Whose Line is It Anyway

If you’re looking for a laugh, Whose Line is it Anyway is sure to help. Wayne Brady, Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, and other comedians perform improv that will keep you entertained. Scenes From a Hat, Party Quirks, and other games are played with occasional help from the audience. Once you watch one episode, you won’t want to turn off the TV. And good news: after 7 years off the air, the show is returning this summer!

5. The Walking Dead

I’ve never been the least bit interested in zombies, but this show has me hooked. Based on a comic book series by Robert Kirkman (which is definitely worth the read), the show follows Rick Grimes during the zombie apocalypse. Although the makeup is spectacular, the real pull for me is the program’s focus on humanity. It shows how far humans will go to survive and how easily they can forget what makes them the same. So give The Walking Dead a try, but don’t get too attached to any of the characters.

6. Lost

If you don’t mind some unanswered questions, there’s no reason to resist Lost. The story follows the survivors of Oceanic flight 815 that crashed on an unknown island. There are six seasons of mysterious events, murders, and attempts at escape. The show contains flashbacks to the characters’ lives before the island, flashforwards, and even flashsideways in the final season. If you want to watch something that’ll keep you guessing, Lost will be perfect for you.

7. Pawn Stars

Do you like antiques and other interesting items? Pawn Stars shows everyday people trying to sell or pawn their items for as much cash as possible. Customers bring in fascinating items and explain their historical background. There’s also a bit of comedy thrown in whenever Chumlee, one of the workers, is around. He keeps the show lighthearted and entertaining.

I hope you decide to give some (or all) of these shows a try. Are you obsessed with any of them? Or do you have a recommendation of your own?