5 TV Shows You Will Want to Tune In to This Fall

Image Credit: NBC

The heat of summer is finally starting to break down into cooler evenings as the days get shorter. Kids are back in school. Everything is coming up pumpkin spice. This can only mean one thing and that thing is it’s new television time! The fall television season is back in full swing and while we will be welcoming back many of last season’s favorites, there are also some great new shows to choose from.

Here are five new shows that you won’t want to miss, whether or you watch diligently every week or have some personal Netflix and binge time.

This Is Us (Tuesdays at 10 p.m. EST on NBC)

Be prepared to ugly cry, but in the best of ways. This Is Us follows four people (Jack, Kevin, Kate, and Randall) who share the same birthday and we specifically meet them on their 36th birthday. Each of them find their lives at something of a crossroads on this milestone of days. Jack (played by Milo Ventimiglia) is about to become a father, Kevin (played by Justin Hartley) is making a bold career move, Kate (played by Chrissy Metz) is dealing with her body issues, and Randall (played by Sterling K. Brown) is seeking out his roots. Even with those diverse turning points, however, the four are deeply connected. I won’t spoil the twist for you, but trust me when I say you will cry, laugh, and feel joy all at the same moment when watching this show.

Speechless (Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. EST on ABC)

Looking for a charming, but thoughtful show with heart that will make you both think and belly laugh? Tune into Speechless. The show follows the DiMeo family as they upend their life to move to an upscale neighborhood with a great school for their son, JJ, who happens to have cerebral palsy. Minnie Driver plays the loud, no-nonsense mother who is determined to get only the best for her family, but the real standout of the show is Micah Fowler who plays JJ Fowler, who has cerebral palsy in real life and brings humor and humanity to a role that could so easily get lost. He is the true standout star of the show. Treat yourself to this half-hour slice of awesome.

Designated Survivor (Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST on ABC)

Despite Kiefer Sutherland’s much anticipated return to television, this isn’t exactly 24. Starring as Tom Kirkman, a minor cabinet member suddenly thrust into the presidency following an attack on the American Capitol, Kirkman is no Jack Bauer. And that’s actually a good thing. This isn’t an action show — it’s a thinking show that follows both the nuances and process of a man suddenly handed leadership of the free world and the tense uncertainty of the possibility that there is more tragedy to come. It will definitely make you wonder “what if” as well keep you guessing.

Marvel’s Luke Cage (Premiering September 30 on Netflix)

Sweet Christmas, it’s time to binge! Last seen in Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Luke Cage (played by Mike Colter) gets his own series in this latest offering of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ultimately it’s a show about redemption as fugitive, Cage, tries to rebuild his life, confront his past, and save Harlem after an experiment gone wrong that gives him super strength as well as impenetrable skin. You can try to pace yourself, but feel free to devour the whole show at once.

Westworld (Premiering October 2 on HBO)

If you need something to watch while waiting for the return of Game of Thrones or are simply not into the George R.R Martin series and are looking for something epic to watch Sunday nights, Westworld is for you. A science fiction thriller examining the intersection of artificial consciousness and human debauchery, the show tells the story of a futuristic theme park set in the wild west, Westworld. Based on the 1973 film of the same name starring Yul Brenner, the show boasts a star-studded cast, including Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, and Thandie Newton. Not only does Westworld promise to make you think, but it might make you uncomfortable too.

What shows are you loving or looking forward to this fall season? Let us know what else we should be watching in the comments below!