Courtesy of CBS Television
1. “The 100” (The CW)
Shows on The CW are often set aside for their perceived lack of talent.
However, with the recent successes of shows like “Arrow,” “The Flash” and a Golden Globe win for Gina Rodriguez for “Jane the Virgin,” The CW is poised to become the next big thing in television.
But between the leather-clad vigilantes and quirky dramas, there is “The 100.”
Based on Kass Morgan’s book series of the same name, “The 100” is a gritty, post-apocalyptic drama that begins 97 years after a nuclear war has destroyed the earth.
Falling oxygen levels in the space station orbiting the earth, The Ark, force its leaders to send 100 teenagers down to earth to see if it is habitable again.
When the 100 arrive, they quickly realize that not only is the earth habitable, but they are not alone.
“The 100” is unlike any show on The CW. It’s brutal in its quest to depict reality, not shying away from death, disease, war or conflict.
The characters are achingly human, capable of great compassion and great cruelty.
Eliza Taylor especially shines as the show’s leading female, Clarke Griffin, and has an equally strong cast to back her up.
“The 100” airs Wednesdays 9/8c on The CW.
2. “Orphan Black” (BBC)
After witnessing the suicide of police detective Beth Childs, who appears to be her doppelgänger, con artist Sarah Manning assumes her identity.
But it’s not long before Sarah realizes that her incident with Beth was not a coincidence and that, in reality, she has several “sister” clones throughout the world.
Teaming up with her foster brother Felix and two of her clones, Alison and Cosima, Sarah sets out to uncover the deadly conspiracy that hangs over her head and that of her clones. “Orphan Black” is at times dark, following a group of women who discover that their bodies and lives are not their own, and uses cloning to facilitate discussions of autonomy, eugenics and identity.
But it is balanced with the characters’ determination to not let tragedy define their lives.
They jokingly refer to themselves as “The Clone Club” and often impersonate one another to fool family members or evade enemies.
The star of the show is Tatiana Maslany, imbuing a unique personality into each of the 12 clones she plays.
Jordan Gavaris’ portrayal of Felix has also become a fan favorite.
“Orphan Black” returns to BBC America on April 15, 2015.
3. ”Elementary” (CBS)
The announcement that CBS was going to make its own foray into the world of Sherlock Holmes with “Elementary” was originally meet with a heavy dose of skepticism as most people had already fallen in love with the BBC adaptation starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
But the show has, in many ways, surpassed its British counterpart thanks to its refreshing take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic story. “Elementary” takes the source material and dares to make it better by not only focusing on Sherlock’s extraordinary sleuthing skills, but also on the world around him.
“Elementary” takes advantage of the multitude of supporting characters in Doyle’s world (while also bringing in new ones) by presenting them as fully developed characters that have their own complications and lives outside of just being there for Sherlock to insult.
Lucy Liu is exceptional as the surgeon-turned-sober-companion in her role as Dr. Watson, but the true star of the show is Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock.
He is a recovering drug addict who, while arrogant and aloof, lives in a world that holds him accountable for both his character and his actions.
Zack Handlen of the A.V. Club beautifully said, “On ‘Sherlock,’ Holmes is constantly bemoaning that he’s surrounded by idiots … On ‘Elementary,’ Holmes is engaged in the slow, painful process of accepting that those ‘idiots’ might have something to teach him.”
“Elementary” airs Thursdays 10/9c on CBS.
4. “The Musketeers” (BBC)
In the 170 years since its publication, The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas has inspired hundreds of spinoffs in television and film.
But this BBC adaptation takes viewers back to the beginning where the Musketeers were just four men serving King and Country.
The show takes full advantage of the sprawling expanse of Dumas’ world, succesfully melding a period piece with impressively staged fight scenes and a touch of over-the-top dramatics that is bound to make everyone laugh.
“The Musketeers” also uses its viewers’ familiarity with the material, skipping the awkward introductions and jumping right to the tragic circumstances that draw the hotheaded D’Artagnan away from his home to Paris to become part of the most legendary quartets in literary history.
The show stars Tom Burke, Howard Charles, Santiago Cabrera and Luke Pasqualino as the titular characters Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D’Artagnan, respectively.
“The Musketeers” airs Saturdays 9/8c on BBC America.
– By Rashika Verma, Contributing Writer
