What Was the Best of Summer TV This Year

Fall may not technically begin until September 22 according to our current calendar and summer is still hanging around for a few more weeks; but when you look at the TV calendar we are essentially at the end of the summer TV season and we are a mere week or two from the start of the fall TV season.

So before the 2012-2013 TV season starts around the week of September 10, it seemed only right to talk about the shows that made a difference over the summer.

Here is my top 10 list of the great shows that aired this summer (in no particular order):

Falling Skies

1. Falling Skies – The TNT alien invasion series returned for a second season this summer re-energized thanks to a new showrunner, new writers and a tauter storyline, delving into Skitters and the resistance and eventually getting the 2nd Mass to Charleston to join up with those in the new capital. As anyone who watched the first season can attest, the direction of the second season was leaps and bounds beyond anything anyone could have anticipated and left the fans desperate for more.

Teen Wolf

2. Teen Wolf – This horror-laced MTV drama may be loosely based on the 1980’s box office film of the same name, but that is where the comparisons end. The second season opened with a bang and continued to hit harder and harder each week, putting Scott and Stiles through one complication after another, pushing Allison to the brink and pulling Derek down a notch or two with Uncle Peter making a very unexpected return. Bring on the thrills in season three!

Awkward

3. Awkward – This is the only comedy that I have watched since the 1980’s (not kidding!) and it is probably the most honest portrayal of teenagers filled with continuous laugh-out-loud moments, surprisingly delicious debaucherous actions by the teens and adults alike and a witty woman at the controls – way to go showrunner Lauren Iungerich.

Eureka

4. Eureka – This popular Syfy series came to a fantastic, albeit bittersweet, end this summer after five incredible seasons of crazy experiments as performed by the intellectual geniuses of the remote Northwest town that was kept safe on a daily basis by its brave Sheriff, the one and only Jack Carter. In the final season, we finally got a wedding, a much-overdue proposal and a tremendous last-minute safe of the town thanks to a most unexpected savior: Dr. Grant.

Continuum

5. Continuum – This new Canadian time travel/sci-fi series quickly became a hit to our Northern brethren and will, as recently announced, be back for a second season; and while we here in the U.S. have to wait for a network to pick up the series, it needs to be noted this show was a great addition to the summer programming. The great twists and turns contained in the 10 episodes were great to watch, the cast was really captivating and the futuristic equipment was as far from cheesy as possible, making the stories all that more believable.

PS: Continuum will be coming to Syfy sometime next year for the U.S. viewers to enjoy!

Pretty Little Liars

6. Pretty Little Liars – Yes, this is a teen-oriented soap opera based on a series of young adult novels, but oh what fun it is to go along on the magical mystery tour with the four heroines of Rosewood, PA, who are being stalked and systematically tormented by the devious “A” and his or her minions. There are heaps of questions still to be answered about the identity of the real “A” and just what this person has against Emily, Aria, Hanna and Spencer; and viewers cannot seem to get enough.

Longmire

7. Longmire – This new A&E western-themed series came out of the ballpark with an out-of-the-park home run, scoring high ratings from its series premiere and continuing with solid ratings throughout its debut season. Robert Taylor is the epitome of an elder statesman, small town Sheriff, working hard for his community and working hard to maintain his own secrets. This show was like getting a real-life inside look at the mechanization of small-town justice in Wyoming and the ongoing relations between the American Indian and local Caucasian communities.

Burn Notice

8. Burn Notice – The spy-laden USA Network series has been on the air for six seasons now and just simply keeps getting better and better. This season started out with Fiona going to prison and suffering the harsh realities of that existence until Michael was finally able to get her out; and the family suffered through the unexpected loss of Nate and tracking down his murderer, which led to them being trapped in Panama without a way out in the shocking summer cliffhanger. The show’s return in November won’t get here fast enough!

Suits

9. Suits – This USA Network legal drama came back for its second season with Jessica learning the truth about Mike’s lack of a law degree but allowing him to stay as Harvey’s associate regardless; as well as the entire firm having to deal with the return of law firm co-founder Daniel Hardman much to the chagrin of Harvey and Jessica, who were the only ones aware of the true nature for his departure. The twists and turns in this series are just compelling and hard not to watch.

The Glades

10. The Glades – This little A&E police procedural may not be the most-watched series of the summer, but it sure is a lot of fun to watch especially with Jim Longworth on the case. He may have an unorthodox approach to his investigations, but those out-of-the-box choices and actions are what make him a great man and a great detective. The camaraderie he has with his co-workers is terrific and the obvious love he has for Callie is what many hope for in their lives.

The following are my three honorable mentions for the summer:

Covert Affairs

1. Covert Affairs – The best thing about this USA Network espionage-laced drama is the duo of Annie and Auggie. They are not a romantic couple (at least not yet) but they are a strong example of what great friends and co-workers should and ought to be. And the action is awfully fun to watch too.

Lost Girl

2. Lost Girl – This is yet another Canadian series that has made waves here in the United States thanks to Syfy and the supernatural nature of the series is really quite captivating. It blends the best of sci-fi drama, humorous shenanigans and love affairs aplenty. And, the sisterly love shared between Bo and Kenzi is simply envy-worthy.

Drop Dead Diva

3. Drop Dead Diva – For four seasons now vapid model Deb has been living inside the plus-sized body of the very bright attorney Jane Bingham. In that time she has become an all-new woman with a thriving career, a pretty terrific life and a wonderful man in her life, who she will be making her husband very soon.

There you have it – my top shows and honorable mentions for this summer. I am sure my list will elicit a lot of conversations on whether our readers agree with me or not so please comment away below, as we here at NiceGirlsTV would love to hear what you have to say.

Also, I would like to wish all of our readers a very Happy Labor Day!