Homeland
Homeland is an action packed intrigue thriller that follows the story of Sergeant Nicholas Brody, an American Marine that was captured and held for eight years by Afghanistan terrorists.  Brody’s sudden return to public life puts him on the radar of many important figures, most notably that of CIA officer Carrie Mathison, who will stop at nothing to prove her theory that Brody is working with his former captors to plot a terrorist attack on America.  Sergeant Brody is perfectly portrayed in every way by the red-haired wonder Damian Lewis, who has previously stared as Dick Winters in HBO’s military masterpiece Band of Brothers, and the severely underrated British prison film The Escapist. Carrie Mathison is played by New York native Claire Danes, who does an unbelievable acting job playing the emotionally disturbed CIA agent that will stop at nothing to prove what she believes. Homeland is like a better developed version of FOX’s hit television series 24; it has all of the action and suspense of 24, but it works to develop controversial themes that 24 would never dream of touching.  Homeland’s phenomenal acting and suspense-filled storyline make it, in my opinion, the best new television series of 2011.

Suits
With shows like Suits, White Collar, Psych, and Royal Pains, USA Network is finally stepping away from its CSI and WWE: Raw re-runs and moving on to bigger and better things. Suits is the story of the drug-dealing college dropout Mike Ross, whose photographic memory and elite intelligence help him to earn a job at one of New York’s most successful law firms. Ross soon finds himself under the wing of one of New York’s most brilliant lawyers, Harvey Specter. Specter teaches Ross the fundamentals of being a lawyer, and helps him to disavow his former life of crime. This overlooked series provides a wonderful mix between comedy and drama, and features a much better balance then shows like Franklin & Bash and Harry’s Law. Suits is a fun, well-made series that dives into all aspects of both the legal world and the human nature. Its innovative plot, subtle humor, and witty dialogue make it one of the best new television shows of 2011.

Game of Thrones
Even though it probably ties Battlestar Galactica for the nerdiest show on television, Game of Thrones is an exciting new show that provides a delightful mix between action and drama. Game of Thrones is the on-screen portrayal of George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy book series, which follows the fight of seven noble families for the control of a mythical land called Westeros. Game of Thrones is easily the most publicized television show of 2011, and it has certainly lived up to its expectations. While Game of Thrones doesn’t have a tremendous amount of mainstream appeal, its breathtaking cinematography and action-packed battle scenes make it watchable for anyone. There is a huge amount of suspense that prevails throughout this entire series, as the impending threat of war and the harsh scourge of winter make this show both thrilling and entertaining. There are plenty of twists and turns that are prevalent throughout this entire series, including a very controversial ending to season 1. Game of Thrones’s complex, multi-layered plot and magically stunning cinematography make it one the best, and most believable, television shows of 2011.

Hell on Wheels
In my opinion, Hell on Wheels is the most underrated show of 2011. This beautifully shot story of the west provides one of the most unusual entries into the western lifestyle: through the revolutionary creation of western-bound railroads. Centered on former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannan, Hell on Wheels tells the story of a man’s quest for revenge in a promising yet morally void new land. This show is one of the most beautifully shot television shows I have ever seen, making use of the grainy, washed out palette that has previously been seen in Band of Brothers and Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes; which makes it look both authentic and original. One thing that also constantly amazes me about this show is the sky. Every time the camera pans up at the sky, it reveals a beautiful and boundless void that can only be described as breathtaking. Anson Mount, an underrated actor probably best known for his performance in the Midwest drama Tully, does a magnificent job portraying the old west antihero Cullen Bohannan. Irish actor Colm Meany (Layer Cake, The Damn United) is also in this show, playing “Doc” Durant, a power hungry entrepreneur that will stop at nothing to achieve his goal of Manifest Destiny. Meany does a remarkable job playing the greedy, Gordon Gekko-esque character of Durant, which is perfectly highlighted by his closing monologue at the end of the show’s pilot. Great acting and fantastic cinematography make Hell on Wheels an enjoyable and well-made western series.

American Horror Story
American Horror Story is a bold new series on FX that presents an interesting new concept: a horror story stretched over the period of 12 episodes rather than the usual 2 hours. It tells the story of a family of three’s inadvertent encounter with the paranormal through an old mansion they purchased in Los Angeles. To be honest, going into this series I didn’t expect much based on the show’s cast and its cliché plot of a haunted house horror story. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the direction this show took, and the amount of pure fright its first few episodes had to offer. American Horror Story features surprisingly good acting for a horror story, especially by veteran actress Jessica Lange, who plays the frightening neighbor Constance Langdon. The first few episodes of the series right up until it’s Halloween special are extremely suspenseful and full of surprises, and then the show seems to coast for a while until its last few episodes. American Horror Story's strange and riveting plot make it one of the most exciting new shows to come out in 2011, and it will definitely be interesting to see what direction season 2 heads in.