Our 12 Most Anticipated Returning Fall 2015 TV Shows

Our 12 Most Anticipated Returning Fall 2015 TV Shows

It’s not like we were short on stuff to watch this summer (hello,UnREAL, nice to see you,Mr. Robot), but when it comes to TV there’s no time like the fall. Along with the annual onslaught of new shows competing for our attention, we’re ready to welcome a bunch of old favorites back to our DVRs. After the jump, some of the fall 2015 returning shows we’re most excited for.

Doctor Who

Premiere Date:September 19th on BBC AmericaWhy We’re Excited:Season 8 was the first one starringPeter Capaldias the Twelfth Doctor, and it took everyone (including his companion Clara, played byJenna Coleman) a bit of time to adjust. But now that he’s settled into the role, we’re eager to see where he’ll go next. Especially since we know it involvesMaisie Williamsin some form.

ShowrunnerSteven Moffathas said Season 9 would focus less on a serialized mystery than on the characters' emotional arc. Clara, in particular, seems about to go through some stuff. “Clara has now decided that the TARDIS is her real life and that’s what she loves and loves running around in the TARDIS with the Doctor and getting into scrapes. The more dangerous the better. She’s becoming like him,“he teased.

Premiere Date:September 23rd on FOXWhy We’re Excited:Has it really only been nine months sinceEmpire’s debut as one of the most talked-about shows on television? The second season looks to provide even more fodder for watercooler chats than the first one did. For one thing, it’s 50% longer — 18 episodes instead of 12. For another, it’s already lined up a murderer’s row of high-profile guest stars, includingMarisa Tomei,Kelly Rowland,Vivica A. Fox,Alicia Keys,Chris Rock,Lenny Kravitz,Ludacris,Pitbull,Lenny Kravitz, andOprahFreakingWinfrey.Rumor has itSeason 2 will see Lucious taking a bit of a step back, due to actorTerrence Howard’s personal problems. On the bright side, that means more time for Cookie (Taraji P. Henson), who’s the real standout of the show anyway.

How to Get Away With Murder

Premiere Date:September 24th on ABCWhy We’re Excited:No matter how ridiculousHow to Get Away With Murdergot — and it got pretty damn ridiculous, sometimes in good ways and sometimes in bad —Viola Davis' performance as Annalise Keating was always worth tuning in for. She’s back in Season 2; ergo, so are we.

While the first season teased out the mystery of who killed Sam for nine episodes, the second will reveal who killed Rebecca in the first episode. As long as the show keeps delivering buzzworthy moments both silly (“Why is your penis on a dead girl’s phone?") and sublime (Annalise removing her wig and makeup), we’re happy to welcome a change in formula.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Premiere Date:September 27th on FOXWhy We’re Excited:We might be in another golden age of television (it depends who you ask), but it’s actually not such a great time fornetworksitcoms. It’s worth clinging tight to the few good ones we’ve got left.Brooklyn Nine-Nineboasts one of the most likable casts on television, and at this point knows exactly how to bring out the best in them — whether it’s introducing a nemesis to ruffle Captain Holt or shoving Gina and Boyle’s families together. Season 3 will see the office welcoming a new boss played byBill Hader, but fear not — showrunnerDan Goorpromiseswe haven’t seen the last of Captain Holt.

The Last Man on Earth

Premiere Date:September 27th on FOXWhy We’re Excited:One of the more unusual network comedy offerings,The Last Man on Earthgot off to a strong start before taking a sour turn. But the show seemed to find its footing again by the end of Season 1, throwing in a couple of surprising twists to ensure its faithful followers would return for Season 2. Carol and Phil’s reconciliation was sweet, but we’re really dying to know what’s going on with the last man in space — Phil’s brother, played byJason Sudeikis.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Premiere Date:September 29th on ABCWhy We’re Excited:Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.hit its stride in its second season, and ended with enough huge developments and cliffhangers to set up an equally exciting third season. And as much as we likeS.H.I.E.L.D.for its own merits, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t curious to see how the film may or may not tie into other Marvel movies and shows, especially after therecent shakeupat Marvel. Besides the potential wider MCU connections, expect to see many more Inhuamns — including Lash, played byMatthew Willig— and what executive producerMaurissa Tancharoendescribes as"a very slow build"to the Secret Warriors.

Premiere Date:October 6th on The CWWhy We’re Excited:At a time when it sometimes feels like superhero shows and movies are competing to out-angst each other,The Flashzipped in to remind us howfunthe genre could be. And at a time when antiheroes seem to rule the TV drama landscape, it demonstrated that regular old heroes — nice, likable people who just want to do good — could be just as compelling.

Season 1 opens up a whole new world of trouble for our hero, as Earth-Two begins to cross over with the existing reality. Among the exciting new arrivals are Jay Garrick (Teddy Sears), the original Flash from the comics.

Premiere Date:October 6th on The CWWhy We’re Excited:Veronica Marsisn’t coming back for a fourth season, and even when it did resurrect itself for a movie it didn’t feel quite the same. Fortunately, we now live in a world whereiZombieexists. Initially it felt exactly likeVeronica Mars, if Veronica had been an undead medical examiner instead of a high school student, which isn’t a bad thing, but it eventually found its own beat, which is a better thing. Season 2 will see Liv and company dealing with the aftermath of the literally explosive Season 1 finale,perhapswith a few more familiarVeronica MarsandParty Downfaces to help them on their way.

American Horror Story: Hotel

Premiere Date:October 7th on FXWhy We’re Excited:Admittedly, it’s been a while sinceAmerican Horror Storywas genuinely good. Indeed,Freak Showwas downright dull — which is perhaps the most disappointing adjective we could possibly apply to aRyan Murphyseries. But damnit, we just can’t stay away. Since it’s an anthology series, each season offers the hope of a fresh start.

With Jessica Lange out,Lady Gagasteps up at the center of the new season, set at a strange hotel in modern-day Los Angeles. Murphy claimsHotelis darker, bloodier, and grislier than seasons past, and all of those creepy little teasers have definitely caught our interest. Longtime fans may also be intrigued to hear thatHotelwill cross over withMurder House— and maybe some of the other seasons — at some point this season. With promises like that, how can we resist checking in?

Premiere Date:October 12th on FXWhy We’re Excited:Noah Hawley’sFargohad a lot to live up to, right off the bat, and fans of the Coen brothers' original were quite reasonably skeptical. But to everyone’s great relief, the first season succeeded in recapturing the black comedy and regional flavor that made the source material such a classic, without feeling like a warmed-over retread.FargoSeason 2 travels back into the 1970s with an all-new cast (Patrick Wilson,Ted Danson,Jean Smart,Kirsten Dunst,Jesse Plemons, and many more) to deal with the uneasiness surrounding the Vietnam War and the rise of feminism — all in signature Minnesota nice style, of course. As a plus, since it’s a fresh storyline, those who missed the last season can just jump right in.

Premiere Date:October 16 on CinemaxWhy We’re Excited: Steven Soderberghmay be “retired,” but that just left him time to make ten hours of the best-directed television we saw in 2014. No surprise that the director, working from material created and largely scripted byJack Amiel&Michael Begler, has as deft and fearless a hand with period melodrama asClive Owen’s lead character John W. Thackery has experimental surgery. And yet it is still a thrill to see Soderbergh shooting television that looks like no other series, and working with a cast that is every bit the equal of the material.

Season two promises to delve into further corners of turn of the (twentieth) century New York City and also to expand the show’s horizons all the way west to San Francisco. There the racial and class conflicts will likely intensify even as Thackery’s reliance upon outside stimulus, and his response to competition and stress, grows more heightened.

Jane the Virgin

Premiere Date:October 19th on The CWWhy We’re Excited:Jane the Virginarrived seemingly out of the blue last year, with an astonishingly self-assured first season that felt like nothing else on television. It combined the over-the-top plotting of a telenovela, the breakneck pace of anAmerican Horror Story, and the emotional honesty of aFriday Night Lightswith a self-aware sense of humor guided by the best voiceover narration on television.

The final twist of Season 1 struck a sour note for some, butJanehas more than earned the benefit of the doubt. ShowrunnerJennie SnyderUrman hasteasedsome big changes for our virgin mother (breakout star andpossibleStar Wars Episode VIIIleadGina Rodriguez) up ahead, including — gasp! — marriage.

Other Notable Season Premieres

Gotham(September 21st on FOX): Season 2 will be all about therise of the villains, as the Galavan siblings come to town.The Big Bang Theory(September 21st on CBS): Season 9 kicks off with wedding bells, as Penny and Leonardfinally tie the knot.Fresh Off the Boat(September 22nd on ABC):Expectmore of Evan and Emery, a new business venture for Jessica and Honey.black-ish(September 23rd on ABC): The Johnsons continue to navigatethorny issuesin their own smart and winning way.Once Upon a Time(September 27th on ABC): Emma becomes the Dark Swan as Merida — the show’s first Pixar character —makes her debut.The Simpsons(September 27th on FOX): TV’s longest-running animated series enters its 27th(!) season withits core cast intact.Sleepy Hollow(October 1st on FOX): The fantasy drama aims toreturn to a lighter toneunder new showrunnerClifton Campbell.The Leftovers(October 4th on HBO): The meditative tone of Season 1 gives way to amore narrative-driven, possibly less bleak feel in Season 2.Homeland(October 4th on HBO): Carrie’s out of the CIA and enjoying a stable life in Berlin, but how long will it last?The Affair(October 4th on Showtime): The truth gets even more complicated as Helen and Cole’s perspectivesenter the mix.Arrow(October 7th on The CW): Oliver Queenfinally becomesGreen Arrow, and Olicity try to settle into a groove.The Walking Dead(October 11th on AMC): This season’s fresh meat includesEthan Embry,Merritt Weaver, andCorey Hawkins.Manhattan(October 13th on WGN): Last summer’s out-of-nowhere critical fave returns to see the team building up to the1945 Trinity test.Elementary(November 5th on CBS): Sherlock (Jonny Lee Miller) struggles with relapse as his father (John Noble) comes to town.