This year marks a year of epic undertakings for the major TV networks, after a couple years of playing it safe. Syfy cranks out their long awaited MMO-meets-TV series Defiance, and ABC launches its crazy conspiracy drama Zero Hour. Also in store for 2013: a whole lot of new superhero shows, and Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary!
Here’s our complete guide to all the things to look forward to on television in 2013.
Already Premiered
American Horror Story: Asylum
What: It’s almost finale time for the wacky gang at Briarcliff. What is happening with those aliens? Will there be more musical numbers? We don’t know, and we don’t really care. Just give us more Judy!
Where: FX
Person of Interest
What: Now that they’ve built artificial intelligence, what will the government do with it? And more to the point, what will the evil hacker Root do?
Where: CBS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22qLGcBHxWI
Merlin
What: Now that Uther is dead, it’s up to Young Merlin and Young Arthur to save the people of Albion from Mordred and a host of other baddies. Unless, you know, you live in the UK and you’ve seen it already.
Where: Syfy
Ben 10 Omniverse
What: After a brief hiatus, Ben is back and causing alien chaos across the universe.
Where: Cartoon Network
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vuRWK7VzOA
DC Nation
What: Green Lantern brings to life the color-coded insanity of DC’s “space cop” series, while Young Justice is doing some of the coolest super-team stories on television. Plus the very best collection of superhero shorts.
Where: Cartoon Network
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7LsXbPq9so
Star Wars Clone Wars
What: R2-D2 is getting some much needed screen time. Ahsoka is taking out the younglings. And Darth Maul is still on the loose. How will this season end? Hopefully with someone’s CG blood.
Where: Cartoon Network
Once Upon A Time
What: Two new big bads are in Storybrooke. But just because the Evil Queen’s Evil Mom and Captain Hook can get to the real world, that doesn’t mean the whole town of Storybrooke will ever be able to get back. Or does it? Fingers crossed for the Sleeping Beauty/Mulan love story reveal!
Where: ABC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ytls02-s3pg
Robot Chicken
What: Ridiculous claymation shorts about all the ridiculous crap we’re obsessed with from superheroes to slutty terminator pop stars.
Where: Adult Swim
January
Adventure Time
What: Time to meet the spawn of Lady Rainicorn and Jake the Dog.
Where: Cartoon Network
When: January 7th
Tron: Uprising
What: The animated tale of the program uprising that takes place before the Tron: Legacy is almost over. Only a few more episodes left.
Where: Disney XD
When: January 7th
The Neighbors
What: Somehow this series managed to escape the hatchet and was granted a full season order. To celebrate, let’s watch the characters play around with the corpse of their gardener, Juan.
Where:ABC
When: January 9th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqpBbarGOFg
Last Resort
What: Last Resort limps away after a cruel cancellation. Only three episodes left. We say let’s blast the whole damn island.
Where: ABC
When: January 10th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SF5PhMQ3vA
Deadliest Space Weather
What: The title says it all. Who doesn’t want to know about the wild weather we will all one day be battling when we move to the partially terraformed planet Mars?
Where: The Weather Channel
When: January 10th
Fringe
What: After five seasons it’s time to say goodbye to Fringe. The last three episodes begin in January. We’re not ready to quit you Walter!
Where: Fox
When: January 11th
Continuum
What: The Canadian show about a cop from the future who travels to 2012, chasing some time-traveling terrorists, comes to American TV. Complete with knotty questions about changing the timeline, and tricky issues about the rise of corporate power.
Where: Syfy
When: January 14th
Lost Girl
What:Speaking of insane Canadian shows — now Bo, our favorite Succubus, is being claimed by the darkness inside her. Can she pull back from the Dark Side before it’s too late? Or will Dyson be forced to send her to Fae prison?
Where: Syfy
When: January 14th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW6RuLYz0_Q
Being Human – New Season Premiere
What: Sally is stuck in limbo, Josh is dealing from the fall out of ruining just about everyone he touches and Aidan has been buried alive. Looks like the new season picks up right where it left off, debuting a fantastic new vampire hairstyle for The Chin.
Where: Syfy
When: January 14th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy9oEvrmKqU
Supernatural
What: Now that both Winchester Bros. have addressed their respective baggage from their years off, it looks like we’re finally getting back to the “angels and demons” storyline — with more Crowley torture and more Castiel brainwashing! Excellent.
Where: The CW
When: January 16th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCwuJCnKpgE
Arrow
What: The tiny bearded Arrow is back, and while he might be a little bruised, that’s not stopping him from doing half naked, handstand pushups. There are no shirts in Starling City.
Where: The CW
When: January 16th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odit-e1_Xvw
King Of The Nerds – New Series Premiere
What: A teeth gnashingly terrifying reality TV show that wants to find the KING of the nerds. Which apparently means humiliating generally awesome but slightly awkward geeks on camera. SIGH SIGH SIGH SIGH SIGH SIGH SIGH SIGH SIGH SIGH.
Where: TBS
When: January 17th
Archer – Season Premiere
What: Sterling Archer and the ISIS team return to bring pain and sexy times to the rest of the world. Fingers crossed for another Ocelot cameo.
Where: FX
When: January 17th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVtNzUy4njo
The Vampire Diaries
What: The Original vamps are back to close out the fourth season of The Vampire Diaries. Who will Rebekah hook up with next?
Where: The CW
When: January 17th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXj8AflGvD8
The Following
What: Serial killers from around the nation unite via the internet, in this show from Vampire Diaries co-creator Kevin Williamson. This makes one huge problem for FBI Agent Kevin Bacon, who is hot on the head murder’s cyber trail. Trust no one, etc., etc.
Where: Fox
When: January 19th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O08acSQguuU
Beauty and the Beast
What: Beauty and the Beast’s romance grows strong, as she continues to put herself in oddly dangerous situations and he continues to roam through places where people will CLEARLY recognize him without a disguise. Will these two kids ever get a night in to relax and catch up on House Hunters? Perhaps — there are only 1,000 episodes more to get through in this one season.
Where: The CW
When: January 24th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQa9EqU3yZ0
The Americans – New Series Premiere
What: A couple of KGB spies hide out in the American suburbs. Set in the 1980s, this drama takes you though the average day of a Russian Spy/Soccer Mom who can kill you with her bare hands. It actually looks pretty bad ass.
Where: FX
When: January 30th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzahjz6J4nE
30 Rock – Series Finale
What: The Star Wars quoting comedy masterpiece says goodbye forever in a one-hour season finale.
Where: NBC
When: January 31st
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OojJ3ZfRiHo
Do No Harm – New Series Premiere
What: This modern day “Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” series follows a mild mannered doctor (Dr. Jekyll) as he gives into his darker side (Mr. Hyde), the sexy rule breaker.
Where: NBC
When: January 31st
February
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u5PMHt21Zw
Community – Season Premiere
What: Greendale is BACK in session, finally! We’ve only seen mere glimpses of this Dan Harmon-free season, but so far so good. We’ve got all of our fingers and toes crossed that this amazing cast can pull it together for another great season sans the series creator.
Where: NBC
When: February 7th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pK3s-k8OOs
Touch – Season Premiere
What: Kiefer Sutherland’s mystical pattern-finding series was pushed way back to February. But the show will return with a two-hour long premiere. From this sneak preview it appears as if Martin will continue his quest to get answers from the mysterious Aster Corp. while helping others (via his son) in the process.
Where: Fox
When: February 8th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT79x4qM4FE
Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome
What: This prequel TV movie shows what happened during the Cylon Wars, when young Adama was still trying to earn his wings.
Where: Syfy
When: February 10th
Walking Dead
What: The Walking Dead returns with an epic showdown between the Grimes Gang and the tiny militia led by the Governor. Will Andrea choose alcohol and sex over her friends?
Where: AMC
When: February 10th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d8Kmus_T6o
Zero Hour – New Series Premiere
What: An editor of a conspiracy theory magazine gets sucked into the granddaddy of all cover ups when some very bad people kidnap his wife. This particular rabbit hole goes straight to crazytown.
Where: ABC
When: February 14th
Cult – New Series Premiere
What: An investigative journalist traces his brother’s disappearance back to a fictitious TV series about a cult. That has a cult following. And is basically a cult itself. It’s a cult around a cult. And there are some pretty strong hints in the pilot that this cult has some supernatural elements.
Where: The CW
When: February 19th
March
Grimm – Season Finale
What: Everything comes to a head when the local Grimm finds out his police chief is actually a head of a fairy tale family that wants to kill him.
Where: NBC
When: March 8th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmTi8wQDZc4
Revolution
What: Monroe has power now, making him the only person in the post-apocalyptic hellhole who can get something done. But can the rebels take down Monroe’s chopper with their street smarts and a sniper? Probably. Fingers crossed this show picks up the pace in the second half of the season.
Where: NBC
When: March 25th
Orphan Black – Series Premiere
What: A CLONE drama. After witnessing the murder of a strange woman who could be her twin, Sarah assumes the stranger’s life. Only find more and more versions of herself across the globe. Clone!
Where: BBC America
When: March 30th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3y5aCWFuKo
Game of Thrones – Season Premiere
What: Get ready for the most battle-heavy, intense season of Game of Thrones yet. Or maybe, it’ll just be King Joffrey ruling wisely over his devoted, loyal subjects for 10 episodes.
Where: HBO
When: March 31st
April
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_IYtf_MUC4
Da Vinci’s Demons – Series Premiere
What: Leonardo Da Vinci is a sexy genius for hire who makes weapons, planes and sweet sweet cable show love in between painting. This is Leo like you’ve never seen him: naked.
Where: Starz
When: April 12th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR8MXmEKPRM
Defiance – Series Premiere
What: Part science fiction Western, part post-apocalyptic drama, Defiance is set on future Earth in a little city that’s trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild after a massive alien war. What was formerly Saint Louis is now buried under rock, all that’s left is lawless dirt city. Filled with alien refugees and crime. This Syfy series follows the town’s law dog as he attempts to bring peace to the people of Defiance. The show will take clues from the Syfy MMO game of the same name, and whatever happens online will impact the characters on TV.
Where: Syfy
When: April 15th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUZcPqbGlvo
Doctor Who – Spring Season Premiere
What: A new companion, a new TARDIS and a new introduction welcome fans to the Spring Season of Doctor Who. The producers have boasted that every new episode will feel like a mini-blockbuster, here’s hoping. And in the fall… the show’s huge 50th anniversary celebration!
Where: BBC America
When: April (No Specific Date Released Yet)
The Legend of Korra
What: Korra has more skills to learn in the second season of this beloved animation. To view more Legend of Korra Book 2 bits of concept art, head here.
Where: Nickelodeon
When: April (No Specific Date Released Yet)
https://gizmodo.com/beautiful-concept-art-illuminates-the-upcoming-book-2-o-5926144
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwudI3AMSIA
Warehouse 13
What: The second half of season four picks up this summer. And after the huge loss in the midseason finale, it should be interesting to see how the crew puts themselves back together again.
Where: Syfy
When: April (No Specific Date Released Yet)
June
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LyhVCsad9A
Futurama
What: A new season of Futurama is slated to hit this summer, but we’re still not sure how the Planet Express gang could top their last episode, “Naturama.”
Where: Comedy Central
When: Sometime in June (No Specific Date Released Yet)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EbJahUnql4
Teen Wolf
What: Season three is ALL about the alpha pack. Who they are, what they want, who they want to make out with softly with their little tween lips. There are 24 episodes this season, so we really hope you like Teen Wolves, cause there’s about to be a shit load more of it. Here’s a fan-made trailer to get you excited.
Where: MTV
When: Sometime in the Summer (No Specific Date Released Yet, We’re Guessing June)
Not Announced Yet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96sGbGfzGFs
True Blood
What: What horror awaits the human species with Billith on the rise? Will the poorly accented vampire savior go on a blood binge? Or will he apologize for being such a dick for the entire last season?
Where: HBO
When: Summer 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKTxBdC_Zgk
Falling Skies
What: New Aliens! New Betrayal! Is Tom the puppet of an evil alien scheme? Are these new alien creatures friends, or foes?
Where:TNT
When: Summer 2013
Avengers Assemble
What: Earth’s Mightiest heroes assemble in cartoon form.
Where: Disney XD
When: Summer 2013
Under the Dome
What: Based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, CBS has ordered 13 episodes of this drama with the intention to premiere in the summer. The premise is simple, a small town is quarantined by a giant, unbreakable dome. Everything goes to hell. Brian K. Vaughan will write the first episode.
Where: CBS
When: Summer 2013
Alphas
What: We’re still waiting on the network to announce the future of this little super powered series. But if it doesn’t go anywhere, we can still fall back on the Blake’s 7 reboot that’s also in Syfy’s pipeline.
Where: Syfy
When: No Specific Date Released Yet
Amazon
What: A Wonder Woman origins story. It’s been described as the classic fish out of water story, for example the Amazon “moans” the first time she tries ice cream. Not as bad as the NBC boob monologuing Wonder Woman series, but a hard CW “oh golly look, no shirt” series.
Where: The CW
When: No Specific Date Released Yet
https://gizmodo.com/at-first-glance-the-cws-wonder-woman-show-seems-to-be-5965656
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9Y2uYWeQO4
S.H.I.E.L.D.
What: Joss Whedon has been casting up a storm for this Marvel spin off series focused around the agents who make up the mysterious S.H.I.E.L.D. They’ve already cast the delightful Ming-Na as head Agent, and a bunch of her young lackeys. So there’s no telling when this series might start shooting. We’re hopeful for a late summer debut, but a fall premiere seems more plausible.
Where: ABC
When: No Specific Date Released Yet
https://gizmodo.com/meet-the-first-new-agent-in-joss-whedons-s-h-i-e-l-d-5954693
Area 51
What: Back in July, it was reported that AMC’s mysterious Area 51 drama was already shooting. The show is based on journalist Annie Jacobsen’s book Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base. Note, Jacobsen’s work is not science fiction, and in fact claims that the object of the 1947 Roswell UFO Incident was, in fact, a Soviet flying disc, which is a big strike against aliens or their remains popping up. So maybe there won’t be any little green men, but we’re still pretty keyed up about this drama.
Where: AMC
When: No Specific Date Released Yet
https://gizmodo.com/how-science-fictional-will-amcs-1950s-drama-area-51-be-5929853
Dracula
What: world-class humper Jonathan Rhys Meyers will plays Dracula. Everyone gets naked.
Where: NBC
When: No Specific Date Released Yet
Untitled JH Wyman Project
What: In the future, LAPD officers are paired with androids. From the former co-showrunner of Fringe.
Where: Fox
When: No Specific Date Released Yet
Venture Bros.
What: At this point it’s anyone’s guess when we’ll see the new season. The creators said we could see the new season anywhere from mid-March or as late as early May. But until then, let this sizzle reel tide you over.
Where: Adult Swim
When: No Specific Date Released Yet
Believe
What: With a pilot directed by Alfonso Cuaron, this series is about a girl who is destined to develop great powers in seven years.
Where:NBC
When: No Specific Date Released Yet
Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death
What: Guillermo Del Toro’s Twin Peaks series based on the book The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death by Corinne May Botz. It’s a pretty insane idea, given that the book recreates a collection of unsolved cases from the past, along with photographs of the incredibly detailed dioramas that were constructed with each case.
Where: HBO
When: No Specific Date Released Yet
