Shows You Should be Watching but (Probably) Aren't

I am a tv junkie.  Always have been and always will be - can't help it.  Here are two recent obsessions that I stumbled upon for various reasons that don't get a ton of buzz...but should.

The Americans

Gee, I wonder why I got into this one.  Could it be my ridiculous obsession with Felicity, and henceforth all things Keri?  She's taken on some dumb roles and projects here and there but more often than not her characters have an elegance to them and at the same time are both strong-willed and, well, just plain strong (she's played a ballerina and a victim of DV).  Can't say anything different about her character, Elizabeth, in the Americans.  The overarching focus of the series is about an unusual marriage, but with the bold undertone of the Cold War.  It's got sex, spies, and a whole lot of action.  I like that she plays opposite Matthew Rhys, of Brothers and Sisters.  Also love their kooky spy disguises.  Season 2 just kicked off.

The Bates Motel

I'm a sucker for thriller and horror movies, and I love me some Hitchcock.  This series is a prequel to Psycho set in modern times.  Vera Farmiga plays Norma Bates and she is fantastically crazy bird.  She totally pulls off a woman doing what she needs to do for her family, but who tends to fly off the handle a little too hard, and a little too often.  Also, did you know she's Taissa Farmiga's sister?  As for Norman, he's surprisingly endearing, dorky, and sweet.  I love the show's interpretation of how Norman becomes Norman, and how his relationship with his ma is weird...but not that weird...but wait, no, it's really weird.  Love it.  You should watch it.