American Invasion

It used to be standard fare for a drama in the UK to only last a few episodes a season. Everything from Tinker Tailor Solider Spy and Boy from the Blackstuff, to Sherlock and Luther all only having 3-5 episodes in any run. It made for dramas that were compelling, very detailed and hard not to lose interest in.

It's taken awhile for American networks to come around to the same concept, but as more and more small networks see the potential that a Walking Dead or Breaking Bad can have, they're churning out new and original programming where quality is very much placed over content. Here are some of our favourite new American series to check out:

-Rectify
It's only six episodes, and some critics have said the story is too slow for American audiences, but this original series by Sundance is required viewing. Rectify is the story of Daniel Holden (Aiden Young) who is released from prison after being on death row for 19 years. He returns to his home town where everyone has their own opinion on whether or not he's innocent. While you might think the story is all about his innocence, the real power lies in watching Daniel try and adjust to real life and catch up on everything he's missed.

-Top of the Lake
Lords of the Rings made New Zealand out to be a lush and beautiful place. Top of the Lake uses the backdrop as a sign of nothing but dread. Elisabeth Moss (West Wing, Mad Men) plays a young detective trying to figure out who got a 12 year old girl pregnant. She has to deal with corrupt cops, a drug lord who runs the area and most bizarrely a group of middle aged women who set up a community by the lake. Its less Law & Order and more Dragon Tattoo.

-House of Cards
It may be a remake of a beloved BBC show but this American reboot has completely changed the landscape of American TV. Its noted as being the first big TV show that wasn't even shown on a network and streamed on Netflix. Kevin Spacey plays a South Carolina governor in a political drama that shares more with Richard III than it does with The West Wing.

-Bates Motel
A 'contemporary prequel' to Psycho might sound as much of a joke as Gus Van Sant's remake of the Hitchcock classic, but Bates Motel is a surprisingly good show. Vera Farmiga plays the infamous mother, currently widowed, who decides to buy and run a motel with her son Norman. The show eschews any sort of convoluted plot to tie in with its maker and instead has a strong focus on family life, even if we all know how it's going to end up.