TV is a varied landscape that could take years to journey through, even just through today’s newest fall shows. But who has time to watch TV between school, sports, work, and conquering the world? So if you do have time to watch, maybe try out a new pilot or return to tried and tested shows.

This year, Fox and ABC have really signed up for the long haul, offering a smorgasbord of new and returning fan-favorite shows.  With Red Band Society, Black-ish, Fresh Off the Boat, and Once Upon a Time among an endless lineup, fall seems to hold promise.

Fox’s Red Band Society, fresh from John Green’s YA tearjerker, is offered as an emotional teen hospital drama. However, Red Band Society lacks the gravity of John Green’s Fault due to its two-dimensional characters. True, there are genuinely emotional moments but appalling teen-speak and unrealistic characters hold the series back. Sophomore Austin Gao, invested in Red Band Society says, “I think the show is really great, but life in a hospital is not that friendly and easy, and I don’t really see much of a ‘overcoming adversity’ theme.” If you’re willing to wait and hope, Red Band Society is an empty shell with potential waiting to be fleshed out.

ABC has brought two new shows, Black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat, which bring much-needed diversity to TV’s primetime lineup. Black-ish centers on an African American family, who attempt to find cultural roots in a cultural melting pot. The last time an African American family was on air was the Cosby Show, so Black-ish is an exciting show to kick-off fall.

Fresh Off the Boat also tries to renew the Asian-American story, based off the memoir of chef Eddie Huang. Eddie’s family moves from Chinatown in DC to pursue their American Dream in Florida, into a white suburban town, which is an adjustment for the Huang family. Critics have called the series ground-breaking due to representation of actual Asian-Americans being casted. Of course, the series has its flaws and is only one representation of Asian American stories; Black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat do offer new perspectives and should encourage more stories of diversity.

Once Upon A Time, backed by a strong fandom, returned to ABC with the reveal of “Frozen” characters Elsa and Anna. The show weaves between fairytale characters in their past stories and their current modern state in the town of Storybrooke. The show is beloved, as fans have taken to endless fan fiction and art. But with such increasing complexity and story plots, as noted by critics, Once Upon A Time is starting to feel incredibly overwhelming. Junior Colleen Wachenfeld, argues that “it’s become too convoluted. It started out really simple, but now there are just too many characters.” Nonetheless, the fall premiere on ABC opened up to solid ratings and is still quite commercially successful.

While FOX and ABC have new shows to be excited about, NBC brings back its captivating sophomore drama, The Blacklist. Villain/businessman/ ally of the FBI Red Reddington and his jaunty fedora made a return to Monday nights. Season one focused on chasing notorious criminal Berlin, who’s out to get FBI Agent Elizabeth Keen, as well as Red Reddington. The season also traces her tumultuous marriage to Tom Keen, supposed-spy. Not to mention, the question of Elizabeth’s father left up in the air as well, especially since Reddington had been incredibly vague about it all. Alas, the end of the first season left viewers with countless questions and one or two answers: Who is Elizabeth’s father? Where’s Tom now? What’s up with Reddington in general? Well, the premiere of season two should’ve explained it all. This season is just as gory and action packed as the last, but perhaps with less of a general direction. Viewers start to get a handle on Red’s personal life and we see Elizabeth emerge out of the ashes with a new outlook from season one. Blacklist has already premiered and is scheduled to air new episodes every Monday night on NBC at 10/9c.

Fall’s primetime lineup is already so jam-packed, and practically bursting with plotlines. This season brings promise and shows that are scheduled to achieve and set new standards, so be excited and invest an hour or so to travel TV’s diverse landscape!