[PHOTOS] What TVLine Is Thankful For 2014 | TVLine 

stepping away from its funky roots to cue up "Endless Love."

\'s assorted circa-1952 curiosities belting out-of-time tunes.

\'s fittingly creepy, episode-ending covers. TV\'s music supervisors have been breaking from the same-old same old to choose cues that make scenes all the more memorable.

Sure, the Grim Reaper hasn\'t exactly gone AWOL in 2014 (R.I.P. Bob, Lizzie, Mika), but after a lethal multi-season stretch, he has for the past year mercifully spared the survivors in whom we are

character to bite the dust was Hershel in December 2013. Here\'s hoping Sunday\'s midseason finale doesn\'t put a halt to this welcome trend.

It was with great enthusiasm that we first reported on the ticking-clock thriller\'s revival, and the end result even exceeded our expectations. Culled down to a lean, extra-mean 12 episodes, Jack\'s unexpected encore delivered edge-of-your-seat moments, memorable kills (Margot al-Harazi, we hardly knew ye),

-ian/over-the-top twists (What the Heller?!) and even a tragic death. Dammit, Chloe, we need more!

Fans of every brilliant-but-cancelled series share the same wish: "That stupid network should realize the error of its ways and bring back my

!" But in the case of Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King\'s darkly hilarious and undeniably visionary

, the dream became reality. We may have had to wait nine years for Season 2, but Kudrow\'s unflinching portrayal of shallow, desperate sitcom actress Valerie Cherish has left us doubled over with laughter, cringing in discomfort and (occasionally) reaching for the Kleenex. It\'s not exactly an easy viewing experience, but as a tonic for our Kardashian-

has been so well conceived, adapted, acted, directed and produced that both those who have and haven\'t read George R.R. Martin\'s books can find plenty to enjoy. The series\' fourth season played a bit faster-and-looser with Martin\'s intricate timelines — and the drama was better for it. I\'m looking forward to even more tinkering (provided it serves the story) in coming episodes. Jaime Lannister in Dorne in Season 5? The night may be dark and full of terrors, but that ain\'t one of \'em. Bring it on!

hasn\'t been this good in years. The reveal of Emily\'s true identity, coupled with the return of not-dead David Clarke, has brought the ABC sudser full circle in a way I never thought possible. By getting back to basics, the show is reminding me why I fell in love with it in the first place.

Comic book/superhero series aren\'t new to TV, but this season has ushered in a renaissance of costumed crusaders.

has never been more self-assured and confident, while newcomer

is a breath of fresh air with its joyous approach, an infectiously charming performance by Grant Gustin and fantastic special effects. And over at ABC,

has creatively rebounded after a lackluster first season thanks to a bevy of great new cast additions, a far more interesting dark Ward and an intriguing mystery.

… Lately, we\'ve seen a disconcerting uptick in cancelled series that don\'t get a proper resolution. That\'s why — even though

\'s Season 5 finale could very well have been a

ender — I\'m thankful that NBC gave us 13 more hours with the Bravermans. Will Amber commit to raising a baby alone? Are Sarah and Hank meant to be together? Will Joel and Julia ever reconcile? We\'re on the way to getting those questions answered, and in a TV landscape where networks are quick to cut the cord on low-rated programs, this abbreviated final season has offered some much-needed closure.

The most shocking thing about Netflix\'s recent decision to pick up a fourth season of ex-A&E drama

shocking it was. With new, non-traditional TV suppliers growing like weeds and the competition for buzzy original content at a fever pitch, a cancellation notice is not the death sentence it once was. In addition to

. It\'s great news for people (like me) who just Can\'t. Let. Go.

The CW drama could have played things safe and simply delivered more of the same

-like squabbling in Season 2. Instead, the Little Dystopian Drama That Could elected to make a lot of noise by exploding its world in myriad directions, inviting (if not relying on) viewers to keep track of the many factions (The 100, Grounders, Reapers Mountain Men, Camp Jaha) that are in alliance, at war or somewhere in between. To call this series ambitious is an understatement, while to call it compelling is true.

"Good grief, there\'s an awful lot of sex on this show!" has become a frequent Thursday-night text from my mother during

. And yes, Annalise-Nate, Bonnie-Asher, Laurel-Frank, and Connor-[Pick Your Partner] have made ABC\'s twisty legal thriller Rated C... for Carnal. But in the midst of all the "Who Killed Lila"/"Who Killed Sam"/"Who\'s Getting Double-crossed?" madness, the show\'s frequent hanky-panky breaks sure are a sure-fire way to relieve the unbearable tension — and not so hard on the eyes, either.

Whether or not you\'re on board with NBC\'s adaptation of the

comics, you\'ve gotta admit: Matt Ryan is a treat. The Welsh actor imbues the drama\'s reluctant hero with pathos, pride and piss, giving him plenty of demon-fighting swagger but keeping him achingly, terribly human. Such a mess of a character shouldn\'t be sexy… but somehow he is. Ryan, we blame you, mate.

The higher the channel, the harder I laughed — and sometimes, the deeper I felt — this year. Favorites include: MTV\'s

is saving herself for marriage, and this sweet CW series makes the wait worth it. The unlikely scenario somehow mixes whimsy, laughs and the surreal into a surprisingly grounded concoction that feels like the lovechild of

. Bonus: The Michael/Jane/Rafael situation is the best love triangle I\'ve seen in years.

For a dollar: Name one person who can be genuinely funny while accosting strangers on the streets of New York City. The answer? Billy Eichner, who has mastered that ability on his Fuse game show

, which finds him frantically asking pop culture questions to unsuspecting NYC-dwellers. Not only has Eichner parlayed his comedic prowess into guest roles on

, but his little-seen game show was finally put in the spotlight during this year\'s Emmy Awards. Now, he\'s got a half-hour Hulu comedy on the way. Everything\'s coming up Eichner, and I couldn\'t be happier about it.

With the Carrie-Brody saga in its rearview mirror, the Showtime drama is back to doing what it does best: telling a compelling, suspenseful story that illuminates some uncomfortable truths about the War on Terror. Also: Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin have never been better. Here\'s hoping it doesn\'t all go to hell in a handbasket in the final three episodes.

Hocus-pocus and high adventure are fun and all, but the true joy in the ABC series can be found in the more personal moments, such as Snow White giving the Evil Queen dating advice, Robin Hood and Will Scarlett rifling through a modern-day library or, in one of the best recent instances, frenemies Emma and Regina having a heart-to-heart about what they truly want from each other. (Now just stop leaving bits like these on the cutting room floor!)

It\'s understandable for long-running dramas to stick to their successful formulas: Audiences can be fickle, ratings success can be fleeting. Which is why we salute

\'s Season 6 shift to Alicia\'s political campaign and Cary\'s fight to avoid incarceration,

\'s darker tone since Peter Capaldi took over in the title role and

\'s plan to make Gillian Anderson\'s Bedelia a series regular — and to follow her travails through Europe with everyone\'s favorite cannibal — and perhaps it\'s time to declare upheaval as the new normal.

All of those years spent reading and re-reading Diana Gabaldon\'s epic, romance/sci-fi/history novels weren\'t indulgent escapism — they were preparation for covering Starz\'s stellar adaptation! And the fact that so many of my fellow fans tuned in (and had their friends do so, too) made the drama one of 2014\'s winners. Lush knitwear, the gorgeous Scottish scenery and a leading man who doesn\'t mind dropping his kilt for an extended love scene? I couldna be more excited for the series\' return in April.

You know the old saying "Don\'t cry because it\'s over, smile because it happened"? That definitely applies to Lifetime\'s

, a series senselessly cancelled earlier this month after its second season. Regardless of what the future holds — or doesn\'t hold — for the Beauchamps, I feel fortunate to have spent two incredible years with them. I\'m also thankful that only

I know what you\'re thinking: Isn\'t TVLine all about getting the scoop on what\'s happening on our favorite shows? Yes, but I still love to be surprised as much as the next TV fanatic, and 2014 more than delivered on that front. From the year\'s many demises (

reveal during the Season 3 finale to Cary\'s arrest on

, it was truly impressive how many big shockers producers were able to keep under wraps, especially in a day and age when savvy fans posting on-set pictures can thwart even the most diligent spoilerphobe.

When Mindy and Danny finally got together in the Season 2 finale, one question loomed: How long would they last? Fortunately, the Fox comedy has allayed any fears we may have had about Dr. L and Dr. C\'s romance fizzling out too soon. Sure, Season 3 has brought obstacles for the pair — Annette Castellano, anyone? — but these lovebirds are still going strong, with no signs of stopping. (That Diamond Dan dance routine was just icing on the cake.)

The Thinking Person\'s Comic-Con has earned major cool points in recent years by staging reunions with the casts of

, as well as hosting such inside-baseball panels as, "Pairing Off: A Look at Co-Creating and Writing Partners." And the buzz on the 2015 shindig is already off the charts, mostly due to these three words:

have endeavored to bring that big-screen blockbuster feel to your living room by planting the occasional "Easter egg" after the credits run, teasing such twists as Agent Coulson\'s first carvings or Dr. Harrison Wells\' increasingly curious long game.

Whether or not you\'ve studied the Solange-Jay Z elevator tapes from every angle or merely glean your gossip from scanning tabloid covers in the supermarket aisle, Williams\' daily dish is morning TV\'s tastiest treat. Unlike her panel-show competitors, who assault the ears with a too-many-cooks approach, Williams\' "Hot Topics" is one very funny lady\'s tea-sipping, shade-throwing, moral-compassing commentary on all things Lohan, Knowles, Spelling, etc.

is the sharpest, coolest, wittiest show you\'re not watching. Each night, host Chris Hardwick leads the ever-changing slate of three comic contestants through a tour of the day\'s Internet bounty, using silly memes and tweets as prompts for seriously good comedy. The best segment, hands down, is Hashtag Wars, which pushes contestants to do things like #ruinamovie by changing one word in the title or create #rejectedSNLcharacters like The Sconeheads. Whoever\'s left standing by the end wins the Internet for that day. The joy I felt over the series\' renewal earlier this year was like double rainbows, hamsters eating burritos and [insert other gleeful Internet video here] all rolled into one.

Multigenerational family dramas are becoming an extinct genre on broadcast, but luckily —with the addition of MTV\'s

left off. The former series is not without its faults, but I can\'t deny that it was engrossing, and it featured my favorite new character, lovable stoner-with-a-heart-of-gold Crouton Max (played by Alex Saxon). Meanwhile,

won me over with executive producer Patrick Sean Smith\'s trademark

wit, oodles of heart and one sassy grandma! I like the show so much, I skipped a Comic-Con party to go back to my hotel room and curl up with a screener. (I totally made the right decision!)

Here\'s a TV trend I can get behind: Male-female friendships that

\'s Ichabod and Abbie. Sure, each of those duos have terrific chemistry, and a romantic relationship might eventually be in the cards for at least one of them. But the fact that these shows are focusing on actual plot — instead of making the characters\' love lives a priority — is a refreshing new concept that I\'ve come to appreciate this year.