Everybody loves spring, right? The snow is melting, the sun is shining, and the grass is growing again. It’s one of the greatest times of the year. Just one downside, though: unfortunately, spring is when we say goodbye to our favorite shows until the fall, or sometimes even the following winter. If you’re a television junkie like myself, that can be pretty hard, and you may find yourself looking for something to watch on a rainy day when you’re out of beer to make the wait a little easier. So, being the generous folks we are, Beer.com would like to present five shows you might want to consider checking out over the break to catch up on for next season; chances are there’s at least one of these you haven’t seen.

Lost

What’s it about?

After their plane crashes on a mysterious remote island in the South Pacific, the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 must band together and attempt to survive against unexpected forces such as polar bears, a strange and destructive “monster”, and a group of weirdoes called the Others. Along the way its revealed that these strangers are much more connected than we realized, and our heroes start to learn that everything happens for a reason.

Why should I watch it?

To me, this is kind of like asking, “Why should I accept a free drink?” First off, all of the characters have their own unique and engaging story to tell, and we learn about their lives before the crash through flashbacks in each episode; you’ll find yourself really invested in these folks and caring about them in both the past and present. New mysteries are always popping up on the island, and with every answer comes another question that keeps you hanging on for more. Just when you think you’ve settled into your seat and gotten everything figured out, you’ll be tossed out of it again with an utterly insane plot twist; don’t bother wearing socks while you watch this show, because they’ll just be rocked right off. Oh, and I can assure you that every woman on Lost is someone you really wouldn’t mind being stranded on a beach with; in fact, I’m not really sure why most of the guys are trying to leave. No doubt I’m biased, but out of every show on this list, I would pick this above all else.

Heroes

What’s it about?

A group of people scattered around the globe start to discover they have some kickass supernatural abilities like invincibility, flying, and stopping time. They soon learn that all of them hold the key to the fate of the world, and must learn how to control their powers and use them responsibly while some rather unpleasant individuals try to track down and eliminate them.

Why should I watch it?

In short, because it has Hayden Panettiere and awesome characters with awesome powers - but if you can believe it (or for some reason this doesn’t convince you), there’s a few more reasons to tune in. The show has a deeper story that’s always hinting at bigger things at work than what we see on the screen. While almost every episode brings a major question, they also bring huge answers that reveal more about the characters, their abilities, and the different people trying to find them. It keeps you invested no matter what’s going on, whether it’s an epic clash between a hero and villain or a simple conversation between two characters, and the story unfolds at a perfect pace – it doesn’t go frustratingly slowly, but it doesn’t overwhelm you with too much. And like I said, it has Hayden Panettiere – who happens to play an invincible cheerleader. Seriously, what are you waiting for?

Dexter

What’s it about?

Dexter Morgan is a loveable forensics expert with the Miami Metropolitan Police Department. By day, he analyzes crime scenes with the force, spending his off time hanging out with his sister, a vice cop whose dream is to work in homicide, and Rita, a woman he’s begun a relationship with. By night, we see that Dexter has a wee bit of a darker side: he’s a serial killer, but targets only those who he believes deserve to die - his victims are usually people who have taken innocent lives.

Why should I watch it?

Every single person that has told me about Dexter – and there have been quite a few – has had the same opinion: this show rules, and I should be watching it. After finally taking their advice and checking it out, I have to say that I completely agree. Dexter makes itself a very unique series by asking the audience to sympathize with a serial killer as the protagonist, which a lot of people may find hard to do. However, the character is extremely complex; the story of his life that slowly unfolds is absolutely fascinating, and we gradually learn about his past and why he does what he does through flashbacks. The show does a very good job of keeping us on edge at all times from Dexter’s two jobs, forensics expert and vigilante hero. It brings shocks from multiple angles; for one, the plot gets thicker and there are a lot of big surprises along the way. But equally as shocking is what Dexter does with the criminals he privately catches, and no doubt some of those scenes will make you squirm. But in the end, you really can’t help but love the guy, which is a big part of what makes the show so good – check it out for yourself and see why.

How I Met Your Mother

What’s it about?

The year is 2029, and Ted Mosby is slowly but surely telling his kids (and us) the story of how he met their mother. His tale begins in the year 2005: after his friend Marshall gets engaged to his longtime girlfriend Lily, Ted decides to set out on the quest for his true love. The show takes us through the adventures he shared with Marshall and Lily, as well as their friends Barney and Robin, in New York City. All of this is leading up to Ted finally meeting his future bride, with hints and clues dropped in certain episodes.

Why should I watch it?

Because it’s funny, damnit! Seriously, it is – in fact, we’ve already established that here. It has a very funny cast (that happens to include very hot women) and a lot of the antics the five of them get up to will make you shake your head and laugh in a “man that reminds me of the time...” kind of way. You’ll be sucked in by both the laughs and the quest that Ted is on to find Miss Right, as well as the lives of the other characters. Even cooler still is the mystery aspect they’ve tossed in – while this a comedy, there’s still the looming question of who the ‘mother’ is and how Ted meets her; so far we haven’t seen her on the show (that we know of, at least). And hey, you’ll never find out if you don’t tune in, right? Get caught up on the last three seasons and you’ll be glad you did this fall.

The Office

What’s it about?

The employees of Dunder Mifflin, a paper company in Scranton, Ohio, find themselves navigating the upside-down and bizarre lives they live at work. The boss, Michael Scott, is a clueless but well-meaning man, and his subordinates find him amusing but exhausting. More often than not, the strange antics the staff (usually Michael) get up to land them in the most awkward of situations.

Why should I watch it?

The Office is one of the most entertaining shows on television today, with a different but very enjoyable brand of humor. Every character has at least one unique and hilarious quirk, and all of the cast members mesh perfectly with each other. The writers really nailed the whole awkward conversation thing, and the way Michael tries to get himself out of an uncomfortable moment is done so well you might leave the room out of embarrassment for him. The show is shot in a documentary style, and the shooting style and scenes where cast members talk to the camera add to a lot to the humor. And the will they/won’t they relationship of Pam and Jim is actually something you care about - it’s not just two characters who happen to be of the opposite sex that conveniently like each other; it feels genuine, but doesn’t take away from the comedy of the show. Do yourself a favor and check The Office out.