A TV Goodness Christmas Wish List: What We Want for 2015 

Had enough family time yet? We haven’t either, but perhaps it’s time to take a break from the loved ones and focus on something else we love with a burning hot intensity — television. We watch a lot of TV — A LOT — and we have opinions about everything. Are you rooting for the reunion of your favorite couple? Hoping and praying your favorite character makes it through the season alive? Ready for your favorite series to return for another season? Want more screen time for your favorite character? We’re with you, we hear you, we feel you. We have a long list of wishes we hope will happen in 2015.

Kara’s Wish List

I don’t know if we’re calling them event series, limited series or anthology series (or, really, all three), but after watching and loving HBO’s True Detective, FX’s Fargo and Starz’s The Missing this year, I’d like to see more of these “limited” television series next year. And, specifically with these three shows, I love that we’re getting second seasons. But rather than revisit a story and/or characters we already know, we’re going to get different characters and new storylines. I love that because part of the reason I really got into these shows this year was because of the strength of the writing and/or concept. Of course, having some wonderful actors portray these complex and complicated characters didn’t hurt. I’m excited about all the casting news I’ve heard for the next installments of True Detective (Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch, Colin Farrell) and Fargo (Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemmons), so I’m pretty sure they won’t let me down.

Some part of me can’t honestly believe I’m about to type the following sentence: I’m all for shorter seasons. And now the caveat: If every single episode is a quality one. I know that’s not shocking, but it’s certainly seems counterintuitive to want less episodes instead of more, right? But with most network shows that I watch (and I love quite a few of them), there are always those handful of episodes that aren’t as good — or sometimes downright disappointing or dull. I understand that there’s a model in place and it makes sense to get to 100 episodes as quickly as possible so everyone who works on the show can get a major payday when the syndication money starts coming in. But I think quality is really important, so I find myself loving shorter seasons, mostly because I think we get such great stuff in every single episode. This year The Americans, Rectify, The Honorable Woman (technically a miniseries, I think, but I’m including it here anyway), Quick Draw, Finding Carter, Kingdom, Manhattan, Penny Dreadful, The Musketeers and The Knick were at the top of my list. As I said, I do enjoy quite a few network shows, but for me I think when it comes to quality storytelling, less is more.

The list above of quality shows with shorter seasons makes me realize how many non-network TV shows I watch. Hey, I just want a quality viewing experience so I’m pretty happy to go wherever that takes me. In addition to the regular suspects like Netflix, Hulu, DirecTV and Amazon, we’ve got some newer players including Yahoo! Screen and WGN America. I love that we’re getting so much quality content, even though I barely have time to keep up with all of it. But I love that content creators and providers are taking more and more risks and telling interesting stories we wouldn’t have seen even a few years ago.

Ashley’s Wish List

Parenthood – For Joel and Julia to get back together! Honestly, I’m not sure I can take it if these two split for good. Parenthood simply cannot end without a resolution between them!

Grey’s Anatomy – I need for it to quit while it’s ahead. I love the show, but it has lasted too long and is clearly getting tired. I’d like to see the show wrap up in a purposeful way instead of just dying out.

Dancing with the Stars – Stop with all the guest judges AND to return to three judges instead of four. Four is simply too many, and they often don’t all have the time to speak. Once Len leaves (I wish he wouldn’t!), I hope they just keep the judges as is instead of finding him a replacement.

Bones – I would like The Finder to make an appearance on Bones. The Bones spinoff only lasted one season, but it would amazing if Walter Sherman made a guest appearance on Bones after all this time? After all, couldn’t Booth and Brennan use his help again on a case?

Lisa’s Wish List

Forever – Here’s my biggest wish: please do not cancel my favorite new show, Forever. I will be Forever in your debt!

General Hospital – Speaking of ABC, here is what I’d like to see happen on General Hospital. I want Maxie to bring Georgie back to Port Charles and marry Nathan. It’s never that simple on a soap opera, but here’s hoping!

Castle – Call me crazy, but I’d like to see a little Castle baby. Martha can babysit!

The Newsroom – Dear HBO, please air a Newsroom marathon, including all 25 episodes. Thank you!

Cortney’s Wish List

Parenthood – I don’t even know where to start with this show. I want so many things for the last half of the last season of this amazing and powerful series. Of course, I just want everyone to live happily ever after, but that’s not real life and I’ve come to accept that. More than anything, I want this show not to end. And no, I don’t mean it like that, I know this is its final season and I’ve accepted that. What I do mean is that I don’t want it to wrap up and put a pin in everything. I want to know that once I stop watching, the Bravermans will keep living their lives. I want to know that these people will continue to love and laugh and come together for family dinners. Friday Night Lights did an incredible job of this and since it has the same creative team, I’m hoping they can pull it off here as well. The Bravermans may not be in my living room every week, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t imagine where they will go or what they will do as both my life and their lives continue on.

Scandal – I need more dancing. Not fancy ballroom gala dancing, but full-out, stand-in-the-sun, let loose, “I choose me” dancing. It was something I never imagined I would see, after all, it’s so un-Olivia Pope. But after seeing Liv and Jake let go of the drama, the scandals and just “be”, now I can’t get enough. Its a side of Liv I love (she was actually happy!) and I want more. Mostly, I want more of Liv choosing Liv since that’s what led to the dancing. She’s always so focused on everyone else and allowing their problems to become hers or to define her, she deserves more. But after being kidnapped pre-hot piano sex, I have a feeling she’s not going to be letting loose any time soon. When she gets back, it will be all about fixing. And when there’s fixing to be done, there’s no time for dancing.

The Mindy Project – Don’t get me wrong, I love all the Mindy and Danny we’ve been getting lately. His tough boyfriend act and her girly girlfriend charm makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. But that being said, I feel like Mindy’s relationship with Danny has affected her relationship with her friends and we’ve lost them. But more than her friends, her friends’ kids. I absolutely love how Mindy speaks to children and treats them like adults and that is something that’s been lacking for me. So even if it’s a niece or a cousin or a random child who wanders in to the office, I need some kids in Mindy’s life just to remind myself that she’s way better with young’ns than I’ll ever be.

Haven – I need this show to give us a real ending. Granted, we’ve been promised a 13 episode return with William Shatner in tow, but there is no word on anything past that and it’s not looking good. So if this is it, give the creators a heads up and let them actually create a series finale. I have invested myself in 5 seasons of twisted, complex, character-changing, shape-shifting mysteries and I don’t want to be left hanging for all of eternity. Don’t get wrong, being that this is Haven, I don’t expect it to come all neatly wrapped with a bow, but I do want the writers and creators to be able to send these characters out in proper fashion. We’ve had enough amazing crazy cliffhangers that keep bringing me back for me, but don’t give me a cliffhanger if I can’t come back again.

Jane the Virgin – My request for this amazing awesome show, which I am kind of obsessed with, is for Rafael to be a good guy. I know there were passports, I know there was money and I know it suddenly disappeared, but in my heart of hearts I believe him to be a good guy and I need the second part of the season to confirm that. Like I said in my Thanksgiving article, I know he and Jane won’t be riding off in to the sunset anytime soon and that there will be a bunch of hurdles ahead for them, but please don’t make him a bad guy. He’s claimed to have given up his player ways and his shady-woman-stealing and everything I see indicates that he truly cares about Jane and the baby and I need for it to be true.

The Blacklist – I don’t know what The Blacklist has planned for their return but considering that they have the coveted post-Super Bowl spot, it better be big! And that’s my only request. BIG! I can’t imagine what they’ll do to top themselves since almost every episode this season has made my mind spin, but I trust that they’ll bring it. And if they happen to tell us why Tom and Red are working together and why the heck Elizabeth is so important to Red, I’d be okay with that too.

Nashville – Bring back Terry! I loved that Scarlett was finding a new purpose and direction in her life. She was uncomfortable on stage (which seems to be fading) and yet, her skills off stage were thriving! She was an amazing manager and inspiration for Terry, encouraging him to follow his passion and cheering him on from the sidelines. And what he did for her was just as powerful. I really loved their friendship and what they provided for one another and I definitely want more. Sure, he freaked out while on stage, but who better to help him face and overcome that than someone who has done the same?!

The Vampire Diaries – I need to see Damon and Rick be friends again. Yes, I know the general request is probably for Elena and Damon to get back together or for Bonnie to return, but I expect both of those things to happen eventually. So for now, I want the awesome, manly bromance between two of my favorite characters. Rick died for goodness sake! And then Damon floated off in to some alternate universe! And now they’re back together so can’t they appreciate that?! I get that Damon compelled Rick to steal from Jo, which would piss me off too, but after all the two of them have been through, I need to see them overcome this and go back to sharing a glass of bourbon and discussing their woes.

Revenge – Now that Daniel’s dead, I feel bad wishing for anything but I guess I can say that I hope that something good comes from his death. I hope that David realizes that life is short and can be taken away from us at any minute, especially when you and your daughter constantly face formidable foes, and that he begins to give Emily the relationship she’s been missing. She has fought for David non-stop for years in an effort to clear his name, only to find that he is alive but he is not the man she imagined. Don’t get me wrong, after all he’s been through, I don’t expect him to be warm and fuzzy and swing her around on the beach, but I would like to see him open up to her and welcome her in to his life…and if he lets her in on his plan, even better, because if anyone would be thrilled with the creative, tactful and nearly sucessfull poisoning of Victoria, it would be Emily.

Tina’s Wish List

Supernatural – More scenes like when Dean and Sam filled Cas in on a story from when they grew up. More action. More Dark Dean / Mark of Cain. And more story of how Sam’s dealing with what’s going on and what he’s going to do to stop it or cure his brother for good. Although having said that, I don’t want Dean cured of the Mark anytime soon. More mythology and less standalone episodes, please.

Days of Our Lives – What a difference a year makes. Last year, Eric and Nicole were THE Days couple to root for. They had been through so much and were still struggling to get together. This year, nothing. Eric is being hella stubborn and kind of nasty to Nicole. Meanwhile, Nicole shredded the documents that would save Eric’s reputation and would enable him to go back to the priesthood (should he want that).

Nicole temporarily exhibited old behaviors after she’d done all that work to improve herself. Boo. And why is an ex-priest the most unforgiving person in Salem? Crazy. I don’t think these two are over for good. But Days of our Lives really put a massive damper on this couple. They’ve even resorted to putting Nicole back in Dr. Daniel’s vicinity and given Eric an out-of-nowhere romance with a newbie he has history with — how did this happen? My wish for 2015 is that these two figure out a way to get over their stuff and get back together. Some serious soul searching and wooing needs to go on. Just hope this show doesn’t make us wait too long. But I fear they will.

Sleepy Hollow – Before the mid-season finale my wish for this show was more Orlando Jones. But you know what? No matter what went down in “The Akeda” I still want more Orlando Jones in the second half of the season. Because he died for the cause doesn’t mean he’s gone for good. This is Sleepy Hollow.

NCIS – More Marisol Nichols on the show, please. In a post-Ziva world, Tony finally connects with another woman. Keates and DiNozzo sparked from the very first second the characters reunited in D.C. I would very much like to find out more about their past. I hope these former partners turn into something current in 2015. Okay, in doing research for this particular item I found out that Gary Glasberg said this connection will come up again. Well, may it result in a Marisol appearance (or four).

Hit the Floor – More Zero and Jude, please. Much more.

Orphan Black – More Hot Paul please. Much more.

The Vampire Diaries – I implore you Julie Plec, Caroline Dries and everybody behind the scenes. Bring Bonnie back! Please let her reunite with her friends in present-day Mystic Falls. And please showcase the Damon/Bonnie friendship even more once she does find her way back. And if it’s not too much, please give her another storyline that doesn’t require her to be absent from the action so much. And if it could not suck and at the same time make everyone love her I would be forever grateful. FOREVER.

Revenge – Anyway you can resurrect Aiden? No? Boo. At least Charlotte’s currently not around. That is one wish I had for 2014 that was granted.

The Originals – Can you give Marcel more to do, please? Thanks.

Series Finales – Can the Parenthood and Parks and Rec series finales not break me?

Netflix – I need each and every one of your Marvel titles to kick some serious butt. Adding Mike Colter is definitely a step in the right direction.

Arrow – I need someone — anyone — to tell Detective Lance that his daughter is dead. This might be on the top of my wish list. Second to the Lazarus Pit being incorporated into the action. #SaveOliver

Do you have a Christmas wish list? Feel free to share your thoughts below.