Screen Time: Brit + Co's Guide to Fall 2018's Best TV

Fall is almost upon us, and in addition to pumpkin spice lattes, sweater weather, and Halloween, we're looking forward to the start of a brand-new TV season. But between returning favorites like This Is Us and Riverdale and new series such as Manifest, Charmed, and I Feel Bad, there's almost too much to watch. We want to help you make the most of your screen time, so we've created this guide to the best, buzziest, and most binge-worthy shows of the 2018-2019 season. There's something for everyone here, from feel-good comedies to make you forget your bad day, to tear-jerking dramas for when you need a good cry.

Tear-Jerking Ensemble Dramas

Dramas like This Is Us and Grey's Anatomy are an emotional investment, but the payoff can be huge. We tune in every week not just because we want to see what happens, but because we want to feel what happens. These shows will break your heart and put it back together in a single episode, only to break it again one week later. But that's why we love them. (Photo via Maarten de Boer/NBC)

Feel-Good Comedies to Make You Forget Your Bad Day

As much as we love a good cry, sometimes what we really need is a good laugh — and these shows deliver that and more. There's a sense of sweetness and optimism inherent in all of these comedies, even (or especially) when the characters are put in less-than-ideal situations. And honestly, we could all use a little more of that kind of positivity. (Photo via Colleen Hayes/NBC)

TV Rom-Coms With a Twist

There's no denying that romantic comedies are having a moment in 2018. But you don't have to go to the movie theater to see a love story play out on screen. Some of the best rom-coms of the last few years are on TV, in shows like Insecure and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, both of which put a unique spin on the typically formulaic genre. Film studios, take note. (Photo via Scott Everett White/The CW)

'Everything Old Is New Again' Reboots

These days, it seems like there's talk of a new reboot every week. Some, like the rumored Office revival, may never come to pass; others, such as the Kristen Stewart-starring Charlie's Angels movie, are in the works for the big screen. But a few of the confirmed reboots are set to make their return to TV in the 2018-2019 season. We loved all of these shows at one point in time — why not see if we can love them again? (Photo via Robert Tractenberg/CBS)

Family Comedies With Heart *and* Humor

There's something so life-affirming about watching the foibles and mistakes of television families. These shows remind us that if we laugh through the rough spots, we'll usually come out on top. Because even when you're ready to call it quits, your loved ones (and their quirks) are worth it. (Photo via ABC/Bob D'Amico)

Heart-Stopping Rescue Dramas

Shows like Station 19 and Chicago Fire may be rooted in realistic situations, but they often portray scenarios we don't get to witness up close. Dramatic rescue missions, messy workplace politics, and, of course, brave men and women in uniform make for some high-stakes TV. It's no wonder that rescue dramas remain a primetime staple. (Photo via ABC/Eric McCandless)

Out-of-This-World Supernatural Shows

One of the best things about TV is its ability to transport us to other worlds, and that's especially true when it comes to supernatural and fantasy shows. Whether we're traveling through time with Outlander or fighting off alien attacks with Supergirl, we love losing ourselves in these alternate realities where seemingly anything is possible — for better or worse. (Photo via Starz)

Defiant Dramas With Complicated Heroes

These shows, and their main characters, play by their own rules. Their heroes, for lack of a better word, have secrets and demons and sometimes questionable motives, and drama seems to follow them wherever they go. They're not always easy to love or root for — but we love and root for them all the same. (Photo via ABC/Byron Cohen)

Teen Shows Even Adults Will Love

You don't have to be a teen to enjoy stories about teens. (Case in point: Netflix's oh-so-charming YA rom-com To All the Boys I've Loved Before.) These coming-of-age shows, which range from funny to emotional to dark, are just as nuanced and complex as series meant for older audiences. And let's be real — watching a show about high school is way more fun than actually being in high school. (Photo via Dean Buscher/The CW)

Contributing writers: Kat Armstrong, Desiree O, Nicole Villeneuve, Allison Takeda

Designer: Rebecca Fong