Title Recommendations based on Andrew Glouberman
Once Upon a Time uproots every fairytale you've ever held dear and drops them into the darkness that is the real world. (You can thank the Evil Queen and her pesky little curse for that.) Alternating between the characters' current predicament and the fantastical tales of their past, Emma must figure out the town's magical mysteries and break the curse.
The Office follows the employees of a branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The region is led by Michael Scott, who has an unorthodox managerial style. As Michael puts it, "I guess the atmosphere that I've created here is that I'm a friend first, and a boss second, and probably an entertainer third." Unfortunately, not everyone is entertained by Michael.
Set on an idyllic Greek island, the plot serves as a background for a wealth of ABBA hit songs. Donna, an independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on the island is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited young daughter she's raised alone. But Sophie has secretly invited three of her mother's ex-lovers in the hopes of finding her father.
Madoka Kaname might not be extremely popular, but she tries her best to be kind to everyone. It's why she tries to befriend aloof transfer student Homura. It's also why she ends up adopting Kyubey, a cute, cat-like creature who offers Madoka the chance become a "magical girl." However, there's much more to becoming a magical girl than pretty dresses, and Madoka might not be prepared for the ruthless new world she's entered.
Miles "Pudge" Halter is abandoning his safe-okay, boring-life. Fascinated by the last words of famous people, Pudge leaves for boarding school to seek what a dying Rabelais called the "Great Perhaps." Pudge becomes encircled by friends whose lives are everything but safe and boring. Their nucleus is razor-sharp, sexy, and self-destructive Alaska, who has perfected the arts of pranking and evading school rules. Pudge falls impossibly in love. When tragedy strikes the close-knit group, it is only in coming face-to-face with death that Pudge discovers the value of living and loving unconditionally.
The Toro cheerleading squad from Rancho Carne High School in San Diego has got spirit, spunk, sass and a killer routine that's sure to land them the national championship trophy for the sixth year in a row. But for newly-elected team captain, the Toros' road to total cheer glory takes a shady turn when she discovers that their perfectly-choreographed routines were in fact stolen.
Torchwood features characters who have fallen deep into the rabbit hole that is the darker side of the Whovian universe. Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, and Gwen Cooper are part of Torchwood Three—a secret organization whose mission is to protect earth from evil extraterrestrial beings. The three of them are complex and at times flawed characters—but, do not get too attached, because central characters are not protected from their own potential demise.
Lost is set on a mysterious island after the horrific crash of Oceanic Flight 815. Jack Shephard helped his fellow survivors deal with injuries and became their de facto leader. He's not always comfortable in that role and he's certainly not comfortable staying on the island after watching the plane's pilot ripped from the cockpit by something. Jack hopes they're not stranded long enough to find out what.
Annie's life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian's maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she'll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you'll go for someone you love.
Love Actually follows seemingly unrelated people as their lives begin to intertwine while they fall in, and out, of love. Affections languish and develop as Christmas draws near.
Mikado Ryugamine grew up in an ordinary town, with an ordinary life. Now he's living in the Ikekuburo district of Tokyo, where he is attending high school. Ikekuburo, however, has adventure—and danger—lurking around every corner. From men who can fling vending machines to cursed swords to a supposedly headless biker riding around, the city is a far cry from his quiet hometown. Plus, there's Dollars, the mysterious new gang that no one seems to know too much about.
Akira Fudo learns from his best friend Ryo Asuka that demons will revive and reclaim the world from humans. With humans hopeless against this threat, Ryo suggests combining with a demon. With this, Akira becomes Devilman, a being with the power of demon but with a human heart.
Kageyama Shigeo (a.k.a. "Mob") is a 8th grader with psychic abilities. He could bend spoons and lift objects with his mind from a young age, but he slowly began to withhold from using his abilities in public due to the negative attention he kept receiving. Now, the only thing he wants is to become friends with a girl in his class, Tsubomi. With his psychic "mentor" (who has no psychic powers), he continues his daily life, attempting to realize his purpose in life.
Bianca, a tenth grader, has never gone on a date, but she isn't allowed to go out with boys until her older sister Kat gets a boyfriend. The problem is, Kat rubs nearly everyone the wrong way. But Bianca and the guy she has her eye on, Joey, are eager, so Joey fixes Kat up with Patrick, a new kid in town just bitter enough for Kat.
The Big Bang Theory makes nerds cool. In Pasadena, California, geniuses Sheldon, Leonard, and Howard play Dungeons and Dragons, watch Star Trek, and idolize superheroes—while figuring out how to deal with those with a lower IQ. But that's not easy as Sheldon admits: "I often forget other people have limitations. It's so sad."
