We suddenly find ourselves here in the latter half of the year, which means several of the best hit series on TV will be returning to our viewing pleasure in the upcoming months. With the entertainment spectrum set to span zombie apocalypses and alien invasions to quirky musicals and silly dramas, here are my top picks for returning shows:

Breaking Bad: This thriller returns to AMC’s airwaves on Sunday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m., and I couldn’t be more excited about it. “Breaking Bad” charters the chronicles of a terminally ill high school teacher turned drug kingpin, which is as dark and insane as it sounds but alarmingly captivating nevertheless.

With four and a half successful seasons in the bag, part two of season five is set to be the epic conclusion of the series, a sad but rewarding farewell.

House of Cards: After an immensely entertaining first season, this Netflix original political drama is rumored to be premiering its second season sometime in late 2013 or early 2014.

This series is basically CSPAN on steroids with a backstage pass to the under-the-table wheeling and dealing and backstabbing conspiracies. And if that isn’t interesting enough, the show stars Kevin Spacey, and nobody plays bad as well as Kevin Spacey.

Scandal: ABC’s hit drama “Scandal” will air its third season beginning in early 2014. This show is as scandalous as its name implies. The series follows a firm of attorneys who specialize in covering up political atrocities in the nation’s capital, including top secret spy stuff and a love affair that would make even Romeo and Juliet shake their heads in dismay.

“Scandal” is nearly as aesthetically entertaining as its plot, starring the beautiful Kerry Washington who does a fine job wielding the power of the protagonist.

Glee: Gleeks will rejoice this September when Fox’s hit musical airs its fifth season. This show seems to have as many haters as it does fans, but one thing is undeniable — the vocal phenomenon that is Lea Michele. So fantastic are the solos by her character that the show’s cheesy plot is shamefully tolerable.

There is plenty to look forward to for television fans of all genres in the coming months. If you don’t have cable, I recommend you invest in Hulu because these shows offer hours of entertainment.

Travis Offield is a chemical engineering major from Horn Lake. Follow him on Twitter @travisoffield.