12 TV Shows To Get Obsessed With Now That "Breaking Bad" Is Over

Life may seem empty without Breaking Bad, but rest assured there are plenty of other TV series to dive into. Though nothing can ever replace the now-departed AMC drama, the dozen show below should help start the healing process.

1. House of Cards

Netflix

Why you might like it: As on Breaking Bad, the characters are morally compromised, which makes rooting for anyone a complicated prospect. (How could anyone be Team Walt?!) Because the show was released all at once, it's also ideal for binge-watching.

How to watch it: The first season is streaming exclusively on Netflix. Season 2 is rumored to debut in February 2014.

2. Scandal

ABC

Why you might like it: The stakes don't get much higher than this, and high stakes are part of what made Breaking Bad such a compelling series. The plot moves at a similarly breakneck pace, with plenty of gasp-worthy moments and cliffhangers along the way.

How to watch it: The first two seasons are streaming on Netflix and Season 2 is available on Hulu Plus. Season 3 premieres this Thursday, Oct. 3 on ABC.

3. The Wire

HBO

Why you might like it: The other "greatest show of all time" is ostensibly about drugs and crime, but offers complex, well-drawn characters. Those layers will be familiar to Breaking Bad fans, as will a high-intensity journey drawn out over five seasons.

How to watch it: The complete series is available on DVD and on HBO Go.

4. The Shield

FX

Why you might like it: The moral ambiguity runs deep, with very complicated characters in equally complicated circumstances. It also showcases satisfying character arcs that run from start to finish, so as with Breaking Bad, there's something to be earned from watching it all the way through.

How to watch it: The complete series is available on DVD and on Hulu Plus.

5. Boardwalk Empire

HBO

Why you might like it: While it's mostly about criminals doing very bad things, it's also about the people around them who get caught up in their dangerous lives — the Skylers, Maries, and Flynns, if you will. The effects of crime (and crime prevention) are far-reaching.

How to watch it: The first three seasons are available on Blu-ray (and DVD), as well as on HBO Go, where you can also watch Season 4, which is currently in progress on HBO.

6. Orange Is the New Black

Netflix

Why you might like it: The protagonist is often unlikable and almost always in over her head. The show deals with heavy themes, but it manages to find the humor in just about everything — remember how funny Breaking Bad could be when it wasn't making you panic?

How to watch it: The first season is streaming exclusively on Netflix and Season 2 will premiere in 2014.

7. Game of Thrones

HBO

Why you might like it: It's a story drawn out over several seasons, with a rich world that's easy to get lost in. Despite the occasional fantasy element (hi, dragons), the focus is on each character's journey: Westeros is really not that far removed from the more grounded land of Albuquerque.

How to watch it: Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Blu-ray (and DVD) and Season 3 will be released on Blu-ray next year. All three seasons are also available on HBO Go. Look for Season 4 in early 2014.

8. Mad Men

AMC

Why you might like it: As the other series that helped define the AMC brand, Mad Men shows a commitment to long-form, slow burn storytelling. It's not as action-packed as Breaking Bad by any means — there's also significantly less bloodshed — but the arcs are equally satisfying.

How to watch it: The first five seasons are streaming on Netflix. Season 6 can be purchased through Amazon Instant Video. The seventh and final season will be split into two parts, the first of which will debut in the spring of 2014.

9. The Sopranos

HBO

Why you might like it: In case you didn't know, The Sopranos is the show that made "greatest show of all time" a thing. It set the stage for so much that came after it, with excellent serialized storytelling and endless questions of morality, which defined Breaking Bad. On the off chance you haven't seen it, now's the time.

How to watch it: The complete series is available on DVD and on HBO Go.

10. The Walking Dead

AMC

Why you might like it: Death looms large over everything, and characters are offed without much fanfare. The body count is even higher than Breaking Bad's. But both series are about trying to retain one's humanity in extreme and horrifying situations, which is a harder challenge than surviving.

How to watch it: The first three seasons are streaming on Netflix. Season 4 premieres Sunday, Oct. 13 on AMC.

11. Homeland

Showtime

Why you might like it: The plot moves forward faster than you'd think possible, with constantly shifting allegiances — you'll recall never knowing who's really in control on Breaking Bad. This makes for very stressful but ultimately rewarding viewing experience, once the intensity level dies down.

How to watch it: The first two seasons are available on Blu-ray (and DVD). Season 3 just began airing on Showtime.

12. Damages

FX

Why you might like it: Like Breaking Bad, this is another story of people compromising their values to get ahead — and finding out where their personal limits are. The character arcs are breathtaking to watch. Can Patty Hewes be redeemed like Walter White?

How to watch it: The first four seasons are streaming on Netflix. Season 5 is available on DVD.