It’s that time of the year again — you’ve emerged from the caffeine-fueled haze of final exams only to realize that you missed another season of television. It’s finally time to get back to what’s really important: primetime! In order to ease the adjustment back into the glow of the television, here’s a countdown of some of the best series that you may have missed during the 2004-05 season.

Desperate Housewives (ABC)

No other series on television has received as much media buzz as the phenomenon known as Desperate Housewives.  A new take on the primetime soap opera, this layered murder mystery is fused with a satirical look at the lives of five suburban housewives with unique personal lives and family arrangements. The series has become a sensation, and the five leading ladies have evolved from "has-beens" into "It Girls" practically overnight. The renewal for a second season this fall was never in doubt, but the question remains: how much bigger can it get?

Veronica Mars (UPN)

The otherwise forgettable UPN schedule uncovered a gem this season in Veronica Mars. Numerous critics have declared this investigative drama to be the heir apparent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the witty dialogue and extraordinary heroine do reflect the aforementioned program. Nevertheless, the show has established its own style, and the gripping twists and turns that the title character must face are an engaging antidote for less innovative programs directed at the Generation Y audience. Although ratings were disappointing, the network gave the fledgling series a vote of confidence with a renewal for a second season.

The West Wing (NBC)

At the conclusion of the last television season, it would have been difficult to find a program as creatively drained as The West Wing. The series was even denied several Emmy Award nominations that had been afterthoughts in the past. In order to respond to the criticism, the series returned with what was arguably its finest season.  The presidential primary campaigns were intimately explored through the White House staffers as they were forced to choose sides. This creative revival has set the series up nicely for an impending election when it returns for its seventh season in the fall.

Battlestar Galactica (SciFi)

I have always had a soft spot for science fiction, but excellence in the genre is often extremely limited. With that being said, the reincarnated Battlestar Galactica is the best science fiction series to air since the conclusions of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5 over half a decade ago. The series presents the vastness of space and the quest for survival in terms that are both mythical in scope and quintessentially human. The characters are shrouded in shades of gray, and the writing ably fuses militarism and spirituality to create a unique cinematographic and narrative experience with grand ambitions for its second season.

The Amazing Race (CBS)

If reality television has contributed any intelligence to the television medium, it would have to be this series. A two-time Emmy Award winner for Best Reality Television Series, this travelogue competition aired two new editions during the season. Although the series has had its fair share of aggravating competitors, the show has always focused primarily on the race and the countries visited along the route, with close attention paid to geography and culture. In many ways, it mirrors university: the journey is more important than the destination.

Arrested Development (FOX)

Following its victory at the 2004 Emmys, Arrested Development returned for its second season of following the dysfunctional Bluth family as they struggled to deal with their financial woes as well as tolerating each other. Although the show took a more ambitious approach to plots this year (losing a hand to a seal?), Arrested Development still shone through with its original characters, subtle humour and intricate comedic storylines and flashbacks. However, the complicated style of the plot has proven to be a crutch, and the return of this acclaimed comedy remained in doubt until a last-minute renewal by Fox in May.

24 (FOX)

Without question, 24 still has the most unique formula of any series currently on primetime television. The series did not disappoint its many fans, as it returned in explosive fashion to the edge-of-your-seat excitement that the show is renowned for.  Although the eventual victorious outcome of the "good guys" is never in doubt, the bumpy ride and the victims left along the way contribute to the unpredictable nature of the plot. 24 is an example of what every action movie produced in the last five years should have been. Although a renewal is pending, expect the series to return for a fifth season.

Scrubs (NBC)

If fortune truly does favour the bold, Scrubs has certainly not been lacking in its graces. This ambitious medical comedy aired its fourth season this year, and continued to present some of the finest material currently being created in the genre. What separates Scrubs from the pack is not its single-camera format, but its ability to seamlessly weave utterly whimsical humour with subtle wit, as well as creating scenes of sublime drama that surpasses the efforts of many dramatic programs. Erratic scheduling and insufficient promotion have plagued the program throughout its run, but fans can take heart: the series is returning for a fifth season.

Deadwood (HBO)

The precedent established by HBO for delivering provocative and original television continues to blossom into new critical hits. Few have been as risqué as Deadwood, the revisionist western that began its second season in March. Make no mistake: this series is not for the squeamish. The program presents an honest portrayal of the American West, riddled with the most vulgarity, sexuality and violence ever to fill a television series. The evolving narrative is both biblical in its trysts and the dialogue echoes the pen of Emerson. Helmed by a cast of veteran actors who embody their historical personalities with incredible perception, Deadwood is the mark by which all future period programs will be measured, including its own third season.

Lost (ABC)

In a strong season of television, Lost stands above all else as the pinnacle of inspired achievement. The series explores the lives of the survivors of an airplane crash living on a tropical island. However, a complex mystery appears to link all of the seemingly unrelated passengers aboard the doomed aircraft. The format of the show is uncharacteristic for network television, involving lengthy character exploration and subtle pieces of evidence regarding the accident and the nature of the island. This has not dissuaded viewers, and a tremendous following has embraced the most creative, innovative and original series on television today. The upcoming second season is unlikely to disappoint.

If any of these programs sound enticing, don’t hesitate to check out the reruns this summer, and prepare to be entertained!