Contributor: Paul Asay

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

The Closer

UPDATED REVIEW: America loves crime procedurals. Critics love The Closer. It’s a perfect combination, right? Right?

The Passage

The Passage is about as positive a television show predicated on ravenous vampires and the end of the world as I can imagine.

The Family

This is a grim story with an uncertain trajectory, and its strong performances (led by Oscar nominee Joan Allen) simply can’t compensate.

Hannah Montana

It’s been an eventful few years since Hannah Montana launched Miley Cyrus’ career. But while Cyrus herself may have altered her image a bit—some might say more than a bit—her flagship show is still pure Disney.

Dracula

NBC has taken much of the monster out of the original literary vampire—turning the show itself into the real beast.

Being Human

What do you get when you put a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost in the same house? No, not Big Brother: Preternatural. An intriguing but murky show on Syfy, that’s what.

Young & Hungry

This food-centric sitcom may be produced by Disney alum Ashley Tisdale and air on ABC Family. But there’s nothing family or appetizing about it.

Answered Prayers

For those who’ve longed to see stories illustrating God’s power to help us in our darkest hours, Roma Downey’s new show may be a bright answer to prayer.

The Vampire Diaries

UPDATED REVIEW: Yet another knock-off effect of our culture’s vampire craze, this supernatural CW soap idolizes two angsty blood-sucking brothers, both now in their 160s.

Tyrant

Change may be coming to desert nation of Abbudin. But this FX show seems all too familiar.

Almost Human

If CSI runs for another 35 years, it might look a lot like Almost Human.

The Exorcist

This remake of the iconic 1973 movie is a rare television show that affirms that God and the devil are real. But the show’s horrific content is real, too.

No Ordinary Family

Superpowers may help you lift cars and run real fast. But will they help you understand your kids or get along with your parents? ABC wants you to stay tuned.

Dallas

Big D’s back—this time on TNT. And it’s safe to say that the show’s scheming, womanizing ways have not mellowed with age.

Godless

Despite its title, this Netflix Western talks about God plenty. But the quantity of blood we witness is not at all cleansing.