A few years ago, the buzz was that dramatic TV shows were dead. Instead, we were to expect a continued wave of reality TV so mythic, that it would squash our drama shows by the undertow. I beg to differ.

Our primetime viewing slots are still heavily saturated in “reality.” People sing their hearts out, vie for a modeling contract, celebrities dance, become cops, and look for a wife, while others eat worms in jungles, and pretty/geeky people try to educate one another. Though these shows have captured some of our attention, dramatic TV is enthralling us.

One of the most talked about shows of last season was Heroes. Pitted to be a cult hit, it became the season’s breakout show. Last spring ended with the heroes going to New York City to stop a nuclear explosion from blowing the Big Apple to smithereens. There were also cliffhangers-a-plenty, leaving two characters presumed dead, two seriously injured, and one trapped in the past.

In the show’s continuation this fall everyone has a secret. First, we have the teasing question from Molly Walker regarding who the new “boogeyman” is, and whether or not he/she will get along with Sylar. Speaking of the vicious power-stealing villain, his whereabouts create another question based on the bloodstain he left on the floor: did he drag himself away or was he pulled by someone/thing else?

Many fates are up for grabs in season two of Heroes. At this point, we don’t know how long Hiro will be stuck in Japan. Representatives from the show have mentioned that Hiro may spend a large portion of season two in fifteenth century Japan, and that his story may become entwined with his hero samurai Takezo Kensei. Split personality stripper-mom Niki may continue to battle with her violently dangerous alter ego Jessica, possibly infusing some of her characteristics into Niki’s. 

A big question of the summer has been whether or not Petrelli brothers, Peter and Nathan, are actually dead, and the possibilities of death for D.L. and Parkman after both characters were shot. With all of that going on, and the introduction of new heroes, nothing short of a solar eclipse should stop us from watching.

Another dramatic cliffhanger that had nails digging into couch armrests nationwide was on Smallville. Chloe’s meteor power is revealed after the tears spilled on her stabbed cousin, Lois, switch their places. Lana is presumably dead when her SUV explodes, in front of Lionel, though he didn’t actually see her get into it. The phantom that Lex had captured scored some of Clark’s DNA and ends the finale by flying away from our injured hero.

With the built-up suspense, this season of Smallville should be awesome. Bizarro, the villain who stole Clark’s powers, may come back with a vengance. We’ll also get to meet Supergirl after she saves Lex from drowning—why does that sound familiar—and introduces herself as Kara Kent, aka Clark’s Kryptonian cousin. 

Clark is still questing to find and destroy the phantoms and plans to begin his training as a superhero after his cousin is revealed to him. A big looming question for Smallville fans has been the possible survival of Lana and Chloe, and what that may mean. Add in the possibility of more episodes with the Justice League, and Smallville is bound to soar.

There are tons of other returning drama shows to watch these premiere weeks. The intense hit Lost will be introducing more flashforwards along with its flashbacks. CSI fans have been nervous all summer wondering if Sara’s hand clawing at the mud will continue to, or fall limp just at the moment of discovery. Throw in Grey’s Anatomy, ER, and Supernatural, and I assure you, drama TV isn’t going anywhere.