T.S. Eliot might think that April is the cruelest month, but for TV fans, it might be the best. Thre impressive new cable dramas are premiering this April, and based on the previews, all three could be extraordinary.

AMC’s The Killing and Showtime’s The Borgias both premiere April 3 while HBO’s epic new fantasy series Game of Thrones premieres April 17. With the three best cable networks all bringing new blood set in three very different time periods, it’s hard to say which one will be the best, but check out the video previews below to decide for yourself.

The Killing: Sunday, April 3 at 9pm on AMC

This present-day mystery drama set in Seattle centers on a missing girl and the expansive search to find out what happened to her. With stories around the cops, her parents, her friends and even a politician, this four-minute promo makes it look more like a film (think Mystic River: The Series). The cast includes Billy Campbell (Once and Again, The 4400) and Michelle Forbes (True Blood, In Treatment) and based on this preview, my only complaint is that I don’t have the entire first season on DVD right now.

The Borgias: Sunday, April 3 at 9pm on Showtime

Showtime is going to do for the Pope what it did for Henry VIII in The Tudors. This 15th century soap opera centers on the Borgia family after patriarch Rodrigo Borgia’s election as Pope. Featuring sex, murder and a papal taster monkey, The Borgias might be the most enjoyable guilty pleasure of the year with a cast led by Jeremy Irons.

Game of Thrones: Sunday, April 17 at 9pm on HBO

This epic new fantasy series based on a popular book series could be TV’s answer to The Lord of the Rings. Set in a fantastical world with kings and knights, Game of Thrones will be massive and scale and looks like it has the budget of a major film.

The Game Begins

So with all three shows set to compete Sundays at 9pm, which one (or two or three) will you be watching?

(Images and videos courtesy of AMC, Showtime and HBO)

John Kubicek

Senior Writer, BuddyTV

John watches nearly every show on TV, but he specializes in sci-fi/fantasy like The Vampire DiariesSupernatural and True Blood. However, he can also be found writing about everything from Survivor and Glee to One Tree Hill and Smallville.