Arrow really picks up in season 2, especially if you're a fan of the comic series. If you became a fan through the show and season 1 you may be disappointed. But not to give too big of spoilers or anything but we finally get a proper Deathstroke in season 2 not that weird Billy Wintergreen story, We get to meet Barry Allen, Harley Quinn makes a VERY brief cameo(if you can call it that), some important people die and a lot of people learn a lot about themselves throughout the season.
On to you refusing to watch How I met your Mother and Big Bang, I don't know what kind of die hard, hipster thing you're trying to hold on to here but quit it, now. HIMYM and BBT are two of the best sitcoms on tv right now.
Shows to try- Heroes(was a really fun super powers story and had a crazy interconnectedness to the story that made it feel worth it to follow.
Breaking Bad- Obviously you had to have heard to try this one by now.
The Inbetweeners- British tv comedy about highschool losers who just can't catch a break
Trailer Park Boys- One of the greatest things to come out of Canada.
