For the past couple of months, “Lost” and “Damages” have been pretty much the only two candidates for the title of Best Show Currently on TV. That’s about to change, in a big way.

This could get intense. (HBO photo)

HBO’s 10-part World War II miniseries “The Pacific” debuts Sunday (9 p.m.), and from what the advance reviews are saying, it’s right up there with “Band of Brothers” in terms of quality. That’s not a surprise, considering the same creative team (Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg) was behind both. Described as harrowing and exceedingly violent yet moving and absolutely captivating, it could be the TV event of the year. (Check out reviews here from the NY Times, LA Times and SF Chronicle.)

New century, same Seth Bullock scowl. (FX photo)

Then on Tuesday (10 p.m.), FX premieres “Justified,” a modern-day Western starring Timothy Olyphant (the man with the most furious eyes on TV) as a U.S. marshal with an old-time sense of justice who goes back to his crime-ridden hometown in Kentucky. The LA Times is already calling it FX’s best series since “The Shield.” High praise indeed. The previews make me giddy, I’ve been looking forward to this for months.

This won't lead anyplace good. (AMC photo)

Finally, a week from Sunday, March 21, brings the third season of “Breaking Bad” (10 p.m. AMC), which could be better than all of the above. Bryan Cranston has won two Emmys for his stunning portrayal of high school teacher-turned-meth kingpin Walter White. The series hasn’t had a misstep in two seasons, and the third promises to be even more intense. If you haven’t jumped on board, there’s still time: the first two seasons are available on DVD, there are great episode and season recaps at AMC.com and AMC will re-air Season 2 in the wee hours of the morning starting Saturday (full schedule here). The network will also air a marathon starting at 8 p.m. next Friday (March 19) with six of the series’ best episodes.

I love it, but be warned it’s a dark, often grim series, not for everyone. Here’s my litmus test: If you can make it through the second and third episode of Season 1, you can make it the rest of the way. (That’s the one with the, um, strawberry milkshake. You’ll know what I mean when you see it.)

It’s weeks like this, and shows like these, that make the cable bill totally worth it.