mrhappy1489 said:
So I just finished off the second season of the walking dead and have run out of shows to watch. I've been doing some reading, mostly A Clash of Kings, but I need some tv to fill the void. So Escapists, can you recommend me some tv shows? My favourite genres are Drama, Comedy and Fantasy and I also have a fondness for animation as well so feel free to throw that in. Thanks in advance and I look forward to your contributions.
[HEADING=2]ESSENTIAL DRAMA[/HEADING]
THE WIRE
Indisputably the best television show in the history of the medium. Not a single weak episode or a single poor character in the entire five year run. Will ruin other "police" shows for you forever.
THE SOPRANOS
Godfather of HBO's "Golden Age of Television" and probably one of the most important televised dramas ever made. Set the standard. Absolutely towering performances by Edie Falco and James Gandolfini as the titular characters.
MAD MEN
Best show currently on the air, aging beautifully. Not the most action packed or salacious, but does a slow burn like few others. Like Tony Soprano, Hamm's Don Draper is the role of a life time.
BREAKING BAD
I'm putting this here on reputation alone. I have not seen it yet, but I am given to understand it is truly fantastic.
[HEADING=2]OPTIONAL DRAMA[/HEADING]
SIX FEET UNDER
Maudlin but profound. Emotionally devastating finale.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Pop cultural touchstone is both comedy and drama, but veered heavily into melodrama in later seasons. Best enjoyed as a 3 to 5 season show, with a tiny handful of essential episodes sampled from the woeful 6th and 7th seasons.
FIREFLY
Cancelled too soon, yadda yadda.
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Tremendous 1st and 2nd season, middling 3rd season, alternatively interesting and catastrophic final season. Went seriously off the rails in the end, but the first two seasons are brilliant.
DEADWOOD
Sublimely acted and curiously scripted Western. Could be essential if not for the fact it was abruptly cancelled and never really concludes in any meaningful way. Even Firefly got Serenity.
GAME OF THRONES
Sloppy translation of source material is alternatively maddening/confusing and pulpy entertainment. Too much book for too little screen time creates serious pacing issues, but good fun can be had.
[HEADING=2]ESSENTIAL COMEDY[/HEADING]
THE OFFICE - UK
Unlike the American version, which is much more broad and now on its 775th episode, the UK version stays for a short but sweet 12 episodes and one hour special. Never outlives its welcome, hilarious and surprisingly heartwarming at times. Arguably the best comedy series ever made.
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
Another "cancelled too soon", although AD was starting to show signs of diminishing returns when the plug was pulled. Hilarious, snarky, mean spirited comedy with some of the best running gags around. 3rd season is a little hit and miss.
EXTRAS
Ricky Gervais does HBO. Similarly cringe-inducing humor to The Office, with a different lead character, and the added bonus of more Stephen Merchant. Some of the celebrity cameos are truly brilliant and must be seen. Like The Office, it's a short run without any weak spots or decline.
COMMUNITY
Uneven show...when it's bad, it's really bad...flat and uninspired and deeply unfunny. But when it's good, it's possibly the quirkiest and most innovative comedy in television history. On the strength of its good episodes alone this is essential television.
[HEADING=2]OPTIONAL COMEDY[/HEADING]
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
If you liked Seinfeld, the tone is carried over here into Larry David's faux biopic. A little more ribald and R rated than Seinfeld due to network.
BLACK ADDER
British television serial alternates between hilarious seasons and iffy seasons. Almost worth listing as essential for the contributions of Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie alone.
RED DWARF
Some really bad seasons in the mix, but at its peak a very clever comedy.
[HEADING=2]ANIME[/HEADING]
COWBOY BEBOP
I don't watch a ton of anime, but this was pretty goddam good.
DEATH NOTE
Up to around episode 25 or so. Trust me. That's as far as you'll want to go.
[HEADING=2]BONUS[/HEADING]
Obligatory "The Simpsons" and "Futurama" before they sucked mention.
