TV shows about politics?

[excalipoor]

So I'm looking for a show to sink some hours in, a show about politics. The West Wing is among my favorites, and Game of Thrones is somewhere up there too. Both shows feature strong characterization and dialogue, as well as political intrigue. I want more of that.

I've been getting into The Tudors as of late, but it's not quite doing it for me. Something about Jonathan Rhys Meyers' face makes me want to pound it. With a fist I mean. Also...

You think you know a story, but you only know how it ends. To get to the heart of the story, you have to go back to the beginning.

With an opening like that, you'd think they'd have at least tried to be somewhat historically accurate. I'm just starting season 2, and so far the show seems to be more about who's fucking who than the actual power struggle. Though I guess in this case the two might be one and the same...

Anyhow. Suggestions?

 

[Newtonyd]

The big one that jumps to mind is House of Cards.

 

[Nouw]

You should try Boardwalk Empire then, the main character himself is charismatic, persuasive and corrupt . Seriously though, the relationships between the different cities are really interesting.

 

[ItouKaiji]

Well when I saw the topic my first thought that I can running in here with was go watch The Wire, it's the complete package of seeing the drug problem in Baltimore from all perspectives. You see the police, the politicians. the drug dealers themselves and drug addicts themselves. It's a show that covers all aspects of the problems as well as how these groups interact and in some cases overlap. It's a complex slow burn drama with great characters, memorable dialogue, and just A class writing and is my favorite TV series of all time.

But seeing as most of the shows you named were more historical or fantasy based then you might want to try The Borgias, which is the story of the infamous Borgia family lead my Rodrigo aka Pope Alexander VI and of course his bastard son Cesare, who was probably he prototype for Machiavelli's prince. I find it to be a lot better than the Tudors even if it does share some of the same problems, but it's pretty entertaining.

Then there is a show called Boss staring Kelsey Grammer. I won't lie though this show is down to how charismatic you find Grammer as the utterly corrupt mayor of Chicago. I find the show to be a bit entertaining even if it can get really overwrought at times, but again if you're looking for political intrigues then this show will give you something to chew over.

Edit: Yeah, forgot Boardwalk Empire, another slow burn drama that's pretty damn entertaining. You might get a bit bored during the first few episodes but if you can get into Boardwalk's flow then you should be entertained. I'd probably recommend watching this after The Wire.


But yeah, just watch all five seasons of The Wire. It's all in the game, yo, it's all in the game.

 

[Andy Shandy]

Both the British original and American remake of House Of Cards sound right up your alley.

And I'd also recommend The Thick Of It, but that's a comedy, not a drama. Also has TONS of swearing (rather imaginative uses of it though) so if you're put off by that I would maybe avoid it.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Yes Minister? A comedy, but a very good one, and does politics much better than most.

 

[OneCatch]

And I'd also recommend The Thick Of It, but that's a comedy, not a drama. Also has TONS of swearing (rather imaginative uses of it though) so if you're put off by that I would maybe avoid it.

Yes Minister? A comedy, but a very good one, and does politics much better than most.

Aaand that's both of my suggestions ninja'd!

 

[Thaluikhain]

And I'd also recommend The Thick Of It, but that's a comedy, not a drama. Also has TONS of swearing (rather imaginative uses of it though) so if you're put off by that I would maybe avoid it.

Yes Minister? A comedy, but a very good one, and does politics much better than most.

Aaand that's both of my suggestions ninja'd!

Well, nobody has mentioned Yes, Prime Minister yet, you could always say...oops.

 

[OneCatch]

And I'd also recommend The Thick Of It, but that's a comedy, not a drama. Also has TONS of swearing (rather imaginative uses of it though) so if you're put off by that I would maybe avoid it.

Yes Minister? A comedy, but a very good one, and does politics much better than most.

Aaand that's both of my suggestions ninja'd!

Well, nobody has mentioned Yes, Prime Minister yet, you could always say...oops.

Goddammit!

Sod it - I recommend Question Time [http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01sffvs/Question_Time_09_05_2013/]. Show about politics, plenty of drama, really realistic. Not so great on the dialogue or acting though.

Have fun OP!

 

[capper42]

I recommend the Thick Of It, which although being a comedy is very political. I recently watched Veep, which feels very much like an American version of the Thick Of It, and I recommend that also.

 

[Albino Boo]

A few historical ones, Rome (Julius Caesar etc) , the Borgias(late 15th early 16th century Italy) and the Devils Whore(English Civil War). The first 2 diverge away from history a bit too much for my tastes but as dramas they work well enough. The 3rd, despite sounding like a bad horror movie, its pretty close to history and has some fine performances in it.

Another suggestion is Gormenghast, its sort of 19th gothic almost fantasy world (no magic, or monsters) filled with double dealing and betrayal. Down side it has Jonathan Rhys Meyers in it and I want to punch in the face too.

 

[Fetus]

House Of Cards, seven episodes in and loving it.
Kevin Spacey is amazing, but when isn't he?

Also, theirs a movie about English and American intelligence, kind of a comedy.
Forgot the name though.

 

[Fappy]

Both the British original and American remake of House Of Cards sound right up your alley.

And I'd also recommend The Thick Of It, but that's a comedy, not a drama. Also has TONS of swearing (rather imaginative uses of it though) so if you're put off by that I would maybe avoid it.

House of Cards was originally a British show? I assume it isn't about Washington like the American version is.

 

[Albino Boo]

House of Cards was originally a British show? I assume it isn't about Washington like the American version is.

House of cards was a book first and it was written by Michael Dobbs. Dobbs had been Chief of staff (much less grand than title suggests) of the UK Conservative party in the mid 80s. The book was about UK politics and the conservative party in particular. The main character was an MP who felt he had been unjustly passed over for the job of Prime Minister and the book told the tale of his double dealings and betrayals to get to the top. The story was turned into a TV show in the early 90s and I have to say it was brilliant. The adaption use the device that Shakespeare used in the Richard III, the main character spoke to the audience directly and told the evil that he was about to do.

 

[excalipoor]

Geez, that's going to be a lot of pilots to sift through! Thanks for the suggestions though, I think I'll start with the 1990 House of Cards.