I talk a lot about TV shows on this blog, but I just realized I haven't actually given a list of my all-time favorite TV shows. I haven't listed TV shows that are my favorite purely from a personal enjoyment standard. This is a show that is on TV and I'll stop what I'm doing and watch it.
As I write this, I don't have a specific number in mind of how many I'll list so it could be anywhere from five TV shows to 20. There's also no order, rhyme, or reason why I pick these shows. It's not necessarily based on the best quality either. So literally you cannot disagree with me on these shows as I have defined my list.
So with all that said, I would like some commentary on if my favorite TV show list is respectable, shameful, or whatever. Then feel free to point me to your favorite and I'll see if I plan to watch or need to pay attention to.
Friends
Aired: 1994-2004
10 Seasons: 238 Episodes
This show needs no introduction. Even if you weren't paying attention when this show aired, re-runs are on several different channels every week. You've probably seen an episode or two or 10 or 100.
This was the first show I really watched. I burned through this show with my sister six episodes at a time until finally we realize we should pace ourselves. Then we re-watched it. Several times. The number of times I've seen this show makes it impossible for me to a put a number on it, however I'm sure I've seen the equivalent of well over 1,000 episodes.
This show consistently made me laugh and it still does. Re-watching the episodes does not make the laughs any less harder or the show diminish somehow. The characters were so well realized and so well written. The creators knew what was funny for each character. Chandler was an easy character to make funny since he's funny in the show, but Monica's obsession with cleanliness, Ross' bad luck in everything, Joey's dimwittedness, Pheobe's wackiness, or Rachel's cluelessness (at first), the show had a reliable humor machine for each of the characters.
Take characters you know well and like and put them in weird and funny situations and you have Friends. It's funny, but that's how you make a successful sitcom.
The show does have flaws, namely nobody is overweight, nobody is unattractive (though this is TV), and seemingly nobody in that universe is anything other than white. Also, the show could be described as "safe," as in it took basically zero risks. (Monica and Chandler could be construed as a risk. It's hard not to use hindsight to know they just worked as a couple though) The basic outline of every episode is the same. Lastly, Ross and Rachel drama was hilariously stretched as thin as possible. Most cliffhangers at the end of the season showed Ross and Rachel possibly getting together, only for a super convenient way to back out of that when the next season aired.
Most of those things don't actually bother me. (The lack of diversity is disturbing though) But I realize how it technically is a fault of the show. Anyway, I've rambled on enough about this show. I plan to write episode recaps in the future on this show so I have plenty more to write!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Aired: 1997-2003
7 Seasons: 145 Episodes
I only just finished this show in December last year and I feel confident in saying this is one of my favorite shows. A good barometer on how much I love a show is probably how much I want to write about it. I am planning to write about this show a lot in the future, detailing the quality of each season. Yeah, my outlet is writing because nobody I know will watch this show (except one!) so I can't talk about it ever.
This could be a bit more difficult to talk about. If for some reason, someone somewhere decides to watch this show based on this recommendation, well I choose to avoid spoilers. Also, I bet almost none of the people reading this have seen the show so that wouldn't matter anyway!
The character of Buffy Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar (sure everyone at least knows that), was fully realized from the beginning. Her character arc is the most consistent over the seven seasons, with each representing her growth as a person.
In fact, I say this to anyone who I recommend the show to, Season 1 was terrible. Not all of it was bad. Like I said, Buffy's character was the only consistent part of the show and she was truly a three-dimensional character from the start. Willow, played by HIMYM star Alyson Hanigan, and Xander were not. They became awesome characters, but in the first season they get little to work with.
Granted, I'd say watch Season 1 if you have patience, because around half of the episodes are good. They become worse with hindsight, but some of the episodes are actually good on first viewing. If you have no patience, start with Season 2, though you may be a bit confused. That's what you get for not being patient!
Seasons 2 and 3 have some of the best television I have ever seen. It doesn't reach those heights after those seasons, but there are some amazing episodes such as The Body, Hush, and Once More with Feeling (a musical episode).
Breaking Bad
Aired: 2008-2013
5 Seasons: 62 Episodes
As of now, I'm conflicted on whether to do an episode reaction for Season 5 Part 2 episodes in the summer. It's not something I do on this blog, but I think I'll make an exception.
This show is actually kind of hard to write about since I think anyone who has read this blog has seen the show. The transformation of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman's characters has been remarkable. If you told me in the beginning of this show that by the end I'd be rooting against Walt, well I'd have thought the show took a bad turn (I mean in quality) somewhere. But it has not.
I had a whole paragraph written out and then I realized for anyone who hasn't watched Season 5, there were huge massive spoilers in there. For the two people that read this that haven't caught up to Breaking Bad, I'm thinking of you.
I mean I got nothing else since I'm not writing any spoilers here.
The Wire
Aired: 2002-2008
5 Seasons: 60 Episodes
The best television show of all time. When I first watched The Wire, there wasn't a show I had ever seen like it. And I doubt there ever will be. People who've never seen The Wire are surely skeptical, but try to find someone who has seen The Wire and thought it was alright, because those people don't exist. I mean people who have seen the show, not people who've seen the first few episodes and gave up.
The first episode doesn't do a whole lot to soothe you in. It acts like you've known these characters, drops in a million of them, and then by the end of the episode, you're not totally sure what happened. You know how in a pilot episode, shows typically introduce the idea of the show and the characters and have characters saying stuff they already know just for the audience? Well that doesn't exist in this show.
I promise that whatever the plot point it is, it leads to somewhere. Almost nothing that happens is irrelevant. In addition to entertainment value, the show makes these ambitious themes about modern America. Institutions prevent change, the decay of the American working class, the ineffectiveness of the drug war, how the system consistently fails inner-city kids, the corruption of the government and the slow death of the newspaper.
Buy the entire series on Amazon if you have the money. If you don't, buy it anyway and then sell it back once you've finished the series. That's what I did. Although I have been dying to re-watch the show and kind of want to buy it again.
That 70's Show
Aired: 1998-2006
8 Seasons: 201 Episodes
I think the remarkable thing about this show is that many of the actors in this show got their start here. Topher Grace (Eric), Milas Kunis (Jackie), Ashton Kutcher (Kelso), Wilmer Valderama (Fez), and Laura Prepon (Donna) had never been in a credited role before this show. Most of them were 20-years-old or younger with the youngest being Milas at 15-years-old (14-years-old probably when it was filmed).
The most experienced was Danny Masterson (Hyde) who had guest starred in a bunch of TV shows such as Roseanne, NYPD Blue, Party of Five, and Cybill plus had appeared in The Faculty as Fuck Up #1. Actually most successful TV shows have careers very similar to Masterson's. Lots of guest roles just waiting for the their big shot.
I think playing high school kids as a first time actor isn't terribly difficult, which is probably why this was successful. I mean most of these actors were still kids. Ashton Kutcher couldn't really act in this, but he didn't really need to. With probably the exception of Milas and Wilmer, they were basically just playing themselves.
Kurtwood Smith (Red) is one of the best parts about this show. Apparently they originally offered this role to Chuck Norris. Thank God that didn't happen. Debra Jo Rupp (Kitty) plays the seemingly normal, but actually crazy alcoholic mother really well.
This show just got a bunch of talented people together (discovered most of them) and wrote a funny script. I don't think it's a mistake that all of these actors have had good success after this show.
Honorable Mentions
I guess that's it. A few shows I debated with myself quite a bit about putting on here. I'm going on pure feeling here and these shows just didn't feel like my favorite. I got no other explanation. Again, this isn't about quality. Actually a few of these shows would probably be on the best ever list of their genre.
Friday Night Lights
I love this show. This doesn't feel like a favorite show of mine if that makes any sense so I couldn't put it up there. This could change. I could re-watch it, appreciate it more, and then constantly want to re-watch it until it finally lands there. I mean Friends, That 70's Show, and Breaking Bad were all more appreciated after they were re-watched.
But for now, it gets a strong honorable mention.
Archer
This is more of a length problem. It's one of my favorite shows without a doubt that is currently airing. I feel weird putting it up on my favorites list with having seen only two seasons. If it keeps up the quality that the first two seasons provided, then this will no doubt make its way up to my favorites. I'm pretty confident it can pull off the job.
Game of Thrones
Copy that last paragraph and put it here. This show has been phenomenal, but the show is geared towards a conclusion that hasn't been filmed. It's pretty impossible as well to say this is my favorite as well because this next season is the first that deviates from the book. Will it keep up the quality when it has to come up with semi-original content?
Shows that I appreciate but won't ever be my favorite
Mad Men
Man I really do respect this show and know it's well made and love watching it. But what kind of favorite show has few memorable episodes? The episodes all mix and mangle and I can rarely remember specific episodes that blew me out of the water. From a critical standpoint, I appreciate the attention to detail, the characters' consistency, and the time period. It'll always be on my best of list, but not my favorites.
Arrested Development
This is way different than Mad Men. I find this funny, I laugh out loud more than most shows, and the witty and joke a second all works for me. I like Archer more strangely even though I'll admit this was a better show (for now). I feel like I just don't get it the way hardcore fans of this show do though. I find it to be a great comedy, but I feel like I'm slightly missing something here.
Louie
In a sentence, this show is too depressing for it to be a favorite show of mine. The show's outlook on life is entertaining, but not something I'll want to re-watch a lot.
That takes care of my favorite TV shows. This spot was originally going to review Zero Hour until I found out that it was terrible and about evil Nazi clocks. I don't like hate-watching TV like some people.
Next post: The supernatural section of my TV shows.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Sunday, February 10, 2013
British TV Shows
Before reading this, I suggest you read the introduction to this site where I say what I'm doing.
Previous Sections
The Shows That Changed Television
Quirky Comedy
Unconventional Drama
Classic Comedy
Some of these sections will be watched slowly. This section is not one of them. For a reason that eludes me, British TV shows don't last long. With the exception of Doctor Who, both classic and the current version, most of these shows last just a few seasons. That is fine with me. The quality almost never drops from short-running TV shows, because they never run out of ideas.
This section lacks greatly in the shows I have watched and is exclusively shows I have never seen before. I mean they are British. Where do you watch British TV shows in America? Netflix has provided me the opportunity to watch both classic and current British TV shows. So I will go through my list that I have picked out. Suggestions are welcome, however, if it's not on Netflix, I won't put it on this list. Availability is a big factor when I choose shows as well as quality of course.
Downton Abbey (2010-Present)
Season 1 Review
I've seen the first season and am patiently waiting for the second to arrive on Netflix. The first season was great and helpful in school! My 20th Century Europe History class has already asked the class if we've seen Downton Abbey as it provides a good sense of pre-WWI attitudes. So that's exciting. (It's also not the only class where my obsessive TV watching has come in handy - Mad Men)
Anyway, read my season 1 review for my thoughts on the first season. I'm excited to see where the show goes in its second season. I hope it doesn't lose any of its quality or strangely addicting power. Oddly, in a show that constantly comes up with reasons for Lady Crawley and Matthew to not just be together, the show manages to make the reasons feel organic and realistic. Some shows do that kind of thing poorly, but Downton Abbey pulled it off I feel.
The Office (2001-2003)
Ok so this isn't a British thing so much as a Ricky Gervais thing. He gets bored easily apparently. Nonetheless, this show spurred an American show that became a hit. Unlike that American show, it didn't last too long! I haven't seen any of this show yet, but I am making sure to watch the British version first and foremost and then I'll watch the American version with Steve Carroll.
I just realized that Extras isn't on this list, but I've seen all of those episodes and there are only 13 of them as well. Extras basically tells me I get Gervais' sense of humor so I'm almost positive I'll find this show funny.
Doctor Who (2005-Present)
Part of me wants to watch the classic version of this as well, but 1) those episodes are not streaming on Netflix and 2) there are 26 seasons of the classic. Again, because this is British, those 26 seasons translate to less than 200 episodes, which makes it much more easily digestible.
Still, the older version probably has aged somewhat badly and is also not available. (I cannot stress enough how important that is). I actually know very little about this show, I am just pretty certain it's good with a strong recommendation from a friend.
Luther (2010-Present)
Ok, so my reason for watching this show can be summed up with one name: Idris Elba. He's awesome. You know a beloved show you watch and when it ends you want to follow the actors when they star in new shows? Well, that's what this is. Elba, who I loved in The Wire as Stringer Bell, gets his own TV show.
Anyway, this kind of seems like a procedural show which is slightly disappointing and would disincentivize me from watching this show. A show like Law and Order that can be watched out of order is a benefit when you flip through channels, but it's a hindrance on a project like mine. There is nothing that convinces me to keep watching episodes.
Merlin (2008-2012)
Ok, so my reason for watching this show can be summed up with one name: Anthony Stewart Head. He's awesome. You know a beloved show you watch and when it ends you want to follow the actors when they star in new shows? Well that's what this is. Head, who I loved in Buffy as Rupert Giles, is in this show.
This will probably be my last watched of the British shows. Head is in about 2/3 of the episodes, which is nice, but the show doesn't actually interest me a whole lot. And I swear that's the last time I write the same paragraph to show why I watch a TV show. But that is literally the reason I have chosen to watch both shows.
Sherlock (2010-Present)
Oh man this is so awesome I am restraining myself from starting it ahead of when I plan. These are like mini-movies and there are very few episodes, but my god I love a good mystery and I love Sherlock Holmes and ... Yeah so basically I am pumped up to watch this show.
I have no other coherent thoughts to share with you except yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.
Skins (2007-Present)
When the American version of Skins came out, I didn't watch it, but I read the reviews. I consistently read that it didn't have something that the British version did, and ever since I've kind of wanted to see what they were talking about.
Also better watch this now while it still can kind of apply to me. I mean I don't want to watch it when I'm older and it scares me into not ever having kids. Although whatever these kids go through, I hope I can semi-relate, because the description tells me I probably won't.
Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-1975)
This name just pops up on classic British TV shows, so what the hell? Do I know what it's about? No. Do I think it'll be good? Yeah and that's what I watch TV shows for. This is a show where I probably won't find anybody to talk about it with which is kind of a disappointing thought.
I know nothing about it so I can't say anymore and I'm just filling up space and you just keep on reading.
Final Thoughts
Sherlock and Luther are two shows I'm legitimately excited to start watching. I've wanted to watch the U.K. version of The Office forever and this project gives me the opportunity to do so. Doctor Who has been on my radar for quite a while as well. Downton Abbey, for the moment, has been a success for me. And I don't know where I found Upstairs, Downstairs or what made me decide to watch it, but I'm optimistic about that show as well.
(Skins and Merlin I'm extremely apathetic about that I may choose never to watch)
Update on Other Shows
Sons of Anarchy: I watched the first episode of Season 2 and the show has kept up the first season's momentum for now. I'm not sure how much it can keep upping the ante on the graphic and horrifying scale, but they did it for this episode.
American Horror Story: I'm going to start this series probably right after I finish this blogpost. I've heard it's really really weird and I'm not sure how I'm going to respond. I'm just watching it for the uniqueness and the experience of having seen it. FX is pretty good at picking out shows as well.
The Sopranos: I have for whatever reason made no progress on The Sopranos in months. I'm still at the end of Season 2. I don't get it. I want to watch it in theory, but in actuality I never pick up the DVD to start. I'll make an effort to finish Season 2 by the end of the upcoming week.
The Simpsons: I am waiting for this show to get good, but I can't get through Season 1. Simpson fanatics will surely defend this season, but I think it's just bad. I am pretty certain it was good in 1989, but I do not particularly enjoy this first season.
Star Trek: Almost halfway through the first season. It has aged absolutely terribly in my opinion. Show's not terribly easy to watch.
The Larry Sanders Show was removed from Netflix! I called Customer Service and they told me they need to renegotiate. So hopefully it comes back, because I was really liking the show.
Next Post: Because I'm a dedicated school student (don't laugh), I'm cutting my blogposts from three days a week to two. On Thursday, I'll have my thoughts on the ABC pilot Zero Hour. It looked good from the previews and I'll tune in and share my thoughts.
The Shows That Changed Television
Quirky Comedy
Unconventional Drama
Classic Comedy
Some of these sections will be watched slowly. This section is not one of them. For a reason that eludes me, British TV shows don't last long. With the exception of Doctor Who, both classic and the current version, most of these shows last just a few seasons. That is fine with me. The quality almost never drops from short-running TV shows, because they never run out of ideas.
This section lacks greatly in the shows I have watched and is exclusively shows I have never seen before. I mean they are British. Where do you watch British TV shows in America? Netflix has provided me the opportunity to watch both classic and current British TV shows. So I will go through my list that I have picked out. Suggestions are welcome, however, if it's not on Netflix, I won't put it on this list. Availability is a big factor when I choose shows as well as quality of course.
Downton Abbey (2010-Present)
Season 1 Review
I've seen the first season and am patiently waiting for the second to arrive on Netflix. The first season was great and helpful in school! My 20th Century Europe History class has already asked the class if we've seen Downton Abbey as it provides a good sense of pre-WWI attitudes. So that's exciting. (It's also not the only class where my obsessive TV watching has come in handy - Mad Men)
Anyway, read my season 1 review for my thoughts on the first season. I'm excited to see where the show goes in its second season. I hope it doesn't lose any of its quality or strangely addicting power. Oddly, in a show that constantly comes up with reasons for Lady Crawley and Matthew to not just be together, the show manages to make the reasons feel organic and realistic. Some shows do that kind of thing poorly, but Downton Abbey pulled it off I feel.
The Office (2001-2003)
Ok so this isn't a British thing so much as a Ricky Gervais thing. He gets bored easily apparently. Nonetheless, this show spurred an American show that became a hit. Unlike that American show, it didn't last too long! I haven't seen any of this show yet, but I am making sure to watch the British version first and foremost and then I'll watch the American version with Steve Carroll.
I just realized that Extras isn't on this list, but I've seen all of those episodes and there are only 13 of them as well. Extras basically tells me I get Gervais' sense of humor so I'm almost positive I'll find this show funny.
Doctor Who (2005-Present)
Part of me wants to watch the classic version of this as well, but 1) those episodes are not streaming on Netflix and 2) there are 26 seasons of the classic. Again, because this is British, those 26 seasons translate to less than 200 episodes, which makes it much more easily digestible.
Still, the older version probably has aged somewhat badly and is also not available. (I cannot stress enough how important that is). I actually know very little about this show, I am just pretty certain it's good with a strong recommendation from a friend.
Luther (2010-Present)
Ok, so my reason for watching this show can be summed up with one name: Idris Elba. He's awesome. You know a beloved show you watch and when it ends you want to follow the actors when they star in new shows? Well, that's what this is. Elba, who I loved in The Wire as Stringer Bell, gets his own TV show.
Anyway, this kind of seems like a procedural show which is slightly disappointing and would disincentivize me from watching this show. A show like Law and Order that can be watched out of order is a benefit when you flip through channels, but it's a hindrance on a project like mine. There is nothing that convinces me to keep watching episodes.
Merlin (2008-2012)
Ok, so my reason for watching this show can be summed up with one name: Anthony Stewart Head. He's awesome. You know a beloved show you watch and when it ends you want to follow the actors when they star in new shows? Well that's what this is. Head, who I loved in Buffy as Rupert Giles, is in this show.
This will probably be my last watched of the British shows. Head is in about 2/3 of the episodes, which is nice, but the show doesn't actually interest me a whole lot. And I swear that's the last time I write the same paragraph to show why I watch a TV show. But that is literally the reason I have chosen to watch both shows.
Sherlock (2010-Present)
Oh man this is so awesome I am restraining myself from starting it ahead of when I plan. These are like mini-movies and there are very few episodes, but my god I love a good mystery and I love Sherlock Holmes and ... Yeah so basically I am pumped up to watch this show.
I have no other coherent thoughts to share with you except yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.
Skins (2007-Present)
When the American version of Skins came out, I didn't watch it, but I read the reviews. I consistently read that it didn't have something that the British version did, and ever since I've kind of wanted to see what they were talking about.
Also better watch this now while it still can kind of apply to me. I mean I don't want to watch it when I'm older and it scares me into not ever having kids. Although whatever these kids go through, I hope I can semi-relate, because the description tells me I probably won't.
Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-1975)
This name just pops up on classic British TV shows, so what the hell? Do I know what it's about? No. Do I think it'll be good? Yeah and that's what I watch TV shows for. This is a show where I probably won't find anybody to talk about it with which is kind of a disappointing thought.
I know nothing about it so I can't say anymore and I'm just filling up space and you just keep on reading.
Final Thoughts
Sherlock and Luther are two shows I'm legitimately excited to start watching. I've wanted to watch the U.K. version of The Office forever and this project gives me the opportunity to do so. Doctor Who has been on my radar for quite a while as well. Downton Abbey, for the moment, has been a success for me. And I don't know where I found Upstairs, Downstairs or what made me decide to watch it, but I'm optimistic about that show as well.
(Skins and Merlin I'm extremely apathetic about that I may choose never to watch)
Update on Other Shows
Sons of Anarchy: I watched the first episode of Season 2 and the show has kept up the first season's momentum for now. I'm not sure how much it can keep upping the ante on the graphic and horrifying scale, but they did it for this episode.
American Horror Story: I'm going to start this series probably right after I finish this blogpost. I've heard it's really really weird and I'm not sure how I'm going to respond. I'm just watching it for the uniqueness and the experience of having seen it. FX is pretty good at picking out shows as well.
The Sopranos: I have for whatever reason made no progress on The Sopranos in months. I'm still at the end of Season 2. I don't get it. I want to watch it in theory, but in actuality I never pick up the DVD to start. I'll make an effort to finish Season 2 by the end of the upcoming week.
The Simpsons: I am waiting for this show to get good, but I can't get through Season 1. Simpson fanatics will surely defend this season, but I think it's just bad. I am pretty certain it was good in 1989, but I do not particularly enjoy this first season.
Star Trek: Almost halfway through the first season. It has aged absolutely terribly in my opinion. Show's not terribly easy to watch.
The Larry Sanders Show was removed from Netflix! I called Customer Service and they told me they need to renegotiate. So hopefully it comes back, because I was really liking the show.
Next Post: Because I'm a dedicated school student (don't laugh), I'm cutting my blogposts from three days a week to two. On Thursday, I'll have my thoughts on the ABC pilot Zero Hour. It looked good from the previews and I'll tune in and share my thoughts.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Comedy [Updated: 3/14]
Before reading this, I suggest you read the introduction to this site where I say what I'm doing.
The majority of the comedy shows I want to watch fall under "Classic Comedy" or "Comedy." The only distinction is that the Comedy sections is for shows that are mostly still airing. Some of them have stopped, but they were pretty recently such as Scrubs. No further explanation necessary I hope, so I will start listing the Comedy shows.
30 Rock
Years: 2006-2013, 7 Seasons
I have officially finished this show having seen all five seasons. While the show has noticeably declined, it's still worth watching because of Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey's characters click so well on screen and for its endless amount of famous guest stars. The show ends on a strong note with the seventh season being arguably one of its very best.
Archer
Years: 2009-Present, 5+ seasons
Archer is one of my favorite comedies and certainly the best cartoon comedy. This is almost a natural succession to Arrested Development. It even has Jessica Walter as a bitch mom! I've seen the first two seasons and have kind of just stopped. This is nothing against Archer, I just have a real problem watching comedies for some reason. Anyway, I'm always a season behind on this as I just watch as they get added to Netflix. (I don't understand the value of adding the previous season after the new season has already aired, but FX does this so I will never catch up to Archer and will not get to watch it live. Seems like a stupid business strategy.)
Blue Mountain State
Years: 2010-2011, 3 seasons
This short-lived comedy is for a very, very specific demographic, but luckily I am a part of that demographic. It's literally for college-aged males (though I know it also somewhat appeals to college-aged females). But it's a pretty funny show so if you have a good sense of humor, you're likely to like it. I watched all 3 seasons in a short amount of time and Denise Richards shows up because her career has went in the tank.
Community
Years: 2009-2014, 4+ seasons
Six seasons and a movie! I'm not even sure where I left off on this show, but I'm pretty sure I've seen the first two seasons and a few season three episodes. I've not heard particularly good things about the fourth season, but I've heard recent episodes have been good. I don't know I watched a bunch of episodes in a short amount of time and haven't seen much since that time. Either way, I want to start over for sure.
Eastbound & Down
Years: 2009-2013, 4 Seasons
This is the first show I have seen none of. I hope to go home and see all the episodes available on my HBO package. There's only 29 of these episodes which seems low, but the premise of this show isn't exactly far-reaching plot-wise. Being a baseball fan, this show should be right up my alley though.
How I Met Your Mother
Years: 2005-2014, 9 Seasons
I'm going to need to get a consensus on when to stop this show, because it appears it does not know when to stop. And there's apparently a spin-off so none of that sounds good to me. But for a time, it was a highly acclaimed comedy. I've seen the first season and about half of the second and then I stopped and have not picked it back. Trust me, this is an all too common theme with me and comedy shows.
The Office
Years: 2005-2013, 9 seasons
Funny enough, I have managed to avoid almost all episodes of The Office. I've seen about two or three of them. Fair or not, I am not starting this show until I watch the British version first. Don't ask why, I have a weird way of functioning. Anyway, I know this show should probably have ended with Steve Carrell leaving and that's probably when I will stop.
Parks and Recreation
Years: 2009-Present, 6+ Seasons
I've seen four seasons worth of Parks and Recreation. I started the fifth season, but didn't finish, because well that's what I do. Anyway, this is a great show with a great cast. There's almost nothing bad to say about this show from my perspective.
Trailer Park Boys
Years: 2001-2007, 2014, 8 Seasons
I know very little about this show, but I do know that it's been recommended to me enough times for me to give a shot one of these days. That day won't be anytime soon as I would like to finish the comedies I am already watching.
Workaholics
Years: 2011-Present, 4 Seasons
This is an interesting comedy that I find I laugh more when I watch with other people than by myself. I know that's not exactly a rare thing, but I almost want to avoid this show until I can watch it in succession with others. Watching it alone isn't as funny somehow. I've seen parts of the first season, but never committed to watching any of it.
New Shows Since I Made Since I wrote this:
New Girl - Not a new show, but a show I got into since then. I watched a lot... a lot of New Girl in a very, very short amount of time and managed to get caught up and I currently watch it as it appears on Hulu, although I'm always a few episodes behind. I'll try to watch next season on television as it originally airs.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine- This show has one of the better ensembles I've seen. I don't think there is a character who doesn't hold their weight and the side characters are just drawn out enough to get a laugh when needed. This is a comedy that pretty much has gotten better since it started and I liked it from the word go.
And that's it. It's worth pointing out that I have a completely separate category for shows that are on FX so that's why you may be wondering why I'm keeping out some pretty good comedies. Well, that's the reason. I should probably start trying to finish some of these extinct shows so I can prepare to add more in Fall 2014.
30 Rock
Years: 2006-2013, 7 Seasons
I have officially finished this show having seen all five seasons. While the show has noticeably declined, it's still worth watching because of Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey's characters click so well on screen and for its endless amount of famous guest stars. The show ends on a strong note with the seventh season being arguably one of its very best.
Archer
Years: 2009-Present, 5+ seasons
Archer is one of my favorite comedies and certainly the best cartoon comedy. This is almost a natural succession to Arrested Development. It even has Jessica Walter as a bitch mom! I've seen the first two seasons and have kind of just stopped. This is nothing against Archer, I just have a real problem watching comedies for some reason. Anyway, I'm always a season behind on this as I just watch as they get added to Netflix. (I don't understand the value of adding the previous season after the new season has already aired, but FX does this so I will never catch up to Archer and will not get to watch it live. Seems like a stupid business strategy.)
Blue Mountain State
Years: 2010-2011, 3 seasons
This short-lived comedy is for a very, very specific demographic, but luckily I am a part of that demographic. It's literally for college-aged males (though I know it also somewhat appeals to college-aged females). But it's a pretty funny show so if you have a good sense of humor, you're likely to like it. I watched all 3 seasons in a short amount of time and Denise Richards shows up because her career has went in the tank.
Community
Years: 2009-2014, 4+ seasons
Six seasons and a movie! I'm not even sure where I left off on this show, but I'm pretty sure I've seen the first two seasons and a few season three episodes. I've not heard particularly good things about the fourth season, but I've heard recent episodes have been good. I don't know I watched a bunch of episodes in a short amount of time and haven't seen much since that time. Either way, I want to start over for sure.
Eastbound & Down
Years: 2009-2013, 4 Seasons
This is the first show I have seen none of. I hope to go home and see all the episodes available on my HBO package. There's only 29 of these episodes which seems low, but the premise of this show isn't exactly far-reaching plot-wise. Being a baseball fan, this show should be right up my alley though.
How I Met Your Mother
Years: 2005-2014, 9 Seasons
I'm going to need to get a consensus on when to stop this show, because it appears it does not know when to stop. And there's apparently a spin-off so none of that sounds good to me. But for a time, it was a highly acclaimed comedy. I've seen the first season and about half of the second and then I stopped and have not picked it back. Trust me, this is an all too common theme with me and comedy shows.
The Office
Years: 2005-2013, 9 seasons
Funny enough, I have managed to avoid almost all episodes of The Office. I've seen about two or three of them. Fair or not, I am not starting this show until I watch the British version first. Don't ask why, I have a weird way of functioning. Anyway, I know this show should probably have ended with Steve Carrell leaving and that's probably when I will stop.
Parks and Recreation
Years: 2009-Present, 6+ Seasons
I've seen four seasons worth of Parks and Recreation. I started the fifth season, but didn't finish, because well that's what I do. Anyway, this is a great show with a great cast. There's almost nothing bad to say about this show from my perspective.
Trailer Park Boys
Years: 2001-2007, 2014, 8 Seasons
I know very little about this show, but I do know that it's been recommended to me enough times for me to give a shot one of these days. That day won't be anytime soon as I would like to finish the comedies I am already watching.
Workaholics
Years: 2011-Present, 4 Seasons
This is an interesting comedy that I find I laugh more when I watch with other people than by myself. I know that's not exactly a rare thing, but I almost want to avoid this show until I can watch it in succession with others. Watching it alone isn't as funny somehow. I've seen parts of the first season, but never committed to watching any of it.
New Shows Since I Made Since I wrote this:
New Girl - Not a new show, but a show I got into since then. I watched a lot... a lot of New Girl in a very, very short amount of time and managed to get caught up and I currently watch it as it appears on Hulu, although I'm always a few episodes behind. I'll try to watch next season on television as it originally airs.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine- This show has one of the better ensembles I've seen. I don't think there is a character who doesn't hold their weight and the side characters are just drawn out enough to get a laugh when needed. This is a comedy that pretty much has gotten better since it started and I liked it from the word go.
And that's it. It's worth pointing out that I have a completely separate category for shows that are on FX so that's why you may be wondering why I'm keeping out some pretty good comedies. Well, that's the reason. I should probably start trying to finish some of these extinct shows so I can prepare to add more in Fall 2014.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
House of Cards Review
So I decided I will dedicate two posts to House of Cards. One reviewing the show after just two episodes like most critics do. The other will be a review of the first season. I wanted to do a review immediately after it was put on Netflix, but at the same time I couldn't watch 13 episodes in three days.
Kevin Spacey plays Francis Underwood, a longtime politician who has paid his dues and is ready to become Secretary of State. He helped get the current president into office and would be rewarded for his duties. Except the president reneges on their deal and asks Underwood to be in Congress, where he would be more help.
And the premise of the show is Underwood slyly getting his revenge by ruining the administration and controlling their actions indirectly. One flaw of the first two episodes is so how ridiculously easy everything fell into place for Underwood. There is no way it's that easy to manipulate and gain access the way he does.
Spacey shines and relishes this role. Spacey has a subtle Southern accent that works, because it's hardly noticeable. With a worse actor, the moments where Spacey's character breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the audience could come off terribly. They don't quite mesh with everything else that goes along, but it doesn't exactly hamper the show either.
Underwood's cold demeanor and calculating moves are only matched by his wife, played by Robin Wright. They didn't give her much to do in the first episodes as her storyline is significantly less interesting than everything else going on, but she does what she can.
Corey Stoll plays Russo, a Congressman who parties and sleeps around a lot. Underwood helps a drunk driving charge go away in return for Russo's loyalty, which he of course accepts. Stoll's solid, but his relationship with his secretary is kind of hard to buy although not implausible by any stretch. (The part that's hard to buy is that he seems to have had relationships with secretaries in the past) Basically I have no idea how he is still in office with the things we learn about him.
Kata Mara is phenomenal as an aspiring top journalist who really doesn't care about ethics or morals in her quest to the top. Not exactly original, but Mara is really good in this role. She's easily the second best thing about the first two episodes behind Spacey.
Overall, the first two episodes were great with some flaws holding it back. It's clear it has enormous potential and I'm excited to see if it reaches that potential in the future. If it never did reach the potential, I still think this show would be worth watching however.
(Side note: I get why they did the first scene, but that was a bit ridiculous. Easily could have gone without it. Seems like that was just for shock value. If you've seen show, you know what I'm talking about.)
Next post: Classic Comedy, probably (I find half of these next posts end up inaccurate when I decide to write about a pilot so...)
Kevin Spacey plays Francis Underwood, a longtime politician who has paid his dues and is ready to become Secretary of State. He helped get the current president into office and would be rewarded for his duties. Except the president reneges on their deal and asks Underwood to be in Congress, where he would be more help.
And the premise of the show is Underwood slyly getting his revenge by ruining the administration and controlling their actions indirectly. One flaw of the first two episodes is so how ridiculously easy everything fell into place for Underwood. There is no way it's that easy to manipulate and gain access the way he does.
Spacey shines and relishes this role. Spacey has a subtle Southern accent that works, because it's hardly noticeable. With a worse actor, the moments where Spacey's character breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the audience could come off terribly. They don't quite mesh with everything else that goes along, but it doesn't exactly hamper the show either.
Underwood's cold demeanor and calculating moves are only matched by his wife, played by Robin Wright. They didn't give her much to do in the first episodes as her storyline is significantly less interesting than everything else going on, but she does what she can.
Corey Stoll plays Russo, a Congressman who parties and sleeps around a lot. Underwood helps a drunk driving charge go away in return for Russo's loyalty, which he of course accepts. Stoll's solid, but his relationship with his secretary is kind of hard to buy although not implausible by any stretch. (The part that's hard to buy is that he seems to have had relationships with secretaries in the past) Basically I have no idea how he is still in office with the things we learn about him.
Kata Mara is phenomenal as an aspiring top journalist who really doesn't care about ethics or morals in her quest to the top. Not exactly original, but Mara is really good in this role. She's easily the second best thing about the first two episodes behind Spacey.
Overall, the first two episodes were great with some flaws holding it back. It's clear it has enormous potential and I'm excited to see if it reaches that potential in the future. If it never did reach the potential, I still think this show would be worth watching however.
(Side note: I get why they did the first scene, but that was a bit ridiculous. Easily could have gone without it. Seems like that was just for shock value. If you've seen show, you know what I'm talking about.)
Next post: Classic Comedy, probably (I find half of these next posts end up inaccurate when I decide to write about a pilot so...)
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