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.
No comments:
Post a Comment