I may have mentioned before (or maybe I haven't) but when I watch a TV series, I become slightly obsessive about it. I prefer to start from the beginning, and watch to the end, which means that overall, I prefer to watch series that have already run their course. I've been burned before. I've started watching, gotten emotionally invested in a series, only to have it canceled mid-season or at the end of a season but with poor closure (see: Firefly, Angel, Veronica Mars). Other shows may as well have been canceled, having become so lousy that I didn't even follow through to any kind of closure (see: Bones). Still others I tried but I couldn't get into them (see: Lost). I've recently realized that while it may be on the verge of unhealthy, I need some TV in which to invest. I enjoy being able to lose myself in another world for just a little while, particularly when there are also cute clothes to be observed.
When in California last month, a few friends made recommendations:
Dr. Who
Downton Abbey
Warehouse 13
Sherlock
I've also gotten recommendations for:
Dead Like Me
The Vampire Diaries (the GFY girls like it, which is close to a recommendation)
I'm looking for other recommendations. Let me know in the comments.
15 comments:
Foyle's War--British murder mysteries set in WWII Britain.
Lie To Me
Mumsie - I already watched a fair amount of Foyle's War with you and Dad.
All of those are great options. (Vampire Diaries is the only one I don't watch on a regular basis.) I'd also add Supernatural, which should be bad but is soooo good. I'm badly addicted.
Some other suggestions: Chuck, Castle, Fringe, Merlin, Game of Thrones, and Sanctuary.
Not a drama or sci-fi one, but I highly suggest Arrested Development. It was also ended to soon, but they were at least able to do a decent job with it. Plus, they are going to make a movie of it, so you need the back story for the movie.
Something I failed to mention is that the shows have to available on Netflix, Hulu, or other streaming platform, as I do not have TV service, and I would also have to start all shows from the beginning of Season 1.
I've considered Supernatural before. It appears to have a good mix of drama, humor, and action, a la Buffy. Also, who wouldn't want to spend hours and hours watching Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki?
I've watched some Arrested Development before. It falls in the sad and confusing category of "TV shows I feel as if I should really like, because they are recommended by many people whose judgment I trust, but I just can't get into them". Also in this category: The Office, 30 Rock, and Seinfeld. Strangely enough, it tends to be this way more for sitcoms than dramas, so I think maybe I don't have the correct level of appreciation for a certain type of absurd humor. Arrested Development and 30 Rock both put me off with their smugness. They're so invested in their own cleverness that they have to hit the viewer in the face with it. Now that I think of it, I probably just don't prefer sitcoms. I wonder if I have a secretly defective personality.
I will second the recommendations for Fringe, Chuck, Dead Like Me, Warehouse 13, Merlin, and Game of Thrones.
I will add: Eureka, Legend of the Seeker, Psych, Alphas, and web series The Guild.
Caveats: Psych might be dangerously near your aversion to sitcoms because it has humor; The Guild will probably only appeal if you have ever been, or known, a gamer.
Josh - I am insulted! Lol. I love humor, I just think I lack the "sitcom gene". And I've watched The Guild already (I'm a reformed gamer, myself) and just have a few of the last episodes of Season 5 that I still need to watch.
It's a bit old, but Babylon 5 is pretty good, what I've watched of it. And it comes highly recommended by several people that I respect.
One that was really great (but alas, too short) was Pushing Daisies. Did you ever watch it? It was on Netflix streaming, then they took it off, but you can still find it on the WB.com or just get it through Netflix's mail service (if you're doing that). It's only two series long, so it's a quick one to get into and be done with.
We also really enjoyed the mini-series Sherlock, which is streaming on Netflix. There's only Season 1, but it's one we liked!
Not sure if these are exactly what you were going for, but they may be worth a moment of your time!
Oh, goodness, definitely "Doctor Who" (New Who) and "Sherlock".
"Dead Like Me" worked for me through the first season, but got disappointing pretty quickly.
Sherlock is fantastic. SO excited they are filming more! Downton Abbey was good, but ended a bit abruptly. Foyle's War is great, tho guess you've already seen it. All these are on Netflix.
Arrested Development is good, and Better of Ted is hilarious. New on Hulu is Last Man Standing- Tim Allen reenters the sitcom realm with a funny-bone aching bang. Either Netflix or Hulu also has all the Frasier seasons to stream!
Oh! Yes! Absolutely love Lie to Me. Older British dude is so hot! ;o)
I would say MOST DEFINITELY Doctor Who, Pushing Daisies, and Sherlock. And Downton Abbey. Has anyone said Dexter? Because Dexter. I think it's on Netflix Instant.
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