Must Watch Series

[Buehler445]

All this talk about series, how network TV Sucks, and how hard it is to find quality shows, and some excellent shows that fly under the radar, I need a comprehensive review of all the series I need to see.

For good entertainment, I would be willing to buy DVD sets. But I've recently picked up HBOGO by kiping it from my parents, and recently got Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Here is a listing of shows that I currently own or have seen all the episodes of. If it isn't on the list, just assume I haven't seen it.

Spoiler!

Great Shows – Must See
Game of Thrones
Mad Men
Longmire
Burn Notice
House
Spartacus
House of Cards
Justified
True Detective
Breaking Bad
The Assets
The Wire
Sherlock (BBC)
The Americans
The Walking Dead
Deadwood
Netflix: Daredevil
Jack Taylor
Luther
Bosch

Good shows
Travelers
Ozark
The Leftovers
Conviction
Medici
The Last Kingdom
Firefly
Dollhouse
The Good Wife
Hell on Wheels
Big Bang Theory
Falling Skies
Suits
White Collar
Agents of SHIELD
Arrow
Boss
Rome
Orange is the New Black
Orphan Black
The Knick
Goliath (Amazon)
Iron Fist
Show Me a Hero
Hell on Wheels
Shooter

Mediocre
Robin Hood (BBC)
Vikings
How I met your Mother
Scrubs
Chuck
That 70's Show
Top Gear
Graceland
Hung (HBO)
Gotham
Conviction


Crap
Camelot
Top Shot
Defiance
Legends of Tomorrow

Here is a listing of shows that I'm currently watching

Spoiler!

Great


Good
Boardwalk Empire
Westworld

Mediocre

Crap

Here is a listing of shows on my list to watch (mostly due to this thread)

Spoiler!

The Sopranos
24
Fargo (missed getting it on the DVR )
Band of Brothers
The Pacific
The Comeback
6 Feet Under
John Adams
Battlestar Glactica
Friday Night Lights

I work a ****ton, so it is hard for me catch a series while it is on to get it on the DVR, but I recognize the entertainment value and am willing to go after the Must See shows. Accordingly, I'm not necessarily looking for anything that is still running. I'm up for watching stuff that has run its course.

So what say you, Planet? Which shows should I see?

UPDATED for the shows I've seen recently.

[aturnis]

The Chicago Code. From Shawn Ryan, the guy who brought you "Terriers". Canceled after just one season due to poor following. Fantastic show though, from the first episode to the last. Also, a lot of great acting. Luckily, they wrapped up the bulk of the storyline by seasons end, you'll want more, but it won't leave you hanging.

Fox actually loved the show, it just didn't get the audience it deserved. You can watch it on Netflix. I highly recommend you do.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by aturnis

The Chicago Code. From Shawn Ryan, the guy who brought you "Terriers". Canceled after just one season due to poor following. Fantastic show though, from the first episode to the last. Also, a lot of great acting. Luckily, they wrapped up the bulk of the storyline by seasons end, you'll want more, but it won't leave you hanging.

Fox actually loved the show, it just didn't get the audience it deserved. You can watch it on Netflix. I highly recommend you do.

This brings to mind, by way of Jennifer Beales

Jordan Peele of Key and Peele made an astute observation on a recent Sklarboro Country podcast.

Maniac

"She's a maniac, maniac, out on the floor. And she's dancing like she's never danced before."

Does that mean she's dancing BETTER than ever before [the clear intent of the lyric], or a more straightforward reading of the syntax? She's dancing like someone who has never attempted to dance before in her life.

[aturnis]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

This brings to mind, by way of Jennifer Beales

Jordan Peele of Key and Peele made an astute observation on a recent Sklarboro Country podcast.

Maniac

"She's a maniac, maniac, out on the floor. And she's dancing like she's never danced before."

Does that mean she's dancing BETTER than ever before [the clear intent of the lyric], or a more straightforward reading of the syntax? She's dancing like someone who has never attempted to dance before in her life.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

This brings to mind, by way of Jennifer Beales

Jordan Peele of Key and Peele made an astute observation on a recent Sklarboro Country podcast.

Maniac

"She's a maniac, maniac, out on the floor. And she's dancing like she's never danced before."

Does that mean she's dancing BETTER than ever before [the clear intent of the lyric], or a more straightforward reading of the syntax? She's dancing like someone who has never attempted to dance before in her life.

I think it means she's doing a simple variation of her usual dance, not that it's better, and not that she has never danced at all.

[Baby Lee]

If you want to get in on the ground floor, OMFG Veep is slaying me from episode 1. I haven't had a laugh to footage ratio for as long as I can remember.

For those familiar, it's from the creator of In The Loop, a brilliant series from Britain.

Perhaps the highlight was Julia Louise-Dreyfuss' speech at about the 20 minute mark. She'd come out promoting corn starch spoons as more environmentally friendly than plastic. This pissed the whole executive branch as oil/plastics was the backbone of their whole admin. She had a speech composed about the virtues of corn starch spoons, but an admin lackey came in and redacted nearly everything, leaving her with nothing to say, and she vamped HORRIBLY [the veep refers to it as the pres 'pencil ****ing' her]. Right up there with the most painful moments in the BBC 'The Office.' MoF, if the premiere is any indication, this might be the best comedy series since BBC's 'The Office.' Hope people appreciate the gravity of that assessment.


For a sense of how funny it is, after the disastrous impromptu speech, an advisor tries to placate thing by saying 'it might not be too bad, what if Tom Hanks dies' regarding the media cycle.

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by Buck

Mad Men should be added to that.

So should Dexter.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by aturnis

Originally Posted by Literature

I think it means she's doing a simple variation of her usual dance, not that it's better, and not that she has never danced at all.

Don't overthink this folks, it's a humorous semantic observation.

[Jenson71]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

If you want to get in on the ground floor, OMFG Veep is slaying me from episode 1. I haven't had a laugh to footage ratio for as long as I can remember.

For those familiar, it's from the creator of In The Loop, a brilliant series from Britain.

Perhaps the highlight was Julia Louise-Dreyfuss' speech at about the 20 minute mark. She'd come out promoting corn starch spoons as more environmentally friendly than plastic. This pissed the whole executive branch as oil/plastics was the backbone of their whole admin. She had a speech composed about the virtues of corn starch spoons, but an admin lackey came in and redacted nearly everything, leaving her with nothing to say, and she vamped HORRIBLY. Right up there with the most painful moments in the BBC 'The Office.' MoF, if the premiere is any indication, this might be the best comedy series since BBC's 'The Office.' Hope people appreciate the gravity of that assessment.


For a sense of how funny it is, after the disastrous impromptu speech, an advisor tries to placate thing by saying 'it might not be too bad, what if Tom Hanks dies' regarding the media cycle.

This is good to hear. I of course adore JLD, and was caught up in all the promotional materials, but I don't have HBO. It's something to keep on my radar, then.

Is it overtly political?

[DJJasonp]

The Wire is as good, or better, than the Sopranos

Recent: American Horror Story and Walking Dead....good fun.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Literature

This is good to hear. I of course adore JLD, and was caught up in all the promotional materials, but I don't have HBO. It's something to keep on my radar, then.

Is it overtly political?

No, from what I've heard, you'll never know their political party and will never see the actual president [JLD said this expressly on The Daily Show]. Going back to the BBC Office, how much do you know about partisanship from that show [outside of maybe Gareth]? It's a show about process and interpersonal relationships.

The ep also features a pimp reference that is the best since Kramer's 'coat of many colors' episode.

And another where there was a gathering for the Veep where no one showed up. An advisor told her to mingle and JLD replied 'there's no one here, did Simon and Garfunkel mingle?"

I told you that the show was packed with laughs.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Mrs. FMB! and I watched Veep last night - hilarious!

[Deberg_1990]

I'd like to add Terriers to this list. Even though it had only one season, it did complete its story arc.

[Red Brooklyn]

Yeah, Veep is hysterical. Though I wonder about it's potential longevity. Hopefully they can keep it fresh. I'm on board, though.

[WildTurkey]

Check out "Game of Thrones" immediately it's amazing. A couple comedies that haven't been mentioned that I enjoy....

"it's always sunny in Philadelphia"
"community"
"raising Hope"
"the IT crowd"

[Buehler445]

Thanks again guys.

Watched The first season of Game of Thrones. ****ing out****ingstanding. I know I probably should have read the books, but realistically there is a very small chance I will commit the time to it. But the first season is ****ing super. Didn't see much of anything except the dragon hatch happening. It is very well produced and acted as far as I'm concerned.

I started Mad Men also. It is very different than I expected, but I love it. I'm not quite through the first season, but I can't quit thinking about it. I really like the format. It is really difficult to find a production without much music or even plot. It is an exquisite character driven piece. I love it.