The same goes for me with 24. I loved 24, but I know it had cheese-factor. There have been much better similar series with acting and story like Sleeper Cell and Homeland. I was thinking the same thing. And I'll give anyone "Prison Break Season 1 and 2," but after that the show was pretty ridiculous.
Tried watching Sons of Anarchy once but I could not get past how unbelievable the characters are. I know lots of people like it but it would easily be in my least favorite of all time because (at least in the 1st couple of episodes) the writers did not research at all to make it believable. I tried watching Deadwood but could not get into that one either but I might give it another try. I plan on trying The Wire at some point but I have been warned on several occasions that I will have to invest in the 1st season and get to the 2nd season before it really gets good. I watched the 1st couple of seasons of Spartacus and enjoyed it because of the blood, sex and action but I would not put it on the same level as my favorites and have not watched past season 2. The 1st seasons of Jackie and Big C were good but not good enough to suck me into season 2. My favorites in no particular order (Sorry I couldn't stop at 5): Northern Exposure The X-Files Rome Sopranos Pacific Band of Brothers Game of Thrones Breaking Bad Dexter Boardwalk Empire True Blood (1st season was great after that ehh but I keep watching) Californication (1st couple of seasons) House of Lies News Room The Walking Dead Homeland The Borgias The Tudors Weeds (1st four seasons were great) Those are my favorites and at least IMO all are worth the investment of your time. But who knows maybe my taste is 180 from everyone else.
While there is a long list of shows that I have enjoyed and ones currently on my DVR, there is only a small handful that I like to watch immediately. Sherlock (BBC) Luther Person Of Interest StarGate
I watched the 1st season of 24 and I think it would have been great if not for the fact that all of that took place in one 24 hour period. I think that part was ridiculous and as a result I never watched the next season.
Both are great shows, however... I felt the Wire started becoming a bit lackadaisical after the 3rd season. Meanwhile, the Shield kept a head full of steam season after season. I mean, the finale alone. Incredible. But at this point, we're just arguing semantics. Whatevz. Go TV!
Already seen all of the Wire and enough of Sopranos. But if you want to lend me "Thrones", feel free.
I was curious to see how old would the oldest show be Seems nothing before the 90s makes the cut I guess that sets us to an age range Dallas, Dynasty, etc <-- 80s shows just don't make the cut for those who really started getting into TV in the 90s likewise Those under 20 cannot grasp how it was to watch X-Files week to week and waiting on the next episode I think it would be interesting to see the age check next to the selections Also . . . alot of it is just . . . what have you seen recently . . . some forgot how good the older stuff was Rocket River interesting thread
Boardwalk Empire, Deadwood, Game of Thrones, Luck, The Newsroom, Oz, Rome, Six Feet Under, Treme, True Blood... you've got your work cut out for you, and that's not even the comedies. God HBO is so good. Damnit, I should have mentioned Treme in my list. It took over for Friday Night Lights for the "best show you've probably never watched" list.
I don't really think that is true. With Neflix, anyone can be schooled on how great shows are regardless of time. The problem with the 80s is TV dramas were still cheesy, where now they go for gritty realism in the best dramas... not to mention no topic is "frowned upon" now. I personally think Twin Peaks changed how people viewed the best television dramas, and how Hollywood produced them.
true not as much profanity, nudity, etc was allowed in fact . . we seem to not be able to enjoy a drama that does not have them look at the lists . . . most of these shows were 'too hot' for TV back then Rocket River
The reason for this, is tv didn't start taking off as a medium until the invention of the DVD. Before the DVD most dramas had stand alone episodes like 'Murder She Wrote', 'Mcgyver', and even for the most part 'X-files'. Stand alone tv dramas just aren't as interesting. Almost every show mentioned in this thread doesn't have stand alone episodes.
Good Point. I find I prefer to watch whole seasons rather than wait things out week to week Rocket River
No particular order.... Dexter Breaking Bad The Wire House of Cards (Though only 1 season) Fringe (Many will disagree, but I've always enjoyed it very much)
That's what I do as well. Unless it is one of the shows I simply can't wait for, like Game of Thrones.