Compared to most, I don’t watch that much television. I don’t mean that in some sort of douchey and superior way. As this blog makes clear, I actually really love good scripted TV. There is plenty of TV that is smart, heartfelt, funny, moving, and/or engaging. The problem I sometimes have with television is never in a “only the stupid and low-cultured folks watch TV” sort of way, but is rooted far more in the trouble with trying to carry ongoing serial storytelling, which is really hard for writers, as evidenced by great shows that have terrible episodes, and even terrible seasons.
Anyway, there are so many shows I need to catch up on, revisit, and try on for size. So many, in fact, that I don’t even know where to begin. Thus, I come to you, my friends out there in the internets, to help me decide. I’ve got some time to figure it out. The next few months could get a little crazy school-wise, and there are some shows I’m only a few episodes behind on that I will polish off first. However, soon, many of the shows I do watch will be over, and school will no longer be a part of my life. Thus, even though I probably won’t start any of these shows for several months, I’m looking ahead for three primary reasons: one, coming up with a plan of attack will make it easier to tackle the mountain of TV waiting for me; two, looking forward to this will help keep me going through the school work; and three, I love doing dumb shit like this.
Basically, there are a few categories of shows that I want to watch. The Unjustifiably Unfinished: the shows I started, loved (or at least liked), and for whatever reason never finished. The ‘Why The Hell Haven’t I Watched That Yet?’: the shows I’m pretty confident I’ll enjoy, some are even undisputed classics, but for some reason (or no good reason) I never got around to watching them. The Curiosities: the shows that could go either way, but that I really need to check out some time (or in one case, give another chance).
Hopefully, a few of you will vote to help me decide which ones to watch first. Hell, a select few of you may even decide to join me in watching some of them. Anyway, here are the options, and the numbers mean nothing. [I left off a few non-negotiables, that I know for sure I will be watched over the next few weeks/months.]
The Unjustifiably Unfinished:
- Breaking Bad
- Dexter
- Bored to Death
- Californication
- Battlestar Galactica
- Six Feet Under
- Deadwood
- Veronica Mars
- Chuck
- The West Wing
The ‘Why The Hell Haven’t I Watched That Yet?’:
- Twin Peaks
- The Sopranos
- The Larry Sanders Show
- Boardwalk Empire
- Red Dwarf
- Black Adder
- House of Cards (US)
- Veep
The Curiosities:
- Supernatural
- Wilfred
- Misfits
- American Horror Story
- The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret
- Fringe
Well, what say you? What should I watch first from each of these lists? Help me prioritize!
Andrew
From list #1:
Deadwood. If only for the language: I swear they slip into iambic pentameter at times; the Western cant; the highly creative, shockingly original cussin’.
The West Wing: depends what you mean by “finished” here. I’d say if you’ve gotten past Rob Lowe’s departure (end of season 4) you can probably hang it up.
List #2
Twin Peaks goes south after the first season, but that one is worth rewatching.
List #3
Misfits! At least the first two seasons. It’s got that same sort of fun/serious SF sensibility as Dr. Who. It’s light and short, not as much of a time commitment.
Scott
As far as Deadwood is concerned, you’re making me want to not just finish it, but start it over again.
West Wing I quit after Sorkin left. I watched one episode from the season after he was gone, and never watched another one again. I’d heard from some folks that it eventually picks up again, but maybe not?
I’ll also get on Misfits and Twin Peaks once the end of the school year rolls around.
Thanks!
Jesse
Twin Peaks, for sure. And then you can use this website to make a Twin Peaks pilgrimage to all of the locations in and around North Bend. I did this after watching it, and it was awesome.
http://www.intwinpeaks.com/2008/02/locations.html
The Sopranos is just awesome, but I had a hard time following all of the intrigues and back-stabbings by the end. I watched House of Cards and thought it was pretty solid.
Scott
It looks like Twin Peaks is going to have to be first, not that I’m surprised. I’d never heard of that site again, I am definitely going to do that!