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This may sound like an odd claim, but it's the truth man. I've got another couple of weeks before heading back to college, and my day job is killing me, and i've got nothing to care about. So naturally I want to turn to fictional characters. Anyways, here's my criteria.
I just finished Battlestar Galactica and it was absolutely fantastic. Except for some of the filler episodes, I loved every moment of it.
Some of my favorite tv series: Arrested Development- best comedy ever Veronica Mars- started watching this because of hatrack actually.
The Office US and UK
Death Note- a mature anime that I really appreciated for its story Lost Heroes
So i've watched a bit of tv. I was just looking for something captivating. Probably not a comedy as those usually aren't captivating. I was thinking of checking out Stargate. I don't know if anyone here watches that... But I've tried watching Firefly a couple times and just couldnt get into it for some reason.
Any way, Any suggestions from the wise hatrack?
Posts: 332 | Registered: Apr 2005
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If you are looking for witty dialog, great action, an incredible story, originality, and great acting, I can't recommend Alias enough!
Posts: 2445 | Registered: Oct 2004
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Lois and Clark- Superman in the 90s with a fun romantic comedy kind of feel (cancelled after season 3 and ended on a cliffhanger but still very fun)
Dark Angel- post-apocalyptic sci-fi/action starring Jessica Alba with a side dish of the very tasty Michael Weatherly (it got cancelled after the 2nd season but if you watch the commentary you find out what was supposed to happen in season 3, planned for the final season)
Due South- action/crime show/comedy about a Mountie in Chicago; very funny and really more about the characters than anything else
Doctor Who (new series)- a rather brilliant update of the show you (maybe) grew up watching, humorous writing and great acting wrapped up in a bundle with both the classic villains and new foes, great actors portraying the Doctor and his companions
So, um, take your pick. And I DO adore Stargate, though you might want to skip some of it.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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I heard alias fizzled out in the end. That would be my only reservations with starting that.
I tried starting the new Doctor Who the other night, and I just couldn't pay attention to the pilot. I'm not sure if I was missing something... but
Posts: 332 | Registered: Apr 2005
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I watched the very first episode of Dexter and had reservations about its content, and wasn't too interested.
But then again. I started the BSG mini series like 3 times before it just clicked and I kept going. Maybe I need to give things a bit more of a chance.
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i recently watched all of Weeds and Californication online. both are pretty good.
Weeds is about a mom whose husband died and she starts selling pot to pay the bills. along the way the town and her two sons and her brother get dragged into the mess.
Californication is about a writer (Danny Duchovny) who hasnt written anything in a really long time and is trying to get back together with his ex, who has his daughter. There is a lot of sex in this show, it doesnt reallyshow anything, just letting you know. the first scene is him dreaming he is getting a BJ from a nun.
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quote:I was setting myself up to be lynched. Alias is awful in every sense of the word.
Alias is J.J.Abrams. It works for a short time and then falls apart, undermining its earlier episodes as it goes. If you watch the first season and a little of the second, you reach a natural resting point. You should stop there. It's actually the J.J. Abrams I like best.
Stargate does not fall into your type of television likes, it sounds like. It's a lighter show and if you watch it from the beginning you're starting more than ten years ago (1997). It's a very beloved show, and it can be excellent, but its earlier episodes (unless you're totally onboard with the amazingly awesome characters) can be a little less brilliant than you'd hope.
I don't want to put you off from trying it (as I love it to bits), but I think it's important to know that people love it because of the characters and the setting; it's reasonably light and largely episodic. The same goes for its spinoff show Stargate: Atlantis.
If you liked Veronica Mars, I recommend you try Buffy. It's a dramedy in the same way Veronica Mars is and once you hit the second season it's pretty freaking captivating.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Before downloading, I'd check out Hulu. They have full seasons of a lot of shows with little (but not no) ads. I think they have 2 seasons of Buffy.
Personally, I've been enjoying Life, a somewhat comedic cop show. There's only one season so far, but it's continuing.
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That show is so wonderfully colored, the backgrounds are amazingly done. The characters are funny and charismatic. And the jokes are funny and clever. Hurray for Candy Wife.
Posts: 3389 | Registered: Apr 2004
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if the whole crime investigation shows dont turn u off, NUMB3RS has great story and characters. it is a realy good show, with personal stories, good writing, etcetera. Posts: 856 | Registered: Jun 2007
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My Monday nights are spent watching Bones and House. Both are dramas with some of the funniest dialog on tv. They're funnier than a lot of comedies I watch.
They both have a problem of the week format, and it's tv so you know basically how it'll turn out. But the characters on both shows are so wonderful together. They've both got just the right balance of affection and tension to really make you care about how the casts treat each other.
I know you said you don't do episodic, but the most recent seasons of both have an overarcing storyline in addition to the standard puzzle. Bones is trying to catch a serial killer. House fired his old diagnostic team and he's playing Doctor Survivor with his applicants to replace them. There, you're all caught up. Posts: 2283 | Registered: Dec 2003
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I would definitely suggest How I Met Your Mother. i think it's absolutely hilarious.
A couple other off-beat comedies are It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Flight of the Concords. Both of them make me laugh hysterically and I would say they're almost at the same awkward level as Arrested Development.
Posts: 1789 | Registered: Jul 2003
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I suggest investing in seasons of your favorite cartoon shows, if you haven't already. They pass the time and are familiar enough that you can stop them in the middle and go do something else if opportunity knocks, like a girl for example.
I'm currently watching the first seasons of Futurama, Pinky and the Brain and The Tick.
Hilarious all around!
Posts: 681 | Registered: Feb 2004
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I second what Somalian said. The Wire was easily the best show on television. You should definitely consider renting at least the first season.
Posts: 1158 | Registered: Feb 2006
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"Death Note- a mature anime that I really appreciated for its story"
Is this on the order of "I read Playboy for the articles"???
Did you see Death Note? It dealt with some pretty heavy themes, and the art style was very dark. It was a much deeper affair than what cartoon network tries to pass off as anime.
The pilot for Dead like me was too sexual for my liking. Being LDS kind of limits what I'll subject myself too...
The Wire is something i'm interested in checking out. Thanks for reminding me.
And I watched the pilot for Buffy. It was a bit nineties for my liking, but i've heard it goes great places.
I don't understand what people like about Avatar though. I've seen it on at random times with my younger siblings and I feel it's got some much cliche its ridiculous.
Four Nations of the four different elements. And the magic from each nation collide. I can't think of a more cliched plotline.
Posts: 332 | Registered: Apr 2005
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Consider Hikaru no Go. It is Shonen (that is, aimed at an audience generally on the young end), but also a lot more complex than the shonen stuff getting brought over here. It isn't much like Death Note in terms of themes or anything, but it is very good.
You might check out PlanetES. It is a good example of an anime aimed firmly at adults (no worries, nothing particularly sexual), and it is hard science fiction. A lot of people like the first few episodes less, so if you try it, keep watching for a bit.
For movies, watch Tokyo Godfathers and Millennium Actress, two great movies among the more approachable ones done by Satoshi Kon, the other great anime movie director of the age (along with Miyazaki).
Oh, and definitely check out Mushishi. It has the nice property of being very episodic, but there's also a gradually woven back story. It is much less silly than Death Note, but also deals with serious and often somewhat darker themes regarding what it means to be human, to have human emotions, et cetera.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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My newest favorite is "Psych". Definitely episodic and comedy, so probably not your thing, but I never miss it. I've been literally crying with laughter in some episodes. And the makers must be exactly my age because they make all these 80's references which I totally get.
Of course my first love is "Doctor Who", which you've already tried I guess. When I first saw it I just did NOT get it ... but then I didn't understand the concept, so I didn't know why one week they were fighting aliens on a space station and the next week the same people seemed to be in a period piece in Dickensian England (or Wales, as it turns out). When it came back in reruns I was able to start at the beginning of the 2005 season and once I got the concept, I loved it. Not for the aliens or even for the plots (which are sometimes wonderful and sometimes ridiculous) - but more for the characters. They definitely do a story arc each season, so it keeps you coming back.
Posts: 1522 | Registered: Nov 2005
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I'll second that Psych recommendation and suggest something I've only just started myself, Burn Notice. A spy show with lots of guns and things to blow up. More than that I can't say. I am surprised that no one mentioned 24. However, it might not last you long enough. I've burned through a season in about two days.
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Burn Notice is one of the greats. Who can argue with a voice over that announces, "Guns make you stupid. Duct tape makes you smart."?
I second the Millenium Actress recommendation. The blurring of reality and fantasy is a little disorienting, but it works.
The new season of Eureka starts tonight. Another in the problem of the week meets bigger storyline format. Plus, I love how silly it all is. Brilliant people being simultaneously smart and stupid is always fun.
Posts: 2283 | Registered: Dec 2003
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Slings and Arrows. A Shakespearian theatre company struggles to put on plays in spite of plummeting ticket sales, corporate sabotage, cast and crew bickering, insanity, tax audits, and drug addiction. Oh, and one of the main characters dies in the first episode and spends the rest of the series as a ghost. Three seasons of 6 episodes each, very funny and witty, and will likely inspire a new understanding of Shakespeare. I adore this show.
Posts: 2849 | Registered: Feb 2002
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I'll second the Avatar suggestion. I was initially put off by the "cliched" storyline, but the way they handle that storyline is incredibly thorough and deep.
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And I DO adore Stargate, though you might want to skip some of it.
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