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Miscellany, Inc. => Ensign First Class Blather => Topic started by: Kulyok on March 21, 2008, 02:59:39 PM

Title: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Kulyok on March 21, 2008, 02:59:39 PM
All right, I'm getting myself the latest Pushing Daisies episodes, and there's always X-Files and Babylon 5. Six Feet Under is great, though it makes one a little sleepy. Charmed was fun when I was a student - until Rose McGowan came, that is. But I have a feeling there're other good series out there, and I'm missing a lot by not watching these.

There's Star Trek - is it good, or too old? There're spinoffs - are they any good? There's Twin Peaks - is it good, or too creepy? Everyone seems to be a fan of Lost these days, but I've heard there were too many pregnant women there - is it true? There's Blade - or Blake? What is worth it, in your eyes?
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Eleima on March 21, 2008, 03:41:47 PM
I'm going to have to give a few names that you haven't even mentioned, because they're my personal all time faves! ;D
* Seinfeld - Maybe a bit old, but still as hilarious!!!
* Star Trek: The Next Generation - The one I grew up with, with our favorite, Captain Picard! :-*
* Scrubs - Maybe I'm a lil biased, because I'm a med student, and it has a certain ring of truth to it, but it's very funny, very cute, and even insightful sometimes!
* Futurama - By the creator of the Simpsons, this one takes place in the year 3000. Simply awesome!
That's all I can think of for now. :D
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Kulyok on March 21, 2008, 03:47:11 PM
Thanks! I know someone mentioned Futurama to me... must really check it out soonish!
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Daulmakan on March 21, 2008, 04:23:38 PM
All time:
* The Simpsons (up to and including the 9th season)
* The Critic
* Seinfeld

Currently:
* Heroes
* Bones
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: jcompton on March 21, 2008, 04:46:10 PM
I keep telling you to watch Blake's 7. And not to read series spoilers before you do.

There's Star Trek - is it good, or too old? There're spinoffs - are they any good?

Watching the original Star Trek is just one of those Things You Have To Do to have true geek cred. You don't have to love it, but you do need to be conversant in it. It's only 79 episodes.

Of all the Trek spinoffs, DS9 is the one which is most likely to suit your particular tastes, but in order to really understand it and to fully appreciate some of its better episodes, a grounding in the original series and TNG is good to have first. Voyager is reprehensibly bad, and Enterprise was so terrible that even the people who kept Voyager on the air for seven seasons weren't enough to keep it from being cancelled.

TNG's first two seasons can mostly be viewed on autopilot without worrying about missing too much, although there is the occasional gem. It settles in after that.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Kulyok on March 21, 2008, 04:54:09 PM
Blake's 7, I see... And Seinfeld seems popular, too - my list just grows longer and longer! Thank you very much, everyone.

(I'm starting to understand all these people who are asking for the mod advice, though they can find everything out via Google, anyway. No, seriously, it is useful.)
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Echon on March 21, 2008, 06:45:10 PM
Family Guy. :)

-Echon
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Lord Ernie on March 21, 2008, 08:07:26 PM
Depends on what you're looking for. Being an action junkie, I was never a fan of just about any of the Start Trek series, myself.

I reckon Firefly needs very little introduction, but I don't know if you've actually seen it yet. The most undeservedly cancelled sci-fi show I've ever seen.

Of the more recent series, I thought Lost was good at first, but when all the mysteries of the first few episodes were still left unsolved a couple of seasons later, I was starting to get my fill. I can definitely recommend Heroes, though; the first season blew me away, and while the second hasn't been all that great (and with writer strikes, the next episodes have been postponed till September), it's a great, great show! Definitely recommended if you can at all swallow the "X-men principle".

On the humour side of things, I've found that I actually like "How I met your mother" very much; I feared at first the show would resemble "Friends", it's funnier, wittier, and much, much sharper. Not sure how high it rates on the Geek meter, though.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Crazee on March 22, 2008, 05:39:34 AM
Quote
* Scrubs - Maybe I'm a lil biased, because I'm a med student, and it has a certain ring of truth to it, but it's very funny, very cute, and even insightful sometimes!

I adore this programme. There's something so ... charming about it. I higly recommend you have a watch; whenever I've had a bad day, I can always count on an episode of Scrubs to cheer me up. And, just for the record, if you do decide to watch an episode or two, I'd maybe take a look on the internet for some of the earlier episodes, just because the later ones, while funny, are quite ridiculous, and nowhere near as funny until you get to know the characters a little better.

And, just to mention, this programme has an amazing balance of goofy humour, sarcastic humour, drama and powerful moments. It has me in tears, sometimes! Some of the episodes are heart-wrenching.


Quote
On the humour side of things, I've found that I actually like "How I met your mother" very much; I feared at first the show would resemble "Friends", it's funnier, wittier, and much, much sharper. Not sure how high it rates on the Geek meter, though.

Aside from the fact that you insulted Friends, thus taking a chunk of my soul out of my body and throwing it at my face, I can not agree more. How I Met Your Mother is the one programme all of my family can stand to watch together. It's worth a look, definitely.

And, if not that, I'd take a look at ER. It's pretty people dressed up as doctors, and is highly enjoyable. If you haven't guessed, I like my American Hospital Programmes.  ;D
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: gertjanvh on March 22, 2008, 06:26:20 AM
Oew this topic is so gonna show my true nature...

Alright.. Star Trek naturally; TNG, DS9 and a bit VOY (Before they started using Borg as sex appeal).
Still a huge Friends fan
Sex and the City (There is really nothing quite as fun as criticizing Sarah Jessica Parkers wardrobe, especially when combined with chocolade)
Will & Grace (Does this really need further explaining?)
Bit Xena and BtvS

I still have to check out that new series with Matthew Perry though..
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Miss Sakaki on March 22, 2008, 10:07:17 AM
I've just got into Carnivale; it's really fun, what with moral ambiguity and very nice cinematography. Not to mention very well-done characters.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: jcompton on March 22, 2008, 11:29:26 AM
While we're insulting Friends, skip it and just graduate directly to Coupling*. It seriously suffers from Single Author Syndrome, particularly in its final, played-out season (funny how that happens), but when it's on, it is so, so on.

* - the UK original, of course. The spurious US version got about two things right and everything else wrong, but is amusing for comparison's sake and should be viewed strictly as an academic exercise.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: SimDing0™ on March 22, 2008, 12:31:16 PM
Coupling is excellent, and I don't think it's any coincidence that Steven Moffat also wrote most of the best episodes of the recent series of Doctor Who.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: gertjanvh on March 22, 2008, 12:54:00 PM
Excuze-moi? I didn't buy all ten seasons not to defend Friends in it's time of need. First, with over 50 million viewers at it's high-point it is still one of the best viewed sitcoms in the US ever, plus during the first five seasons Friends really was very funny, with multiple storylines running through multiple episodes. Story Arc wise, it's far above the average US sitcom which would present one misunderstanding per ep with virtually no continuations throughout it's seasons.

One of the more memorable things in Friends was for example the relationship between Ross and Rachel. The buildup between those two in the first and second season was very, very exciting to watch. I have to admit that as the series dragged on and on, they didn't manage to generate enough exciting new ideas to continue the established quality and the writing became much less witty, but at least the first five seasons are worth it.

*Now that my rambling is complete, I'm off to download an ep of Coupling...
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Lord Ernie on March 22, 2008, 01:45:42 PM
How could I possibly forget about Coupling (UK version)? The last season is at times a bit weak, but oh man... there's 3 seasons full of greatness. I've yet to see a character in any show, ever, who beats Jeff at complete and utter... well, watch it.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Crazee on March 22, 2008, 02:57:32 PM
Excuze-moi? I didn't buy all ten seasons not to defend Friends in it's time of need. First, with over 50 million viewers at it's high-point it is still one of the best viewed sitcoms in the US ever, plus during the first five seasons Friends really was very funny, with multiple storylines running through multiple episodes. Story Arc wise, it's far above the average US sitcom which would present one misunderstanding per ep with virtually no continuations throughout it's seasons.

One of the more memorable things in Friends was for example the relationship between Ross and Rachel. The buildup between those two in the first and second season was very, very exciting to watch. I have to admit that as the series dragged on and on, they didn't manage to generate enough exciting new ideas to continue the established quality and the writing became much less witty, but at least the first five seasons are worth it.

*Now that my rambling is complete, I'm off to download an ep of Coupling...

I don't have any more programmes to add, but I'm just going to add an important, "WOOP WOOP!" I agree completely.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Rodman49 on March 22, 2008, 03:06:28 PM
No one for Arrested Development?!?  I mean just look at it: http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/arresteddevelopmentseason2dvd

180 Reader Reviews with a freaking average of 9.9!  Jesus Christ!  Best TV series ever.

I'd also agree with the earlier posts of recommending How I Met Your Mother.  Star Trek was a bit before my time (I'm only 21) and I was a bigger Stargate SG-1 fan myself, mainly because Richard Dean Anderson is an awesome actor - I'd also suggest the MacGuyver which has the best pilot episode for any series I have ever seen.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: gertjanvh on March 22, 2008, 03:42:46 PM
I thought about adding MacGuyver myself, but most of it's charm depends on it's melancholic value :)
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Caedwyr on March 22, 2008, 04:37:52 PM
Dead Like Me was a good interesting and quirky show.  Another show that was canceled too early unfortunately.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Rodman49 on March 22, 2008, 05:13:46 PM
Dead Like Me was a good interesting and quirky show.  Another show that was canceled too early unfortunately.

Yeah that's another good one, pretty interesting ways for people to die.  I'm also surprised to not see The Office already listed, another real good show.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Kaeloree on March 22, 2008, 07:02:42 PM
I really enjoyed Dead Like Me, too.

I'm a fan of most of Joss Whedon's work, bash me as you will. Angel, Buffy, and especially Firefly. :)

I'm a bit of a trekkie too; I love Voyager and The Next Generation. DS9 is pretty good, too. Not so fond of the original series or the latest one, Enterprise. I also really like the latest series of Battlestar: Galactica. Fascinating storyline. Oh, and Farscape.

Yeah, I'll get off my sci fi soapbox now.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: melora on March 22, 2008, 09:52:26 PM
i usualy work in the evening so i have to record my shows.
Current faves:  the Tudors, Moonlight, Journeyman, and Lost.... in fact i am so into lost, i confess i bought the PC game even though it didnt get good reviews.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Western Paladin on March 22, 2008, 10:01:51 PM
I loved Buffy (I have all seven seasons on DVD!), was reasonably indifferent towards Angel, hated Firefly. I watched the first episode (where they're supposed to be doing things like setting up the premise and introducing characters) and had absolutely no idea what was going on. I never bothered again.

Futurama, Family Guy, and American Dad! are my favorites from among the animated sitcoms. The Simpsons is really not as funny as it thinks it is (and they constantly recycle jokes that aren't funny, like Lenny and Carl, or "it's not an island, it's a peninsula," and "we don't have an outhouse"). I just got the complete X-Files on DVD too, and have come to the realization that I actually like Agent Doggett and the one who sucks in the late seasons is Mulder.  :o I also liked Haunted and The Others when they were on, but neither of them lasted as long as they really should have. :(
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: Caedwyr on March 22, 2008, 10:19:34 PM
Dead Like Me did a great job of mixing humor and pathos.  It really was a shame it didn't go on longer.

I used to really enjoy most Star Trek (TNG, DSP, Voyager), but after watching Babylon 5 I find I can only enjoy select Star Trek episodes.  The quality and continuity just doesn't hold up.

Also, I always laugh regarding Enterprise.  It always felt like giving a bunch of redneck hillbillies (apologies to redneck hillbillies everywhere) an advanced starship and told to go out and meet and greet everyone.  That isn't exactly who I'd want to be on first contact for me, and having seen the Babylon 5: In the Beginning movie it really puts things into perspective of what happens when you let groups like this be the ones representing you to the galaxy.

I also enjoyed most Whedon series - Buffy the most, particularly the dialogue,.  I ended up watching these several years after the series ended and it was a pleasant surprise.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex Second Gig are also both fun and enjoyable mystery/thriller/espionage shows.

The first season of the new Doctor Who was good, I haven't seen the second yet so I can't comment on it, but Christopher Ecelston as the Doctor was  a good fit (and no, I didn't like the old Doctor Who, way too campy and poor quality storytelling for my tastes).

Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: icelus on March 23, 2008, 04:19:14 PM
Most of the time that my television is on it's tuned to The History Channel or National Geographic or something.  I'm a documentary slut.

As for series, I used to really like Supernatural, though for probably shallow reasons, and I've missed just about all of this season.  The only show that I watch habitually at all anymore is Ghost Hunters.  I cannot get enough of that show.
Title: Re: Your favourite TV series?
Post by: KIrving on March 26, 2008, 11:33:01 PM
Firefly, (I'm still grieving that there is only one season).  Buffy and Angel and yay for the comics continuing the series. 
Loved, Six Feet Under, one of the best endings I've seen for a series.  Coupling is a blast..."Breasts!" heh... :) (I'm so cerebral.) 
One of the coupling ladies, the slightly psychotic brunette, was recently in the mini-series Jekyll, which was quite good.  Also Life on Mars which has been out a while but which we are only seeing the second series of in Aus. now.  (Hmm...I see a BBC trend here)  On a totally different note and one which is also now a finished series, is Deadwood.  It's not for everyone, fairly gruesome (I'm so glad I'm vegetarian and no longer eat bacon) with LOTS of swearing.  I loved it.