Favorite TV-Shows
These are my favorite tv-shows, with my comments on why I like them so much.They are in order, however that is subject to change from time to time. I've also chosen to put some shows quite high despite them only having one season so far. The reasoning behind this is that they have yet to dissappoint me, unlike some of the veterans(GOT, TWD).
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- CreatorMark FrostDavid LynchStarsKyle MacLachlanMichael OntkeanMädchen AmickAn idiosyncratic FBI agent investigates the murder of a young woman in the even more idiosyncratic town of Twin Peaks.FBI-Agent Dale Cooper arrives in Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of the local sweetheart Laura Palmer, but soon he realizes this is no ordinary case.
Elements of the supernatural, a unique gallery of odd people, and the general creepy atmosphere, makes this my favorite TV-series of all time. - CreatorBaran bo OdarJantje FrieseStarsLouis HofmannKaroline EichhornLisa VicariA family saga with a supernatural twist, set in a German town where the disappearance of two young children exposes the relationships among four families.This show has that undefinable something that separates it from the ordinary and makes it great. The special effects are not necessarily that good, and the concept is deceptively simple at first glance: Missing boy, suspicious townspeople.
From there it moves outwards in unexpected directions. For example the ways by which different families lives intertwine, and how the consequences of each individual action undulates like rings in water.
Supplemented by some incredible acting, and the moody grey and raindrenched imagery, it manages to diverge from the formula. Add to that a haunting score, and you've got the elements of something that is at once beautiful and deeply unsettling.
- StarsScott GrimesDamian LewisRon LivingstonThe story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day.It is the realism, the grittyness,and the in depth look at individual stories within the company that makes this series so special. Above all the convincing portrayal of soldiers attempting to hold on to some sense of humanity, amidst the horror of war.
- CreatorDrew GoddardStarsCharlie CoxVincent D'OnofrioDeborah Ann WollA blind lawyer by day, vigilante by night. Matt Murdock fights the crime of New York as Daredevil.
- CreatorJoe GangemiGregory JacobsStarsCraig RobertsEnnis EsmerOliver CooperA coming-of-age comedy set in the "go-go" 80s about a college student enjoying a last hurrah before summer comes to an end--and the future begins.
- CreatorRay McKinnonStarsAden YoungAbigail SpencerJ. Smith-CameronDaniel Holden must put his life back together after serving 19 years on Georgia's Death Row before DNA evidence calls his conviction into question.
- CreatorJason HorwitchStarsJames Badge DaleJessica Ann CollinsLauren HodgesWill Travers is an analyst at a New York City-based federal intelligence agency who is thrown into a story where nothing is as it appears to be.A spy-thriller series with some actual depth. It follows the investigation into the death of loved ones, from two very different points of entry: Will Travers,an intelligence analyst, looking into his father in-laws death. And Katherine Rhumor,widow of a powerful industrialist, trying to find the answers behind her husband's suicide. The four-leaf clover is the only common thread they have to start with.
This show is a slow-burner, building suspicions and subplots expertly, taking its time, making the revelations that much more exciting. - CreatorDavid BenioffD.B. WeissStarsEmilia ClarkePeter DinklageKit HaringtonNine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.Based on George R.R. Martins fantasy series " A song of fire and ice", we experience the power-struggles, corruption, violence and debauchery of the 7 noble families, in the mythical realm of Westeros.
My favorite character is Tyrion Lannister, it'd be much less entertaining without him. - CreatorRichard WarlowStarsMatthew MacfadyenAdam RothenbergMyAnna BuringThe streets of Whitechapel are the haunt of Detective Inspector Edmund Reid and his team of officers, who aim to maintain law and order in a place once terrorized by Jack the Ripper.A saga of crime and retribution,where the main players remain over three seasons. Caught in the aftermath of the Ripper killings, Detective Inspector Edmund Reid, Detective sergeant/Detective inspector Bennett Drake and Captain Homer Jackson, seek to uncover the truth that slithers and bends beneath the streets of Whitechapel. While searching for such enlightenment, and the protection of the people of this area, its dark heart threatens to swallow them all.
The best part of this series is its strong characters. Throughout the series they are allowed to develop, and come into their own. McFadyen seemed a strange choice to me at first as a hardened law enforcer, but his actions and manner turns convincing by the energy McFadyen puts into his role. Flynn looks the part from the beginning, step by step revealing his inner dreams and tenderness. Rothenberg excels as the unwilling participant and freelance medical examiner of H-division. All in due course caught up by their past and their choices.
The second thing that makes this series so great is that the storylines always run deeper than its individual cases. Some even to the very end. The show is able to reveal how crime in different ways, and of different categories followed in the wake of the industrial revolution, the new technological developments, and in the name of progress.
The third thing that makes this series so great, is the way the time and place in which it takes place, is imprinted on the visual style of the show. How the colours are muted, the streets are foggy and dusted, the people covered by the grime of their daily toil. Also how the violence and murders are rendered in a realistic style, not shying away from the gruesome effects that violence, poison and alike does to a human body.
If you have the stomach for it, this show will reward you with a tale that is absolutely riveting. Like a book you can't put down until it is finished. - CreatorDavid FarrStarsEsme Creed-MilesMireille EnosÁine Rose DalyIn equal parts high-concept thriller and coming-of-age drama, HANNA follows the journey of an extraordinary young girl raised in the forest, as she evades the relentless pursuit of an off-book CIA agent and tries to unearth the truth behind who she is.
- CreatorFrank DarabontStarsAndrew LincolnNorman ReedusMelissa McBrideSheriff Deputy Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to learn the world is in ruins and must lead a group of survivors to stay alive.The show is gritty and brutal beyond words. And despite this, the main characters mostly manages to retain a core of basic humanity, amidst the horror that permeates nearly every aspect of their daily lives. I've come to care for these people, I hope with them for a better tomorrow. In my opinion it's one of only a handful shows through history to reach this level of excellence in everything from Storylines to characters, to scenery,to tension, to sound and special effects.
- CreatorChris CarterStarsDavid DuchovnyGillian AndersonMitch PileggiTwo F.B.I. Agents, Fox Mulder the believer and Dana Scully the skeptic, investigate the strange and unexplained, while hidden forces work to impede their efforts.FBI-agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully is tasked with solving cases of a paranormal nature. The challenge is staying alive and keeping their sanity, with enemies even within their own department.
The first seasons are the best, with quality declining subsequently, but it's still one of my absolute favorites. - CreatorNoah HawleyStarsDan StevensRachel KellerAubrey PlazaDavid Haller is a troubled young man diagnosed as schizophrenic, but after a strange encounter he discovers special powers that will change his life forever.
- StarsIan RichardsonCharles EdwardsSimon ChandlerCertain events which had an impact on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, while he was still a medical student under the supervision of Dr. Bell, his teacher and mentor, on whom the character of Sherlock Holmes is partly drawn from.Follows Arthur Conan Doyle during his initiation into crime investigation by his mentor Dr. Bell. Drawn away from his medical studies, Doyle is constantly surprised and impressed with Dr. Bells deductive method. Assisting the local police in solving various murder's they come to know the infernal workings of the human mind,and it's gruesome results.
- StarsSteve CooganRebecca FrontPatrick MarberAlan Partridge hosts his own chat show on the BBC. He insults and belittles almost all of his guests and is humiliated by the rest.As Alan Partridge the host of a BBC talk-show, Steve Coogan gives life to one of the most contemptible and obnoxious tv-characters ever put to screen. Alan is apparently stuck in the 80's both musically and otherwise, with a fashion sense like a mix of boarding school and 80's yuppie, Alan's only conceivable aim is to promote himself while belittling and generally deriding his guests. He's a complete prick,which is obvious to everybody but himself,which makes it all the more fun when his guests turn the tables on him, or when he gets himself into compromising positions,which he frequently does.
Later series involve him being fired as tv-host, taking work as a dj in Radio Norwich. Those series are equally funny. - StarsRowan AtkinsonTony RobinsonStephen FryStuck in the middle of World War I, Captain Edmund Blackadder does his best to escape the banality of the war.In my opinion all four series deserves this position, so I'll be giving a description of the whole collection:
Wickedly funny comic series,with silliness and biting sarcasm throughout. We follow Edmund Blackadder and his lineage from 1380 up to the first world war. Supported by his stedfast but naive and turnip-obsessed friend/servant Baldrick, Blackadder is always planning and conspiring to get to a position of Power among the english nobles. Edmund is one evil little bastard,and you'll have the time of your life following his exploits. History has never before been this entertaining!
Oh and by the way, the lead role is Rowan Atkinson,but don't expect him in Bean Mode.This is fun primarily based on good lines,hilarious personalities and over the top costumes. - CreatorMark GatissSteven MoffatStarsBenedict CumberbatchMartin FreemanUna StubbsThe quirky spin on Conan Doyle's iconic sleuth pitches him as a "high-functioning sociopath" in modern-day London. Assisting him in his investigations: Afghanistan War vet John Watson, who's introduced to Holmes by a mutual acquaintance.Eccentric, direct, self-destructive(to a lesser degree),this Sherlock is certainly an interesting character. Unlike it's many predecessors we also get to follow doctor Watson's private life in this series. Holmes and Watson's strange dynamic is the driving force of the show, combined with up-to date mysteries, which retains the elegance and complexity of the original material,and perhaps even surpasses it.
- CreatorNic PizzolattoIssa LópezStarsVince VaughnColin FarrellRachel McAdamsAnthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law.
- CreatorJack ThorneStarsLily LovelessTom EllisDaniel KaluuyaPaul has apocalyptic dreams, and sees spirits of the dead called The Fades. He must stop them before they destroy humanity.Certain similarities with the Walking dead here. But this has a more supernatural content. Strange terrifying dreams, outsider issues, a budding romance, and gruesome murders, are the elements we are introduced to from the beginning of this series. And remarkably it only gets better, turning darker, more intense, still keeping one foot in the everyday goings on. In this tale there is no easy solutions, and no escape.
- CreatorGraham YostStarsTimothy OlyphantNick SearcyJoelle CarterEnforcing his own brand of justice, U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, a strong-willed, quiet law-man haunted by his past, returns to his native town to see that justice is served to those in need.
- StarsBenedict CumberbatchRebecca HallRoger AllamRevolves around a love triangle between a conservative English aristocrat, his mean socialite wife and a young suffragette.
- CreatorSteve LightfootStarsJon BernthalAmber Rose RevahBen BarnesAfter his revenge on those who murdered his family, aimless Marine veteran Frank Castle finds a new meaning in life as a vigilante known as "The Punisher".
- CreatorBridget CarpenterStarsJames FrancoSarah GadonGeorge MacKayJake Epping, a teacher, gets a chance to travel back in time to avert the death of John F. Kennedy. However, history's aversion to alteration and his love for the era and a woman endanger him.
- CreatorAmy Sherman-PalladinoStarsRachel BrosnahanAlex BorsteinMichael ZegenAfter her husband leaves her, young mother of two Miriam "Midge" Maisel discovers that she has a talent for stand-up comedy. Could this be her calling?
- StarsGabriel ByrneBrian GleesonNick DunningA chief pathologist in the Dublin city morgue investigates sudden death victims in the 1950s.There are so many procedurals,and cop shows out there,doing the same thing over and over again. This is not one of those regular TV- shows. Crime plays a part of course, but more than that, this is a series that is driven by character development. For each crime we also delve deeper into Quirke's family relations and history. There is a logical development in the way the story is built,so that the plots of the different episodes combine into a whole. And consequences are far from as clean cut, as it would have been in an ordinary cop-show.
I have tremendous respect for Gabriel Byrne and Michael Gambon as actors, and I think this material may well have provided the foundation for some of the best acting of their career. The supporting cast is also uniformly excellent, and that nearly all actors in this series is Irish, also makes it that much more convincing.I enjoyed the mood set by the music,and the portrayal of the era. From Smoke-filled streets and bars, to the clothes they use, the cars they drive, and all the small details that make up this wonderful mini-series. - CreatorJoe GaytonTony GaytonStarsAnson MountColm MeaneyRobin McLeavyThe Civil War is past, but former Confederate soldier Cullen Bohannon can't put it behind him. Fresh are the memories of the death of his wife, killed at the hands of Union soldiers, an act that sets him on a course of revenge.At first I admit I was a bit sceptical. I was worried that the revenge motif, and ironically the railroad project, would limit the range and mobility of the series. But so far I've been proved wrong. The themes have been varied,from racism, revenge and corruption, to the conflict that was created by railroad expansion into the Indian territories. Combining this with various expeditions into the surrounding areas makes it more open and interresting,than I was afraid of. In addition the main actors does a very good job, managing convincingly to convey the many dreams, ambitions and motivations, that has brought together the motley crew of characters, that surround the building of the railroad.
- StarsJohn CleesePrunella ScalesAndrew SachsHotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away.
- CreatorAlan BallStarsAnna PaquinStephen MoyerSam TrammellTelepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse encounters a strange new supernatural world when she meets the mysterious Bill Compton, a southern Louisiana gentleman and vampire.We are taken on a dark and bloody rollercoaster ride, as Sookie and her friends delve deep into the underbelly of their community, revealing all manner of supernatural creatures and dark schemes.
- CreatorJosh AppelbaumAndré NemecScott RosenbergStarsGeoff StultsLauren GermanAmy AckerA deputy sheriff is confronted with the unsolved mystery of a half-dozen child kidnappings over the past decade in a small town in Minnesota.Following in the vein of Twin Peaks, this series is a hidden gem. Seemingly a thriving community, full of general happiness, this is only a thin veneer over the dark and disturbing secrets, that lurk beneath the surface.
The only thing wrong with this show is that it was never really finished,but instead pulled by the network after one season. So much build up,that at least a second season would be needed to conclude the show in a satisfying manner. - CreatorWalt BeckerMichael LeSieurStarsKelly BlatzMatt BushDrew SeeleyCenters on a group of friends who are trying to navigate college life in 1980s Wisconsin. From being out on their own for the first time to pledging a fraternity, they discover how challenging the next few years are going to be.It's comedy with a heart, and with it's own perfect blend of raunch and intelligence. Eli,Stankowski and professor Haines especially contributes to making this a wild ride. At the same time it's kinda comfortable. It feels like an old friend,and you'll miss it when it's gone.
- CreatorAbi MorganStarsRomola GaraiBen WhishawDominic WestA behind-the-scenes drama and espionage thriller in Cold War-era England that centers on a journalist, a producer, and an anchorman for an investigative news programme.Over 6 episodes we are slowly but surely pulled into the atmosphere of cold war England. Stylistically it has several things in common with Mad Men. You have the suit-and tie elegance,the chain-smoking and the omnipresent whisky-decanters. But here you also have the espionage element to stir things up. And it soon gets close and personal as people die, secrets are revealed, international events turns dramatic, and sexual tensions put established relationships to the test.
- CreatorJamie BrittainBryan ElsleyStarsKaya ScodelarioNicholas HoultJoe DempsieThe story of a group of British teens who are trying to grow up and find love and happiness despite questionable parenting and teachers who would rather be friends (and lovers) than authority figures.Uncompromising,raw and challenging. Crosses a lot of boundaries, and is all the better for it. I don't think Misfits would have existed without this series.
- StarsJason IsaacsAmanda AbbingtonZawe AshtonFormer soldier and policeman Jackson Brodie becomes a private investigator.Chronicles the life and work of a private investigator with a heart for society's unfortunates. Jason Isaacs convincing portrayal of a damaged P.I. that somehow manages to drag himself out of his personal darkness to do his job, is the prime reason for me placing this series so high. Coupled with good storylines and challenging cases, this is one of the better shows I've seen.
- CreatorDavid E. KelleyStarsLoretta DevineAnthony HealdFyvush FinkelThe lives of 10 faculty members at a high school in Boston weave in and out of dealing with trouble-makers, having a personal life, and keeping sanity.This series presents a sort of heightened reality. It exaggerates, with the number, and gravity of the incidents portrayed. But at the same time Boston Public presents very real issues, and captures extremely well the stress the teaching staff is under, at a large number of schools today.Among other things a lack of funds, lack of manpower, trouble getting students through to graduate, and an ever increasing lack of discipline among the students. Boston Public presents a boiling pot, and you can't help but sympathize with most of the teachers, and some of the students, for what they are put through on a daily basis.
It is a quirky gallery of people we are introduced to. Sometimes you might wonder if any of them are fit to teach.Harvey Lipschultz is a bigot. But being so obviously wrong, he makes for great entertainment. Every time he's on screen I'm expecting some kind of scandalous remark, but more often than not I pitied him for being so out of touch with society. And how about the feeble romantic attempts by the school's assistant principal Scott Guber. There's the obvious rage and instability of Harry Senate, and the equally unstable pill-popping Marla Hendricks. Often you really don't know if you should sympathize,despise them or laugh outright.It's that kind of unease and ambiguity that in my opinion marks this series as a near perfect blend of drama and comedy. - CreatorBen CourtCaroline IpStarsRupert Penry-JonesPhil DavisSteve PembertonA fast-tracked inspector, a hardened detective sergeant, and an expert in historical homicides investigate modern crimes with connections to the past in the Whitechapel district of London.A clash of personalities and of investigative methods, in combination with murders rooted in the infamous history of the area, is the engine that drives these two seasons. The Ripper-episodes are the best, but the Kray-episodes aren't far behind in quality.
- CreatorGreg DanielsRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsSteve CarellJenna FischerJohn KrasinskiA mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, tedium and romance.
- CreatorChris ChibnallMichael HirstStarsJoseph FiennesJamie Campbell BowerTamsin EgertonWhen King Uther dies and Britain faces chaos, Merlin presents an unknown named Arthur as the new king by birthright, as the late king's son, against the ambitious desires of his half-sister, Morgan.An alternative version of the Arthurian legend, following his rise to power, in the chaotic aftermath of King Uther's demise. This is the adult edition, which the Merlin series couldn't even aspire to. It's grittier, with darker themes,less magic, and some deeply tortured characters. A time when the battle seems to be for the very soul of the land.
Something I didn't like was the choice of actor to play Arthur. He probably functions according to the intention of portraying an immature, bratty, and less heroic Arthur,that's used to getting his own way. But although Jamie Campbell Bower does a decent job, he's completely outmatched by the strong personalities, and performances of Joseph Fiennes(Merlin) and Eva Green(Morgan Le Fay). As a whole this series is a strong addition to Arthurian lore, turning upside down several of the traits and relationships of the original tale. - CreatorRodrigo GarcíaHagai LeviNir BergmanStarsGabriel ByrneUzo AdubaDianne WiestA psychotherapist questions his abilities and gets help by reuniting with his old therapist, whom he has not seen for ten years.A minimalistic concept honed to perfection: The psychotherapist in a conversation with his individual (or in some cases couples)patients, trying to get to the root of the problem.
Each episode is limited to one patient/alternatively a couple for couples therapy. The realism of not solving peoples problems in one session or at all, is certainly more interessting, than the forced resolutions, of most tv-series dealing with such serious subject matter. Add to that Paul Weston's (Gabriel Byrne) personal issues,and you've got an internal dynamic,that will appeal to the patient viewer. - CreatorTom KapinosStarsDavid DuchovnyNatascha McElhoneEvan HandlerA writer tries to juggle his career, his relationship with his daughter and his ex-girlfriend, as well as his appetite for beautiful women.A truly adult series. Great dialogue, and filled with an eclectic and eccentric cast of characters. Californication is a neverending source of relationship based problems. Predictable in some ways(Hank's hormones always gets him in trouble), and unpredictable in others(all the humor that can be derived from what people do to satisfy their desires).
- CreatorPaul FeigStarsLinda CardelliniJohn Francis DaleyJames FrancoA high school mathlete starts hanging out with a group of burnouts while her younger brother navigates his freshman year.Freaks and Geeks focuses on ordinary teens in the 80's. The series illustrates very well how youth's explore different social contexts, the angst and the social awkwardness they experience, and how they in different ways rebel against the conservative lifestyles of their parents.
- CreatorWinnie HolzmanStarsBess ArmstrongWilson CruzClaire DanesA 15-year-old girl and her trials and tribulations of being a teenager and dealing with friends, guys, parents, and school.Similar to Freaks and Geeks, only placed in the 90's, and with a more serious tone to it.
- CreatorCarlton CuseGraham RolandStarsJohn KrasinskiWendell PierceMichael KellyUp-and-coming CIA analyst, Jack Ryan, is thrust into dangerous field assignments.
- StarsRon OllieBrittany WagnerJohn III FranklinIntense look inside the world of junior college football, chronicling the stories of players and coaches in the classroom and on the field.