OT: Your Top 5 TV Dramas of all-time
There was a sub-discussion in the Mad Men series final for this the other week and it got me thinking. Mine would be:
5. Boardwalk Empire - probably not on a lot of people's top 5. I think Michael Pitt's potrayal as Jimmy Darmody is one of more underrated tv performances of all time.
4. The Sopranos - Credited as the show that got presitige tv drama series really going. People still talk/debate about the finale to this day. Also great acting as a whole. RIP James Gandolfini.
3. Breaking Bad - Has as some of the best use of cinematography I've ever seen. Gustavo Fring is probably my favorite villain of all-time in a series.
2. Mad Men - Don Draper is probably my favorite drama character of all time in terms of level of intrique. Hamm better finally win an Emmy this year! This show is more character--driven than most shows which causes some to stay away from it and either love it or hate it. I thought the series finale was great and stayed true to the show being an accurate illistration of human behavior.
1. The Wire - It seems there's not a lot of middle ground in regards to this show in that people think it's the most overrated show ever, or that it's the greatest show ever. I obviously fall in the latter. I think it's as close to a flawless show as you can get, and I believe it has the overall best acting on a show that we'll ever see.
So I like AMC and HBO shows as you can see, and probably favor shows in recent time. But all just my opinion.
What are yours?
Both Deadwood and Rome suffered for being in the first wave of the cable TV takeover (before AMC, FX, etc. really jumped on board as well). They had big budgets and critical acclaim, but didn't get the ratings of the hit shows like the Sopranos or Sex and the City that came out just before them. I think if HBO execs had known just how big the post-viewing market would be for these kinds of shows, they never would have cancelled either one.
The Wire could easily have been given the same treatment, but probably escaped the axe because it wasn't too expensive to make.
I loved Rome and wish they could have done the timing properly and spaced it out over about four seasons. That would have given two seasons with Caesar and established Octavian's power consolidation enough for a spinoff or movie.
Also, Mark Antony was about as badass of a character as there has been on TV.
Mad Men
The Sopranos
West Wing
St. Elsewhere
The Rockford Files
Yes, I am old.
this is Louie down at the fish market. You going to pick up these halibut or what?
5. True Detective
4. Sopranos
3. Breaking Bad
2. The Wire
1. Deadwood
This is my list, there are many like it, but this one is mine. It also may also show a glimpse into my personality. I am a savage.
I'm also one of the only people who owned a TV prior to 2005. So I'll go with:
1. The Sopranos
2. Hill Street Blues
3. St. Elsewhere
4. L.A. Law
5. Breaking Bad
Didn't ever watch Game of Thrones, Mad Men or The Wire, so feel free to downvote me on that alone. I had the desire; just didn't find the time.
probably had the catchiest/best theme music ever.
And wasn't one of the HSB cops a former UCLA point guard?
But I could name that tune in 3 notes.
he played Bobby Hill, partnered with Andy Renko. That show had some incredible characters. Definitely top 5. For me, it's:
1. Sopranos
2. The O.C.
3. Hill Street Blues
4. Friday Night Lights
5. Mad Men
5. NYPD Blue (Sipowicz!)
5. Breaking Bad
Yeah, I have a three way tie for fifth so I can mention 7 shows.
I should have been honest and admitted I loved LA Law back in the day. But, I went back to watch it and realized that it was a product of my age and large quantities of illicit substances.
1. Justified
2. Breaking Bad
3. House of Cards
4. Sons of Anarchy
5. Jersey Shore or Real Housewives of somewhere
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TNG or DS9?
4. Dexter (first 5 seasons)
3. Sopranos
2. Boardwalk Empire
1. Hannibal
The first season was fantastic. I want to see if it has staying power before putting it in the top 5. It could have been just the product of incredible chemistry between Harrelson and that car commercial guy. "I've been driving a Lincoln since long before anybody paid me to drive one. Didn't do it to make a statement. I just liked it."
Mine is gonna be wierd...
Keep in mind I watch little tv of any kind, so if a show you loved isn't on here, its entirely likely I never watched it.
1. Downton Abbey season 1/ Upstairs downstairs
They are essentially the same show but experienced from a slightly different tightness of focus. Even though Downton is recycled, its exceptional (until it quickly dissolved into stupidity).
2. West Wing.
Absolutely, my favorite TV show of all time. Watched it 10 years after it was finished and just loved it. Could not stop watching it until there were no more episodes.
3. Sherlock.
Unexpected and brilliant. Not sure they can maintain the series at the same height, but the first 2 seasons were genius and the opening episode was stunning.
4. Daredevil. Yeah, I know its not "classic" in any sense of the word. But, its consumed me this week. I don't stay up late because of my job. I've been exhausted for 2 days now as this show has caused me to break this rule. If you like comic books at all, or did when you were a kid, this show is must-watch.
5. I can't really put anything here. I am the only living person in western civlization to have not watched the sopranos, Mad Men, or Breaking Bad. I tried with breaking and it was just SO GOD DAMNED depressing. I'll try again in a decade or so. Tried to watch GOT and after the 300th sex scene in the first half hour I just rolled my eyes and left the room. Yeah, exaggeration. I get it that TV has to be gratuitous in some fashion to capture our attention. But, don't make it cheap. Regardless, its almost a guarantee that I will plow through this show in the next year or so. The dune miniseries was also fairly good, but not near discussion for top 5. XFiles or Next Generation would probably be the choice if I was forced to choose.
Twin Peaks is another show on my must watch list as I've never gotten around to it.
Lets all just agree that I'm really, really uncool when it comes to mainstream television.
Can't edit. Totally forgot about House of Cards.
Not sure where it goes on the list, but its both uncomfortable and mesmerizing so far.
That said, I'm watching Daredevil before returning.
Also, the Lonesome Dove miniseries was fantastic. I absolutely recommend it (and the books).
Good list.
I would also add "Homicide: Life on the Streets" to my list. It was network TV, but David Simon's first TV series based on his phenomenal book of similar name. Great dialogue, great acting (except for last year when NBC decided to hire good looking people to act), and had the dreaded "critically acclaimed" label attached to it during it multi-year run. It set the stage for The Wire, and - even better - set the stage for The Wire to be a HBO, rather than network, series.
How could I have forgotten that show. It was brilliant. Andre Braugher! I now have a top 8.
is a classic; it clearly set the stage for The Wire.
The episode with Vincent D'Onofrio and the subway accident is arguably the best dramatic episode broadcast on network television.
So, in a way, Homicide also set the stage for another of my top ten : Law and Order : Criminal Intent.
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As others have pointed out, the last three seasons of Dexter were total rubbish. The Lithgow season should have been it. That was awesome.
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My five best in no particular order -- excluding mini-series -- and probably forgetting some real good ones: St. Elsewhere; Homeland (particularly the first couple of seasons); Strike Back; Newsroom; West Wing.
2) Game of Thrones
3) Boardwalk Empire
4-5) only other shows I watch are Top Gear and Archer, and those don't quite qualify as dramas...
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5. Dexter
4. Lost
3. Sons of Anarchy
2. The Sopranos
1. Mad Men
True Detective had a great first season, and so did Better Call Saul. They both have potential to be up there for me. I've liked BCS better than Breaking Bad thus far.
I've watch the first four seasons on The Wire, and while a good show, I can't put it up there as one of the best ever.
I've just yet to watch it. Same with Sopranos (which I know is TV blasphemy). From what people tell me, both will likely be in my top 5 once I watch.
1 - Star Trek: The Next Generation
2 - Game of Thrones
3 - Walking Dead
4 - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
5 - Star Trek: Voyager
Space.
Dammit, I forgot about Star Trek.
Come on, what the hell is wrong with you guys?
Where do you believe "...think about brunettes" came from anyway?
Different list.
Which explains why "Green Acres" has not been mentioned.
5) Justified
4) House of Cards
3) The Wire
2) Treme
1) Peaky Blinders
Bloodline and Luck are also very good. Amazing how good TV is right now.
I'm not the only one watching Peaky Blinders
It's really good.
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