At the moment everyone is lying down somewhere downstairs having a nap. So I'm going to continue with my Top Ten lists before I head out to do my last bit of Xmas shopping.
Today's list is TV shows and as I look over my list, they all are British series or non-main network shows. Not to say we don't watch the main networks; we still enjoy CSI, L&O:SVU, a few comedies, Agents of SHIELD, etc. Jo's list would be somewhat different I'm sure as she'd be adding The Good Wife, Suits, White Collar and a few others. But here we go with my list.
9. The Game (BBC). A show that Jo and I discovered almost by accident on BBC Canada. One of those excellent BBC mini-series, it's set during the Cold War and is a spy-thriller set in the world of espionage. A group of MI-5 officers, led by Daddy, Brian Cox, try to solve the mystery of a KGB operation while all the while trying to discover the identification of a mole in their organisation. It's got lovely pacing and excellent intrigue. It was one of the nice surprises of the year, excellent show.
8. True Detective (HBO). A powerful, intense detective mini-series starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as to Louisiana cops being interviewed about an old case, which seems to relate to a current series of murders. Both must relive this old matter and the show is shown in a series of flashbacks. Some of the most powerful television I've seen, especially an episode where the two cops go to Texas into a Hell's Kitchen of drug criminals; I found it hard to watch, it was so intense. A strange murder case involving bizarre ritualistic murders that leads them on a wild and weird chase. Season 2 will supposedly involved different detectives in a different location. It will be interesting to see if the directors can maintain the quality of the show.
7. True Blood (HBO). After 7 seasons on HBO, True Blood, the vampire series set in Bon Temps, Louisiana and based on the books by Charlaine Harris finally finished this past year. Jo and I have enjoyed this since the beginning, a bit shocked by the graphic quality of the show in the very beginning but drawn in by the fascinating stories and the excellent acting. I had read a few of the books before the series started and enticed Jo into giving it a try. We weren't disappointed and have enjoyed every season. This last season was full value for entertainment and was an excellent way to finish things off. I'll miss Vampire Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten) the most.. :0( but every member of the cast was excellent.
6. Scott & Bailey (ITV). One of those excellent cop / mystery shows that the British churn out with ease and skill, this show was written by Sally Wainwright and features Suranne Jones as DC Rachel Bailey and Lesley Sharp as DC Janet Scott, as long as Amelia Bullmore as DCI Gill Murray. In this 4th season, Rachel Bailey is made a Detective Sergeant when her partner Janet Scott turns down the promotion and DCI Murray must deal with the aftershock of an attack from the previous season as well as her impending retirement. The dialogue and the stories and the characterisations make this an excellent series and a joy to watch. This may have been the last season; fingers crossed that Sally Wainwright might have another season or two up her sleeves.
5. The Newsroom (HBO). This is definitely one of if not the favourite show of my wife, Jo. She has cried her way through this last season, the last of the series and I can see why. I have also enjoyed it very much, excellent cast (my personal favourites being Olivia Munn as financial reporter Sloane Sabbith and Jane Fonda as station owner, Leona Lansing), intelligent writing and fascinating story lines. It's about wanting the news broadcasters to report the news intelligently to an audience that still wants real news. I have enjoyed this very much, the characters were developed lovingly and the stories acted with drama and humour, nice when both can be combined successfully.
4. The Bletchley Circle (ITV). Another British gem, I enjoyed Season 2 of this mini-series as much as the first year. It follows 4 women who all worked as code breakers at Bletchley during WWII who are trying to find their way in the aftermath of the war, each working at different jobs but coming together to help solve mysteries. Anna Maxwell Martin leaves the series in this season but is replaced by Hattie Morahan. The ladies must help Rachel Stirling, who is involved with the black market and finds herself embroiled in a slave trade, mistreatment of wounded soldiers and police corruption. Intense series and some excellent acting by the four women. Loved it. Will there be a season 3? *fingers crossed*
2. Game of Thrones (HBO). There were so many good shows this past season that I almost forgot Game of Thrones in the shuffle. Thank you, Jo, for reminding me. Jo and I have been deeply involved with this series (based on the books by George R.R. Martin, since the beginning. It's definitely not a show that Jo would normally watch as she doesn't like the graphic violence, but for some reason, the first show hooked us both. We do like a well-crafted fantasy series and this is definitely that. There are a multitude of fascinating characters, the plot is deeply involved and moves from location to location; the far freezing north (Winter is coming) to the hot tropical south. Characters move in and out of the series; there is no loyalty to anyone in particular, evidenced by the execution of Sean Bean, Lord Eddard Stark, relatively early in Season 1. Season 4 was as good as the first three, was filled with action, excellent stories and continued shocks. Fascinating new characters were introduced, some were killed off, some will further enhance the story in Season 5 which comes to us in 2015. Excellent series!
1. Orphan Black (BBC America). My favourite series in a long time, starring Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany, as, well as many characters as you can think of. A science fiction adventure drama about cloning, which allows Tatiana to portray, well, so far at least six clones of as different personalities as you can imagine. Season 2 was as fascinating as the first and left the door open to so many more surprises in the upcoming season 3. Tatiana is an acting tour de force, each character she portrays is an individual in her own right and each character is fascinating and well-crafted. Add a great supporting cast and this was my favourite series of the year.
So there you have it, so very hard to pick just 10. It meant leaving out network shows like Grimm, the Big Bang Theory, Scorpion, amongst others and other series like The Walking Dead, The Left Behind, The Returned (a French series that I enjoyed very much), Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife, etc. I hope you like my choices and they cause some discussion.
Next I'll start exploring my top usb songs from the past year.
Fabulous choices.. I would probably pick them all just the same.. swapping Suits in for True Detective and The Good Wife for The Game. :D
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't surprise me at all. They are two of your favourite shows. :)
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