Most of us are stuck at home right now, thanks to the VID. Maybe you're looking for something to watch and if so, I'm here for you. These are my top five favorite shows as of now, with a quick blurb and some pertinent info. I don't plan on doing many listicles, but a few like this make sense. Now my tastes aren't for everybody, but this is my blog and I'll continue to write about what I like. Here we go.
The Wire (HBO)
5 seasons/60 episodes
Gritty police drama in Baltimore expands into a survey of the the community at large, including the drug war, schools, politics, and the media. It's old and sometimes dated, but you need to see this amazing, poignant show. And I should re-watch. Free on Amazon Prime.
Fargo (FX)
3 seasons/30 episodes so far
Anthology series spinoff from the 1996 Coen Brothers film. An often uncomfortable and always hilarious dark comedy. See previous post. It's not on Netflix, or free on Prime. Hulu?
Stranger Things (Netflix)
3 seasons/25 episodes so far
Dorky kids in small-town Indiana in the 80s run into the supernatural. A mix of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King that's fun, eerie, and pure nostalgia. On Netflix.
Daredevil (Netflix)
3 seasons/39 episodes
The Man Without Fear juggles his law practice, friends, and crime fighting in Hell's Kitchen, NY. Can struggle with pacing, but excellent (though brutal) action throughout. On Netflix.
Deadwood (HBO)
3 seasons/36 episodes + film
After the Civil War, the gold town of Deadwood sits in anarchy. US annexation is coming. Famous names of the old west travel through. Lots of language. Free on Amazon Prime.
After its sudden cancellation, they finally completed the story with a movie only on HBO.
This was really difficult. There's so much quality prestige TV and I wanted a mix of current and finished shows. I'm not committing to an order but top to bottom works for now. All of these should end up as their own posts, eventually. And it's crazy how much can change. Not long ago both The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones would've appeared here. Alas.
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Yeah, I can't stop there. Might as well round it out to ten.
The Crown (Netflix) - 3 seasons/30 episodes so far
Incredibly lavish and dramatic production on Queen Elizabeth, her family, and their intersections with history. Could easily be swapped with Deadwood into the top 5.
Breaking Bad (AMC) - 5 seasons/62 episodes - available on Netflix
Walter White, a high school chem teacher, gets diagnosed with cancer and starts making meth to pay bills. Everything spins out from there. It's simply a question of when you start rooting against Walt. The best drama series ever, but not something I want to rewatch.
Justified (FX) - 6 seasons/78 episodes - Hulu?
A US Marshal is sent home to Kentucky, where personal stuff gets in the way of his real job. Timothy Olyphant, gunslinger, is the draw. Improved after ditching a procedural format.
Rome (HBO) - 2 seasons/22 episodes - free on Prime
Historical drama re-telling the events from Caesar crossing the Rubicon through the rise of Augustus and the Roman Empire, as seen through eyes of two legionnaires.
Penny Dreadful (Showtime) - 3 seasons/27 episodes - available on Netflix
In horror-esque Victorian London, a medium helps fight vampires and other monsters while interacting with classic literary characters (Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and more).
I'm learning the FX shows aren't on either Netflix or free on Prime. There is a FXNow streaming subscription (not buying that) and apparently a deal with Hulu.
As for possible contenders to be new entrants on the list? Here are a few.
The Witcher - Wrote up back in January. I'm excited about show's prospects, but with only one season it's too early to tell.
Mindhunter - Wrote up last week. I've only seen one season so far, only two are out, and the future of the show is in doubt. :(
The Americans - Started s1 way back in 2014 then was a casualty of moving. I know it's supposed to be fantastic, but just keeps getting pushed in the backlog.
Alright. That's certainly enough. My 'top 5' list in all includes 13 shows. At least I was able to make the cut off.
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