Time to go off tangent! This time, instead of going nuts over geopolitics, I'm going to focus on another area that gets me fired up - artistic expression via a screen.
With Twin Peaks in its third season after a 26-year hiatus, it's as good as time as any to list my all-time favorite TV shows. This is a subjective list by yours truly, you're welcome to use this as template to open your mind to series you haven't seen or spark debate among your circle as to what defines greatness on screen.
Like with any piece of art it's up to one's own interpretation. For mine, quality screen art is defined by challenging the viewer to question the world around them, ultimately showcasing why art is vital to the human condition, whether as a controversial drama or a dark comedy. If a TV series is chasing ratings or simple solutions to place the viewer in a superficial world then I have zero interest. Here are the best I've seen in each category (and in some cases still watching), followed by my top 10.
Comedy
Arrested Development (2003- )
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000- )
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005- )
Nighty Night (2004-2005)
Schitt's Creek (2015- )
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (2009)
You're the Worst (2014- )
Crime drama
Better Call Saul (2015- )
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
Fargo (2014- )
Hannibal (2013-2015)
Justified (2010-2015)
Rectify (2013-2016)
The Shield (2002-2008)
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
The Wire (2002-2008)
True Detective (2014-2015)
Drama
Big Love (2006-2011)
Lost (2004-2010)
Nip/Tuck (2003-2010)
Orange Is the New Black (2013- )
Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
Skins (2007-2013)
The Handmaid's Tale (2017- )
The Insider's Guide to Happiness (2004)
The Leftovers (2015-2017)
Transparent (2014- )
Fantasy
Carnivà le (2003-2005)
Game of Thrones (2011- )
Limited-run series
11.22.63 (2016)
John Adams (2008)
Sinchronicity (2006)
The Kennedys (2011)
Period drama
Deadwood (2004-2006)
Halt and Catch Fire (2014-2017)
Mad Men (2007-2015)
Masters of Sex (2013-2016)
The Americans (2013- )
Psychological horror drama
Bates Motel (2013-17)
Science Fiction
Black Mirror (2011- )
Legion (2017- )
Orphan Black (2013-2017)
Westworld (2016- )
Serial Drama
Twin Peaks (1990- )
Thriller
Mr. Robot (2015- )
My top 10, each one of which can be my favorite on any given binge session. If I was forced to choose a number one, I'd have to go with Twin Peaks. As an 11-year-old I watched the first season, and from that day David Lynch hooked me into his eccentric world uncovering the layers of American hypocrisy.
Black Mirror
Carnivà le
Fargo
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Mad Men
Mr. Robot
Six Feet Under
The Americans
The Wire
Twin Peaks
Here's to many more years of real art broadening our horizons, who knows, it might even get you excited about embalming!
With Twin Peaks in its third season after a 26-year hiatus, it's as good as time as any to list my all-time favorite TV shows. This is a subjective list by yours truly, you're welcome to use this as template to open your mind to series you haven't seen or spark debate among your circle as to what defines greatness on screen.
Like with any piece of art it's up to one's own interpretation. For mine, quality screen art is defined by challenging the viewer to question the world around them, ultimately showcasing why art is vital to the human condition, whether as a controversial drama or a dark comedy. If a TV series is chasing ratings or simple solutions to place the viewer in a superficial world then I have zero interest. Here are the best I've seen in each category (and in some cases still watching), followed by my top 10.
Comedy
Arrested Development (2003- )
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000- )
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005- )
Nighty Night (2004-2005)
Schitt's Creek (2015- )
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (2009)
You're the Worst (2014- )
Crime drama
Better Call Saul (2015- )
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
Fargo (2014- )
Hannibal (2013-2015)
Justified (2010-2015)
Rectify (2013-2016)
The Shield (2002-2008)
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
The Wire (2002-2008)
True Detective (2014-2015)
Drama
Big Love (2006-2011)
Lost (2004-2010)
Nip/Tuck (2003-2010)
Orange Is the New Black (2013- )
Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
Skins (2007-2013)
The Handmaid's Tale (2017- )
The Insider's Guide to Happiness (2004)
The Leftovers (2015-2017)
Transparent (2014- )
Fantasy
Carnivà le (2003-2005)
Game of Thrones (2011- )
Limited-run series
11.22.63 (2016)
John Adams (2008)
Sinchronicity (2006)
The Kennedys (2011)
Period drama
Deadwood (2004-2006)
Halt and Catch Fire (2014-2017)
Mad Men (2007-2015)
Masters of Sex (2013-2016)
The Americans (2013- )
Psychological horror drama
Bates Motel (2013-17)
Science Fiction
Black Mirror (2011- )
Legion (2017- )
Orphan Black (2013-2017)
Westworld (2016- )
Serial Drama
Twin Peaks (1990- )
Thriller
Mr. Robot (2015- )
My top 10, each one of which can be my favorite on any given binge session. If I was forced to choose a number one, I'd have to go with Twin Peaks. As an 11-year-old I watched the first season, and from that day David Lynch hooked me into his eccentric world uncovering the layers of American hypocrisy.
Black Mirror
Carnivà le
Fargo
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Mad Men
Mr. Robot
Six Feet Under
The Americans
The Wire
Twin Peaks
Here's to many more years of real art broadening our horizons, who knows, it might even get you excited about embalming!
