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Favorite TV shows
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2222
7.1
8.5
Mr. Bean (1990)
What else do I need to say? It's Mr Bean. :-) I'm a big fan of early silent comedy, and it seems like Mr Bean is trying to recreate that. There's very little dialogue โ nearly all the humour is done visually โ so it's easily accessible to anyone; very little needs to be translated into other languages. A lot of the humour comes from Mr Bean coming up with inventive ways around trivial problems, like the scene where he's trying to economise while packing a small suitcase and even resorts to cutting his trousers into shorts! :-D He's just always good for a laugh.
MaxL's rating:
3923
7.5
8.5
It's Matt Groening's follow-up to The Simpsons, and in my opinion, it blows its predecessor out of the water. It's incredibly funny, which is about all you could ask for in a comedy, but the ingenious writing provides so much more than that. Its futuristic setting opens up limitless creative possibilities. It mocks everything, from science-fiction to narrative conventions to pop culture in general, showing how much has changed in a thousand years but also how little. Not every episode is gold โ there are some duds โ but also some deeply touching and even tear-jerking ones that demonstrate how attached you are to the characters.
MaxL's rating:
2005
8.2
9
Death Note (2006)
Light Yagami is a teenager who finds a supernatural book that allows him to kill anyone whose name he writes in it. He decides to use it to wipe out criminals and create a crime-free society. It's a fantastic premise that makes you wonder if you'd do the same thing with that kind of power. But its main driving force is the rivalry between Light and the mysterious detective L. It's a deadly game of cat and mouse, with both sides convinced that they represent justice. I love the various schemes and tricks they devise against each other, including some ingenious long games.
MaxL's rating:
2875
8.8
9.5
What can I possibly say about Breaking Bad without parroting what everyone else has already said about it? :-) I'm sure you've heard it analysed to death, but what I like about it is harder to put my finger on. I think it mainly boils down to how utterly real it feels at all times. Nothing feels forced or contrived, and it makes you wonder how you'd react in such extreme situations. The characters are all unforgettable, and my absolute favourite is Jesse Pinkman. It is undeniably an excellent show, but I can't proclaim it the greatest of all time like everyone else does.
MaxL's rating:
484
7.9
8.6
Blackadder the Third (1987)
It's a toss-up between the second and the third for my favourite series of Blackadder, but I had to choose one. It's probably Rowan Atkinson's most famous role along with Mr Bean. What makes the character of Blackadder so funny is not just his sarcastic attitude, but the fact that he's always far smarter than his superiors; you can identify with his frustration. Each series takes place in a different time period, and the set design is always right on the mark. The whole franchise is simply one of the classiest, most dignified and, obviously, funniest comedies I've ever seen.
MaxL's rating:
3390
7.6
8.1
The Big Bang Theory (2006)
Maybe it's just because I'm a big nerd myself, but this show is just right up my street! :-) Not only is it funny, but even if I don't get the references to sci-fi movies or comic books, it still makes me jump for joy to hear them discussed. The characters may simply be nerd stereotypes, but they're still likeable enough to keep the show fresh. I especially love Sheldon and the humour that springs from how unemotional and socially awkward he is; maybe I see a lot of myself in him. :-) In short, it's a show that makes me giddy with childish joy.
MaxL's rating:
3454
8.7
9.2
Game of Thrones (2011)
Another one that needs no introduction. :-) I have four main reasons for loving it so. One is the outstanding opening theme. :-D Another is the setting, combining fantasy elements with very human struggles and political intrigue. One of its defining features is the ingenious ways it defies fictional traditions, best summed up in the infamous Red Wedding massacre. But above all, I love the characters, who are among the most layered and fascinating ever. Plus, it's the only instance I can think of where a show has actually overtaken the books it's based on! :-) It's just a shame the last two series went severely downhill.
MaxL's rating:
1494
7.9
9
Batman: The Animated Series (1992)
This show is just incredible! It's the perfect screen version of Batman because, as it's not limited to a movie's timeframe, it really encompasses everything that's so cool about the Batman universe, and it nails every aspect. In particular, the villains are handled just as well as the turmoil of Batman himself; they're equally three-dimensional characters. On top of that, it's just mind-blowing how perfectly it all balances the line between being mature enough for adults and still remaining child-friendly; it can be watched and loved at any age. Everything about this show rules. To me, it will always be the ultimate incarnation of Batman.
MaxL's rating:
1504
6.7
6.9
CSI: NY (2004)
I'm a big fan of mystery stories, especially police dramas like the CSI franchise. Most people seem to prefer soaking up the sun in CSI: Miami, but I've always found New York infinitely more charming. The cases get so over-the-top that, even if it's not realistic, they still stick in your head. But by far my favourite aspect of CSI: NY is the characters: they all simply bring a smile to my face โ including, of course, Gary Sinise in his role of a lifetime. It never ceases to amaze me how the CSI writers could keep churning out inspired material like this nonstop. :-)
MaxL's rating:
1586
8.3
9.3
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005)
I'm not sure I can adequately describe what an extraordinary work of genius this show is! First and foremost, the characters are completely irresistible, particularly Zuko, whose journey is so fascinating that he's easily one of my favourite characters ever created. The world it invents is so meticulously detailed that it's beyond impressive. I'm surprised that's the first thing I think of with enthusiasm because, with a lot of acclaimed fiction, I often find there's a disconnect between artistry and likability; they're more fun to analyse than to actually watch. Avatar, however, is that rare example that's just as enjoyable as it is impressive. In fact, I'd say its ingenuity and personality complement each other impeccably. In that respect, it embodies its central theme of balance. It's a flawless mix of kid-friendly and mature, glee and severity, action and philosophy. In short, it's one of the best family shows you could possibly ask for, and a worthy choice for my absolute favourite show ever. (And don't even get me started on what a miserable failure the Last Airbender movie was!)
MaxL's rating:
I've actually seen comparatively few TV shows โ especially compared to how many movies I've seen. So this list is by no means definitive, because there are tons of reputedly great shows that I just haven't yet taken the time to watch from the beginning, like Criminal Minds, Samurai Jack, The Sopranos, The Twilight Zone and many, many others. I'll get to them eventually, but this list simply stands as a presentation of my favourites as they stand at this particular time.
Now, this list has had quite a history! :-D It was originally just a standard top ten, but I came up with so many runners-up that I thought I might as well extend it to a top twenty. Then I decided that, out of the lower ten, I only really felt an affinity for the top five, which narrowed it down to a top fifteen. Then I realised that five of those fifteen were documentaries, and it just didn't feel right to combine them with the fictional shows, so I ended up separating them into their own top five. Unfortunately, I can't list them here, because one of them is Walking with Beasts (yes, the follow-up to Walking with Dinosaurs), which Listal seems to be counting as a movie for some reason. (I do watch a few quiz/game shows, but I've decided to discount them here โ anything that involves audience/public interaction.)
So, for what it's worth, here's the current list of my top ten favourite shows.
Runners-up:
Fawlty Towers
The Legend of Korra
The Transformers
Now, this list has had quite a history! :-D It was originally just a standard top ten, but I came up with so many runners-up that I thought I might as well extend it to a top twenty. Then I decided that, out of the lower ten, I only really felt an affinity for the top five, which narrowed it down to a top fifteen. Then I realised that five of those fifteen were documentaries, and it just didn't feel right to combine them with the fictional shows, so I ended up separating them into their own top five. Unfortunately, I can't list them here, because one of them is Walking with Beasts (yes, the follow-up to Walking with Dinosaurs), which Listal seems to be counting as a movie for some reason. (I do watch a few quiz/game shows, but I've decided to discount them here โ anything that involves audience/public interaction.)
So, for what it's worth, here's the current list of my top ten favourite shows.
Runners-up:
Fawlty Towers
The Legend of Korra
The Transformers
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