Since we are living in an era of so much superb television, I decided to once again make a companion post to my Best Of list. Some of the following shows didn't make the Best Of cut for various reasons, but if you ask me, they are all worth checking out:
Boardwalk Empire- A shortened final season of this show brought most of the characters' stories to a satisfying close without sacrificing quality or craft. The use of flashbacks could be tiresome, but were also powerful and crucial to the show's thematic finale. The quality of Boardwalk Empire got much better towards the end of its run and I for one will miss its impeccably tailored costumes and send up to Prohibition Era accents and culture.
The Comeback- Oh my goodness this season of The Comeback was so darn good that if I hadn't made my Best Of list before the final episode aired, it certainly would have been included. I loved everything about this nine-years-later second season. Like its first season, The Comeback manages to capture the television landscape of its time while commenting on the price of fame and the treatment of women in Hollywood in often poignant and distressing ways. The meta-ness of the show never ceases to surprise me and Lisa Kudrow is doing amazing work. Lisa Kudrow for all the awards!
Fargo- Fargo was all at once an homage to the Coen Brothers' filmography and something of its own entirely, toeing that line expertly with craft and quirk. And it did it all with a smirk on its face. I think what held it back was it's pacing as it took me a few episodes to actually get into the story. But once I did, I enjoyed it as much as the best shows on TV. A time-jump mid way through the season helped on every level. And the characters kept you guessing as they embraced the sometimes heightened reality of the world they lived in. I need someone to give Allison Tolman a new role ASAP.
Homeland- Oh, what to say about the see-saw that is Showtime's Homeland? It will never live up to its zany first season, but the reset of this most recent season was the best the show has been in a very long time (since the second season episode, "Q & A" if you ask me). Yes the show remains uneven: One second I'm thrilled to the edge of my seat and the next rolling my eyes at the improbability and 24-tinted plot points. But I very much enjoyed these most recent episodes, finger-guns and all.
The Mindy Project- The Mindy Project tends to get a lot of hate, especially from the males of the world (which I guess I can understand, although I do believe there's humor for everyone). The first season and a half of the show was okay, yet always comedic. But the later half of its second season and the first half of its third have been firing on all cylinders. The ensemble work is spot on while the one-liners and wordplay keep me laughing for days.
Orange is the New Black- I didn't love OITNB's second season as much as its first and I think it came down to the season's villain. Vee was just such a cartoon villain with no real motivation behind her lust for power/control and her subsequent manipulation over the entire social system. I guess later episodes made her out to simply be a psychopathic egomaniac, but that felt like a disservice to a show that normally has fantastic character work. Aside from Vee, I have no complaints about the season (except for Larry continuing to be The Worst).
Orphan Black- Orphan Black keeps so many balls in the air and while it could be more successful at it, its impressive all the same. But I'm just waiting for it all to fall apart. Tatiana Maslany carries the show on her shoulders by playing all the major characters with such nuance that you can always tell who she is (even when she's one character pretending to be another character). The science of the show can be wonky, but that is what sci-fi is all about. And the end of one episode in particular was so beautifully thrilling that I think I stopped breathing.
Parks and Recreation- Parks and Rec is a forever favorite of mine. The show hasn't gotten stale per say, but it has definitely plateaued in its humor, momentum, and general story. However, the final minutes of this year's season finale was a much needed shot of adrenaline and humor. Jumping ahead three years avoids bogging the show down with pregnancy (again) and other story lines the show has already explored. For the first time in a while, I'm very much looking forward to next season. Filling in the gaps between timelines will hopefully be hilariously fruitful.
Silicon Valley- I found the pilot of this new HBO comedy lukewarm, but as the show found its characters and general story, the show gained a lot of comedic momentum. It all lead to a season finale that happened to be one of the funniest episodes of television I've seen in a while. The show is smart, silly, and cutting. One character in particular, Peter Gregory, was a standout of amusing eccentricity, which only makes the passing of actor Christopher Evan Welch, that more tragic.
Veep- I simply love Veep. I think Julia Louis Dreyfus, Matt Walsh, Tony Hale, and Timothy Simons are all hilarious people. I'm a fan of politics. I'm a big fan of creative cursing. As long as this show is on, I'll be watching it. And like Parks and Rec, I suspect it will be a forever favorite.
Showing posts with label Parks and Recreation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parks and Recreation. Show all posts
Monday, December 29, 2014
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Top TV: Honorable Mentions
Yesterday I offered just the tip of my Top TV of the year, but because there was so much fantastic programming, I will now present you with my... Honorable Mentions!
(Believe me, these are all worth mentioning).
Veep- The second season of Veep was a hoot and it might just be my favorite comedy currently on television. Julia Louis-Dreyfus deserves all the recognition she gets for this show as she hilariously leads a superb comedic cast. (HBO)
The Returned- When I was discussing Sundance Channel in my Top TV post, I quickly mentioned that I am currently engrossed in this French show. If it wasn't for the fact that we're mid-season, there was a very good chance this would have made the list. I love the concept of this program and the melancholy feel it evokes. I went into it expecting a horror show, but got so much more than I could have bargained for. (Sundance)
Girls- We all know how much I love Girls. I had some issues with this past season, but there were also some inspired stand outs. "Bad Friend" in which Hannah raves in a mesh top was a delight. And "One Man's Trash" would easily be in my top five episodes of the past year. (HBO)
Orphan Black- Orphan Black is sci-fi in spades. And Tatiana Maslany IS Orphan Black. If it wasn't for her I don't know if this show would be nearly as good as it is. Playing up to four different characters in one episode (including characters impersonating other characters) is impressive enough, but doing it so convincingly that I straight up forget that it's the same actress and actually believe that these characters are all different people is a feat worthy of all the awards television has to offer. And lets not forget to mention the comedic beats, shocking turns, fun accents, and scientific mysteries we get along the way. (BBC America)
New Girl- If I had to give out a Most Improved Show Award I'd give it to New Girl. It found its groove in its second season and it was fun to see it work through the kinks, figure out its characters, and deliver a very funny program with its own brand of humor. Plus Coach is back! (Fox)
Broadchurch- I thoroughly enjoyed this British drama starring David Tennant in another series that does The Killing better than The Killing (the other being Top of the Lake). Broadchurch was beautifully shot, tragically plotted, truly engrossing, and expertly acted. Word on the street is that we will be getting an American version soon--also starring David Tennant (but with an American accent which will be bloody strange if you ask me)--and I fully intend on watching even if I already know who did it. (BBC America)
House of Cards- I may have had a lot of issues with the writing on House of Cards--which really is a deal breaker for me--but everything else about this show deserves a mention. The directing and acting are undeniable. David Fincher set an exquisite tone for the show and Kevin Spacey was amazing, as always. But the breakthrough performance from Corey Stoll was probably my favorite thing about the series (you could say he stoll the show). And I have to admit, the promos for the upcoming second season have me pretty pumped for a continuation of the story. Lets just hope they don't do anything stupid. Again. (Netflix)
Parks and Recreation- Do you guys seriously think I'd leave the most consistent comedy on television out of my year end recap? I love Parks and Rec. Yes it may be getting stale in its later seasons, but it still manages to move me and make me laugh. And for that, it will always get a shout out. (NBC)
Arrested Development- AD gets a nod for pure ambition alone. Overall I didn't love the season, but it sure had a lot of fun with its structure. (Netflix)
(Believe me, these are all worth mentioning).
Veep- The second season of Veep was a hoot and it might just be my favorite comedy currently on television. Julia Louis-Dreyfus deserves all the recognition she gets for this show as she hilariously leads a superb comedic cast. (HBO)
The Returned- When I was discussing Sundance Channel in my Top TV post, I quickly mentioned that I am currently engrossed in this French show. If it wasn't for the fact that we're mid-season, there was a very good chance this would have made the list. I love the concept of this program and the melancholy feel it evokes. I went into it expecting a horror show, but got so much more than I could have bargained for. (Sundance)
Girls- We all know how much I love Girls. I had some issues with this past season, but there were also some inspired stand outs. "Bad Friend" in which Hannah raves in a mesh top was a delight. And "One Man's Trash" would easily be in my top five episodes of the past year. (HBO)
Orphan Black- Orphan Black is sci-fi in spades. And Tatiana Maslany IS Orphan Black. If it wasn't for her I don't know if this show would be nearly as good as it is. Playing up to four different characters in one episode (including characters impersonating other characters) is impressive enough, but doing it so convincingly that I straight up forget that it's the same actress and actually believe that these characters are all different people is a feat worthy of all the awards television has to offer. And lets not forget to mention the comedic beats, shocking turns, fun accents, and scientific mysteries we get along the way. (BBC America)
New Girl- If I had to give out a Most Improved Show Award I'd give it to New Girl. It found its groove in its second season and it was fun to see it work through the kinks, figure out its characters, and deliver a very funny program with its own brand of humor. Plus Coach is back! (Fox)
Broadchurch- I thoroughly enjoyed this British drama starring David Tennant in another series that does The Killing better than The Killing (the other being Top of the Lake). Broadchurch was beautifully shot, tragically plotted, truly engrossing, and expertly acted. Word on the street is that we will be getting an American version soon--also starring David Tennant (but with an American accent which will be bloody strange if you ask me)--and I fully intend on watching even if I already know who did it. (BBC America)
House of Cards- I may have had a lot of issues with the writing on House of Cards--which really is a deal breaker for me--but everything else about this show deserves a mention. The directing and acting are undeniable. David Fincher set an exquisite tone for the show and Kevin Spacey was amazing, as always. But the breakthrough performance from Corey Stoll was probably my favorite thing about the series (you could say he stoll the show). And I have to admit, the promos for the upcoming second season have me pretty pumped for a continuation of the story. Lets just hope they don't do anything stupid. Again. (Netflix)
Parks and Recreation- Do you guys seriously think I'd leave the most consistent comedy on television out of my year end recap? I love Parks and Rec. Yes it may be getting stale in its later seasons, but it still manages to move me and make me laugh. And for that, it will always get a shout out. (NBC)
Arrested Development- AD gets a nod for pure ambition alone. Overall I didn't love the season, but it sure had a lot of fun with its structure. (Netflix)
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
D's Top Ten Shows of 2012
I usually find the overabundance of year-end lists in December to be excessive, arbitrary, and predictable. While I follow many TV and pop culture blogs--whose opinions I respect and whose taste I trust--and look forward to their year-end rankings, I usually take them with a grain of salt.
However, I find the personal challenge of list-making to be a fun task for myself (nerd alert). I also figured that since this blog is so new, with so little posts, it would be nice to offer a rough outline of my personal tastes and preferences. Lastly, I made a list last year and it would be a shame to break my streak.
Just keep in mind that I find rankings to be slightly arbitrary. It's more of a general list of top shows. The order could be rearranged in various ways (especially when it comes down to comparing dramas to comedies). And it goes without saying that I by no means have seen everything on television in the past year.
That being said, lets get down to business:
10. Honorable Mentions: Boardwalk Empire, American Horror Story: Asylum, Portlandia, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Colbert Report, Bob's Burgers, Veep, The Walking Dead
Okay...so maybe not business per say. And I guess I failed my own list making challenge. But honestly I enjoyed all of these shows. Some I've seen every episode of and others, not so much. Some have done complete 180s, and others have maintained a certain level of consistency. But they each have had their moments and I truly think each of them deserves a nod of recognition.
9. Happy Endings
Many people find Happy Endings grating and the characters off-putting. And to be honest, the show is often hit or miss on a week-to-week basis. But when it hits, it hits SO good. The jokes come at a rapid fire pace. I'm constantly rewatching episodes or segments to make sure I caught everything. The performances are each hilarious in their own way and the cast is oozing with so much chemistry, its infectious. I honestly believe these people have been friends forever and have their own zany language, history, and outlook. The second half of the second season (including the lost kickball episode that only aired in the UK) and the first half of the third have had so many moments of pure hilarity and insanity. I love that they turn sitcom tropes on their heads, psyching out viewers in more subtle ways than a more blatant show like Community. Yes, the writing could be better, but it's ambitious and almost always hilarious. It's an underrated show and I just hope viewers, and ABC, continue to give it the chance it deserves.
8. Game of Thrones
I generally find the translation of fantasy to screen, whether large or small, hard to pull off well. When its a book series that takes place in a completely different universe--with a huge cast of characters, its own history, customs, and religions--that only adds to the difficulty of putting it in your living room every week. Yet somehow HBO's Game of Thrones pulls it off without any confusion or inadequacies. One thing in particular about the second season I enjoyed, was how it strayed from the source material. I know thats a controversial thing to say when it comes to a beloved fandom or series, but I find the show more enjoyable to watch that way (and the book more enjoyable to read). Some things don't translate well to screen and retreading word-for-word can be boring and too predictable. The showrunners keep series writer George RR Martin in the loop so when they take artistic license, I trust them. This season once again exhibited fantastic acting, beautiful scenery and art direction, as well as well placed humor. The scope of this show is immense and I'm regularly impressed. The story still finds ways to make my jaw drop in the best way possible. Character arcs and plot points that could have been boring or over-the-top are somehow stretched or confined to scale all in an incredibly well balanced season of genre-specific television.
7. Community
Anyone who knows me knows I've been a huge Community fan since day one. Community is its own brand of hilarious, current, witty, zany, and self-referential humility. Although the Dan Harmon-less fourth season has been pushed back to 2013, this past spring still saw an extremely ambitious, creative, and comedic string of episodes. The Law & Order episode, the two part "Pillows and Blankets," "Digital Estate Planning," and the very emotional finale all immediately jump to mind. But besides the finale (which felt like a pseudo series finale), one episode that I found particularly poignant was "Virtual Systems Analysis": an entire episode that takes place inside the dreamatorium and Abed's head. This episode revealed the potential of the show, scratching away the comedic polish and genre-bending specificity it often hides behind, to reveal much more specific and affecting darker themes. Even the actors' performances in this episode were incredibly impressive and comedic. Actors playing a character playing a different character...it was Freaky Friday-esque but in the service of something much darker and emotional. Without Harmon I've been bracing myself for a drop in quality going forward, but I also find myself looking forward to spending more time with this hilarious community of characters.
6. Louie
I genuinely think Louis CK is singlehandedly changing the face of the television comedy. Each episode manages to be filled with humility and pathos while remaining hilarious and even zany. Every week is like a new short indie film that somehow doesn't take itself too seriously. Its a comedy that makes me FEEL on a base level. It doesn't just move me (like other comedy's on this list do), but it manages to make me reflect and relate (and laugh) on a level I never knew a half hour comedy was capable of. This past season's guest stars were enormous. The episodes involving Parker Posey were clear standouts to me. But moments with Chloë Sevigny, Robin Williams, Melissa Leo and others were some of the best work I've seen any of them do. The episode of Louie in Miami is another that sticks out to me (and which I find being overlooked). But honestly, every single episode is pure gold. Its only when I'm comparing the show to itself that I can find myself criticizing, critiquing, and nitpicking here and there. He deserves all the recognition and praise he has been getting lately. And I can't wait for when he finally gets behind the camera again.
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5. Breaking Bad
I still have no idea whether this summer's installment was its own season or the first half of one long dragged out final season (I personally like to consider them each separate seasons), but that's neither here nor there. Witnessing Walter White further descend into darkness, crime, and isolation, leaving him alone with nothing but a pile of money and his ego, is still one of the most riveting things on television. The deconstruction of this character from the pilot up until this point is genuinely fascinating. Furthermore, no one does tension like Breaking Bad, and this season was full of little moments of nothing but gut-wrenching, breathless intensity. Episodes revolving around the character of Mike were particular standouts to me, but as were the immoral acts of complete depravity we witnessed this season. One episode tied my stomach into knots. Others had me cheering on the people whose lives Walter has essentially destroyed over the course of a year. Although there were only eight episodes, Vince Gilligan managed to introduce new characters and give them moments to shock me in ways that are still sticking with me months later. One other thing that I have always loved about Breaking Bad is its cinematic eye for open skies, desert land, and especially the molecular process. We're five season in and I have yet to be bored by a meth cooking montage. The reveal in the final moments of the season had my eyes bug and forced me to sit up as I slapped my leg and realized, along with the character of Hank, exactly what this means in the months to come. I'm so looking forward to the upcoming final season. If anything, I hope Walter White finally gets whats coming to him.
4. Girls
One of the most talked about and debated series on television, even before the pilot ever aired, is Lena Dunham's debut series, Girls. I completely understand why many people find this series off-putting and the characters unsympathetic, but I also don't think it deserves all the hate and pretention its been getting. Not by any means. Personally, I love this show. Being the same age as Lena Dunham and her cast of characters, as well as living in New York, I find myself relating to this show more than any other on television. I won't go as far as to say Dunham is the voice of her generation, but she's most definitely a voice for me and the people I know. I have a friend that worked at Cafe Grumpy for years, I've been to huge random parties in the outer boroughs, I've seen friends run into old friends from camp, and I've had almost every conversation and disagreement these characters have. These are my friends and the people I grew up with. Yes many of them are sort of awful, entitled people, but there's just so much potential for character there. I realize this critique of the show is more about how I personally relate, and not so much an actual critique, but I just don't think I would feel right judging this show without being upfront. Aside from how I personally feel, I must mention that I am continually impressed by Lena Dunham as a writer and director. The shots, the music, the character development, the pace, the voice, all of it regularly impresses me. (I know we owe much of that to Judd Apatow as well, but I really do feel it is mostly Dunham's vision). This show has humor and a pathos in the vein of Louie (albiet it's much less zany and "indie"), and that is clearly something I respond to. These characters aren't easy to like, in fact they're easier to hate. But they each have a heart and a story and a journey ahead of them. And I genuinely believe you dont need to be a twenty-something female in New York to relate, laugh, or cringe along with me.
3. Parks and Recreation
I have to say that this past year of Parks and Recreation may just be the series' strongest. Last spring's campaign and this fall's relationship development have all left me teary-eyed and emotional. And in an election year, Parks and Rec managed to remain unjaded about the state of politics in this country and the process itself. It never pokes fun at any one ideology or person, but finds a way to be all encompassing and relevant. As a politics-nerd I definitely appreciate this aspect of the show. And as a television-nerd, it only gets better. I love a comedy that isn't just jokes. That doesn't just hit the reset button every episode/season, but instead allows its characters to grow and progress. Parks and Rec knows when to end a story line or character arc and, more importantly, when to follow through and make logical, yet ballsy moves. Last season had hilarious guest stars in Paul Rudd and Kathryn Hahn, and stand-out episodes such as "The Debate" (written and directed by Amy Poehler) and the season finale, "Win, Lose, or Draw" (which brought me to tears multiple times; how Poehler didn't receive an Emmy is beyond me). But this current season also has its own run of hilarious and moving episodes, most notably "Halloween Surprise". But above all, Parks and Rec has a huge heart. For all the black-comedy shows on this list, for every example of crappy human behavior, and for all the shows that make jokes out of our darkest emotions (and for which I love them), Parks and Rec manages to be just as funny, poignant, and affecting...but with a smile on its face.
2. Homeland
I obviously talk a LOT about Homeland on my blog. And I'm going to try not to get too into it right now. For my general thoughts on this past season, please see my previous post. But one thing I have to say is that much of the second season was just as good as anything in its first. Yes, it veered off course with a hit-and-run, (whose purpose appeared to purely serve relation disintegration, but in hindsight also served to give Dana a lesson in death and bring her closer to her father). And yes, there were plausibility issues. But I'm sorry, that season premiere, the reveal at the end of the second episode, the interrogation in "Q&A", the finale (and so many moments in between), is some of the best damn television I've ever seen. Period.
1. Mad Men
In terms of television, Mad Men is in a whole league of its own. No other program could even begin to match its level of craftsmanship, style, storytelling, performance, or writing/directing. Yes this past season was pretty heavy handed with the death symbolism and its preoccupation with mindless death/murder, but it still pulls it off way better than anything else on TV. Characters made major moves this season, particularly the females (but also, and obviously, one particular Englishman). If I start to list the standout episodes of the season, I'll end up talking about almost every single episode. Instead I'll talk about the moments that I responded to, that ripped my heart out or punched me in the gut or sent chills down my spine or just made me laugh endlessly: Peggy saying goodbye to Don, Don showing up a little too late to Joan's apartment, Lane giving Pete a well deserved whooping, "Tomorrow Never Knows", Sally Draper getting an eye full, fat Betty, Joan standing up to her rapist husband, Roger Sterling's LSD trip, Don looking into the abyss of an empty elevator shaft, Michael Ginsberg's origin tale, Lane fixing his new Jaguar, and probably so much more that I'm forgetting. Actually, to be honest, I'm not forgetting. Because all thats left are vague feelings and images that feel like memories. And beautiful shots of museums and windows and snow and fog and orange sherbet and Alex Mack and hare krishnas and gap-toothed smiles and...not Bobby Draper. There's just something about Mad Men that feels like nostalgia. It deserves all the hype, buzz, awards, and recognition it gets. And the show's fifth season was certainly no exception.
However, I find the personal challenge of list-making to be a fun task for myself (nerd alert). I also figured that since this blog is so new, with so little posts, it would be nice to offer a rough outline of my personal tastes and preferences. Lastly, I made a list last year and it would be a shame to break my streak.
Just keep in mind that I find rankings to be slightly arbitrary. It's more of a general list of top shows. The order could be rearranged in various ways (especially when it comes down to comparing dramas to comedies). And it goes without saying that I by no means have seen everything on television in the past year.
That being said, lets get down to business:
10. Honorable Mentions: Boardwalk Empire, American Horror Story: Asylum, Portlandia, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Colbert Report, Bob's Burgers, Veep, The Walking Dead
Okay...so maybe not business per say. And I guess I failed my own list making challenge. But honestly I enjoyed all of these shows. Some I've seen every episode of and others, not so much. Some have done complete 180s, and others have maintained a certain level of consistency. But they each have had their moments and I truly think each of them deserves a nod of recognition.
Many people find Happy Endings grating and the characters off-putting. And to be honest, the show is often hit or miss on a week-to-week basis. But when it hits, it hits SO good. The jokes come at a rapid fire pace. I'm constantly rewatching episodes or segments to make sure I caught everything. The performances are each hilarious in their own way and the cast is oozing with so much chemistry, its infectious. I honestly believe these people have been friends forever and have their own zany language, history, and outlook. The second half of the second season (including the lost kickball episode that only aired in the UK) and the first half of the third have had so many moments of pure hilarity and insanity. I love that they turn sitcom tropes on their heads, psyching out viewers in more subtle ways than a more blatant show like Community. Yes, the writing could be better, but it's ambitious and almost always hilarious. It's an underrated show and I just hope viewers, and ABC, continue to give it the chance it deserves.
I generally find the translation of fantasy to screen, whether large or small, hard to pull off well. When its a book series that takes place in a completely different universe--with a huge cast of characters, its own history, customs, and religions--that only adds to the difficulty of putting it in your living room every week. Yet somehow HBO's Game of Thrones pulls it off without any confusion or inadequacies. One thing in particular about the second season I enjoyed, was how it strayed from the source material. I know thats a controversial thing to say when it comes to a beloved fandom or series, but I find the show more enjoyable to watch that way (and the book more enjoyable to read). Some things don't translate well to screen and retreading word-for-word can be boring and too predictable. The showrunners keep series writer George RR Martin in the loop so when they take artistic license, I trust them. This season once again exhibited fantastic acting, beautiful scenery and art direction, as well as well placed humor. The scope of this show is immense and I'm regularly impressed. The story still finds ways to make my jaw drop in the best way possible. Character arcs and plot points that could have been boring or over-the-top are somehow stretched or confined to scale all in an incredibly well balanced season of genre-specific television.
Anyone who knows me knows I've been a huge Community fan since day one. Community is its own brand of hilarious, current, witty, zany, and self-referential humility. Although the Dan Harmon-less fourth season has been pushed back to 2013, this past spring still saw an extremely ambitious, creative, and comedic string of episodes. The Law & Order episode, the two part "Pillows and Blankets," "Digital Estate Planning," and the very emotional finale all immediately jump to mind. But besides the finale (which felt like a pseudo series finale), one episode that I found particularly poignant was "Virtual Systems Analysis": an entire episode that takes place inside the dreamatorium and Abed's head. This episode revealed the potential of the show, scratching away the comedic polish and genre-bending specificity it often hides behind, to reveal much more specific and affecting darker themes. Even the actors' performances in this episode were incredibly impressive and comedic. Actors playing a character playing a different character...it was Freaky Friday-esque but in the service of something much darker and emotional. Without Harmon I've been bracing myself for a drop in quality going forward, but I also find myself looking forward to spending more time with this hilarious community of characters.
I genuinely think Louis CK is singlehandedly changing the face of the television comedy. Each episode manages to be filled with humility and pathos while remaining hilarious and even zany. Every week is like a new short indie film that somehow doesn't take itself too seriously. Its a comedy that makes me FEEL on a base level. It doesn't just move me (like other comedy's on this list do), but it manages to make me reflect and relate (and laugh) on a level I never knew a half hour comedy was capable of. This past season's guest stars were enormous. The episodes involving Parker Posey were clear standouts to me. But moments with Chloë Sevigny, Robin Williams, Melissa Leo and others were some of the best work I've seen any of them do. The episode of Louie in Miami is another that sticks out to me (and which I find being overlooked). But honestly, every single episode is pure gold. Its only when I'm comparing the show to itself that I can find myself criticizing, critiquing, and nitpicking here and there. He deserves all the recognition and praise he has been getting lately. And I can't wait for when he finally gets behind the camera again.
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I still have no idea whether this summer's installment was its own season or the first half of one long dragged out final season (I personally like to consider them each separate seasons), but that's neither here nor there. Witnessing Walter White further descend into darkness, crime, and isolation, leaving him alone with nothing but a pile of money and his ego, is still one of the most riveting things on television. The deconstruction of this character from the pilot up until this point is genuinely fascinating. Furthermore, no one does tension like Breaking Bad, and this season was full of little moments of nothing but gut-wrenching, breathless intensity. Episodes revolving around the character of Mike were particular standouts to me, but as were the immoral acts of complete depravity we witnessed this season. One episode tied my stomach into knots. Others had me cheering on the people whose lives Walter has essentially destroyed over the course of a year. Although there were only eight episodes, Vince Gilligan managed to introduce new characters and give them moments to shock me in ways that are still sticking with me months later. One other thing that I have always loved about Breaking Bad is its cinematic eye for open skies, desert land, and especially the molecular process. We're five season in and I have yet to be bored by a meth cooking montage. The reveal in the final moments of the season had my eyes bug and forced me to sit up as I slapped my leg and realized, along with the character of Hank, exactly what this means in the months to come. I'm so looking forward to the upcoming final season. If anything, I hope Walter White finally gets whats coming to him.
One of the most talked about and debated series on television, even before the pilot ever aired, is Lena Dunham's debut series, Girls. I completely understand why many people find this series off-putting and the characters unsympathetic, but I also don't think it deserves all the hate and pretention its been getting. Not by any means. Personally, I love this show. Being the same age as Lena Dunham and her cast of characters, as well as living in New York, I find myself relating to this show more than any other on television. I won't go as far as to say Dunham is the voice of her generation, but she's most definitely a voice for me and the people I know. I have a friend that worked at Cafe Grumpy for years, I've been to huge random parties in the outer boroughs, I've seen friends run into old friends from camp, and I've had almost every conversation and disagreement these characters have. These are my friends and the people I grew up with. Yes many of them are sort of awful, entitled people, but there's just so much potential for character there. I realize this critique of the show is more about how I personally relate, and not so much an actual critique, but I just don't think I would feel right judging this show without being upfront. Aside from how I personally feel, I must mention that I am continually impressed by Lena Dunham as a writer and director. The shots, the music, the character development, the pace, the voice, all of it regularly impresses me. (I know we owe much of that to Judd Apatow as well, but I really do feel it is mostly Dunham's vision). This show has humor and a pathos in the vein of Louie (albiet it's much less zany and "indie"), and that is clearly something I respond to. These characters aren't easy to like, in fact they're easier to hate. But they each have a heart and a story and a journey ahead of them. And I genuinely believe you dont need to be a twenty-something female in New York to relate, laugh, or cringe along with me.
I have to say that this past year of Parks and Recreation may just be the series' strongest. Last spring's campaign and this fall's relationship development have all left me teary-eyed and emotional. And in an election year, Parks and Rec managed to remain unjaded about the state of politics in this country and the process itself. It never pokes fun at any one ideology or person, but finds a way to be all encompassing and relevant. As a politics-nerd I definitely appreciate this aspect of the show. And as a television-nerd, it only gets better. I love a comedy that isn't just jokes. That doesn't just hit the reset button every episode/season, but instead allows its characters to grow and progress. Parks and Rec knows when to end a story line or character arc and, more importantly, when to follow through and make logical, yet ballsy moves. Last season had hilarious guest stars in Paul Rudd and Kathryn Hahn, and stand-out episodes such as "The Debate" (written and directed by Amy Poehler) and the season finale, "Win, Lose, or Draw" (which brought me to tears multiple times; how Poehler didn't receive an Emmy is beyond me). But this current season also has its own run of hilarious and moving episodes, most notably "Halloween Surprise". But above all, Parks and Rec has a huge heart. For all the black-comedy shows on this list, for every example of crappy human behavior, and for all the shows that make jokes out of our darkest emotions (and for which I love them), Parks and Rec manages to be just as funny, poignant, and affecting...but with a smile on its face.
I obviously talk a LOT about Homeland on my blog. And I'm going to try not to get too into it right now. For my general thoughts on this past season, please see my previous post. But one thing I have to say is that much of the second season was just as good as anything in its first. Yes, it veered off course with a hit-and-run, (whose purpose appeared to purely serve relation disintegration, but in hindsight also served to give Dana a lesson in death and bring her closer to her father). And yes, there were plausibility issues. But I'm sorry, that season premiere, the reveal at the end of the second episode, the interrogation in "Q&A", the finale (and so many moments in between), is some of the best damn television I've ever seen. Period.
In terms of television, Mad Men is in a whole league of its own. No other program could even begin to match its level of craftsmanship, style, storytelling, performance, or writing/directing. Yes this past season was pretty heavy handed with the death symbolism and its preoccupation with mindless death/murder, but it still pulls it off way better than anything else on TV. Characters made major moves this season, particularly the females (but also, and obviously, one particular Englishman). If I start to list the standout episodes of the season, I'll end up talking about almost every single episode. Instead I'll talk about the moments that I responded to, that ripped my heart out or punched me in the gut or sent chills down my spine or just made me laugh endlessly: Peggy saying goodbye to Don, Don showing up a little too late to Joan's apartment, Lane giving Pete a well deserved whooping, "Tomorrow Never Knows", Sally Draper getting an eye full, fat Betty, Joan standing up to her rapist husband, Roger Sterling's LSD trip, Don looking into the abyss of an empty elevator shaft, Michael Ginsberg's origin tale, Lane fixing his new Jaguar, and probably so much more that I'm forgetting. Actually, to be honest, I'm not forgetting. Because all thats left are vague feelings and images that feel like memories. And beautiful shots of museums and windows and snow and fog and orange sherbet and Alex Mack and hare krishnas and gap-toothed smiles and...not Bobby Draper. There's just something about Mad Men that feels like nostalgia. It deserves all the hype, buzz, awards, and recognition it gets. And the show's fifth season was certainly no exception.
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