So What's Your Fav TV Show and Why?

what is its appeal, best attributes.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014 by starkers | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk

Weve have various entertainment threads posted over the years covering music, movies and TV shows, and while many have mentioned what we like, not all have answered as to why... like what makes them interesting/appealing.  Hopefully we can get a discussion going here and answer some of those questions.

I have a few shows on the boil at the moment and I will list them here with a brief description of why I like them... what it is about them that appeals to me.

1: Game of Thrones.  I like fantasy TV series' a lot, especially Medieval-type ones, but this one is right up there because it has a great storyline and plot with several twists and turns throughout.  The actors do a great job at portraying their characters and settings are true to fantasy tales and costuming is great.  Furthermore, the series is always holding that little something back, but with frequent reminders of various storylines and characters to keep the interest alive.

2: Da Vinci's Demons.  Again this is a fantasy-type series, which tries to illustrate Leonardo Da Vinci's life and what he accomplished as an artist, an inventor, a traveller, historian, medical researcher and philospher. While the series is a great drama with many twists and turns in the plot/storyline, it also touches on historical facts and prominent figures of his time, and being a history buff I very much like those inferences.

3: Orphan Black.  This is a Canadian produced sci-fi thriller with one actress, Tatiana Maslany, playing several distinct and individual roles as a group of human clones.  While each of the clones looks identical [facially] to the others, each has a unique and distinct personality, with each having a different background and even nationality, meaning the actress needs to pull off several accents [Ukranian, British, Canadian, German, US], which she does well. Series 1 sees a British version of the clones witnessing the suicide death of a Canadian version of herself and assuming her identity as a police woman, that is until she is discovered by her 'partner' and arrested.  She is extricated from that predicament by vested interests but is then faced with life on the run from an evil corporation, law enforcement and a religious group.

4: Believe.  Is about a young girl who is gifted with powers she inherited from her mother.  However, a corporation with a military has vested interests in turning her into a super weapon of sorts, which sees one of its major players taking the child from a institute and going on the run with her.  The girl is brought together with her father who was on death row for a murder he didn't commit and the adventure begins with them as fugitives on the run from the FBI, police and the evil head of the institute, played by Cgaig McLachlan.  I like the storyline in this series because it too has twists and turns, with the girl and her father often in edge-of-the-seat predicaments in which she often uses her powers to extricate them from. The other thing I like about Believe are the conspiracy theories that underline the series throughout, they just add another dimension to the thriller concept.

There are others, but I will leave it there for now.  So Come on WCers, let's not make this another short-lived thread that dies with just a handful of posters, tell us of your fav shows and why you like them.

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boopish
Reply #21 Thursday, May 29, 2014 12:46 PM

Lately been watching "Big Bang Theory"  because it is just too  funny in that it so accurately  depicts people in my life!  LOL It is like watching home movies!

starkers
Reply #22 Thursday, May 29, 2014 11:07 PM

The Callan DVDs are readily available in Oz...even the 'Innovations' catalogue has them. [Entertainment Masters].

I shall have to look more earnestly, then.  Last time I enquired in Brisbane [CBD] stores - which I must admit was quite some time back - none had copies and all were saying they couldn't order them as they were no longer catalogued.  It would be good to acquire them locally to save shipping costs if my aunt did happen to find the DVDs... haven't asked as yet so no surprise COD packages.

Do you need to ask why?

Yes... I do!  The idea is to have a discussion, to say why you like it so others are better/more informed about their viewing choices. With so many shows coming and going, getting axed just a few episodes in, and interesting titles that turn out to be reality crap, a regular TV guide can get confusing, not to mention somewhat uninformative.  Yes, there are probably websites around with TV series information, but sometimes it's nice to read about shows from a non-professional viewpoint.... and where better to read personal likes and thoughts on various shows than our own WC forums?

 

starkers
Reply #23 Thursday, May 29, 2014 11:19 PM

boopish

Lately been watching "Big Bang Theory"  because it is just too  funny in that it so accurately  depicts people in my life!  LOL It is like watching home movies!

I don't mind BBT myself.  It's one of those shows that draws you in with the various characters and their antics.  Sheldon is one of my favourites in the show because he seems indignant, almost offended at most every opportunity... and often it looks like he has a stick stuck somewhere when he's getting around, so it adds to his quirky character.  Yes, BBT is great for a change of pace after watching a thriller or action show, and it's one I'll often go to when channel surfing for something light after watching something more heavy duty.

Hehe, you must have some interesting friends, etc, if the characters of BBT remind you of them... home movies, eh?

Jafo
Reply #24 Thursday, May 29, 2014 11:20 PM

starkers
I shall have to look more earnestly, then. Last time I enquired in Brisbane [CBD] stores - which I must admit was quite some time back - none had copies and all were saying they couldn't order them as they were no longer catalogued. It would be good to acquire them locally to save shipping costs if my aunt did happen to find the DVDs... haven't asked as yet so no surprise COD packages.

www.emasters.com.au

'callan - the colour years' code MCLNB $69.95 22 eps from series 3 and 4

didn't see the other one in the catalogue [on my desk]...but it's called 'callan - the early years [or B/W years] something like that...and has a few eps missing.

Check the site...should list 'em both...

...and the Movie...'Red File For Callan'

Jafo
Reply #25 Thursday, May 29, 2014 11:22 PM

Re Big Bang..... Sheldon's GF is a fair-dinkum professor of science [not 'just' an actor]..

starkers
Reply #26 Friday, May 30, 2014 12:23 AM

Check the site...should list 'em both..

 

I bookmarked the site for other titles I'm interested in... and there are a few: Judge John Deed, Inspector George Gently being just two of them.  Martin Shaw, also of The Professionals fame, is one of my favourite British actors. 

And Dixon of Dock Green is there.... OOOOOEEEEEE!!!!!!  Now that takes me way back to the early 60's and it'll be an addition to my collection in the not too distant future.  My family used to sit down to watch DoDG together from 7.30 to 8.30 every Saturday evening, it was the last thing my sister and I were allowed to see before having to go to bed.

However, the only listing for Callan on the site is the 'Colour Years' box set.  Still, that's a start.  I want to purchase Multiplicity before I delve in and get Callan [hopefully both sets] but it's at the top of the short list of DVDs to get.

Jafo
Reply #27 Friday, May 30, 2014 12:38 AM

I already have the John Deed and Professionals ones....

Next on my list is probably Danger UXB ....or maybe Hill Street....

 

Meanwhile...via Amazon...pre-orders for SamCrow and Justified...and True Blood.....

...it never ends...

starkers
Reply #28 Friday, May 30, 2014 12:46 AM

Oh, and another show I watch and will probably get people wanting to slap me for [and starts back next week] is Pretty Little Liars.

Yeah, I know, it's not a blokey type of show and is probably intended for the teeny set, but I started watching it with Shaunna [well why not, she sat and watched my crap with me] and I got hooked on it.  It's about the 4 friends of a girl who is supposedly murdered, and their 'oft horrifying' encounters with an anonymous person who goes by just A. While some situations may seem improbable [and aren't most TV shows like that anyway] the 4 girls are frequently faced with compelling and sometimes dangerous puzzles in order to piece together what really happened to their friend, Alison.  There are so many twists and turns and cliff-hangers that it is a show, once you start watching, you have a want/need to keep watching.

2of3
Reply #29 Friday, May 30, 2014 6:47 PM

starkers
Yes... I do! The idea is to have a discussion, to say why you like it so others are better/more informed about their viewing choices. With so many shows coming and going, getting axed just a few episodes in, and interesting titles that turn out to be reality crap, a regular TV guide can get confusing, not to mention somewhat uninformative. Yes, there are probably websites around with TV series information, but sometimes it's nice to read about shows from a non-professional viewpoint.... and where better to read personal likes and thoughts on various shows than our own WC forums?

Irony on my part. Not questioning the post, silly!

 

Ok here goes:

This is a show that has completely surprised me at all times. Kevin Spacey's character shows more and more levels of complexity with each episode. Just when you think you know what he (Francis) is up to, it all gets flipped upside down and you're left with......AHHHH!

All the dirty deals and back channeling feel 100% authentic.....brilliant acting. I can't wait for season 3 to start up.

2of3
Reply #30 Friday, May 30, 2014 6:49 PM

For those that don't know, it's a netfix series called House of Cards.

mrs_starkers
Reply #31 Friday, May 30, 2014 9:42 PM

starkers
[and starts back next week] is Pretty Little Liars.

Yeah, I know, it's not a blokey type of show and is probably intended for the teeny set, but I started watching it with Shaunna [well why not, she sat and watched my crap with me] and I got hooked on it.

I think it's a bloody good show myself, and I think it is one of those shows  male or female  can get into, I like how it keeps you guessing what happens next and who so say killed alison   I would highly recomend it

starkers
Reply #32 Saturday, May 31, 2014 1:02 AM



Quoting starkers, reply 22Yes... I do! The idea is to have a discussion, to say why you like it so others are better/more informed about their viewing choices. With so many shows coming and going, getting axed just a few episodes in, and interesting titles that turn out to be reality crap, a regular TV guide can get confusing, not to mention somewhat uninformative. Yes, there are probably websites around with TV series information, but sometimes it's nice to read about shows from a non-professional viewpoint.... and where better to read personal likes and thoughts on various shows than our own WC forums?

Irony on my part. Not questioning the post, silly!

 

Ok here goes:

This is a show that has completely surprised me at all times. Kevin Spacey's character shows more and more levels of complexity with each episode. Just when you think you know what he (Francis) is up to, it all gets flipped upside down and you're left with......AHHHH!

All the dirty deals and back channeling feel 100% authentic.....brilliant acting. I can't wait for season 3 to start up.

Thanks for that... coming back to provide a bit of info.  I've not begun to watch House of Cards [US] as yet, but your thoughts on it have aroused my interest and hopefully I can catch up with it through Foxtel here in Oz.  I do like Kevin Spacey as an actor so will likely enjoy viewing.

mrs_starkers


Quoting starkers, reply 28 [and starts back next week] is Pretty Little Liars.

Yeah, I know, it's not a blokey type of show and is probably intended for the teeny set, but I started watching it with Shaunna [well why not, she sat and watched my crap with me] and I got hooked on it.

I think it's a bloody good show myself, and I think it is one of those shows  male or female  can get into, I like how it keeps you guessing what happens next and who so say killed alison   I would highly recomend it

Yeah, it's definitely one that keeps you guessing and gets you hooked.  Being the inteneded audience is teens, in particular girls, it's not a show I would have thought would even interest me, much less get hooked on, yet here I am, eagerly awaiting the commencement of season 5. While I do recommend the show as one to watch, I do believe it would be best to begin with season one rather than hop in with the upcoming season...otherwise too many important points and events would be missed, thus leaving the viewer with too many WTF moments.  If the first 4 seasons are not available for viewing on a cable/satellite, etc, service near you, they are available on DVD and well worth the outlay.

starkers
Reply #33 Saturday, May 31, 2014 2:32 AM

One of the advantages I have with my Foxtel service is being able to record entire series to an internal HDD.  I have done that with a couple of shows for my viewing convenience and last night I had a marathon viewing of the first 11 episodes of The 100.  Like WOW... in capital letters.  It may take the cliff-hanger out of cliff-hanger watching them back to back like that, but WOW! 

While the series is tagged as being sci-fi, it is more a post-apocalyptic survival story and how 100 teens cope when they return to Earth after the last remnants of humanity had spent almost 100 years in space due to a catastrophic nuclear war.  While the group is wild and unruly to begin with, and wanting to live without rules after years under a strict regime on the space station, they soon realise there has to be some kind of leadership and laws if they are to survive.  However, their greatest threat does not come from within.  Early into the series it is revealed that they are not alone, and that there is a warrior-like race that somehow survived the apocalypse and is inhabiting the landing region. 

The drama of the series is heightened with flashes back to the deteriorating space station, where some inhabitants are to be culled to conserve oxygen for the ramainder if the administration does not hear back from the landing party.  However, a hard landing ensures that does not happen and a doctor aboard the dying space station teams up with a young engineer to re-establish contact, which sadly comes too late for some.

All in all, this is a great series with huge potential for many more storylines, twists and turns in numerous potential plots and character developments.  The acting is solid; the characters are believable; the storyline is plausible, and the plot thus far has developed very nicely, with several characters coming to the fore to provide strong individual contributions. There are a number of cliff-hangers throughout to keep your interest alive and wanting more.  There are, however, some disturbing scenes regarding human ethics and survival, but I think these are essential to tell the story well and give an insight to the dilemmas we may one day face as the human race faces food shortages and over-population, etc.

 My rating... 10 out of 10.

boopish
Reply #34 Saturday, May 31, 2014 1:01 PM

Right you are - a neuroscientist, to be exact.  

Starkers, yes, I am blessed with a very interesting family indeed! Full of super geeks and brainiacs that run the gamut of university professors/ MDs / Dentists/ informatics researchers / budding psychologists with reiki and herbal medicine degrees / artists / military strategists and beekeepers! Dinner conversations are wild - everything from the latest Sci Fi movies and books, designing a real working  "tri- corder",  to discussions on why people just can't seem to get along. 

xinh2
Reply #35 Saturday, May 31, 2014 2:40 PM

Get Smart. Reason? Two words: shoe phone.

starkers
Reply #36 Sunday, June 1, 2014 3:28 AM

boopish

Right you are - a neuroscientist, to be exact.  

Starkers, yes, I am blessed with a very interesting family indeed! Full of super geeks and brainiacs that run the gamut of university professors/ MDs / Dentists/ informatics researchers / budding psychologists with reiki and herbal medicine degrees / artists / military strategists and beekeepers! Dinner conversations are wild - everything from the latest Sci Fi movies and books, designing a real working  "tri- corder",  to discussions on why people just can't seem to get along. 

Hehe, a family blessed with brain power, eh!  Well I'd feel out of place, then.  My family have no such careers or qualifications, which is why I feel so comfortable, I guess.... no need for inferiority complexes, LOL.  We're a close-knit and caring family so it wouldn't matter anyway.

starkers
Reply #37 Sunday, June 1, 2014 3:30 AM

Get Smart. Reason? Two words: shoe phone.

So Inspector Gadget would be next down the list?

MadDeez
Reply #38 Sunday, June 1, 2014 6:52 AM


Get Smart. Reason? Two words: shoe phone.

one word, one number: Agent 99

boopish
Reply #39 Sunday, June 1, 2014 1:10 PM

Starkers - I beg to differ!  And those brainiacs are just the west coast  portion  of this crazy conglomerate we call a family . We also have oil rig workers, construction guys, harley enthusiasts,  farmers and triatheletes! I have five sisters on the prairies, one of which can strip an engine and put it back together  faster and in tip top condition better than most men! She also rides a Harley. hehehe.  Our family has em all! I think of my family every time I see Sheldon's mom on that show or hear Penny talking about her family!!  We don't always get along, but you can be sure that if anyone is hurting or needs something, we circle the wagons and are there all the way. 

xinh2
Reply #40 Sunday, June 1, 2014 2:06 PM

starkers


Quoting xinh2, reply 35Get Smart. Reason? Two words: shoe phone.

So Inspector Gadget would be next down the list?

I am too old to have watched Inspector Gadget, but if it has shoe phones it has to be a winner.

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