What TV shows are people watching?

Freebase Dali · 10-30-2010, 02:58 PM

I've recently discovered Arrested Development (2003-2006)

I don't understand why there are only 3 seasons of it. It's the funniest series I've seen. Just finished with the second season. I'm going to miss the lols when I'm done with the third.

debaserr · 10-30-2010, 03:05 PM

it kinda tails off in the 3rd season too...

and there may or may not be a movie coming.

Kaimon · 10-30-2010, 05:33 PM

BBC Sherlock

I just started and finished watching it last week. Crazy good. Can't believe they only aired three episodes for the year though.

LoathsomePete · 10-30-2010, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonlitSunshine

I got hooked to Crime dramas over the summer, and have been slowly making my way through all of NCIS and Criminal Minds. My best friend laughs at me for doing so, but he spent a large amount of his summer watching Pokémon, thus his opinion is invalid.

NCIS is a personal favourite of mine. The character writing is incredibly solid and the script is genuinely funny. It's definitely one of the weaker in terms of crime and realism, however it's the type of show you watch for the characters and not to see how they catch the bad guy. I do think the show has shifted from season 6, with season 7 and 8 being pretty mediocre. Season 7 had some good one off episodes, but the lack of a real story line hurt the season, and so far season 8 has been just OK. The product placement for Apple products has gone to annoyingly noticeable, but there's not much you can really do about that. Most shows loose their spark after the 5th season, so I will give NCIS for attempting to hold onto the same quality writing style, even after production changes.

However if you're into crime dramas then you need to get your hands on HBO's The Wire. Not only was it the best crime drama on TV, it was the best show on TV. The writing and acting are absolutely phenomenal, far above even HBO's high standards. Also if you're into police procedural that is a realistic view into the lives of both criminals and police officers, there is no better show than The Wire. Feel free to look up reviews on the show if you don't believe me, every one of them will say it's the best show they have ever seen, I can guarantee you that.

MoonlitSunshine · 10-30-2010, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoathsomePete

NCIS is a personal favourite of mine. The character writing is incredibly solid and the script is genuinely funny. It's definitely one of the weaker in terms of crime and realism, however it's the type of show you watch for the characters and not to see how they catch the bad guy. I do think the show has shifted from season 6, with season 7 and 8 being pretty mediocre. Season 7 had some good one off episodes, but the lack of a real story line hurt the season, and so far season 8 has been just OK. The product placement for Apple products has gone to annoyingly noticeable, but there's not much you can really do about that. Most shows loose their spark after the 5th season, so I will give NCIS for attempting to hold onto the same quality writing style, even after production changes.

However if you're into crime dramas then you need to get your hands on HBO's The Wire. Not only was it the best crime drama on TV, it was the best show on TV. The writing and acting are absolutely phenomenal, far above even HBO's high standards. Also if you're into police procedural that is a realistic view into the lives of both criminals and police officers, there is no better show than The Wire. Feel free to look up reviews on the show if you don't believe me, every one of them will say it's the best show they have ever seen, I can guarantee you that.

I've heard seriously good things about The Wire from friends, it's definitely on the list! Agreeing with you on the NCIS front, though that said, at least their computer technology is sliiightly more believable than the usual "hmm, zoom in that really pixellated CCTV camera and sharpen the image so that that one pixel becomes a face!" method, their image sharpening software makes a nod towards how obscenely dodgy a science it is at the moment...

The character relationships are so excellently built though, it's the same with Criminal Minds, you stop caring about what they're actually trying to do in any one particular episode and rather pay attention to how each character reacts and grows as a result of the experience. I've only got as far as season 7 (about half way through now) and I've noticed what you mean. Pity really, but I guess it's only to be expected.

duga · 10-30-2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

I've recently discovered Arrested Development (2003-2006)

I don't understand why there are only 3 seasons of it. It's the funniest series I've seen. Just finished with the second season. I'm going to miss the lols when I'm done with the third.

I discovered that show a couple months ago myself. I was so upset when I finished it...there needed to be a lot more.

LoathsomePete · 10-30-2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonlitSunshine

I've heard seriously good things about The Wire from friends, it's definitely on the list! Agreeing with you on the NCIS front, though that said, at least their computer technology is sliiightly more believable than the usual "hmm, zoom in that really pixellated CCTV camera and sharpen the image so that that one pixel becomes a face!" method, their image sharpening software makes a nod towards how obscenely dodgy a science it is at the moment...

The character relationships are so excellently built though, it's the same with Criminal Minds, you stop caring about what they're actually trying to do in any one particular episode and rather pay attention to how each character reacts and grows as a result of the experience. I've only got as far as season 7 (about half way through now) and I've noticed what you mean. Pity really, but I guess it's only to be expected.

I do enjoy NCIS's attempts at adding small realistic details, for example whenever they head out and have to pull their Sig's out of their desk, when you work plainclothes you do have to remember to take your gun with you. I actually just read a book called Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets which had a small aside about a detective who forgot his gun and had to investigate a body in one of the worst areas of town. As far as Criminal Minds goes, I haven't really given it much of a chance because criminal profiling doesn't really interest me all that much. Serial killers only make up a small percentage of all the murders committed yearly, however when it comes to books, movies, and TV shows about them, they probably make up 98% of the focus. I find the thought of a 15-year old drug dealer murdering a junkie who has a $10 debt to be far more disturbing than any MO any serial killer has ever had, mostly because my scenario is far more believable. Still like I said, I haven't really seen the show so I won't knock on it too much, I'm sure it's quite a good show if it's lasted as long as it has with the ratings it gets.

MoonlitSunshine · 10-30-2010, 07:57 PM

Aye, the way they set things up is quite believable; the methods are solid, they just get a little lucky with the fact that very few people meet the exact profile :P

When it comes down to it, most of the stuff I read and watch I do so in order to escape reality, I get enough of that in RL, so Unless the show is trying to be serious and they end up doing something ridiculous or pulling some ridiculously fabricated line that's means to sound like higher level physics out of their asses, I'm not really that bothered by how realistic it is, but I guess that's a matter of opinion!

NSW · 10-31-2010, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebase Dali

I've recently discovered Arrested Development (2003-2006)

I don't understand why there are only 3 seasons of it. It's the funniest series I've seen. Just finished with the second season. I'm going to miss the lols when I'm done with the third.

Absolutely hilarious. The first season was the best...so many great quotable one-liners.

jackhammer · 11-04-2010, 06:31 PM

The Walking Dead – Shows – FXUK.com

This starts over here tomorrow night (Friday- Bonfire night) after debuting in the U.S earlier this week. Zombies + based on a comic series + Frank Darabont (Shawshank/Green Mile/The Mist) smacks of win to me. I have my night planned out already

10-30-2010, 03:05 PM	#142 (permalink)
debaserr eat the masters Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,467	it kinda tails off in the 3rd season too... and there may or may not be a movie coming. __________________ Last.FM

10-30-2010, 07:57 PM	#148 (permalink)
MoonlitSunshine Dat's Der Bunny! Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 1,088	Aye, the way they set things up is quite believable; the methods are solid, they just get a little lucky with the fact that very few people meet the exact profile :P When it comes down to it, most of the stuff I read and watch I do so in order to escape reality, I get enough of that in RL, so Unless the show is trying to be serious and they end up doing something ridiculous or pulling some ridiculously fabricated line that's means to sound like higher level physics out of their asses, I'm not really that bothered by how realistic it is, but I guess that's a matter of opinion! __________________ "I found it eventually, at the bottom of a locker in a disused laboratory, with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard". Ever thought of going into Advertising?" - Arthur Dent

11-04-2010, 06:31 PM	#150 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	The Walking Dead – Shows – FXUK.com This starts over here tomorrow night (Friday- Bonfire night) after debuting in the U.S earlier this week. Zombies + based on a comic series + Frank Darabont (Shawshank/Green Mile/The Mist) smacks of win to me. I have my night planned out already __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

10-30-2010, 02:58 PM	#141 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	I've recently discovered Arrested Development (2003-2006) I don't understand why there are only 3 seasons of it. It's the funniest series I've seen. Just finished with the second season. I'm going to miss the lols when I'm done with the third.

10-30-2010, 05:33 PM	#143 (permalink)
Kaimon Talking Cactus Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Freebirds Posts: 201	BBC Sherlock I just started and finished watching it last week. Crazy good. Can't believe they only aired three episodes for the year though.