So what's good these days?

[Trubinator]

Hi folks,

I've got a question for all you TV lovers out there. A friend of mine wants me to give him a list of good shows to watch since he's really getting into watching television now, but my exposure to program content is a little limited. So I was wondering, on his behalf, what's good these days in the world of the small screen?

He loves Babylon 5, Firefly, DS9, and stuff of that nature. Recently, he has been enjoying Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me and the new BSG. Selection isn't limited to Sci-Fi though. However, he strongly dislikes stuff that's overly "silly" or has excessive stupid monsters (e.g. Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

So with that in mind, are there any good shows to recommend?

 

[Tulin]

"Dexter" is an exceptional drama series that is very well written, addictive and VERY hard to stop watching. I am really enjoying "Fringe" as well, if he wants a genre recommendation. It's smart, each ep looks like a movie and it has a VERY good mix of standalones with a developing arc that is intriguing.

 

[RandyS]

Well, you've already mentioned three good ones. Are you looking for new shows only or just about anything? I ask, because you mention "These days", but then list three shows more than a decade old.

That said, I recommend Smallville. I'm not familiar with current TV either, but this and The Simpsons, I watch regularly (On DVD that is). I also plan on checking out the new V when the DVD is released.

Has your friend watched the other four Star Trek series?

 

[sojourner]

Lost
It's on Hiatus right now but I enjoyed Justified on TNT network.

As for sf/fantasy, most of the current stuff is mostly "Buffy" level seriousness. Eureka and Warehouse 13 is about it. It's pretty dry right now for sf/f.

ooo, Dr. Who and Torchwood.

 

[startrekwatcher]

In my opinion there has been a lot of sff in recent years but most of it is pedestrian or stupid but he might like--

LOST--the best series of the last decade. It has a pretty well put together mythology like B5 and the kind of epic storytelling as DS9.

The Vampire Diaries--a pretty entertaining little series that has developed a nice mythology and despite being on the CW and featuring teenage vamps in love isn't that bad. It actually has a maturity to it and I usually can't stand teen shows. In fact one of the best new shows from last season.

Heroes S1 ONLY--a brilliantly assembled exciting season long arc full of WTF twists and cliffhangers and fun character. Great for comic fans.

Fringe is an okay TXF wannabe. Its characters are so/so and the standalones aren't really that interesting or fresh but the mythology is quite compelling.

I also enjoyed The Legend of the Seeker.

Boston Legal is pretty good.

Supernatural is kinda hit-or-miss but he might want to give it a try--Seasons 1, 2 and 4 are pretty good.

Avoid: V, Flash Forward, Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe, Haven, Eureka, Dr. Who, True Blood, Invasion, Surface.

 

[darthraidr]

You can't go wrong with most HBO shows... The Sopranos, Deadwood, Six Feet Under, Band of Brothers, Rome, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, Big Love, The Wire... even at their worst, they are still better than most television by a very large margin

so after you are done with the HBO stuff...

The Shield is really good.
The West Wing is great.
Friday Night Lights is the best show running right now.

if your friend doesn't mind cartoons, i'd suggest all the DC animated stuff: Batman:The Animated Series, Superman, Justice League, Batman Beyond...i'd also suggest Avatar: The Last Airbender

when it comes to sci-fi, i have grown less forgiving of shows.
The Lost Room was a really well done mini-series.
The 4400 was entertaining, but the production values weren't so hot.
Journeyman started off slow (3 episodes or so) and picked up steam when it ended (at 13 episodes)

 

[Joeman]

he strongly dislikes stuff that's overly "silly" ...

Well that would eliminate most of my suggestions.

My TV tastes are not in line with most people on this forum. In fact, other than The Simpsons and Star Trek, I haven't seen one single episode of one single show mentioned in this thread. I'm sure they're all great, but I'm generally just not into TV dramas or Sci Fi, other than Trek. I'm more of a comedy guy. I'm just too ADD to handle most hour long dramas.

That said, if he's doing the DVD thing, then I would highly recommend Life on Mars. The UK version is better overall IMO, but the US version is different enough to be enjoyable as well. Both are really fun and intense.

 

[auntiehill]

Dexter, LOST, the UK version of Life on Mars, Deadwood, Pillars of the Earth mini-series (on right now). All of these are excellent dramas that I would recommend to anyone.

Avoid the new V or Heroes (except for season 1). Fringe is OK, but doesn't really get good until the second half of the 1st season.

 

[DevilEyes]

SF/fantasy

Lost
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Caprica
Being Human
The 4400
Dr Who
True Blood
Life on Mars (UK version - I haven't seen the US one)
Whatever you've been told, don't avoid True Blood or Dr Who. What 'silliness' is there is intentional and smart. Then again, so was Buffy... but it's always worth a try.

I have only seen half a season of Stargate Universe, so I can't judge, but what I've seen wasn't nearly as bad as people will have you believe.

Out of the older series, in case she hasn't seen them yet, I recommend the mini-series Taken, the British supernatural drama Afterlife, and HBO's Carnivale, but the latter only if she can deal with a series ending on a semi-cliffhanger and never getting a proper ending due to cancellation.

Heroes is best avoided... even series 1 is not that great since it ends in a very anticlimatic finale that really pissed me off. It has its moments even later on (and is worth watching if you like Zachary Quinto or Adrian Pasdar, but the story and characterizations are a complete mess)

Drama in general (2000s):

Six Feet Under
The Sopranos
Deadwood
The Shield
Damages
Dexter
Rome (just don't expect it to be historically accurate)
...
Mad Men (but only if she can deal with a slow drama where not an awful lot happens, and most characters are unlikable...)

(Haven't seen The Wire so I can't comment, but everyone seems to think it's great...)

Is she only into serial drama? If she can watch standalone crime series, maybe she could give Lie to Me a try - it has two things that set it apart from the standard CSI/Law and Order fare: interesting subject (microexpressions) and Tim Roth.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

LOST is an awesome show, except for the series finale. Unfortunately, the series finale nearly ruins the entire show though (at least it did for me) so your friend would have to be willing to deal with a great ride followed by the distinct possibility of ultimate disappointment.

Also in the SFF arena, I like Dr. Who (though not Torchwood). And given his enjoyment of Pushing Daisies and Dead Like Me, he ought to watch Wonderfalls. It's short, but in the same quirky vein, and self contained without an unresolved cliffhanger or anything. I also like Eureka, but it's one of those shows you have to enjoy for what it is - a quirky, lightweight scifi show that's sort of like a light summer reading novel that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Non-SFF fantasy shows worth trying out: Dexter, NCIS, Castle, Bones, Boston Legal, House, Burn Notice, White Collar, In Plain Sight.

All of this is subjective though - threads like this are always interesting because they really show the wide variety of personal taste involved.

 

[acappellasaurus]

+1 for Justified. Also, Leverage is pretty good IMHO.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Farscape
Futurama
Dexter
Lost
Breaking Bad
Big Love (first three seasons; I've heard S4 gets stupid)
Heroes S1
Entourage S1-5
Deadwood
Carnivale
Rome
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Band of Brothers

 

[Kirkman1987]

I second Dexter, it really can't be repeated enough.

I also love the UK Life on Mars.

 

[Trippy]

All the shows already mentioned are good, with special shout outs to Dexter, LOST (though over, it's a netfllix must) and True Blood.

For a comedy, nothing is so funny currently as a half an hour with the gang from The Big Bang Theory It's become rather addicting to me over the summer!

 

[Kirby]

I'll second Curb Your Enthusiasm.

I'm also a fan of Frasier, Sports Nights, The Bob Newhart Show, and Stargate SG-1 (the first 5 seasons are best IMO).

 

[Bob The Skutter]

British shows:
Life On Mars
Ashes To Ahes
Luther
Sherlock
Misfits
Skins
Doctor Who
Torchwood (skip to series 3 if neither of the first 2 grab you)
Afterlife
Red Riding
Primeval
Merlin


US Shows

Dexter
True Blood
Warehouse 13
Eureka
Mad Men
Futurama
Farscape
Supernatural
Burn Notice

 

[Lindley]

LOST is an awesome show, except for the series finale. Unfortunately, the series finale nearly ruins the entire show though (at least it did for me) so your friend would have to be willing to deal with a great ride followed by the distinct possibility of ultimate disappointment.

Granted the finale wasn't the pinnacle of exceptional storytelling that we were all hoping for, but I really don't see how it could "ruin" what came before. The only part of the show it puts in a different light is half of the last season.

As for sf/fantasy, most of the current stuff is mostly "Buffy" level seriousness. Eureka and Warehouse 13 is about it.

I know what you meant, but I must say: Nothing on TV now is even close to Buffy's level of quality. That was a damn good show.

Although I somewhat prefer Angel actually.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Ah, I forgot to add Being Human to the list of UK shows.

 

[Trubinator]

Thanks for the responses everyone! I'll be forwarding what I see here to him shortly ...

I probably should have clarified before by saying that he tends to prefer shows that are somewhat obscure or were/are relatively unknown. Joan or Arcadia and Earth 2 are things I know he's watching on NetFlix at the moment.

Quick question. What's the deal with The Wire? I keep hearing it mentioned, but have not really done much research into it?

 

[Lindley]

Quick question. What's the deal with The Wire? I keep hearing it mentioned, but have not really done much research into it?

It's a slow burn show, and might not grab you immediately. But it's very deep and complex, and absolutely rewards long-term viewership.

At the start it may seem like your standard police procedural, except arc-based; but as you go, you realize that it's about the drug gangs as much as the cops. Ultimately it's a show about how broken certain aspects of our society can be.