ARTS & CULTURE
14 Obiter Dicta
TV Shows – Which one is out there for you
Watching too much TV is there such a thing?
,
gleb matushansky › staff writer
I
have been told that I watch too much TV, but
I disagree – I think I watch just enough. From
drama to comedy, mystery to horror, I watch
shows across different networks. And, to draw
the ire of the intellectual property crowd, I watch
them whenever it is convenient for me.
I think TV shows speak volumes about our society, morals, interests, and priorities. And there is
much to learn, as we can look objectively at our life
from a distance – the unpredictability of life (through
Lost), the way our society has progressed toward
equal treatment of women and minorities (through
Mad Men), and the way in which we attempt to dismiss what we consider odd or immoral while trying
to hinder progress (through Masters of Sex). Without
these shows encapsulating the struggles of generations past, how can we truly appreciate all that we
have accomplished? Is it not awe-inspiring to watch
Nucky Thompson struggle to build and maintain an
empire in the age of prohibition, or watching Dennis
Quaid in Vegas? These shows lend context to our society, make us confront some deep-seated realizations
(would you become The Governor if all hell broke
loose? Or Walter White?), and in the meanwhile, provide us with entertainment and a chance to escape
our often monotone lives. Why read about the PPSA
when you could be watching Franklin & Bash go at it
in court (however unbelievably), or critique the realism of Harvey and Mike’s partnership?
Now t h at I
have dealt with
the artistic and
philosophical
undercurrents of
shows, it is time
to stop over-analyzing and just spit out my favorites. While I attempt to stay current with all the new
shows out there, and keep up with all the ones that
I’ve been watching (I have approximately 55 shows
at the moment on which I’m fairly current), I haven’t
watched everything. I only dabbled briefly in Lost
because it was too unbelievable. Orange is the New
Black didn’t appeal to me either - maybe it’s because
all I can think of while watching it is American Pie.
And I need to delve into some oldies like Law & Order.
But as TV turned from a way to bond with my family
over the critique of various shows, to a way to relax
and kick back after a hard day/week (when I’m not
binge-watching in place of doing my readings that is),
my tastes have also changed. I started with the goodies – Fresh Prince, Saved by the Bell – but now…
ê Sophie’s Choice. Photo credit: Lubs Mary
Favorite TV Show that is Currently Running
Favorite Mini-series
This is a tough one, because there are so many good
ones, and so much variety. Graceland is amazing, and
the LA scenes are great - who wouldn’t want a house
on the beach, and a group of attractive compatriots
with whom they
go on crazy missions? And, does
House of Cards,
the epitome of
great
acti ng,
count? Downton Abbey lets us harken to a time
long ago. Chicago PD and Chicago Fire are raw, and
Blacklist lets us imagine what’s behind the scenes of
our daily lives. Sons of Anarchy makes us all want to
ride a motorcycle and wear leather jackets, and Grey’s
Anatomy makes one wish that he doesn’t end up in a
hospital when one of the doctors is preoccupied with
their emotional rollercoaster of the day. But I think
one of the best, if underrated shows, on TV right
now is Ray Donovan. The cast is amazing, the story
is compelling; it is inventive and truly a masterpiece.
Sherlock. Just watch it. I am a fan of the original
books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but these bring the
books to life. It is also much better than the Lucy Liu
version.
“These shows lend context
to our society. . .”
Favorite TV Show of All Time
It’s hard for me to rank my top ten shows, because
there are so many. But my number one, indisputably
favorite TV show of all time, is The Wire. The talent
that went into writing the show is mind-blowing. I
enjoy character development and realism, and this
show provides both in spades. From the futility of
drug law enforcement to the way that children in
ghettos are indoctrinated, (for lack of a better term),
to a cross-section of a modern city’s main governance
mechanisms, it is a masterpiece.
Favorite Comedy
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has to get a nod –
as does Workaholics, for their depraved humor. So do
Modern Family, Dads, and Community. But my two
favorite comedies are New Girl and Brooklyn NineNine. If you haven’t seen these, you should definitely
check them out – there’s nothing like a quick twentyminute episode to pick up your spirits and put a smile
on your face.
Just don’t blame me if you end up getting addicted as
well. ◆
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