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I haven't been watching much in terms of actual shows for a good while, then while listening to a podcast a host casually mentioned they had rewatched Chernobyl, how it still holds up, that there's a reason it got as much acclaim as it did, etc. So I thought I'd give it a go and wow, loved it (still one episode left to watch).
Had me thinking, what else have I missed out on? What are some "absolute cinema" TV shows that still hold up and and are considered must watch?
Bojack horseman (better under lsd/shrooms)
The Beatles: Get Back!
Ordinary Denazification (start of the Ukrainian war with a lot of nuances)
Ugly Americans (simple fun)
the Act of killing (though film, it is worth it)
Jericho. from 2006.
There are a series of strategic nuclear attacks on major American cities that leads to collapse of basic state and federal functioning, leaving our beloved little town of Jericho, Kansas to figure out how to keep life going, but major threads from across the country all congeal in Jericho and we eventually learn that not everything is what it seems, and that some things are far worse than anyone could have possibly feared.
It aired 1 full season (22 eps), before CBS cancelled it. but there was a absolutely massive fan outcry and campaign that forced CBS to give a second season of 7 episodes before telling fans thats it, they're done with it, and to leave them the fuck alone.
Later down the road, Netflix got all the cast on board for a season 3 and approached CBS on buying the show from them so they can continue it. CBS told Netflix to go fuck themselves, that no one is ever getting the rights to the show, presumably because they want it to die after being humiliated by protests after the season 1 cancellation that forced them to do season 2.
But the story did continue anyway, in comic books.
So there is going to be stories that, for watching the show, just wont ever be finished for you because CBS is a bag of blue waffle cunts, but its still an incredible, fantastic show and worth the heart break of no true tie up finale.
A gritty crime drama set in modern-day London, following Harry Da Souza, a street-smart fixer for the powerful Harrigan crime family led by Conrad and Maeve Harrigan. When a fateful night out goes wrong for the sons of two warring crime families, Harry must navigate a escalating turf war that threatens to topple empires and lives.
Set hundreds of years in the future, humanity has colonized the solar system across three rival powers: Earth, Mars, and the Belt. When a conspiracy linking missing ships, alien protomolecule technology, and political machinations begins to unravel, the crew of the rogue ship Rocinante finds themselves at the center of a conflict that could determine the fate of the entire solar system and beyond.
A space western set in the aftermath of a galactic civil war, following the renegade crew of the Serenity, a Firefly-class transport ship. Captain Malcolm Reynolds leads his eclectic band of misfits as they take on smuggling jobs and odd work across the frontier fringes of a solar system ruled by the oppressive Alliance, struggling to maintain their freedom and independence.
A Game of Thrones prequel set a century before the events of the flagship series, during a rare era of peace under Targaryen rule. It follows the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall, a kindhearted but unseasoned hedge knight, and his clever young squire, Egg, who harbors a secret royal identity, as they wander Westeros encountering great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits.
A darkly comedic Australian crime drama following Ray Shoesmith, a hitman and family man who juggles his violent profession with the demands of fatherhood, friendships, and a new romance. Ray's efforts to be a good father, brother, and partner are constantly complicated by the realities of his lethal line of work, creating a compelling tension between his personal and professional lives.
A psychological crime drama centered on a 13-year-old schoolboy, Jamie Miller, who is arrested after the murder of a girl at his school. Each episode, shot in a single continuous take, explores the fallout from different perspectives: his family, the detective in charge, and a therapist, as everyone grapples with what really happened and the invisible forces that shaped a young life.
An idealistic drama set behind the scenes of a cable news broadcast, following anchor Will McAvoy and his executive producer Mackenzie McHale as they attempt to reinvent television journalism with integrity and substance. Created by Aaron Sorkin, the series tackles real-world events through the lens of a newsroom striving to prioritize truth over ratings in an era of sensationalism.
Aaron Sorkin's acclaimed political drama following the inner workings of the White House during the fictional administration of Democratic President Josiah Bartlet. The series chronicles the daily challenges, policy battles, and personal dramas of the president and his dedicated senior staff as they navigate governance, re-election campaigns, and the weight of national and global crises.
An adult animated conspiracy thriller following two former high school lab partners, Marshall and Frances, who discover a rare mushroom capable of healing virtually any disease. Their find puts them in the crosshairs of Big Pharma, the DEA, and powerful international businessmen determined to suppress the cure, in a gripping tale where the sides keep shifting.
A dystopian drama set in a massive underground silo where thousands of survivors live in a stratified society, believing the outside world is toxic and uninhabitable. When engineer Juliette Nichols uncovers unsettling secrets about the silo's true history and its leadership, she becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy that challenges everything the residents have been told about their existence.
A heartfelt comedy-drama following Jimmy Laird, a grieving therapist who begins breaking the rules and telling his clients exactly what he thinks after the death of his wife. His unconventional, ethically questionable approach to therapy ripples through the lives of his patients, colleagues, and his teenage daughter, as everyone navigates loss, healing, and personal growth.
A Norwegian comedy series that treats the brutal Viking Age as a backdrop for dry, absurdist workplace humor. Set in the 8th century village of Norheim, it follows the daily lives, petty rivalries, and mundane frustrations of warriors, chieftains, and slaves, blending modern sensibilities with swords, raiding, and pillaging in a hilariously deadpan style.
A razor-sharp satirical drama following the ultra-wealthy Roy family, owners of a global media and entertainment conglomerate. As aging patriarch Logan Roy's health declines, his four adult children scheme, betray, and battle for control of the empire, revealing the toxic intersections of family loyalty, corporate power, and insatiable ambition.
A real-time medical drama following the staff of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center's emergency department through a single grueling 15-hour shift. Each episode covers approximately one hour of the shift, immersing viewers in the nonstop pressures of emergency medicine as the team navigates staff shortages, underfunding, and personal crises while saving lives.
An epic sci-fi saga based on Isaac Asimov's novels, set in a sprawling galactic empire on the brink of collapse. Mathematician Hari Seldon predicts the empire's fall and establishes the Foundation, a colony of scientists and engineers, to preserve human knowledge and shorten the coming dark age. The series spans generations, weaving political intrigue, religion, and destiny on a cosmic scale.
A slick crime drama following Marius Josipović, a released convict who assumes the identity of his former cellmate, Pete Murphy, and infiltrates the estranged Murphy family in Connecticut. Posing as their long-lost grandson, Marius must maintain the charade while dodging a ruthless gangster from his past and entangling himself in the family's bail bond business and its own secrets.
Widows bay. Its honestly a mix of ethereal, cosmic horror and parks and rec style comedy.
It doesn't sound like it should work, but it entirely does. Its not "good comedy with okay horror" or "good horror with okay comedy." Both genres are excellent and they mesh in a way thats believable, very human and horrifying.
The Pitt.
It’s easily one of the best television shows ever made.
I'll add something different to this thread and say Father Ted. It's to this day the most hilarious show I've ever seen.
It's about a priest that was assigned/exiled to a parish that houses some outcast priests on what must be the most depressing and ugly island to ever exist. It's sitcom style, but with such a dry and outrageous sense of humor it's really nothing like anything else.
it still holds up
How old does a show or movie need to be in order for such a statement to be applicable? Seven years seems really short, and feels like when a child says "when I was a kid."
Shogun and Andor
Silo. Loved the books, the show is good too.
Postapocaliptic isolated society kind of thing with a mystery aspect, for those unaware. Lots of twists.
Chernobyl was a great show, yes, though technically so wrong on so many levels, but I guess it's in part to make it more exciting
Another recommendation: The Orville. The true successor to Star Trek TNG and DS9. Especially the first two seasons are amazingly good
Loki isn't bad, both seasons
Orphan Black: it's hard to say much without spoiling it, but it's one of the best series I've ever seen, and Tatiana Maslany's acting is incredible. It's
Battlestar Galactica, which others have mentioned already.
Stargate SG-1: my favorite show of all time. It's the sort of scifi that makes you hopeful about the future of humanity. You don't absolutely have to watch the movie first (it's not as good as the series IMO, though worth watching) but it lends to more understanding of who some of the characters are.
I second the Battlestar Galactica reboot as absolutely top.
I very much enjoyed
Edit: Just remembered Psycho Pass as an absolute anime gem too!
The Wire
I put off rewatching Avatar The Last Airbender for about 15 years fearing it wouldn't be as good as I remembered, but I just went through the series again last few weeks. Damn I love that show. So much heart. Great animation.
I'm sure the obvious picks are already mentioned, so I'll try to think of some stuff that might not be well-known:
Shane Meadows has produced 2 TV series worth watching. One is the This is England collection. It starts with This is England (2006), which is a film, then 3 miniseries (This is England '86, This is England '88 and This is England '90) that continue the story. All of it together is about as good as TV gets. Might wanna check for triggers before watching on something like doesthedogdie.com.
He made a second miniseries called The Virtues. It's a difficult watch at times, but it's a masterpiece. And it's another one you might wanna look into before watching.
There's a show that was very popular in the UK and Ireland back in the '90s called Cracker. It stars the late great Robbie Coltrane (you probably know him better as Hagrid from Harry Potter). He plays a psychologist who works with the police to find and interrogate various kinds of pathological killers and sex offenders. It's really, really good. Unfortunately I don't think it's ever been released on anything but DVD, so you'll be stuck with SD quality.
Say Nothing is a recent show that does a really nice job of dealing with 'the troubles' in N. Ireland. It's based on real events, the most central of which is the abduction, murder and 'disappearing' of a widowed mother of 10 children by the IRA. Jean McConville is one of 17 people who were disappeared in this way, and is by far the most notorious given her circumstances. The story - based on the book by Patrick Radden Keef - follows Dolours Price, a female IRA member who was a significant figure in the conflict and who was involved in Jean McConville's abduction. One of the better shows I've seen generally, and probably the best bit of media on the N. Irish troubles (there's so much junk about this place, it's refreshing to see something half-decent for once). If you need a palate cleanser after watching it, Derry Girls should do the trick!
Black Sails is the best show nobody watched. I don't know anyone who didn't like it after giving it a try. And it only gets progressively better episode after episode.
The best show I've seen in the last few years is Pantheon. It's an animated sci-fi about the implications of...
Mild spoiler for first episodes
uploading minds into computers
...and it totally blew my mind. The show's only shortcoming is that when the writers knew the show was being cancelled, they crammed multiple seasons worth of story into like two episodes. I can see why they did it, though, because the ending is pretty satisfying.
Lost, Futurama (original run), King of the Hill, The Simpsons (seasons 2 through some of 8), Task, The Wire, True Detective (except the Vince Vaughn season), Community (through Season 3), Pluribus, Severance, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Bob's Burgers, Taskmaster UK, Clarkson's Farm (im only into Season 4 right now), original Twilight Zone, Broadchurch was good, and my favorite TV show is Alone (Season 12 sucked butt). MASH (every season no matter what the haters say).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexx
It's old-ish and maybe not the greatest work of art on screen, but I love that it had a very unique world and characters and humour and it keeps on developing and changing throughout.
It's been too long. I really kind of want to watch it again.
For one you likely haven't heard of before: Infinity Train.
Best to go in blind with no spoilers. I wish I could watch it for the first time again.
Phineas and Ferb; I love their music and evil adventures Dr. Doofenshmirtz
Utopia, the original one. Unfortunately it got cancelled after season two, and the IP is owned by Amazon who tried to do a relaunch, but it was a flop.
Still, everyone should watch Utopia, the visuals, the colourwork, that amazing soundtrack. I pray Amazon releases its grasp one day.
