![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
My Favorite TV Shows of 2011
Read numerous critics top ten or Best of 2011 lists, and guess what? I disagree with 50-60% of the lists. And feel this odd annoyance at the moninkar - best list. I find myself agreeing with Woody Allen who stated that it is ludicrous to have a best movie or best tv show - it's more likely favorite. The only time you can arrive at the term "best" - is if you run a race.So true. The implied arrogance of folks like Ken Tucker, Matt Roush, Stephen King, Lisa Schwarztman, Glenn Kenny, Robert Corliss and Alan Sepinwalll in stating that they are the arbitrators of taste is astonding. Honestly. What qualifies them? A few college courses? A few well-written reviews? The fact that they do little else but sit on their buts and watch tv, read books, and write? Taste is largely dependent on daily experience I think. It is completely subjective. The objective criteria is narrow at best and most if not all nominees neatly fit it - but even that...is largely based on how we each perceive the world. It just seems incredibly arrogant and somewhat the height of hubris to state "BEST" when in reality the term should be "Favorite".
With no further ado...My FAVORITE TV SHOWS of 2011 (now that they've all aired. Keep in mind I do not get SHowtime or Starz, so tv shows that premiered on these channels can't be included. TV shows that actually aired in 2011 are only included (so no, I didn't count the Wire) Also this will probably be the ONLY TV show list that you read that does not contain Breaking Bad on it. Make of that, what you will.)
1. The Good Wife...continues to shine and redefine itself. The cases of the week expand on the themes and characters, moving the plot forward, as opposed to just hanging in space like dead-weight. The characters have evolved. The show's them about power and political dynamics expands and evolves each season. Also it may well have the best female characters or certainly the most complex of any tv series on anywhere. Certainly the largest cast of them and the best actresses.
2. Once Upon a Time - a surprise. It plays with the fairy tale format in a new and innovative way, along with narrative format. Unlike the exceedingly grim and violently male and at times misogynistic LOST before it, this show pushes female endeavor. It plays with how we perceive happily ever after, what is a fairy tale, and who exactly is prince charming and the evil queen. Fun, fluffy, and thoughtful...it's like a candy cane with substance. And the least violent action adventure series on. Yes, Virgina, there is a Santa Clause and it is possible to create a family oriented tv series that doesn't depict in graphic detail rape, torture and violence in each and every episode. And not predictable...wow.
3. Fringe...weird show, grins at the boundaries of tv, then jumps past them. Much like Once Upon a Time, Fringe has fun with how we perceive reality and narrative structure, as well as time, and plays with our views on it. I'm only on the Third Season...and this...just boggles the imagination.
4. Big Bang Theory - a tv situation comedy show that actually respects its characters and its audience...the characters while on the surface may appear stereotypes, they are anything but. And the show has expanded well past it's three guys or rather four guys and a straight pretty girl premise. With the addition of the scene stealing Amy Fowler, and Bernadette...it plays with our stereotypes and derails them.
5.Game of Thrones...skip the books, seriously, skip them and watch the tv series. Lighter, faster paced, and more hopeful - a wonderful political piece, with complex characters, and a cast of thousands. Plus special effects to blow the mind. Also proof, that fantasy epics set in medival times can include strong and fascinating and versatile female characters, who'd have thunk it?
6.Justified - if you have to watch a modern western with guns, violence, drug dealers, and nasty people? Watch this one. Contains the marriage of Elmore Leonard's slick and sassy dialogue and actors that push out of the screen. And it actually has redeemable and likable characters...I know, I know, shocking!
7.The Hour - BBC America - a film noire spy tale told at the dawn of British television journalism. Twisty and clever. With stellar performances. A bit sluggish in places, but a worthy successor to the Mad Men copycat craze, and perhaps the only one that pushed the enevelope.
8. Doctor Who - BBC America ...fun, light, twisty, with all sorts of interesting commentaries on the meaning of life, love, and well thanks for all the fish...If I wanted to own a DVD of a TV series this year it would be this season.
9. Revenge - The Counte of Monte Cristo meets...welll...Dallas and The Talented Mr. Ripley by way of the Hamptons. Emily Thorn decides to pull a long-con of revenge on the woman who ruined her childhood, and reaps the cost. Plays with all the Revenge flick motifs of the last age, and at times feels like a marriage of Alexander Dumas and Patricia Highsmith by way of Jackie Collins. Gabriel Mann's Nolan is the breakout hit, although Emily Van Camp holds her own as Emily Thorn, with Madeline Stowe making quite the come-back.
10.Louis...the anti-Seinfeild, crisp, and dark, and funny. Standup comedian Louis takes us on a tour of his life. It's achingly real and achingly funny at the same time.
Honorable mention?
* Vampire Diaries -fastest plotted series this side of the Pecos. Unlike its genre competitors the broodingly serious and at times ploddingly silly Being Human and over-the-top satirically wacky True Blood, it actually seems interested in developing its characters and entertaining the audience..it's fun folks, and that's what it is all about, isn't it?
* Community - if you've watched it? You already know why. Perhaps the best parody of pop culture currently on.
Okay no time. Off to finish setting the table and dinner.
With no further ado...My FAVORITE TV SHOWS of 2011 (now that they've all aired. Keep in mind I do not get SHowtime or Starz, so tv shows that premiered on these channels can't be included. TV shows that actually aired in 2011 are only included (so no, I didn't count the Wire) Also this will probably be the ONLY TV show list that you read that does not contain Breaking Bad on it. Make of that, what you will.)
1. The Good Wife...continues to shine and redefine itself. The cases of the week expand on the themes and characters, moving the plot forward, as opposed to just hanging in space like dead-weight. The characters have evolved. The show's them about power and political dynamics expands and evolves each season. Also it may well have the best female characters or certainly the most complex of any tv series on anywhere. Certainly the largest cast of them and the best actresses.
2. Once Upon a Time - a surprise. It plays with the fairy tale format in a new and innovative way, along with narrative format. Unlike the exceedingly grim and violently male and at times misogynistic LOST before it, this show pushes female endeavor. It plays with how we perceive happily ever after, what is a fairy tale, and who exactly is prince charming and the evil queen. Fun, fluffy, and thoughtful...it's like a candy cane with substance. And the least violent action adventure series on. Yes, Virgina, there is a Santa Clause and it is possible to create a family oriented tv series that doesn't depict in graphic detail rape, torture and violence in each and every episode. And not predictable...wow.
3. Fringe...weird show, grins at the boundaries of tv, then jumps past them. Much like Once Upon a Time, Fringe has fun with how we perceive reality and narrative structure, as well as time, and plays with our views on it. I'm only on the Third Season...and this...just boggles the imagination.
4. Big Bang Theory - a tv situation comedy show that actually respects its characters and its audience...the characters while on the surface may appear stereotypes, they are anything but. And the show has expanded well past it's three guys or rather four guys and a straight pretty girl premise. With the addition of the scene stealing Amy Fowler, and Bernadette...it plays with our stereotypes and derails them.
5.Game of Thrones...skip the books, seriously, skip them and watch the tv series. Lighter, faster paced, and more hopeful - a wonderful political piece, with complex characters, and a cast of thousands. Plus special effects to blow the mind. Also proof, that fantasy epics set in medival times can include strong and fascinating and versatile female characters, who'd have thunk it?
6.Justified - if you have to watch a modern western with guns, violence, drug dealers, and nasty people? Watch this one. Contains the marriage of Elmore Leonard's slick and sassy dialogue and actors that push out of the screen. And it actually has redeemable and likable characters...I know, I know, shocking!
7.The Hour - BBC America - a film noire spy tale told at the dawn of British television journalism. Twisty and clever. With stellar performances. A bit sluggish in places, but a worthy successor to the Mad Men copycat craze, and perhaps the only one that pushed the enevelope.
8. Doctor Who - BBC America ...fun, light, twisty, with all sorts of interesting commentaries on the meaning of life, love, and well thanks for all the fish...If I wanted to own a DVD of a TV series this year it would be this season.
9. Revenge - The Counte of Monte Cristo meets...welll...Dallas and The Talented Mr. Ripley by way of the Hamptons. Emily Thorn decides to pull a long-con of revenge on the woman who ruined her childhood, and reaps the cost. Plays with all the Revenge flick motifs of the last age, and at times feels like a marriage of Alexander Dumas and Patricia Highsmith by way of Jackie Collins. Gabriel Mann's Nolan is the breakout hit, although Emily Van Camp holds her own as Emily Thorn, with Madeline Stowe making quite the come-back.
10.Louis...the anti-Seinfeild, crisp, and dark, and funny. Standup comedian Louis takes us on a tour of his life. It's achingly real and achingly funny at the same time.
Honorable mention?
* Vampire Diaries -fastest plotted series this side of the Pecos. Unlike its genre competitors the broodingly serious and at times ploddingly silly Being Human and over-the-top satirically wacky True Blood, it actually seems interested in developing its characters and entertaining the audience..it's fun folks, and that's what it is all about, isn't it?
* Community - if you've watched it? You already know why. Perhaps the best parody of pop culture currently on.
Okay no time. Off to finish setting the table and dinner.
no subject
Merry Christmas! I hope you have a great time with your family.
no subject
no subject
no subject
I like most of your list, but I would add shows I've watched online:
Misfits
Downton Abbey
Dexter
(honorable mention for Merlin which improved a lot this year)
And I do love: Leverage and Burn Notice.
Television is a great medium, and in spite of all the bad stuff on all the time, there is still a pretty nice selection of good stuff too! Plenty for me anyway.
no subject
Agree on Dowton Abbey...and Misfits (although Misfits was technically 2010, and Dowton aired in 2010...). Dexter? I didn't like S5 that much. I think me and Dexter are parting ways. ;-)
The Wire? It's very grim and dark and violent, very noir. But it does have some amazing episodes and may well be the best social criticism I've seen. S3 and S4 are amazing in that respect. I couldn't watch it right now. Too grim, need light and fluffy (hence the romance novels.) Actually watching Game of Thrones, The Wire, Dexter, and Fringe...as well as the first Season of Breaking Bad and Girl with Dragoon Tatoo...plus reading all those violent books - may well be why I can't handle any more of it now. Ugh. Must learn not to binge on one genre (says the woman who has just read ten romance novels in the space of three weeks.)
no subject