Let me throw this out there right from the start : Im not saying these are the 5 best shows to ever hit Television. These are my 5 favorite shows , the shows that have sucked me in the most and left me at the edge of my seat waiting more.
When thinking about this I found a couple of constants among each show. The first one being there all drama's , that doesn't mean i dont have love or respect for the sitcom but it is what it is. The second thing was every show revolves around a Central Character who is a very conflicted person , often times struggling with juggling a secret life. They often times tug that line between Anti-Hero (meaning bad guy that you still root for) or what often times they really are a Criminal and sometimes a psychopath!
ON TO THE LIST
No. 1
The Shield- This was a landmark show in a number of ways but mostly it was one of if not the first show to tote that line of being a show worthy of being on HBO but they did just enough to pass to be on cable.
The Shield is based around the fictional Farmington Division of the LA Police Department and Detective Vic Mackey played by the great Michael Chiklis. Vic Mackey personifies the Anti-Hero , in the very first episode of this 7 Season long Drama , Mackey shoots a fellow cop and kills him. This sets the tone for a man who stops at nothing to make busts as a cop , or protect his friends and family. Vic faces moral crossroads and usually always chooses the easy way or the criminal way out.THe duality of his character though often times showed him to be a very loving father who cared greatly for his kids. The Shield is also a show that i think avoided the peaks and calley's that hit most television shows. The Shield got constantly better as the show grew older and evolved. The Shield Series Finale is my favorite finale episode and ending to a Television show ever.The Shield was the cornerstone of the FX Network and played a significant role it getting to where it is now. To me the Shield is the greatest Cop show in Television History.
No. 2
The Soprano's
Another Landmark show for Television history , the first of its kind and the show that put HBO's making Television shows on the map. The Soprano's centers around a New Jersey family both in the normal sense and a Crime Family. The lead character is the father Tony Soprano who is balancing his life as the head of a New Jersey crime family , with his life of being a husband and father of two kids. Like Mackey in the Shield , Tony Soprano often times found himself at a moral crossroads , balancing the criminal , do anything at any cost part of his mind , with his loyalty to his family.
In its run The Soprano's hit peaks and valleys but was always strong , held up by its fantastic cast and there great acting. The two main characters of the show James Gandolfini and Edie Falco (Tony and Carmella Soprano) were almost always nominated for awards and most times one them. The only complaint that could be made is that Show creator David Chase would put in a crazy off the wall episode in every season but all in all The Soprano's defnitely has its place in television history.
No. 3
This is a shared favorite between me and the Media Hero. Breaking Bad the story of Walter white aka Heisenburg, a Chemistry Teacher, Genius,Cancer Patient, Father and Drug Kingpin.
This show is quickly rising up my list and could be no.1 by the time it completes its run on TV. The AMC Drama is set around Walter White and his family and his ventures into the world of Crystal Meth cooking and distrubiting , Initially because he needed a way to leave his family some money behind when he thought he was dying from cancer. Walter and his partner and former student Jessie make a the best meth known to man! As the lead charcters in the other shows did , they often find themselves in the situations where they have to make decisions they know is wrong , but it is best for them to keep doing what there doing.
Breaking Bad was created by Vince Gilligan , its filmed on a fairly low budget in Alberquerque, New Mexico. I can honestly say that there is not a show that sucks me in and keeps me totally engulfed and interested in an episode like BB. It is an 45 minutes of tenseness every week and i cant wait it for to return for Season 4.
# 4
Dexter- Dexter is a Showtime drama starring Michael C Hall. It centers around Dexter Morgan a Blood Spatter Analyst for the Miami PD who moonlights as a serial killer. Ohh but wait!!! There's a twist he only kills people who kill people, he is a good guy serial killer, if there is such a thing??
This is another show that the Media Hero and I share a fondness for. Dexter hit a serious valley this year , but before this year had its finest year. They have a knack for finding fantastic season long guest stars every year , and its needed other than Michael C Hall is who is awesome , the rest of the cast kind of struggles. Although Dexter's sister Deb does touch the comedy base with some random combinations of cuss words. Dexter still takes its place on this list , but without a rebound in its sixth season , its gonna be knocked off.
#5
24- Now let me set the record straight here , 24 is not in the stratosphere of The Shield or The Sopranos. 24 is more of what you might call a guilty pleasure , is it landbreaking TV?? No probably not. What 24 was able to do , was master the art of edge of your seat television, what i mean by that , is 24 is a non-stop adrenaline rush for the season , you never know who is gonna die , who is gonna blow up , who is turn out to be an undercover terrorist. Anchored by Keifer Sutherland as the Super Government Agent Jack Bauer a man who can die , be brought back to life and kill someone 30 seconds later. He to struggles with doing what he deems neccesary to complete his missions , whether that means harming himself , or others around him , He has killed partners , lost his wife , killed his father , Jack is the definition of a Patriot!!! Is 24 a great Television show , thats debatable is it a easy show to do get addidcted to absolutely!!!!!
Narrowly missing the list
Sons of Anarchy- Not gonna go into a long explanation here since I just blogged about it. Sons is quickly working its way up my list and if I do this list again , it will most likely have passed 24 and possibly Dexter. Fear the Reaper
LOST
I couldnt explain this show accurately if i tried. If i could you wouldnt believe me or you'd say that's stupid. With that i found myself locked in week and week out completely enthralled in the world of Lost. I had one thought at the end of every episdoe though: What the hell just happenned?.
Shows I need to checkout:
The Wire- I have been told by multiple people how great it is , with some saying its the best show in the history of television.
Mad Men- Like the wire i have heard the greatness of Mad Men touted by a number of people. I have heard however it is very slow moving.
Boardwalk Empire- I started this but didnt finish the first season , Its an HBO drama that has Martin Scorsese attached , two big things to make you watch. It also is sweeping most of the awards show's.
