This year has been a good one for TV watchers, especially for those who enjoy horror, crime drama, and thought-provoking programming. Last week, I posted 10 series that have stood out from the pack. This week, you get the final 10. Enjoy.
- The Killing – Based on the Danish TV series Forbrydelsen, this AMC crime/drama was a bit Twin Peaks-y in that it also began with the disappearance of a 17-year-old. As the investigators dug deeper, they peeled away secrets buried deep in a Seattle community. I really liked the first season of this show, and, unlike the rest of the viewers, I didn’t lose my mind when Rosie Larsen’s fate, and the identity of her killer, wasn’t revealed. Fickle fans meant that The Killing got the axe after season two. Then AMC revived it for an even more compelling third season, which focused on runaway street kids in Seattle. To my surprise, AMC axed the show again. Thanks to Netflix, it will return for an abbreviated fourth season. When I heard the news, I turned 500 cartwheels – in my mind – because I absolutely love the crime-fighting duo that is Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) and Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman). If I won the lottery, I would fund a movie about these characters. They give Dana Scully and Fox Mulder of The X-Files a run for their money.
- Supernatural – I’ve already spoken in the past about my love for this horror/comedy/drama on the CW. The Winchester Brothers – Dean (Jensen Ackles) and Sam (Jared Padalecki) – are the best duo on TV right now. Handsome and charismatic, they have literally been to hell and back, and they have a lot of battle scars (emotional and physical) to show for their experiences. From a family of “hunters,” the boys sometimes team up with an angel, Castiel (Misha Collins), and then my heart gets to flutter uncontrollably. Supernatural is already in its ninth season, and I hope it goes for another nine. Or 10.
- Enlightened – Created by Mike White, this HBO show only got two seasons, which is a shame. Laura Dern plays a corporate drone, who after going to rehab in Hawaii, “wakes up” to the corruption around her, and then tries taking down the machine. Funny at times, poignant at others, Enlightened was a show that deserved more than it got. I take my hat off to White who wrote, directed, and acted in this little seen gem. Catch it on DVD.
- House of Cards – A remake of a British TV series, this Netflix-produced political drama features a scenery chewing Kevin Spacey as Francis Underwood, a revenge-seeking Congressman who seems to have studied Iago’s rule book. He is well-matched by Robin Wright, who plays his wife. I am really excited for season two, which arrives in 2014.
- The Big Bang Theory – It’s difficult to believe that at one time, I didn’t like this comedy. What was I thinking? Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) is my favorite character, but I must say that Raj (Kunal Nayyar) is a close second. The chemistry between the actors is amazing, and the writing is exceptional. It’s smart, nerdy, and always funny. Even after seven seasons, this CBS series is as good as it has ever been.
- Bates Motel – Ever wonder what Norma Bates (Freddie Highmore) was like as a teen? When his mom (Vera Farmiga) was still alive? Then watch this compelling A&E drama. I was a bit hesitant at first, but it has won me over. It’s unsettling but always in a good way.
- Downton Abbey – You might not believe it, but this British series about a landed family and their “servants” is binge-worthy. My husband started watching it, and, in the beginning, I couldn’t have cared less. It was probably just another snooty drama, right? Boy was I wrong. Then, I made the mistake of watching one episode over a semester break. That lead to another and another. Just don’t get too attached to any of the characters. This isn’t quite Game of Thrones, but … The PBS series returns in the New Year. If for no other reason, watch it for Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. Maggie Smith has never been better.
- Masters of Sex – Season one just ended on Showtime, and I’m already missing it. It centers on Masters (Michael Sheen) and Johnson (Lizzy Caplan)’s research into human sexuality. Like Mad Men, it explores (antiquated) ideas about women, sexuality, homosexuality, and more. Well-written and acted, this is one of the best new shows on TV. Look for Omaha native Nicholas D’Agosto, who plays Dr. Ethan Haas.
- Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin ) – I heard about this anime series in my Japanese class. I started watching it on Crunchroll, and couldn’t stop. The premise is strange, so bear with me. Basically, these people have built a walled city to protect themselves from giant Titans, but one day, a Titan appears, breaks through the outer wall, and all of the other Titans come in and start eating everyone. Um, yeah. So, the traumatized lead, Eren, vows that he will join the military and learn to fight against the Titan incursion. There is a lot of action in this, but also some really great characters. I spent many jaw-dropping moments trying to figure out what was going on. I guess this is so popular in Japan, that convenience stores (kombini) have had Attack on Titan-themed food products. A live action film is in the works. I cannot wait for season two. I could always just read the manga, but I prefer my Japanese stories animated. I am considering watching the first season all over again while wearing one of my two of tie-in T-shirts. Hmmm.
- Sherlock – This Sir Arthur Conan Doyle creation was the focus of two TV series: This one and Elementary. I like both for different reasons. In this version, Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) is more traditional – he plays the violin, is brilliant, absent-minded, and kind of OCD. His sidekick, Dr. Watson (Martin Freeman), is long-suffering. This is sort of like a British version of The Big Bang Theory if Sheldon and Leonard were British detectives. The second season ended on a very perplexing note, and I’ll be very curious to see how they resolve that. VERY curious. Thank goodness, despite the very busy schedules of Cumberbatch, who recently starred in Star Trek: Into Darkness and voiced Smaug in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, and Freeman, who plays Bilbo in The Hobbit trilogy, the dynamic cerebral duo return for more adventures on Jan. 19. You can easily catch up, as you’ve only missed seven episodes.
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