Please recommend some television shows to me
August 16, 2010 11:26 AM Subscribe
Please recommend some good television with brilliant characters and no cliffhangers.
Some of my favorite shows are:
Veronica Mars
Cupid (anything by Rob Thomas actually)
Sherlock
Doctor Who
Avatar: The Last Airbender
I noticed that a thread that runs through all the shows I love is that they feature characters with personality coming out their ears, who use brilliant means of overcoming obstacles. For instance, what sets Veronica Mars apart from all the other detective shows that bore me (Monk, Psyche, CSI, etc) is that instead of being brilliant at solving crimes from looking at the clues, she takes some ingenious action that gets her what she wants to know.
Could anyone recommend more shows like that, where a character does brilliant stuff to get what they want? In movies, I love genius criminals, like those found in Sneakers or Shooting Fish. I'm not picky about genre. Drama, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, whatever is fine with me.
Cliffhangers drive me absolutely insane. Pleeeeaaaase don't recommend shows with cliffhangers. I don't mind the minor ones like in Veronica Mars (season finale ending with her saying "I was hoping it would be you" to an unseen visitor), but I will tear all my hair out if I watch another show with cliffhangers like those found in Sherlock or Lost.
P.S. I can't stand Joss Whedon and will argue vehemently with anyone who claims that his stuff fits this criteria. :-P
Some of my favorite shows are:
Veronica Mars
Cupid (anything by Rob Thomas actually)
Sherlock
Doctor Who
Avatar: The Last Airbender
I noticed that a thread that runs through all the shows I love is that they feature characters with personality coming out their ears, who use brilliant means of overcoming obstacles. For instance, what sets Veronica Mars apart from all the other detective shows that bore me (Monk, Psyche, CSI, etc) is that instead of being brilliant at solving crimes from looking at the clues, she takes some ingenious action that gets her what she wants to know.
Could anyone recommend more shows like that, where a character does brilliant stuff to get what they want? In movies, I love genius criminals, like those found in Sneakers or Shooting Fish. I'm not picky about genre. Drama, sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, whatever is fine with me.
Cliffhangers drive me absolutely insane. Pleeeeaaaase don't recommend shows with cliffhangers. I don't mind the minor ones like in Veronica Mars (season finale ending with her saying "I was hoping it would be you" to an unseen visitor), but I will tear all my hair out if I watch another show with cliffhangers like those found in Sherlock or Lost.
P.S. I can't stand Joss Whedon and will argue vehemently with anyone who claims that his stuff fits this criteria. :-P
Friday Night Lights has great characters and isn't really about football
The Wire
posted by k8t at 11:29 AM on August 16, 2010
The Wire
posted by k8t at 11:29 AM on August 16, 2010
If you like Sherlock (well, minus the end of the most recent episode), you'll probably like House. The similarities just went on and on when I watched Sherlock this weekend.
posted by supercres at 11:30 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by supercres at 11:30 AM on August 16, 2010
Bones
posted by brainmouse at 11:39 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by brainmouse at 11:39 AM on August 16, 2010
West Wing
posted by shew at 11:40 AM on August 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by shew at 11:40 AM on August 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: It's interesting that you both love Avatar and hate cliffhangers, since if you watched that show as it aired, you waited for TEN MONTHS to see how that MASSIVE CLIFFHANGER at the end of season 2 resolved.
pts, I tore out approximately half of my hair during that ten months. Now I ask for cliffhanger-free shows in the interest of sparing any hair that is left.
posted by giggleknickers at 11:41 AM on August 16, 2010
pts, I tore out approximately half of my hair during that ten months. Now I ask for cliffhanger-free shows in the interest of sparing any hair that is left.
posted by giggleknickers at 11:41 AM on August 16, 2010
"Bored to Death" is coming back to HBO at the end of September, and you can get Season one on DVD now. Great characters, and brilliant performances every week by Jason Schwartzman, Zack Galifnakis, and Ted Danson.
posted by drjimmy11 at 11:42 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by drjimmy11 at 11:42 AM on August 16, 2010
Could anyone recommend more shows like that, where a character does brilliant stuff to get what they want? In movies, I love genius criminals, like those found in Sneakers or Shooting Fish. I'm not picky about genre.
The Death Note anime series is centered around a cat and mouse game between a genius (supernatural) killer and a genius detective. It did a better job of pulling off the feeling that the characters were genuinely smart and resourceful than most similar shows I've seen have been able to.
posted by burnmp3s at 11:43 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Death Note anime series is centered around a cat and mouse game between a genius (supernatural) killer and a genius detective. It did a better job of pulling off the feeling that the characters were genuinely smart and resourceful than most similar shows I've seen have been able to.
posted by burnmp3s at 11:43 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
I thought Bored to Death had a very apt title, despite my near obsession with Jason Schwartzman.
- Dead Like Me
- Six Feet Under
- Mad Men
- Northern Exposure
posted by elsietheeel at 11:47 AM on August 16, 2010
- Dead Like Me
- Six Feet Under
- Mad Men
- Northern Exposure
posted by elsietheeel at 11:47 AM on August 16, 2010
Well, if you're a Rob Thomas fan, then I assume you watched Party Down?
Friday Night Lights is definitely worth looking into.
You maybe have some luck with White Collar, which is fun and character-driven, although you seem to not like the USA Network procedural genre.
Mad Men is almost definitely up there, and I've been having a lot of fun with Rubicon lately.
The Wire is probably the best show ever written, but I'm not sure it fits your 'no cliffhangers' policy, as each episode doesn't really "end."
posted by General Malaise at 11:49 AM on August 16, 2010
Friday Night Lights is definitely worth looking into.
You maybe have some luck with White Collar, which is fun and character-driven, although you seem to not like the USA Network procedural genre.
Mad Men is almost definitely up there, and I've been having a lot of fun with Rubicon lately.
The Wire is probably the best show ever written, but I'm not sure it fits your 'no cliffhangers' policy, as each episode doesn't really "end."
posted by General Malaise at 11:49 AM on August 16, 2010
I feel like a bit of broken record because I'm a huge fanboy and I mention it in every TV AskMe where it's remotely relevant, but: Hustle
It's like a mini Ocean's Eleven in each episode.
posted by juv3nal at 11:56 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's like a mini Ocean's Eleven in each episode.
posted by juv3nal at 11:56 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Justified and Psych.
Justified is Timothy Olyphant doing Seth Bullock but sexier and in modern times. There's an overarching story but for the most part each episode is has it's own neat little plot that gets resolved at the end. Also some of the most epically awesome villain/hero chemistry I've seen on any show ever.
Psych is hilarious (especially the earlier seasons) and it's main character has powers of perception bordering on superpowers. Also best bud chemistry that makes me squeal on a weekly basis.
posted by Tha Race Card at 11:58 AM on August 16, 2010
Justified is Timothy Olyphant doing Seth Bullock but sexier and in modern times. There's an overarching story but for the most part each episode is has it's own neat little plot that gets resolved at the end. Also some of the most epically awesome villain/hero chemistry I've seen on any show ever.
Psych is hilarious (especially the earlier seasons) and it's main character has powers of perception bordering on superpowers. Also best bud chemistry that makes me squeal on a weekly basis.
posted by Tha Race Card at 11:58 AM on August 16, 2010
Nthing House and Death Note.
Adding Lie To Me, Leverage, and (Since you liked Avatar TLA), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (It finished it's series run in Japan, and is currently airing in English dub in the US. Catch it from the beginning.)
posted by Citrus at 11:58 AM on August 16, 2010
Adding Lie To Me, Leverage, and (Since you liked Avatar TLA), Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (It finished it's series run in Japan, and is currently airing in English dub in the US. Catch it from the beginning.)
posted by Citrus at 11:58 AM on August 16, 2010
Aw man, I just noticed you specially ruled out Psych in your question. My bad! I stand by Justified, though.
posted by Tha Race Card at 11:59 AM on August 16, 2010
posted by Tha Race Card at 11:59 AM on August 16, 2010
HBO's The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency only ran for seven episodes, but it was excellent, no cliffhangers. Precious Ramotswe definitely meets your requirements for a clever, resourceful heroine. The show was also beautifully made, shot on location in Africa.
posted by gladly at 12:19 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by gladly at 12:19 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Lie To Me
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (one season available on DVD)
Wonderfalls (on season on DVD)
posted by FlamingBore at 12:27 PM on August 16, 2010
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (one season available on DVD)
Wonderfalls (on season on DVD)
posted by FlamingBore at 12:27 PM on August 16, 2010
Torchwood
posted by schmod at 12:31 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by schmod at 12:31 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Psych, Burn Notice (there are some minor cliffhanger between seasons, but very little between shows), White Collar, In Plain Sight (similar to Burn Notice with regard to cliffhangers), Bored to Death, Archer, and Justified.
Justified in particular, because it's full of unbelievably good characters, and its season is a perfect little story-arc. If at all possible, try to watch them back to back, because it's not cliff-hanger filled, but you won't want to stop.
posted by quin at 12:32 PM on August 16, 2010
Justified in particular, because it's full of unbelievably good characters, and its season is a perfect little story-arc. If at all possible, try to watch them back to back, because it's not cliff-hanger filled, but you won't want to stop.
posted by quin at 12:32 PM on August 16, 2010
You'd probably like Castle.
posted by meerkatty at 12:33 PM on August 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by meerkatty at 12:33 PM on August 16, 2010 [2 favorites]
Babylon 5 if you can keep up with the mulitple plots and the stronger than average women characters, and ya gotta love Neroon.
posted by Freedomboy at 12:33 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by Freedomboy at 12:33 PM on August 16, 2010
You'd probably like Castle.
I can't believe I forgot Castle! Yes, fantastic. Also; Eureka. Warehouse 13 is something of a guilty pleasure as well. I can't explain why, but I keep watching it.
posted by quin at 12:40 PM on August 16, 2010
I can't believe I forgot Castle! Yes, fantastic. Also; Eureka. Warehouse 13 is something of a guilty pleasure as well. I can't explain why, but I keep watching it.
posted by quin at 12:40 PM on August 16, 2010
I'm seconding Wonderfalls, Party Down, Northern Exposure and looking askance at every other suggestion in this thread. (Except Tthe Wire and Soprano's but feel that those are cliffhangery).
posted by edbles at 12:51 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by edbles at 12:51 PM on August 16, 2010
Seconding Torchwood (first series anyway as that's all I've seen).
Much more adult than Doctor Who, and not just in a "hey, we shag each other" kind of way. Rather than being some handwaving plot-resolution gimcrack that the Doctor pulls out as needed, the alien stuff in Torchwood is messy, morally and physically perilous, and just plain scary sometimes. Think of it as kind of Doctor Who meets X-Files.
You might or might not like Spooks/MI-5 despite some mild season-ending cliffhangerish bits. Brilliant characters, but being smart doesn't ever seem to do them much good somehow.
Both are streamable on Netflix too, BTW.
posted by Naberius at 12:51 PM on August 16, 2010
Much more adult than Doctor Who, and not just in a "hey, we shag each other" kind of way. Rather than being some handwaving plot-resolution gimcrack that the Doctor pulls out as needed, the alien stuff in Torchwood is messy, morally and physically perilous, and just plain scary sometimes. Think of it as kind of Doctor Who meets X-Files.
You might or might not like Spooks/MI-5 despite some mild season-ending cliffhangerish bits. Brilliant characters, but being smart doesn't ever seem to do them much good somehow.
Both are streamable on Netflix too, BTW.
posted by Naberius at 12:51 PM on August 16, 2010
I can't believe no one has suggested Battlestar Galactica. The characters are what drives this show and they are what you remember long after it's over. The plot does get a bit muddled in the middle and yes there are mysteries. Thankfully the writers tie everything up nicely and in 4 seasons to boot. None of that we're doing so good let's keep going and make more money nonsense.
Also nthing Hustle. Skip Leverage. I watch it but can't help thinking it's a less polished Hustle ripoff every episode. The Hustle crew also does it with less toys. Burn Notice fans back me up here, isn't half the fun watching Michael explaining his poor man techniques?
posted by vilandra at 1:06 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Also nthing Hustle. Skip Leverage. I watch it but can't help thinking it's a less polished Hustle ripoff every episode. The Hustle crew also does it with less toys. Burn Notice fans back me up here, isn't half the fun watching Michael explaining his poor man techniques?
posted by vilandra at 1:06 PM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Homicide: LotS sprang from the same minds as the Wire, but doesn't require the same attention span. Plotlines can stretch over a few shows and there might be an occasional cliffhanger, but...it's more because the show is stretching out to focus on the characters, not to hook you for the next episode.
I don't think of Dexter as being a cliffhanger-focused show either. It seems that as a season goes on the ends of episodes are just teasers for increased tension/the next installment and slowly escalate to a cliffhanger at the penultimate episode. It's still a big-arc show working to a final big-resolve in the final episode, so you might not like it, but it does have the genius-criminal factor.
Pushing Dasies involves solving crimes, talking to dead people, and making pies.
Nthing the Wire, Six Feet Under, and the West Wing.
posted by K.P. at 1:12 PM on August 16, 2010
I don't think of Dexter as being a cliffhanger-focused show either. It seems that as a season goes on the ends of episodes are just teasers for increased tension/the next installment and slowly escalate to a cliffhanger at the penultimate episode. It's still a big-arc show working to a final big-resolve in the final episode, so you might not like it, but it does have the genius-criminal factor.
Pushing Dasies involves solving crimes, talking to dead people, and making pies.
Nthing the Wire, Six Feet Under, and the West Wing.
posted by K.P. at 1:12 PM on August 16, 2010
You mean there are other shows besides The Wire?
posted by history is a weapon at 1:37 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by history is a weapon at 1:37 PM on August 16, 2010
No one's suggested Dexter? It's got to be the best shot show I've ever seen, and Dexter (the main character) and all of the peripheral characters fit your description exactly. In fact, the onlyreason I haven't watched the whole thing in a weekend is that it doesn't have Lost style cliffhangers. There's no, "OMG what happens in the next one??" beyond, you know, wondering what happens next.
Dexter.
posted by cmoj at 2:53 PM on August 16, 2010
Dexter.
posted by cmoj at 2:53 PM on August 16, 2010
McGyver works - just about all the episodes work well on their own terms. Even the ones with recurring characters (Jack Dalton!) provide a little background if it's needed. And you can watch most of the series for free on YouTube (few if any ads) and CBS' website.
Recs for Northern Exposure reminded me of the British show Kingdom - all 3 series (18 episodes) are on Hulu. Very low-key comedy-drama about a barrister (played by Stephen Fry) and the quirky cases he handles in a small Norfolk town. I won't say it's completely bereft of cliffhangers/plot arcs, but they're easy enough to follow and figure out, and you could enjoy the show just based on the 2-3 cases in each episode.
Nthing Pushing Daisies, Party Down and Dexter (and adding Breaking Bad, along the same lines as the latter).
posted by Ponsonby Britt at 3:41 PM on August 16, 2010
Recs for Northern Exposure reminded me of the British show Kingdom - all 3 series (18 episodes) are on Hulu. Very low-key comedy-drama about a barrister (played by Stephen Fry) and the quirky cases he handles in a small Norfolk town. I won't say it's completely bereft of cliffhangers/plot arcs, but they're easy enough to follow and figure out, and you could enjoy the show just based on the 2-3 cases in each episode.
Nthing Pushing Daisies, Party Down and Dexter (and adding Breaking Bad, along the same lines as the latter).
posted by Ponsonby Britt at 3:41 PM on August 16, 2010
Being Erica is an interesting show with great character development. The lead character is kind of mess at the start of the series, but she develops nicely overtime, and the Doctor seems to have supernatural knowledge and abilities to send her back into her past and learn valuable lessons about life. It's a little soapy, but I enjoyed it a lot. Give it a few episodes for the characters to really start to develop. It overcomes the limits of its premise.
Rubicon is a new show on AMC with some clearly very smart characters. It's about a government conspiracy, so the story arc goes over the whole season, but so far, it doesn't seem like the cliffhangers are too bad. It's very slow paced.
Gilmore Girls has some really sharp dialog and some very smart characters. You might enjoy that.
I hesitate to mention it because the episodes roll into each other in a way that might be cliffhangery if you couldn't just watch them all back to back, but ReGenesis has some very smart characters. Especially Bob, who you would probably love a lot. It's available on Hulu. You don't have to wait for a cliffhanger to resolve itself, but if you're like me, you may find yourself watching an entire season in one sitting.
posted by willnot at 4:22 PM on August 16, 2010
Rubicon is a new show on AMC with some clearly very smart characters. It's about a government conspiracy, so the story arc goes over the whole season, but so far, it doesn't seem like the cliffhangers are too bad. It's very slow paced.
Gilmore Girls has some really sharp dialog and some very smart characters. You might enjoy that.
I hesitate to mention it because the episodes roll into each other in a way that might be cliffhangery if you couldn't just watch them all back to back, but ReGenesis has some very smart characters. Especially Bob, who you would probably love a lot. It's available on Hulu. You don't have to wait for a cliffhanger to resolve itself, but if you're like me, you may find yourself watching an entire season in one sitting.
posted by willnot at 4:22 PM on August 16, 2010
I think a number of people, including myself, have not read the question closely and paid attention to every bit. For example, I skimmed right past >i>"characters....who use brilliant means of overcoming obstacles"
Which doesn't really describe the Wire (best TV show ever though it may be) since it can be several hours of daily grind before someone has a moment of inspiration. Homicide, in retrospect, may be a bit too character-focused without enough exciting plot and conflict. I haven't sampled all the OP's examples, but they all seem to be episodic (or small arc) with definite good guys and bad guys, and have life&death conflicts getting resolved every episode. Good as they are, Six Feet Under and the Sopranos don't fit that mold either. House and Dexter still seem like good bets though.
NCIS and Criminal Minds might be good as I think of them as being 50% following clues, 50% laying traps for bad guys.
posted by K.P. at 5:19 PM on August 16, 2010
Which doesn't really describe the Wire (best TV show ever though it may be) since it can be several hours of daily grind before someone has a moment of inspiration. Homicide, in retrospect, may be a bit too character-focused without enough exciting plot and conflict. I haven't sampled all the OP's examples, but they all seem to be episodic (or small arc) with definite good guys and bad guys, and have life&death conflicts getting resolved every episode. Good as they are, Six Feet Under and the Sopranos don't fit that mold either. House and Dexter still seem like good bets though.
NCIS and Criminal Minds might be good as I think of them as being 50% following clues, 50% laying traps for bad guys.
posted by K.P. at 5:19 PM on August 16, 2010
I was out sick last week and watched the entire run of Doc Martin I highly recommend it. All 4 seasons are on netflix watch instantly.
posted by ljesse at 6:41 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by ljesse at 6:41 PM on August 16, 2010
word to the wise: if you don't want cliffhangers, do NOT watch Breaking Bad.
The suspense in that series makes me want to vomit.
posted by opossumnus at 6:43 PM on August 16, 2010
The suspense in that series makes me want to vomit.
posted by opossumnus at 6:43 PM on August 16, 2010
Nthing House. It's a formula show: they get a patient who's got some weird condition, they try one thing, it fails, they try another thing, it too fails, they consider and reject lupus ("It's never lupus"), then House has an epiphany just as the patient is slipping away and they manage to save him/her. House also usually applies a fair amount of insightful but pretty uncomfortable manipulation of the patient, their loved ones, and fellow doctors in order to ensure that the right outcome happens. Try watching a couple episodes and you should have a pretty good idea if you'll like it or not.
posted by A dead Quaker at 7:31 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by A dead Quaker at 7:31 PM on August 16, 2010
nthing House (which gets better as the characters are developed), Sopranos, and (surprisingly) Dead Like Me.
I think Lie To Me is getting worse by the episode, though I enjoyed it at first.
posted by jander03 at 7:46 PM on August 16, 2010
I think Lie To Me is getting worse by the episode, though I enjoyed it at first.
posted by jander03 at 7:46 PM on August 16, 2010
Give The Closer a few episodes, definitely. Not too much in the way of cliffhangers and it is incredibly satisfying to me to see this uber-competent woman work her way through the system.
posted by ch1x0r at 7:54 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by ch1x0r at 7:54 PM on August 16, 2010
House FTW
posted by saradarlin at 9:15 PM on August 16, 2010
posted by saradarlin at 9:15 PM on August 16, 2010
No...no-one's mentioned "Deadwood"? It's three short seasons long, but well-contained and wonderfully, wonderfully written and acted. It's fascinating to watch the machinations between the major characters unfold. And the humour is understated and fantastic-- it's more about the situations than one-liners.
Then there are the Joss Whedon creations such as "Firefly" and (although not technically a television show) "Dr. Horrible Sing-Along Blog".
And (!) "Carnivale", which I group with "Deadwood"'s style of directing than Whedon's or "House".
posted by SallySpades at 12:12 AM on August 17, 2010
Then there are the Joss Whedon creations such as "Firefly" and (although not technically a television show) "Dr. Horrible Sing-Along Blog".
And (!) "Carnivale", which I group with "Deadwood"'s style of directing than Whedon's or "House".
posted by SallySpades at 12:12 AM on August 17, 2010
In the Doctor Who (and maybe Sherlock) vein - Sanctuary. It's pure pulp, but has characters with strong personality (Nicola Tesla, Dr Watson, Bigfoot), develops them reasonably well, and is distinctly action focused.
posted by Ahab at 1:36 AM on August 17, 2010
posted by Ahab at 1:36 AM on August 17, 2010
Some (mini)series. You probably know them.
Rome
Band of Brothers
Torchwood: Children of Earth (sure, it has cliffhangers, but not if you watch them all in one go)
Season 1 of Prison Break
Season 1 of Heroes
The original Survivors
And maybe a bit odd, but I've recently acquired the second season of Danger Man on DVD. It stars Patrick McGoohan (he later did The Prisoner, which ends on a massively weird cliffhanger), and is surprisingly intelligent and non-formulaic for a spy show.
posted by Harry at 4:12 AM on August 17, 2010
Rome
Band of Brothers
Torchwood: Children of Earth (sure, it has cliffhangers, but not if you watch them all in one go)
Season 1 of Prison Break
Season 1 of Heroes
The original Survivors
And maybe a bit odd, but I've recently acquired the second season of Danger Man on DVD. It stars Patrick McGoohan (he later did The Prisoner, which ends on a massively weird cliffhanger), and is surprisingly intelligent and non-formulaic for a spy show.
posted by Harry at 4:12 AM on August 17, 2010
Harry: And maybe a bit odd, but I've recently acquired the second season of Danger Man on DVD.
Yes! You may also come across it in the U.S. as Secret Agent, and it has a highly memorable theme song.
Harry: Season 1 of Heroes
Please, dear god, no. While S1 was entertaining (probably the only good season), that show was full of dumb people doing dumb things so they could get bailed out by their deus ex machina superpowers. It's almost the perfect counterexample to this post- you're told again and again how smart Mohinder is, but you're constantly shown him making stupid decisions while being completely oblivious to what's happening right in front of him.
posted by mkultra at 8:38 AM on August 17, 2010
Yes! You may also come across it in the U.S. as Secret Agent, and it has a highly memorable theme song.
Harry: Season 1 of Heroes
Please, dear god, no. While S1 was entertaining (probably the only good season), that show was full of dumb people doing dumb things so they could get bailed out by their deus ex machina superpowers. It's almost the perfect counterexample to this post- you're told again and again how smart Mohinder is, but you're constantly shown him making stupid decisions while being completely oblivious to what's happening right in front of him.
posted by mkultra at 8:38 AM on August 17, 2010
This is a bit of a stretch, but trust me: Arrested Development.
Yes, it's a comedy. But the show is brilliant. Insanely dense gags packed in to every scene. You have to watch it several times to catch them all. The main character is the only sane one, you watch as he tries to keep his insane family together. Everyone (except for Anne) has personality in spades.
posted by rdhatt at 1:49 PM on August 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yes, it's a comedy. But the show is brilliant. Insanely dense gags packed in to every scene. You have to watch it several times to catch them all. The main character is the only sane one, you watch as he tries to keep his insane family together. Everyone (except for Anne) has personality in spades.
posted by rdhatt at 1:49 PM on August 17, 2010 [1 favorite]
I just watched the first episode of Sherlock. It's almost like a parody of House, it's so over the top.
I've heard great things about Treme on HBO which picks up in New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina, but I've yet to watch it.
posted by jander03 at 4:22 AM on August 24, 2010
I've heard great things about Treme on HBO which picks up in New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina, but I've yet to watch it.
posted by jander03 at 4:22 AM on August 24, 2010
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The Wire
The Sopranos
Six Feet Under
On TV now, I would argue both The Closer and Lie to Me meet your criteria.
posted by bearwife at 11:29 AM on August 16, 2010 [1 favorite]