For this last blog post, I would like to give a guide to all the shows I watch including actors, basic plots, keywords, etc. Although I have favorites among these shows, I think they all build off of each other and make me appreciate each individual one more.
Arrested Development
Features: Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, etc.
Plot: Michael Bluth (Bateman) must take over the family company after his father is imprisoned. While trying to undo all his father's failures, he has a highly dysfunctional family to deal with.
Seasons: 4
This show is: Funny, amusing, rewarding
My Rating: 7.5/10
Breaking Bad
Features: Bryan Cranston
Plot: A high school Chemistry teacher realizes he has a terminal case of cancer. Before passing away, he decides to take up Meth cooking to pay for his treatment and earn some money for the family. Ultimately, he goes from shy teacher to kickass drug dealer.
Seasons: 5
This show is: Intense, violent, explicit drug references
My Rating: 7/10
Burn Notice
Features: Jeffrey Donovan, Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campell, Sharon Gless, Coby Bell
Plot: A recently blacklisted spy, Michael Westen, finds himself in Miami. Accompanied by a dangerous female spy/ex-girlfriend, Fiona, and old SEALS soldier and friend, Sam, Michael tries to find out who's responsible for burning him. In the meantime, there are plenty of enemies and opportunities in Miami that require his attention.
Seasons: 6
This show is: Funny, clever, action-packed, explosive, complicated
My Rating: 8/10
Community
Features: Alison Brie, Chevy Chase, Dany Pudi, Donald Glover, Gillian Jacobs, Ken Jeong, Joel McHale, Yvette Nicole Brown
Plot: Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), a fraud lawyer is sent to Greendale Community College to receive a legitimate Law degree. In the meantime he forms a Spanish study group with the original intention of hitting on another student. The group ends up tight knit and helps each other as they try to survive community college and the plethora of school adventures that entails.
Seasons: 3
This show is: Hilarious, goofy, witty
My Rating: 8.5/10
Freaks and Geeks
Features: Seth Rogan, James Franco, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, John Daley
Plot: Lindsay (cardellini) and Sam (Daley) Weir are high schoolers at McKinley High School in the '80s. Lindsay transitions from her studious life to one around a rather questionable group while Sam and his "geeks" try to climb the social ladder of high school.
Seasons: 1
This show is: Funny, witty, understated, goofy
My Rating: 8.5/10
Game of Thrones
Features: Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Maisie Williams, Michelle Fairley, Emilia Clarke, Alfie Allen, Iain Glen, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Jack Gleeson, Aidan Gillen, Isaac Wright, Jerome Flynn, COnleth Hill, Donald Sumpter, Rory McCann, Nicolaj Coster-Waldau, etc.
Plot: Based off of the best selling series, this show explores the Seven Kingdoms, ruled by seven major Houses. The land is filled with violence, suspicion, and quiet mobilization of armies. The lines between friend and foe and good and evil are blurred. In the first two explosive seasons, five kings vie for the throne and only one will succeed. Overlapping schemes and complicated side plots lead to a rewarding and fast paced show. Beware though, there is considerable nudity and sex in many episodes.
Seasons: 2 (3rd coming out in Spring 2013)
This show is: Explicit (swearing and sex), violent, devious, complicated, rewarding
My Rating: 8/10
How I Met Your Mother
Features: Jason Segel (from The Muppets and 5 Year Engagement), Neil Patrick Harris (Muppets, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog), Josh Radner, Cobie Smulders (Avengers)
Plot: Five New Yorkers experience the adventures of bustling city life as Ted Mosby (Josh Radner) undergoes his epic search for his soulmate.
Seasons: 8
This show is: Raunchy, funny, well-rounded, sincere, rewarding (eventually)
My Rating: 9/10
Psych
Features: James Roday, Dule Hill
Plot: Shawn Spencer (Roday), a "psychic" detective and his partner Gus (Hill) work alongside the Santa Barbara Police in solving the area's toughest case. Psych mixes the standard cop show with Shawn's goofiness and light-hearted spirit.
Seasons: 7
This Show is: Goofy, funny, thought-provoking, light-hearted
My Rating: 8/10
Walking Dead
Features: Andrew Lincoln, Steven Yeun, Jon Bernthal, Chandler Riggs, Norman Reedus
Plot: Rick Grimes (Lincoln) leads a band of survivors through a zombie ridden world pitted against them. In the current season, new friendships are forged and villains appear. Even more, are Grimes and his companions willing to kill other humans to ensure their survival?
Seasons: 3
This Show is: Intense, addictive, dark, suspenseful
As a note, Psych and Community are the two easiest shows to simply find the most recent episodes and watch them and not have to worry about plot. I hope you might be inclined to explore one or more of these in the near future, especially winter break!
