I haven’t watched TV in years; kids and my previous job really killed that.
There’s SO much out there since I last picked up a remote, and I have a fucking huge backlog.
I’m open to anything, as long as it’s well done.
Series I liked: Vikings, Norsemen (hysterical), The Americans, GoT, Man in the High Castle, Expanse, Spartacus (Batiartus is amazing)
I’m scratching the surface of Boardwalk Empire, but open to other rabbit holes.
The Good Place.
Be warned, that you should watch this one without much research. If you like the first episode, you’ll love the show.
One of the very few shows where each and every season is consistently great. Super funny and had a satisfying ending, instead of the usual clifferhanger-because-of-cancellation ending
Came here to post this as well.
Just watch the first episode or two, and if it doesn’t have you hooked, it’s not your jam anyway.
But it will have you hooked, because it’s the best piece of American television in recent history.
Normally I’d agree with that advice, but it took me the whole first season to get hooked by the show. After about 5 episodes I was ready to call it quits, but my partner who had seen it told me to keep watching, and they were right! Loved every minute of it from then on.
I highly recommend The Good Place. It’s my comfort show.
On my fifth rewatch right now. Just started S2
Severance has a really cool premise and season 2 is being made.
Oh thank goodness, I was afraid it had been canceled.
New season coming out in january
Some shows I really enjoyed in recent years:
- Arcane (amazing animation, world, and story - you don’t need to know anything about the game to enjoy it)
- Peaky Blinders (it’s finished and so good throughout)
- Travelers (also finished, extremely underrated)
- The Expanse (6 seasons of some of the best sci-fi ever)
- Stranger Things (ongoing but highly recommend)
- Beef (limited series so finished, so good)
- The Bear (very good, raw characters and emotions)
- Ted Lasso (no need to care for football, just extremely lovable characters and heartwarming story)
- Breaking Bad (if you haven’t watched this, it’s a must - best TV imo)
- The Last of Us (no need to know the game)
- Andor (best star wars since the original trilogy, mature, dark, and suspenseful)
They’re in no particular order, and I’m sure I’m forgetting a lot, but I definitely think all of the above are must watch.
Travelers, The Expanse (noted by OP), Beef, and Breaking Bad are all solid. Add Mare of Easttown, the Morning Show, and the Newsroom and you’ve got half of my favourite shows of the past 15 years.
Ted Lasso was the big surprise to me here. The characters are lovable, caring, and well-crafted, and the story is simple but compelling. In all, only the most heartless, isolate, human beings would get nothing from this show.
Travelers is such an underrated show! Really good premise, tight well thought out time travel, solid storytelling and some great performances by lesser known actors. I really want to second its recommendations. Honestly it’s not top tier prestige TV but damn it’s good.
“Very good” is an understatement for The Bear.
And recent seasons just keep stacking up the talent.
The Wire
This. Still one of the best.
Currently rewatching. So good.
Here’s an ordered list of shows that came to mind, starting with what I think best fits with what you mentioned and getting further away from there, though I think they’re all worth it.
Mr robot
Fringe
The boys
Yellow jackets
Stranger things
The good place
Fringe is great. Season 1 is a bit “Monster of the week” but when it gets going it’s a great ride.
I love monster of the week episodes. Those are my favorite X-Files episodes, too.
+1 for Mr robot, The boys, and Yellowjackets
Severance
Six more months until season 2. Counting down the days.
So good.
Westworld Season 1. Sooo good, just do it.
S1, half of S2 then stop
man, everything after S1 was such a disappointment.
So many great ideas. But such lackluster execution and dialogue
Season 1 is 10/10, the other seasons not so much. Definitely worth watching S01 on its own though
You’re asking on Lemmy? Star Trek.
Which one? Yes.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad + Better Call Saul
Avenue 5 is a brilliant dark sci-fi comedy that I cannot stop thinking about. It’s basically a cruise ship in space but then things go wrong. The physics are actually sound which makes for some really fun and terrifying gags. It’s heavy on dark humor, but if you’re ok with that it’s such a fun ride. I am biased but I feel like this show is criminally underrated.
As a side note, there’s a Swedish movie called Aniara which has a similar premise, except if you replace the ‘dark comedy’ part with ‘unrelenting existential horror and infinite, unfathomable bleakness’. Worth a watch lol
I’ll check it out!
Alternate take: This show is godawful but for some reason I kept watching. It’s literally unpleasant to watch. Critics also panned it, if you find that of importance.
Same for me. I found the show amusing but never once laughed while watching it, if that makes sense
If you didn’t laugh when they came up with the slogan “Together, there are more of us!”, then I don’t know what’s wrong with you.
Letterkenny! Canadian humour at its absolute finest.
Also What We Do In The Shadows, and Reservation Dogs.
Just a warning, the third episode is notoriously bad and not indicative of the quality of the rest of the show. It’s totally skippable.
Aww I love Fartbook.
Andor
I can’t believe no one recommended Fleabag. It’s not the type of show that would attract me usually, but goddamn was that a masterpiece. Two seasons, short and sweet.
Another short series that is incredible is Chernobyl.
I couldn’t get over the insane exaggerations of Chernobyl, but I agree the show was great.
The Wire
The Sopranos
Deadwood
Justified
Bosch
If you’re open to comedic stuff:
What We Do In The Shadows
Resident Alien
Miracle Workers
Finished my first watch of the wire this year, couldn’t stop watching it
Lots on this list I’ve been meaning to check out
This list is excellent. Bosch is a personal favorite.
Me too, and it’s rare I see it already watched much less recommended by anybody else.
Others have mentioned a bunch of shows I would recommend, but one I haven’t seen mentioned yet is Turn: Washington’s Spies.
I loved the first three seasons, but I never finished it. It’s one of my favorite historical periods.
