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We are now living in a time of peak television. There is a slew of terrific offerings on the TV screen as never before. With so much competition it has created more innovation and producers are taking more risks in order to get attention. Television as we once knew it and how we once watched it has changed and now allows for greater liberty in storytelling.
Are you looking to see that favorite avantgarde series that worships a cup of coffee? Or perhaps you long to see a program like “The Good Wife” but a little more forward thinking. Want to watch some of the 1990’s stuff put out by the Coen Brothers?
Whatever you want to watch, you can find something to satisfy every one of your wishes and desires. As easy as it is to check into the fantastic Slotocash online casino today, so too you can check in to your favorite series of all time.
The incredible professionalism now seen on television is not something that has suddenly occurred. It has been slowing developing and perfecting itself over the last 10 years. It is worth taking a trip down memory lane look at the very best of those television shows of the last decade.
This is no easy task as there are just so many. So, in order to narrow it down, this list of rules was compiled.
In order to make the cut the show in question must have been showing on TV during 2010-2019.
It must have been a scripted show, no matter whether it’s a comedy, drama or whatever. The entire series must be taken into account, not just based on one good or bad season. Just because the show was good and enjoyable is not enough. It made the cut if it had an effect on the culture. However, it was still an incredibly difficult task because there really were so many from which to choose. Below is some of the best of the best of shows. So, to all you couch potatoes, it’s truly a great time to be alive.
“The Terror” (AMC): 2018-present – Tobias Menzies and Ciaran Hinds
“The Terror” is a collection of period dramas that takes events from history and creates an account of them by way of horror and the supernatural.
The first season tells the dramatized story of an Expedition to the Arctic by Captain Sir John Franklin, which supposedly took place in the 1840s.
In the story two navy ships become totally icebound on route and none of the crew survived. The first part is incredible in that it manages, with quite an unchanging set, to create a real sense of claustrophobia and feelings of paranoia and terror.
There’s the addition of the shadowy being, Tuunbag, which adds mystery and the amazing Jared Harris and Tobias Menzies which gives it a sense of reality. It shows us clearly how people react in times of crises.
The great success of season one has set a good precedent and things are looking good for season two. The second season will take place in an internment camp during the Second World War and involves a Japanese ghost story.
“True Detective” (HBO): 2014-2019 – Matthew McConaughey
Two seasons were remarkable, and one…well, not so good. But two out of three is pretty good going.
“True Detective” aired in 2014 and began a new trend that would change things in Hollywood. These types of series offered a solution to the demands of viewers wanting to see more of their movie stars and the stars’ desire to appear in regular movies.
This was a happy solution. Audiences got more time with Matthew McConaughey than the normal two- hour movie would have provided and the actor could take the extra time to accept other jobs and roles on offer. e He could do eight episodes of “True Detective,” one season, with each new season having a new mystery to solve.
Many writers began to follow Nic Pizzolatto and his idea of the limited series and this created a slew of really amazing dramas. But “True Detective” had a huge impact outside of the industry as well. The first season was visually incredible and also had elements of humor and intensity provided by Cary Fukunaga which added to Pizzolatto’s web of mystery.
The writer and director managed to have a good partnership, modeling the partners on screen. Perhaps they had difficulties getting along but what they put together could never have been possible apart. Season three was another great success, and took up similar themes.
Unfortunately, season two just didn’t work. But two out of three is not to be sneezed at!
“Superstore” (NBC): 2015-present
Now when the middle class is slowly, but surely fading into oblivion, “Superstore” takes a snapshot of life working in a Midwestern big box store. It is hilarious to see how employees are busy flirting with each other and tackling poverty.
It may seem at first glance that “Superstore” is yet another sitcom based in the workplace, but it actually deals with pressing social-cultural matters like gun control, sexism, parental leave, organized labor and issues concerning immigration.
At the same time, it is hilarious. It is graced by great actors like America Ferrera, Mark McKinney and Ben Feldman. Gotta watch this show!
“One Day at a Time” (Netflix): 2017-2019
An incredible show shot in multi-cam sitcom format and whose main focus is a Cuban-American family, “One Day at a Time” is so unique in that it generates warmth and human kindness for both the characters and the viewers alike.
Created by Gloria Calderon Kellett and Mike Royce with input from Norman Lear the show looks at issues facing the family which include racism, PTSD and homophobia. The series offers solace to those looking for reassurance during hard times and that good things and love are still around and attainable.
“The Good Fight” (CBS All Access): 2017- present
This series follows on from the last episode of the CBS series ‘The Good Wife.” It is in its third season, after a terrific second season and was one of the best of 2018.
In this season, “The Good Fight” becomes more political. The lawyers of this African-American Chicago law firm get deeper in to the issues facing the country and take on Donald Trump. It takes a look at less obvious situations and treats the left with satire.
In many of these episodes the focus is on the less obvious forms of racism, and not on the obvious racism spouted by barefaced white supremacists.
In this third season we see all the players dealing with a variety of past, present and future dilemmas. But through it all, the series remains in touch, and close to the present cultural climate.
“Big Little Lies” (HBO): 2017-2019
This series is based on the book by Liane Moriarty. The writing was done by David Kelley and Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman were the executive producers.
They also star in the series, along with Laura Dern, Shailene Woodley, Alexander Skarsgard, Adam Scott and Zoe Kravitz. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee. The show is ingenious in the way in which it unveils a world of privilege and relationships that are so tentative and below the surface is a pool of toxicity.
Aurally and visually pleasing ”“Big Little Lies” really draws you in and pulls you along to the powerful conclusion. Now, with a second season and the addition of Meryl Streep, it will be up there with the most prestigious on TV.
