Television of 2008
Mar. 22nd, 2009 11:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meteordustWhat I've been watching the past year.
My top three recommendations
This year I find myself unable to choose between my favourites - everything on that list I would recommend as worth watching, but nothing stands out as unequivocally as my picks for last year did.
My other favourite shows
Arrested Development (Seasons 1 & 2)
Oh man, this family is so messed up and yet so compelling to watch. Every single character is perfectly cast, from the gloriously overconfident GOB to the painfully embarrassing Tobias. Brilliant and hilarious.
Dexter (Season 1)
This show is one of those rare things - an adaptation that improves on the original without making the original any less attractive. Those running the show understand the spirit of the books and succeed in capturing it, while expanding the universe to give the characters more depth and complexity. Michael C Hall is a great Dexter and all the other cast are fantastic in their roles. At the same time, I continue to enjoy the witty, wordy, and slightly fey Dexter of the books. So it's winners all round.
30 Rock (Season 1)
Liz Lemon is almost as cool as her creator Tina Fey, but for me it's Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy who continues to surprise and intrigue. And of course Kenneth is in a class of his own.
Jekyll (complete)
Now this is television with blood and fire in it, television to keep you on the edge of your seat. From the creative genius of Stephen Moffat, Jekyll is tense, unpredictable, uncomfortable, and absolutely riveting. And while it skates so close to the line you can believe it is willing to cross it, there is, remarkably, still an anchor of morality in it that keeps it human.
My Name Is Earl (Season 3)
Still as funny, warm, and clever as before, with only the odd wince-inducing moment.
Lost (Season 4)
A year ago this show was on my Biggest Disappointments list and I was seriously thinking about bailing. But now that the creators have fixed an end point for it - now that they can finally start aiming the story towards its conclusion - holy smoke have they gotten their act together. Characters have agency again, the plot is gunning along, and we're flashing forwards instead of flashing back. If you are a new viewer who has decided to jump in now, you will have absolutely no idea what the hell is going on. But if you have been following the show from its beginning, then you will find payoff after payoff for all the setup there was earlier. Wins this year's award for Most Improved Show.
Doctor Who (Season 4)
Donna Noble is one of the best companions ever - hell, one of the best *characters* ever - and if they don't bring her back somehow then the universe will be a sadder and smaller place. Go on, Stephen Moffat, don't disappoint us.
Ugly Betty (Season 2)
This show continues to shine - a beacon of optimism, intelligence, warmth, and diversity in an often grim media landscape. Rock on, girl.
The 4400 (Season 4)
It's always hard to find the words to praise this show - never flashy but always solid, made by people who know their craft so well the result feels effortless. This final season shakes things up with changes in character status, unexpected alliances, and generous use of the inimitable Jordan Collier. However, the conclusion feels more like a season finale rather than a series finale, which is understandable given that they were hoping for another season. It richly deserves one.
My biggest three disappointments
Veronica Mars (Season 3)
I knew before I started, from all the reviews, that it was going to get bad. Very bad. And it did, leaving me in disbelief at how much they had gutted everything the show once stood for. Only my remorseless determination to see it to the end got me through. Episode 3x08 was the nadir of the show and felt like a punch in the face. Amazingly, the show pulled itself out of its nosedive after that and managed to finish with at least some resemblance to its former self.
Supernatural (Season 3)
From the first episode of this season, it felt like I was watching a somewhat different show to the one that I had been enjoying earlier. More violence, more moral ambiguity, and more Unfortunate Implications. At this stage I haven't finished the season, though I hear it gets better and I mean to continue. However, I cannot say the same for...
Heroes (Season 3)
To borrow a quote from someone else (who was, I believe, talking about Veronica Mars), Season 1 made me want to watch Season 2, Season 2 made me *not* want to watch Season 3, and Season 3 made me sorry I did. Well, I gave it three episodes, and that was probably three episodes too many. Whoever is running the show now doesn't seem to understand what it was that made it inspiring. Sorry, I'm gone, and not even Bryan Fuller can bring me back. At least we'll always have Season 1.
My top three recommendations
This year I find myself unable to choose between my favourites - everything on that list I would recommend as worth watching, but nothing stands out as unequivocally as my picks for last year did.
My other favourite shows
Arrested Development (Seasons 1 & 2)
Oh man, this family is so messed up and yet so compelling to watch. Every single character is perfectly cast, from the gloriously overconfident GOB to the painfully embarrassing Tobias. Brilliant and hilarious.
Dexter (Season 1)
This show is one of those rare things - an adaptation that improves on the original without making the original any less attractive. Those running the show understand the spirit of the books and succeed in capturing it, while expanding the universe to give the characters more depth and complexity. Michael C Hall is a great Dexter and all the other cast are fantastic in their roles. At the same time, I continue to enjoy the witty, wordy, and slightly fey Dexter of the books. So it's winners all round.
30 Rock (Season 1)
Liz Lemon is almost as cool as her creator Tina Fey, but for me it's Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy who continues to surprise and intrigue. And of course Kenneth is in a class of his own.
Jekyll (complete)
Now this is television with blood and fire in it, television to keep you on the edge of your seat. From the creative genius of Stephen Moffat, Jekyll is tense, unpredictable, uncomfortable, and absolutely riveting. And while it skates so close to the line you can believe it is willing to cross it, there is, remarkably, still an anchor of morality in it that keeps it human.
My Name Is Earl (Season 3)
Still as funny, warm, and clever as before, with only the odd wince-inducing moment.
Lost (Season 4)
A year ago this show was on my Biggest Disappointments list and I was seriously thinking about bailing. But now that the creators have fixed an end point for it - now that they can finally start aiming the story towards its conclusion - holy smoke have they gotten their act together. Characters have agency again, the plot is gunning along, and we're flashing forwards instead of flashing back. If you are a new viewer who has decided to jump in now, you will have absolutely no idea what the hell is going on. But if you have been following the show from its beginning, then you will find payoff after payoff for all the setup there was earlier. Wins this year's award for Most Improved Show.
Doctor Who (Season 4)
Donna Noble is one of the best companions ever - hell, one of the best *characters* ever - and if they don't bring her back somehow then the universe will be a sadder and smaller place. Go on, Stephen Moffat, don't disappoint us.
Ugly Betty (Season 2)
This show continues to shine - a beacon of optimism, intelligence, warmth, and diversity in an often grim media landscape. Rock on, girl.
The 4400 (Season 4)
It's always hard to find the words to praise this show - never flashy but always solid, made by people who know their craft so well the result feels effortless. This final season shakes things up with changes in character status, unexpected alliances, and generous use of the inimitable Jordan Collier. However, the conclusion feels more like a season finale rather than a series finale, which is understandable given that they were hoping for another season. It richly deserves one.
My biggest three disappointments
Veronica Mars (Season 3)
I knew before I started, from all the reviews, that it was going to get bad. Very bad. And it did, leaving me in disbelief at how much they had gutted everything the show once stood for. Only my remorseless determination to see it to the end got me through. Episode 3x08 was the nadir of the show and felt like a punch in the face. Amazingly, the show pulled itself out of its nosedive after that and managed to finish with at least some resemblance to its former self.
Supernatural (Season 3)
From the first episode of this season, it felt like I was watching a somewhat different show to the one that I had been enjoying earlier. More violence, more moral ambiguity, and more Unfortunate Implications. At this stage I haven't finished the season, though I hear it gets better and I mean to continue. However, I cannot say the same for...
Heroes (Season 3)
To borrow a quote from someone else (who was, I believe, talking about Veronica Mars), Season 1 made me want to watch Season 2, Season 2 made me *not* want to watch Season 3, and Season 3 made me sorry I did. Well, I gave it three episodes, and that was probably three episodes too many. Whoever is running the show now doesn't seem to understand what it was that made it inspiring. Sorry, I'm gone, and not even Bryan Fuller can bring me back. At least we'll always have Season 1.
