Top Ten Binge-Worthy TV Shows
A long time ago, in a neighborhood not so far away, a really compelling television show was much like Haley's Comet: it was a rare sight that only flashed across the heavens once in a great while. If you weren't lucky enough to catch it when it happened, you were doomed to wait weeks, months or years plodding along through re-runs of Gilligan's Island before ever seeing its brilliance again. Then, decades later, something beautiful happened: someone reached toward the heavens and stole fire from the gods in the form of streaming sites. Netflix, HuluPlus, HBO Go abounded with entertainment both familiar and original - entertainment we consume in heaping helpings like ravenous pop culture pythons. What follows is a list of the most influential, provocative and binge-worthy shows in the last decade. It's by no means a definitive list; there are far too many televised masterpieces to make that a possibility. Consider this an appetizer of the endless buffet that is binge TV.
1. Sons of Anarchy
Essentially Hamlet on motorcycles, this gritty and griping tale of redemption set in a fictional west coast motorcycle club is both hopeful and tragic. Throughout its six season run, SOA took us along for a wild ride through tragedy, corruption, deception, fear and hope. Following the transformation of MC vice-president Jax Teller, from aimless youth to semi-savior who makes the ultimate sacrifice to save his club, the show never pulled any punches in its depiction of blind corruption and shocking violence in it's truly unnerving form. Each character's story was so gripping as to send you on an emotional roller coaster that you never wanted to get off. The final image of the series left me feeling bittersweet long ofter the curtain closed on this high-octane modern-day Shakespearean tragedy.
Watch it on: Netflix and Hulu
2. The Walking Dead
What can I say about this show except, "Damn you, Negan!" Interestingly enough, I first got hooked on this post-apocalyptic comic book adaptation by reading the teleplay for the pilot. Frank Darabont's masterful depiction of an undead-infested America was so thrilling that immediately, I knew I had to see more. Though I'm not much of a zombie fanatic, I am a die-hard post-apocalyptic, end-of-the-world junkie. The Walking Dead doesn't disappoint. From the barren landscape to warring factions of survivors and of course, the ever present "walkers," there is no shortage of daunting obstacles for Rick Grimes and his intrepid band of followers to overcome. Often, these human characters struggle with both physical and moral quagmires where we find ourselves doing a bit of soul searching right along with them. Visceral, morally introspective and at times brutally shocking in it's depiction of the darker side of humanity, The Walking Dead has presented us with heroes we want to win and villains we love to hate. If nothing else, it's left me with a healthy fear of empty streets, human greed... and baseball bats.
Watch it on: Netflix and AMC
3. The West Wing
At once an idealized and exaggerated version of what politics is and could be, The West Wing presents us with an intellectual, decent and funny extended White House family I wouldn't mind voting for... twice! Created by the maestro of words, Aaron Sorkin, the show offers his signature whip-smart dialogue and characters you actually care about. If the dizzying walk-and-talks don't put you off, the show rewards you for sticking around with eight seasons of engaging political drama. Presidential assassination attempts, terrorist plots, tragic deaths, political intrigue and inter-party squabbling make this show worth coming back to long after it's term was up. It's a vision of what Washington DC could be, if it weren't for all those darned politicians!
Watch it on: Netflix
4. House of Cards
Think of it as The West Wing's darker, brooding younger brother. Sleek, smart and tinged with a cool sexiness, the show presents a darker side of politics we pretend doesn't exist. Kevin Spacey's corrupt congressman-turned President Frank Underwood prowls around Washington like a charismatic shark, devouring anyone that stands in his way to his rise to power. Meanwhile, his wife Claire secretly harbors ambitions of her own. In the most recent season, both political predators join forces to become a seemingly unstoppable force that reminds us that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Watch it on: Netflix
5. Sherlock
From the minds that brought you Dr. Who comes this vibrant modern-dress retelling of the Baker St. hero. More than just a high-gloss procedural, Sherlock is arguably a bromance between to friends who at once complete each other and drive each other mad. With a run time of 90 minutes each episode, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat have enough precious time to wring the most out of Mr. Holmes (an unflappable Benedict Cumberbatch) and give original stories we thought we knew an epic scope with double and sometimes triple-twists. Maybe it's just me, but I feel a tiny bit smarter after following Sherlock's train of complex thought to come to the same satisfying conclusion. More often, though, just as I think I've got it figured out, a mind bending twist presents itself that even the master sleuth must dig deep to solve. Sherlock is sexy, brainy and hyperkinetic: A detective show for the internet age. Hardly elementary!
Watch it on: Netflix
6. Southland
About as close to being an actual cop as I ever want to get, Southland was gritty, profane and damned entertaining! Southland is what COPS would have been had it been directed by Ridley Scott. The show follows the experiences of a LAPD rookie, and his fellow officers just trying to survive the unforgiving streets of LA. Unpredictable, and fast moving, the fact that the show was actually filmed on location in the gangland streets only adds to its harrowing realism. The final episode was so jarring and unexpected that the sting of it's final image took a moment to fully sink in. If you loved End of Watch (and who doesn't?) then Southland is just the fix you need. Just watch yourself, boot. The streets are mean!
Watch it on: Amazon, Hulu
7. Firefly
Under-appreciated and ahead of it's time this "western in space" was a rough and tumble vision of the future. The TV series followed the escapades of Captain Malcom Reynolds (Nathan Fillion at his most irascible) and his morally ambiguous crew in their clunking Firefly-class ship, Serenity. The show was smart, funny, and wonderfully human thanks to the writing of creator Joss Whedon. Firefly offered a not-so-perfect version of the future, while presenting a ragtag family who allowed us to come aboard for the ride of our gorram lives. Alas, all good things must end and this space opera did just that after one year. A well-written morality play of a feature film soon followed, but the Verse has been mighty lonely without them since. Thankfully, they can't take the sky from me; this gem lives on in all it's BluRay splendor. Shiny!
Watch it on: Amazon, Hulu, Netflix
8. Justified
Think of it as "Deadwood Lite", it's got much the same cast, and much the same flavor without the awkwardness of watching it with your mom next to you on the couch. As much a modern day western as it was a cop show, Justified seemed as though it plucked Timothy Olyphant's gruff U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens straight from a John Ford flick and dropped him in modern day Kentucky. Raylan brandished his own renegade justice against modern crime in the form of dirty politicians, drug cartels, murder frames, hidden fortunes and multiple crime families warring for control of rural Harlan County. The best was season two, where Raylan squared off against brutal matriarch Mags Bennett (the incredibly talented Margo Martindale). Dave Alvin's brooding rendition of "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" just added to the weight on Raylan's (and our) shoulders. Justified was nonstop gunslinging action that made TV fun again!
Watch it on: Hulu, Amazon
9. Supernatural
Essentially a monster hunting road trip show, Supernatural became the little cult fan favorite that could. Eleven seasons strong, and we're still following the chisel-jawed Winchester brothers (literally) through hell as they battle the forces of evil. One part Hardy Boys, one part X-Files, the CW'S spooky series is a fun romp that isn't afraid to occasionally break the fourth wall in unexpected and sometimes hilarious ways! Whether they're battling demons, deities or the devil himself, the Winchesters never disappoint to do it with style. I mean, c'mon, they drive a jet black '67 Chevy Impala, it doesn't get much cooler than that!
Watch it on: Netflix
10. Community
I wish more sitcoms were like Community! Smart, self-aware, banter-packed and geek-proud, this was a show that rewarded you for paying attention. Sure, The Big Bang Theory had more geeks and a bigger audience (of geeks?) but they didn't have a band of social misfits and self-aggrandizing ego maniacs for its lead characters like this laugh-fest did. Filled with meta-humor and an occasional smattering of social commentary, Community made you feel good to come to class every week. Rarely going for a cheap laugh and never talking down to its audience, this comedy was its own kind of cool. Cool cool cool!
Watch it on: Hulu, Yahoo! Screen
1. Sons of Anarchy
Essentially Hamlet on motorcycles, this gritty and griping tale of redemption set in a fictional west coast motorcycle club is both hopeful and tragic. Throughout its six season run, SOA took us along for a wild ride through tragedy, corruption, deception, fear and hope. Following the transformation of MC vice-president Jax Teller, from aimless youth to semi-savior who makes the ultimate sacrifice to save his club, the show never pulled any punches in its depiction of blind corruption and shocking violence in it's truly unnerving form. Each character's story was so gripping as to send you on an emotional roller coaster that you never wanted to get off. The final image of the series left me feeling bittersweet long ofter the curtain closed on this high-octane modern-day Shakespearean tragedy.
Watch it on: Netflix and Hulu
2. The Walking Dead
What can I say about this show except, "Damn you, Negan!" Interestingly enough, I first got hooked on this post-apocalyptic comic book adaptation by reading the teleplay for the pilot. Frank Darabont's masterful depiction of an undead-infested America was so thrilling that immediately, I knew I had to see more. Though I'm not much of a zombie fanatic, I am a die-hard post-apocalyptic, end-of-the-world junkie. The Walking Dead doesn't disappoint. From the barren landscape to warring factions of survivors and of course, the ever present "walkers," there is no shortage of daunting obstacles for Rick Grimes and his intrepid band of followers to overcome. Often, these human characters struggle with both physical and moral quagmires where we find ourselves doing a bit of soul searching right along with them. Visceral, morally introspective and at times brutally shocking in it's depiction of the darker side of humanity, The Walking Dead has presented us with heroes we want to win and villains we love to hate. If nothing else, it's left me with a healthy fear of empty streets, human greed... and baseball bats.
Watch it on: Netflix and AMC
3. The West Wing
At once an idealized and exaggerated version of what politics is and could be, The West Wing presents us with an intellectual, decent and funny extended White House family I wouldn't mind voting for... twice! Created by the maestro of words, Aaron Sorkin, the show offers his signature whip-smart dialogue and characters you actually care about. If the dizzying walk-and-talks don't put you off, the show rewards you for sticking around with eight seasons of engaging political drama. Presidential assassination attempts, terrorist plots, tragic deaths, political intrigue and inter-party squabbling make this show worth coming back to long after it's term was up. It's a vision of what Washington DC could be, if it weren't for all those darned politicians!
Watch it on: Netflix
4. House of Cards
Think of it as The West Wing's darker, brooding younger brother. Sleek, smart and tinged with a cool sexiness, the show presents a darker side of politics we pretend doesn't exist. Kevin Spacey's corrupt congressman-turned President Frank Underwood prowls around Washington like a charismatic shark, devouring anyone that stands in his way to his rise to power. Meanwhile, his wife Claire secretly harbors ambitions of her own. In the most recent season, both political predators join forces to become a seemingly unstoppable force that reminds us that absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Watch it on: Netflix
5. Sherlock
From the minds that brought you Dr. Who comes this vibrant modern-dress retelling of the Baker St. hero. More than just a high-gloss procedural, Sherlock is arguably a bromance between to friends who at once complete each other and drive each other mad. With a run time of 90 minutes each episode, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat have enough precious time to wring the most out of Mr. Holmes (an unflappable Benedict Cumberbatch) and give original stories we thought we knew an epic scope with double and sometimes triple-twists. Maybe it's just me, but I feel a tiny bit smarter after following Sherlock's train of complex thought to come to the same satisfying conclusion. More often, though, just as I think I've got it figured out, a mind bending twist presents itself that even the master sleuth must dig deep to solve. Sherlock is sexy, brainy and hyperkinetic: A detective show for the internet age. Hardly elementary!
Watch it on: Netflix
6. Southland
About as close to being an actual cop as I ever want to get, Southland was gritty, profane and damned entertaining! Southland is what COPS would have been had it been directed by Ridley Scott. The show follows the experiences of a LAPD rookie, and his fellow officers just trying to survive the unforgiving streets of LA. Unpredictable, and fast moving, the fact that the show was actually filmed on location in the gangland streets only adds to its harrowing realism. The final episode was so jarring and unexpected that the sting of it's final image took a moment to fully sink in. If you loved End of Watch (and who doesn't?) then Southland is just the fix you need. Just watch yourself, boot. The streets are mean!
Watch it on: Amazon, Hulu
7. Firefly
Under-appreciated and ahead of it's time this "western in space" was a rough and tumble vision of the future. The TV series followed the escapades of Captain Malcom Reynolds (Nathan Fillion at his most irascible) and his morally ambiguous crew in their clunking Firefly-class ship, Serenity. The show was smart, funny, and wonderfully human thanks to the writing of creator Joss Whedon. Firefly offered a not-so-perfect version of the future, while presenting a ragtag family who allowed us to come aboard for the ride of our gorram lives. Alas, all good things must end and this space opera did just that after one year. A well-written morality play of a feature film soon followed, but the Verse has been mighty lonely without them since. Thankfully, they can't take the sky from me; this gem lives on in all it's BluRay splendor. Shiny!
Watch it on: Amazon, Hulu, Netflix
8. Justified
Think of it as "Deadwood Lite", it's got much the same cast, and much the same flavor without the awkwardness of watching it with your mom next to you on the couch. As much a modern day western as it was a cop show, Justified seemed as though it plucked Timothy Olyphant's gruff U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens straight from a John Ford flick and dropped him in modern day Kentucky. Raylan brandished his own renegade justice against modern crime in the form of dirty politicians, drug cartels, murder frames, hidden fortunes and multiple crime families warring for control of rural Harlan County. The best was season two, where Raylan squared off against brutal matriarch Mags Bennett (the incredibly talented Margo Martindale). Dave Alvin's brooding rendition of "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" just added to the weight on Raylan's (and our) shoulders. Justified was nonstop gunslinging action that made TV fun again!
Watch it on: Hulu, Amazon
9. Supernatural
Essentially a monster hunting road trip show, Supernatural became the little cult fan favorite that could. Eleven seasons strong, and we're still following the chisel-jawed Winchester brothers (literally) through hell as they battle the forces of evil. One part Hardy Boys, one part X-Files, the CW'S spooky series is a fun romp that isn't afraid to occasionally break the fourth wall in unexpected and sometimes hilarious ways! Whether they're battling demons, deities or the devil himself, the Winchesters never disappoint to do it with style. I mean, c'mon, they drive a jet black '67 Chevy Impala, it doesn't get much cooler than that!
Watch it on: Netflix
10. Community
I wish more sitcoms were like Community! Smart, self-aware, banter-packed and geek-proud, this was a show that rewarded you for paying attention. Sure, The Big Bang Theory had more geeks and a bigger audience (of geeks?) but they didn't have a band of social misfits and self-aggrandizing ego maniacs for its lead characters like this laugh-fest did. Filled with meta-humor and an occasional smattering of social commentary, Community made you feel good to come to class every week. Rarely going for a cheap laugh and never talking down to its audience, this comedy was its own kind of cool. Cool cool cool!
Watch it on: Hulu, Yahoo! Screen
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