Don't have as much time to binge or dive into shows like I used to, but I was pretty deep into watching television as a hobby through much of my college years into my mid twenties. It was mostly dramas and comedies that made up the bulk of my viewing. Two series that I'd recommend people to watch, mostly because they're all time classics, are The Sopranos and The Wire.
The Sopranos: I consider this the magnum opus of character driven dramas. Centered on Tony Soprano, the mafia boss of a crime family who tries to balance family life and leading a criminal organization. It's incredibly well-written with a vibrant cast of characters, intricate storytelling, and is just an incredible watch from start to finish. I was hooked from the very first episode and binged it in its entirety (all 6 seasons) the first time I watched it, gave it a rewatch a few years later with a roommate. I've watched many of the all-timers as far as dramas go and James Gandolfini's performance as Tony Soprano is just an all-timer. Right up there with Walter White and Don Draper as compelling character studies. Not for the faint of heart; this is a show centered around the mafia and crime so there's tons of violence, sex and drama throughout. So if you liked Game of Thrones, nothing out of the ordinary as far as mature content is concerned! My favorite show of all time, just impeccable casting all around and so many nuanced storylines from beginning to end.
The Wire: Deepdive into the relationship between law enforcement and various institutions the comprised the heart of Baltimore, Maryland. A crime drama that set out to show how everything is interconnected within a given system with each of its 5 seasons focusing upon different subjects while building upon previously established storylines and characters. The five seasons focus on (in order): the illegal drug trade, the seaport system, city government and bureaucracy, education and schools, and print news. Show creator David Simon sums it up best stating that despite its framing as a crime drama, the show is "really about the American city, and about how we live together. It's about how institutions have an effect on individuals. Whether one is a cop, a longshoreman, a drug dealer, a politician, a judge or a lawyer, all are ultimately compromised and must contend with whatever institution to which they are committed." It's an incredibly fascinating look at how various parts of society interact and weave into eachother, why breaking through the cycle of poverty and circumstance is much more difficult that one can perceive. I'd go as far as saying that Season 4 might very well be the greatest season of television in history. This show didn't get the credit it deserved, but posthumously it's been widely lauded as one of the greatest shows of all time.
And I guess I'll just list out some favorites for fun and in case anyone is looking for something to watch. Lemme know if you want any information on any of these. I have watched all these shows in their entirety and can vouch for them across the board; they're all great!
Dramas
- The Sopranos (Greatest show I've ever seen. Please watch)
- The Wire (2nd greatest. You'll be amazed by how all of the pieces fit together and all the callbacks throughout)
- Breaking Bad
- Mad Men (Slow burn, but it's well worth it. Great period drama and an all-time performance from Jon Hamm as Don Draper)
- The Leftovers (Season 1 is a rough watch and pretty dark and bleak, but it's worth it just to reach Season 2. One of the greatest seasons of television I've ever watched and one of the most satisfying series for me)
- Deadwood (Very underrated, cancelled way too soon after 3 seasons. They wrapped it up with an excellent follow-up film in 2019 after more than a decade off air)
- True Detective (S1 and S3 only, incredible acting and stories for each of those standalone seasons)
- Barry (Bill Hader is genius in this role as an assassin turned actor, very dark with equal parts drama and comedy)
Comedies
- Parks and Recreation (Season 1 is meh, but it picks up in Season 2. Season 3 onwards it was the best comedy on television throughout its run imo)
- The Office (All-timer, nothing much needs to be said)
- Arrested Development (Season 1-3 all-time classics, the rest is meh after the reboot)
- Community (One of my go-tos to chill out and watch episodes randomly, super fun)
- Silicon Valley
- Veep (Great political satire throughout the early seasons, hit a little too close to home near the end with how wonky US politics got)
- Brooklyn Nine Nine (Put this off for a long time and regretted it; one of the funnest watches on television right now. Super easy to binge and enjoy)
- Kim's Convenience (This ones on Netflix right now and ongoing; Korean family in Canada that owns a convenience store navigating pitfalls of family life and culture clash. Very good show with great writing)
- 30 Rock (Rock solid throughout its run with great writing and characters. Primo viewing in the age of streaming services)
