I’ve never watched it, but there seems to be an awful buzz about Downton Abbey.
Yes, The West Wing is one essential answer.
So did I. :: checks :: Oh, so it’s available on DVD now? Why wasn’t I informed??
Going a bit farther back –
thirtysomething
Picket Fences
Family
The original pilot ended with a murder. Actually, someone getting killed off was not an uncommon resolution in the last minute or so.
Agree on both of those. Loved Sam Waterston in that series. Double ditto on The West Wing.
Going back to the seventies, Lou Grant and The Paper Chase were good non-violent drama series.
Twin Peaks had plenty of violent, grim and bloody scenes onscreen during the series.
Yeah, this is what I would have posted. One early episode is set almost entirely in the interrogation room as the cops try to break a suspect. I think another was the squad stuck in the hot sweaty station on a summer night with no murder calls. Episodes driven by just by dialogue.
I’m pretty astonished that no one has mentioned “Friday Night Lights,” one of the most critically acclaimed shows of the last 10 years (and, no, the big sorta-violent thing that happened in the second season didn’t really happen – stop it). “Parenthood,” which is run by the same dude (Jason Katims), is also very good, if you can get past its tendency to be a little sappy.
One of my favourites is a somewhat older (mid-90’s, I think?) British show with James Nesbitt called Cold Feet.
It’s on DVD? and no one told me?
Wonder if it will be on Netflix? oh please oh please oh please!
I’ve recently discovered yet another BBC series on Netflix, Skins. It is fascinating, and I don’t know why. The series is just about a bunch of teenagers in Bristol who mess around doing stupid things, and I can’t stop watching it. I think it qualifies as a drama; there are a few moments that make me laugh out loud, but it’s mostly serious.
The West Wing? Didn’t they have like a war or two? And that SS guy got shot. And the daughter kidnapped and her SS woman killed.
OK it happens off screen but still.
Gilmore Girls was an excellent show and was very rarely even a little violent. Yes, funny but I’d call it a drama.
I’m currently watching a *Monk *marathon, the first time I’ve watched them since their initial showing. I’m constantly reminded of how much I love that show . . . and there’s really not as much gore as there could have been.
I’m in the middle of a Twin Peaks marathon right now (for the third time). It’s not violent like a show on the air today is, but it must have pushed the envelope for the early nineties. If the OP is looking for something without violence or gore, this isn’t it. Dead bodies, beatings, shootings, rape etc…mostly on screen.
NYPD Blue certainly dealt with the aftermath of violence but it rarely had any shootings.
In fact, I’m not sure if Dennis Franz, in 12 seasons even shot a suspect once.
Upstairs, Downstairs
Second these. Also The Good Wife is great. Initially I avoided it, thinking it was a drama about a wronged, cheated-upon political wife. But it’s more of a legal drama.