# One of these again: Recommend TV series on dvd? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 8, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865 "2009-02-08T01:11:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/1 "2009-02-08T01:11:05Z")
I know this has been done a frillion times. Sorry. I’d like to maybe watch some TV series out on DVD. The caveats? I have a low tolerance for gore, realistic violence, and grit. I am, in fact, a weenie about it most of the time. I’m also pretty easily upset nowadays, so depression, doom, and death is probably not a good bet. My current favorite shows are Ugly Betty, Supernatural, and The Amazing Race. Other recent favorites: Veronica Mars Psych Angel I have a feeling this isn’t going to work because I’m weird, but any suggestions greatly appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/2 "2009-02-08T02:32:45Z")
I like _Veronica Mars_ and _Angel_, too. Have you seen \*Buffy \*and _Firefly_? I know you’re not a big sci-fi fan, but \*Firefly \*is really very good. How about: _The Closer_ (I don’t usually like cop shows, but the ensemble cast is funny.) \*Bones \*is fun to watch to see David Boreanaz being pompous and cheerful instead of dark and brooding. \*Extras \*is hilarious, but only if you like Ricky Gervais. \*Rome \*is excellent, as is the old _I, Claudius_ mini-series, but there is a fair amount of violence in these, as you know. Have you seen the \*Cadfael \*mysteries? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/3 "2009-02-08T02:47:36Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > \*Extras \*is hilarious, but only if you like Ricky Gervais. I know people who don’t much like Gervais but love this for the cameos. It is so funny watching good actors make themselves look silly. Ben Stiller the egotist, lewd Kate Winslet, self obsessed Orlando Bloom and pubescent Daniel Radcliffe were all great fun. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/4 "2009-02-08T02:53:13Z")
> [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](#): > > \*Rome \*is excellent, as is the old _I, Claudius_ mini-series, but there is a fair amount of violence in these, as you know. If by “a fair amount of violence” you mean “more bloody, gruesome, horrific torture, disfigurement, and murder than on nearly any other show ever made, including Deadwood and The Sopranos,” I agree :). Probably not what the OP is looking for, although Rome is a wonderful show. I was very skeptical about 30 Rock: the premise sounded dreary, and I’m not a huge fan of sitcoms. But my wife and I rocketed through both DVD seasons over the past few weeks. And best of all, there’s nothing remotely realistic about it. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/5 "2009-02-08T03:00:26Z")
Yeah, I’d say that if you liked **Angel** you should try **Buffy the Vampire Slayer** and **Firefly** too. Also **Freaks and Geeks** and **The Office**. How about **the West Wing** and **Sports Night**? ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/6 "2009-02-08T03:02:36Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > If by “a fair amount of violence” you mean “more bloody, gruesome, horrific torture, disfigurement, and murder than on nearly any other show ever made, including Deadwood and The Sopranos,” I agree :). Probably not what the OP is looking for, although Rome is a wonderful show. You’re right. But I don’t find violence in a historical setting nearly as depressing as violence in a modern setting. It seems less real to me, I guess. Anyway, I think I remember that the OP read _I, Claudius_ recently and enjoyed it, and I know she’s read some Steven Saylor, so that’s why I suggested it. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/7 "2009-02-08T03:03:06Z")
_Flight of The Conchords_ ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/8 "2009-02-08T03:10:45Z")
If you’re willing to take a miniseries rather than a full series, I strongly recommend [_Cranford_](http://www.amazon.com/Cranford-Simon-Woods/dp/B00140PK6O/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1234062419&sr=8-1). Nineteenth-century British village life, with the focus on the women – portrayed by an amazing cast. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/9 "2009-02-08T04:22:19Z")
Watch Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy is the series that launched Angel, so you will probably like it. ---
**Author:** ![kivrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@kivrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kivrin)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/10 "2009-02-08T04:24:19Z")
I recommend _Hustle_, a very shiny British show about con artists. There are only six episodes in each series, but it’s engaging and funny and the opposite of gritty. If you like _The Spanish Prisoner_ or _Sneakers_ or _Ocean’s Eleven_, you may enjoy _Hustle_. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/11 "2009-02-08T04:27:57Z")
Miniseries are fine. I have watched Buffy and can’t work up any enthusiasm for Firefly (no one shoot me). I have watched Bones. I have I, Claudius on order at the library. I don’t think I’ve watched anything else suggested, so I’m stoked. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/12 "2009-02-08T04:37:55Z")
Babylon 5 Eureka Good Neighbors ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/13 "2009-02-08T05:00:09Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Babylon 5 Hijack: my wife and I just started watching this, after many recommendations. During the second episode (we figured we should give it another chance after the dreadful first episode), my wife said, “This might be scary, if I’d never seen television before.” I agreed. If folks say we’re crazy and that the show is great, we’ll return the disc and never watch it again. If folks agree that the first episodes are weak but that it gets better, can you tell us what episode/season to skip to, so we can see why it gets recommended so often? (We’re happy to read some brief synopses of previous eps to get up to speed). Daniel ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/14 "2009-02-08T05:04:28Z")
Pushing Daisies. Joan of Arcadia Networks exist to break your heart. StG ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/15 "2009-02-08T05:20:04Z")
Have you seen the Jeeves & Wooster series from back in the day? I also recently picked up a shovelware compilation of old Jack Benny episodes from Half Price Books. Some episodes hold up, some don’t, but for under ten bucks you can’t go wrong. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/16 "2009-02-08T06:39:39Z")
A&E’s Nero Wolfe. 🆒 Trust me, you’ll love it, if you like the 40’s, etc. _Bones_ has quite a bit of icky stuff, other than that, it’s fine. _NCIS_ might be good, try one or two. An occasional icky bit. To continue **StGermain** line, try _Wonderfalls_ and\* Dead Like me.\*:(☹ ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/17 "2009-02-08T06:51:04Z")
Freaks and Geeks has been mentioned already so what about Undeclared? You might want to watch Freaks and Geeks first then, if you like it, get Undeclared. I was going to recommend Middleman but I don’t think it’s out on DVD yet. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/18 "2009-02-08T07:00:07Z")
Have you checked out the website [Hulu?](http://www.hulu.com/) It has a pretty remarkable library of free streaming videos. I watched all of _Arrested Development_ over about a week (53 episodes). It’s an off the wall comedy, but has a large following here on the Dope. I think it’s hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/19 "2009-02-08T08:15:33Z")
**Wonderfalls** was benign and very cute and smart. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2009, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865/20 "2009-02-08T10:57:33Z")
_Weeds_?? _Sex and the City_?? _The Tudors_?? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-of-these-again-recommend-tv-series-on-dvd/484865.md?page=2)