# Recommend a TV Series to me! (...please) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492 "2013-01-27T00:51:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/1 "2013-01-27T00:51:03Z")
So I used to think serialized TV shows were a waste of time…then I found **Breaking Bad**. And that started an addiction that has seen me tear through: Band of Brothers Game of Thrones Mad Men Walking Dead All in the last few months. But now I need more shows to watch! I’ve tried giving **The Wire** a try, but the first episode nearly put me to sleep. So what shows should I check out? (Semi-related question: Is The Sopranos worth checking out, even if I know the ending?) ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/2 "2013-01-27T01:37:01Z")
I’m sure a lot of people will come in and say you need to give The Wire 4-5 episodes. I couldn’t get in to it even after that many. I really enjoyed The Shield. I cranked out the whole thing in about 2 months. There was a lot of times when I just had to watch the next episode, even if it was the middle of the night and I had to go to work the next day. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2013, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/3 "2013-01-27T01:42:29Z")
I know several people who are absolutely hooked on _The West Wing_, watching every series over and over. I mentioned it jokingly to my son (he’s 24) and he borrowed it from a friend. He has watched nothing else on TV since he got it. He tapes everything he would normally watch and watches more of _The West Wing_. ETA I have never seen a single episode, so I personally wouldn’t have a clue…yet. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/4 "2013-01-27T02:13:56Z")
The shows you listed are favorites of mine too, so please, give _The Wire_ another chance. Start when you have some free time. I wasn’t hooked at first either, but I’ve watched all five seasons at least four times. Now the first episode is my favorite. Also _Justified_ – it’s not a typical cop show. It’s in its fourth season, with relationships that have carried through. It’s based on a character created by Elmore Leonard, a master of dialogue. It warrants close attention to plot development. There’s some violence and it can be dark, but it’s also fun. Try _Deadwood_ and _Rome_, if you haven’t already, and the BBC version of _Sherlock_. Also _Sleeper Cell_, a Showtime series from a few years back. It only lasted one season, but everybody loves _Firefly_. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/5 "2013-01-27T02:34:24Z")
The ending may have left many unsatisfied, but The Sopranos is great stuff, probably #1 on my all time list. if you’re looking for something really intense maybe check out the first season of Homeland. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/6 "2013-01-27T02:41:41Z")
The first season (ONLY) of _24_ and _Heroes_. They have self contained storylines - you don’t need to continue, and shouldn’t. Others to try: Deadwood Rome The Tudors Dexter (uneven but the first 2 seasons are definitely great) ETA: Bearing in mind, of course, that at this point you’re comparing everything with some of the best television ever made so… I’m not saying any of these are necessarily the equal of “Breaking Bad.” Maybe “Rome.” " ---
**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:** [January 27, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/7 "2013-01-27T02:42:54Z")
_Firefly_ and BBC’s _Sherlock_ StG ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/8 "2013-01-27T02:45:30Z")
I second BBC’s _Sherlock_. There are six episodes out, with each episode an hour and a half. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/9 "2013-01-27T02:53:36Z")
The best shows of the past few years include many already named, but The Wire The Sopranos The Shield Rome Deadwood Terriers (the bastards killed it after only one season) Sons of Anarchy Justified The Good Wife Dexter Homeland ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/10 "2013-01-27T05:31:44Z")
Rome, The Sopranos, Battlestar Galactica and The Pacific (assuming you liked Band of Brothers a lot). ---
**Author:** ![Raging\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@Raging\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raging_Bull)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/11 "2013-01-27T05:37:26Z")
Skins Misfits Doctor Who Great shows ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/12 "2013-01-27T07:29:36Z")
Since it hasn’t been said yet (but soon will). Six Feet Under. Also, Twin Peaks. It’s a very short series. If you’re one of those people that does marathons of shows, you can knock out Twin Peaks in long weekend (or maybe week if you do a couple of episodes a day). And if you become a hardcore fan, it has a movie to go with it (Fire Walk With Me). ---
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/13 "2013-01-27T08:01:37Z")
The Wire. Started watching it when I was 17 and pulled me in immediately. You need to reevaluate yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/14 "2013-01-27T08:04:38Z")
> [@bump](#): > > The Pacific (assuming you liked Band of Brothers a lot). I’d skip _The Pacific_. I found it not even close to the same quality as _Band of Brothers_. The storyline is muddled and hard to follow, the cinematography is poor, and the whole thing was pretty disappointing. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/15 "2013-01-27T08:13:58Z")
American Horror Story ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2013, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/16 "2013-01-27T23:50:23Z")
I’m always on the lookout for great shows I missed the first time around. I am currentlly catching up on **Friday Night Lights** , which I highly recommend. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/17 "2013-01-28T00:49:48Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Since it hasn’t been said yet (but soon will). Six Feet Under. > > Also, Twin Peaks. It’s a very short series. If you’re one of those people that does marathons of shows, you can knock out Twin Peaks in long weekend (or maybe week if you do a couple of episodes a day). And if you become a hardcore fan, it has a movie to go with it (Fire Walk With Me). I read the first 11 posts, marveling, “No one has suggested _Six Feet Under_??” Twin Peaks is interesting but I seem to recall that the last 1/3 was kind of murky. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/18 "2013-01-28T01:10:46Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > I read the first 11 posts, marveling, “No one has suggested _Six Feet Under_??” > > Twin Peaks is interesting but I seem to recall that the last 1/3 was kind of murky. I suppose it should actually say “Twin Peaks…until you find out who the murderer is.” But if you made it that far you’re part of the cult and there’s really no point in not watching the last, what, 6 episodes or so. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/19 "2013-01-28T01:16:25Z")
I don’t think _Pushing Daisies_ has been mentioned yet either, though it may be an acquired taste for some. And I also enjoyed _John from Cincinnati_. It was not nearly as good as _Deadwood_ but it was written/produced by some of the same people and shared many unique attributes. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2013, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492/20 "2013-01-28T13:09:11Z")
If you are looking for current shows… try Banshee and The Following (only one ep so far but seems to be pretty good.) Also you can jump right into this season of Justified as I did. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-series-to-me-please/648492.md?page=2)