# Recommend me some serious TV shows, please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 12, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654 "2010-02-12T04:00:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**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 14, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/21 "2010-02-14T03:55:55Z")
Oh yeah, Rome–amazing stuff. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/22 "2010-02-14T22:00:25Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > You and I would get along just fine watching TV together. Looks like it! How about a pact? All _Wire_ fans send out an alert when something shows up that might be of similar quality. I’ll be subbing to HBO again when Simon’s new series starts. [April 11 and there’s a teaser on this site.](http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/01/11/david-simons-treme-gets-a-teaser-trailer-and-a-premiere-date/) ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/23 "2010-02-14T22:06:07Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > The episode where Sam and Dean find out that there’s slash written about them - frickin’ genius. “They do know we’re brothers, right?” “Doesn’t seem to matter.” It may amuse you to know that that episode [caused a certain amount of yowling](http://www.journalfen.net/community/fandom_wank/1203345.html) by the real life slashers. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/24 "2010-02-14T22:13:36Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > “They do know we’re brothers, right?” “Doesn’t seem to matter.” Writers weren’t paying enough attention to the slashfic. Or the second line would be ‘I think that makes them like it better.’:o ---
**Author:** ![Razncain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@Razncain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Razncain)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/25 "2010-02-14T22:26:30Z")
I liked Deadwood too, the first season, anyway. Got to recommend “The Shield” as well. Best writing I’ve seen season after season. Like it so much, I had to get it all on DVD. I’ve went through it 3 different times. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/26 "2010-02-15T05:26:01Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > It may amuse you to know that that episode [caused a certain amount of yowling](http://www.journalfen.net/community/fandom_wank/1203345.html) by the real life slashers. “Wincest” - oh my God, that’s too funny. If they didn’t want people noticing the homoerotic undertones, maybe they should have, I dunno, less of it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/27 "2010-02-15T08:09:20Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > If they didn’t want people noticing the homoerotic undertones, maybe they should have, I dunno, less of it. 🙂 What would be the fun in _that_? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/28 "2010-02-15T08:37:56Z")
> [@luv2draw](#): > > The Good Wife - my current fav. You’ll want to Netflix it to see if from the beginning. > Damages - I see it via Netflix. > FlashForward - good storyline BUT stupid ABC has had it on haitus for weeks now. They don’t learn that doing that breaks the momentum. > Burn Notice > Royal Pains > White Collar > Ugly Betty - except ABC killed it by moving it around and around in the schedule. It’s currently the last season. Still worth watching from the beginning. It’s more a “drama-dy” instead of pure comedy. > Grey’s Anatomy > Witches of Eastwick - loved it. ABC killed it after one season. A few episodes left. Do you live in our house? Agree with everything except Grey’s Anatomy, but never really gave the show a chance as not a big fan of doctor show - Royal Pains being an exception of sorts, but that is not a hospital drama. Also, as others have mentioned: Dexter Southland (returning, but now on TNT starting in March) Mad Men Leverage Shows no longer airing, but on DVD: Wire Six Feet Under The Shield Deadwood Sopranos Rome Queer as Folk (yes, quite Gay, but very good) ---
**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 15, 2010, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/29 "2010-02-15T10:26:58Z")
Nothing to disagree with here. Two of my favorites seem to be not all that highly regarded: _Rescue Me_ - Denis Leary’s paean to New York fire fighters. He plays Tommy Gavin the most fucked up character on TV. The show features a superb ensemble cast and guest stars like Tatum O’Neal, Susan Sarandon, Marisa Tomei, Gina Gershon, Amy Sedaris and Michael J. Fox who all ended up with continuing roles. Ostensibly a drama, it features some of the best laughs on TV. Every episode has an aimless argument or conversation about some BS subject that feels like it is stolen from real life. I wonder how much of it is adlibbed. Starts off great, has one stupid season and then gets back on track. _Friday Night Lights_ - Peter Berg takes the opportunity to turn his movie into hundreds of hours of movie quality TV. Again a great ensemble cast featuring Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton as Coach Taylor and wife Tami playing the most realistic married couple on TV. The rest of the cast are just as good and the show is shot without rehearsal or much blocking. The camera crews have trained to follow the actors around as they play scenes. This gives the show an almost documentary feel. It manages to tell important stories without lapsing into soap opera and is often heartrending. Again starts great, has some silly plot lines in season 2 and then gets back on track. The just completed season 4 is only 13 episodes so the story telling is somewhat jumpy but it still packs a punch. Definitely two of the best shows I have ever seen. Probably the only shows that I am watching now that I was watching 4 years ago. Oh no, _Dexter_ and _House_ qualify too. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/30 "2010-02-15T13:14:35Z")
“ **Dexter** ” for sure. Riveting. I loved the first seasons of “ **Heroes** ” and “ **24** ,” which I saw courtesy of Netflix. (I haven’t watched subsequent seasons yet) “ **The Tudors** ” is a great mix of drama and soap ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/31 "2010-02-15T19:58:07Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > What would be the fun in _that_? None. None fun. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/32 "2010-02-15T20:18:47Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > _Rescue Me_ - Denis Leary’s paean to New York fire fighters. He plays Tommy Gavin the most fucked up character on TV. The show features a superb ensemble cast and guest stars like Tatum O’Neal, Susan Sarandon, Marisa Tomei, Gina Gershon, Amy Sedaris and Michael J. Fox who all ended up with continuing roles. Ostensibly a drama, it features some of the best laughs on TV. Every episode has an aimless argument or conversation about some BS subject that feels like it is stolen from real life. I wonder how much of it is adlibbed. Starts off great, has one stupid season and then gets back on track. > > _Friday Night Lights_ - Peter Berg takes the opportunity to turn his movie into hundreds of hours of movie quality TV. Again a great ensemble cast featuring Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton as Coach Taylor and wife Tami playing the most realistic married couple on TV. The rest of the cast are just as good and the show is shot without rehearsal or much blocking. The camera crews have trained to follow the actors around as they play scenes. This gives the show an almost documentary feel. It manages to tell important stories without lapsing into soap opera and is often heartrending. Again starts great, has some silly plot lines in season 2 and then gets back on track. The just completed season 4 is only 13 episodes so the story telling is somewhat jumpy but it still packs a punch. I second the first season of both these shows. I had to stop watching Rescue Me when it got too dark for me to want to deal with in season three. Season two of Friday Night Lights isn’t actually bad, but it has one of the stupidest side plot arcs in recent television history and the show never got as good as it was in season one again. But the first seasons of both of the above shows are amazing. Dexter has a similar problem of having such a brilliant first season that the following seasons just can’t compare up. Mad Men is great. White Collar is fun and light. Dollhouse was, I believe, widely misunderstood and I hope you will give it a second chance when season two is released on DVD. ---
**Author:** ![Lethal\_Babydoll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3be4f8/32.png) [@Lethal\_Babydoll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lethal_Babydoll)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/33 "2010-02-15T21:27:13Z")
**Men of a Certain Age** still has a few episodes left in its first season. Very good look at lives of ordinary (not cops, Romans or bikers) people. About **Sons of Anarchy**. Depending on what you mean by “serious.” I enjoy the show a lot and have gotten several friends to watch it. But it’s no serious look at outlaw bikers. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/34 "2010-02-15T21:37:32Z")
How about some British series? _The Cops_; _Cracker_, _Danger UXB_; _I, Claudius_; _Prime Suspect_; _Reilly, Ace of Spies_; _The Singing Detective_; _Spooks_ (aka _MI-5_); _State of Play_; _Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy_ and _Upstairs, Downstairs_ are all good. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654/35 "2010-02-15T23:17:18Z")
What do you folks think about adding **Nip/Tuck**? Yes, it frequently veers into the outrageous and absurd, but there also some wrenching stories. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-serious-tv-shows-please/528654.md?page=1)