Suggest me some TV shows to watch at the gym

Cafe Society
1

These days the only time I get to watch anything is when I am on the exercise bike at the gym, so I look forward to this time as a chance to catch up on some excellent TV series. Some of the recent ones I have seen are Breaking Bad, Hannibal, The Wire, Twin Peaks, the Sopranos.

Right now I am about to finish Star Trek the Original Series, and am looking for some suggestions of what to watch next. Some guidelines:

  1. I prefer drama, and it must be something I can get my teeth into. Single-episode stories are OK (e.g. Star Trek) if they are well-written, but I prefer long story arcs like most of the ones I mentioned above.
  2. the entire series must be finished, or very close to finishing. It is not exactly binge viewing (average 2 episodes per week), but I don’t want to wait for new episodes to be released.
  3. no zombies
  4. nothing that is visually or audibly challenging to follow on a 3-inch screen with gym music in the background. I had to give up on Game of Thrones for this reason.
  5. country of origin no bar, though if it is not in English or French I will need subtitles

So, let’s hear your suggestions!

2

On the few occasions I’m on the fitness floor (usually I’m taking a class) I’ll look for an episode of Law & Order et al.

The West Wing will fit your criteria as well.

3

I second The West Wing.

Also the original CSI (the vegas one). Plenty of seasons to go though and really fantastic television.

4

“Lost” You’ll have to “accept” the last couple seasons, but prior to that each episode was pretty gripping.

“True Detective” (first season). Only 8 (or 10 ?) episodes, but GREAT show following a single story. 2nd season is okay, but no where as good as the first.

“The Leftovers” only has 2 seasons (I think 10 episodes each). Some of the “Lost” creators were involved. So there’s a lot of “what ???” going on, but compelling episodes. I believe they are making the 3rd and final season.

If you liked “Breaking Bad”, you might enjoy “Better Call Saul”. The 3rd season is about to begin (I think). It is not as dark as “BB”, and even has some lighter moments. Great cast.

I would recommend “Firefly”, but it would only piss you off wanting more.

5

I second the recommendation for The Leftovers. Particularly the first season.

I strongly recommend The Americans, which is about two deep-cover KGB spies in 1980s America. Very suspenseful, excellent acting.

I worked out while watching the second season of American Horror Story, and I must have lost at least ten pounds. No zombies. It does get very creepy and some of the subplots trail off to nowhere, but it’s one of my favorite television seasons of all time.

6

I came in to suggest The West Wing, before others beat me to it. I’ve actually watched through the entire series twice doing exactly what you’re talking about, cardio at the gym.

7

Just remember to keep exercising during Bartlet’s monologue at the end of Two Cathedrals. I think many audience members forgot to breathe. :eek:

8

Recently finished ER, currently watching Band of Brothers. Speaking of Damian Lewis, check out Life.

9

Jessica Jones and Luke Cage are good, if you have Netflix.

10

Deadwood
Person of Interest
Fringe

11

Band of Brothers,
Deadwood,
Big Love,
Justified,
Rescue Me

12

Longmire - starts out as an episodic small-town-sheriff procedural, but slowly becomes a full-on serial like midway into the second season or so.

13

thanks everyone. Just an update that I have just finished watching the first episode of Leftovers and it is awesome. Thanks **cormac262 **and **Sefton **for the recco!

I also tried the first couple of episodes of Elementary and was rather underwhelmed.

14

It may just not be for you and that’s fine, but I will say Elementary gets *way * better as it goes along. I enjoyed it from the beginning, but I have noticed that the episodes get much better after Joan stops being Sherlock’s sober companion and starts being his partner in investigation.