It was difficult to choose the favorite five this year since I loved so many shows. When I went through the list though I realised that all five were aired on cable which makes it a particularly dry year for broadcast television. The only show I could recommend on any of these channels would be Fringe and it did not even make my top five. Since I want to keep up the suspense I thought I would start with the lowest and continue on to my favorite. It is an interesting mix of shows and I hope that somehow you would feel encouraged to find these shows and watch them on DVD if you did not indulge like I did.
5. Battlestar Galactica:
Yes, it only made number 5 this time around. Some people might be upset that this excellent show on the SciFi channel only made it to this position since it has become a show with a cult-like following. This season was filled with intrigue, drama, love and conflict and had quite a few twists that were not expected. Kara Thrace returned form the dead and believed she found earth. Then some more Cylons surfaced and suddenly we knew who all were but the last one. The uneasy alliance between the Cylons and the Humans also surprised and the climax of the season was almost a spiritual moment – in fact I would go so far to say that it was. I could literally not wait for my weekly fix and now I am counting down the seven weeks that remain before the final 10 episodes ever air. This show deserves all the accolades it got and will be remembered for a very long time after the last episode aired on our screens. This is a must see.
4. Entourage
This show is an HBO adventure aired on Sunday nights. This season was all about Vince’s fight to regain superstar status after the failure of Medellin. The cast is magnificent and we cringed, cried and rejoiced with them as the rollercoaster ride of the season played itself out. The person who makes the show is Ari Gold. Ari is the one character an episode should never be without. His character makes you want to be a client who could walk into his office at any time. The writing is ascerbic at times and the humor is pretty spectacular. The music of the show was a revelation to me since I have to confess this show is turning me into a hip hop fan. The one character I could do without is Drama, but I understand that even he has his fans. This show created by Mark Wahlberg is essential for any good fall season and it is always sad when it ends.
3. True Blood
Another HBO show that was a must see this season. I am not a vampire freak but this was a vampire show with a very unexpected twist. It plays out in Bon Temps in the South and involves a local waitress, Sookie Stackhouse that hears people thoughts and a vampire Bill that falls in love with her. Vampires have “come out” of the closet so to speak after the Japanese invented synthetic blood called True Blood. Now the roles seem to be reversed since vampire blood is rumored to give humans super human strength and a really fantastic high. Vampires fight for their rights while they seemingly do not hunt humans anymore. Sookie works for a guy who is a little strange as well and his true self is revealed later in the series too. The writing only got better as the show progressed and I would like to just share with new viewers that under no circumstances should you decide to stop watching before the fourth episode. Alan Ball has created a great show and the sexy dark drama really hooks you. You also have to know who is responsible for the inexplicable murders in this Southern town. Enough said though since I do not want to give away too much.
2. Californication
You know I had to wonder about the sex addiction of Duchovny being in the news just a week before the program started again. Why? Well because his character in the show seems to have similar problems. This is highly amusing and not always in the conventional sense. If I could find the writers of this show and marry them all just for their sheer brilliance I would. They eclipse the writers of Entourage and that is a mean feat in my opinion. Girl leaves boy at the altar to go back to her ex. Ex accidentally finds himself between the legs of another woman – yes really accidentally. Girl finds out that ex is responsible for someone else being pregnant and kicks him out again. Will she take him back since he is the best thing to ever happen to her despite all of this? The show is not over yet and airs on Sundays on Showtime. It is definitely not suitable for younger kiddies, but it is magnificent television.
1. Sons of Anarchy
FX hit the jackpot this year. This dark drama with some comedy about a motorcycle gang who tries to protect their town Charming from developers, rival gangs and overzealous police and other law enforcement officers hits all the right spots. If you loved “The Sopranos” this show is for you. The vice president of the club, Jackson “Jax” Teller (Charlie Hunnam) is not too happy with the lawlessness of the club and sees a new direction for the club despite the head of the club’s (Clarence “Clay” Morrow played by Ron Perlman) insistence on continuing the illegal weapon’s trade. His mother Gemma is the other driving force in this show and she runs the show along with Clay. From Jax’s newborn baby to the ATF interfering in their lives, this show does not miss a beat. The season finale was brilliant and I cannot wait to see the next series. From what I’ve seen though the show is now rated as the best drama on cable.
So enjoy the viewing and dig your heels in like I did. There is nothing better than catching up if you missed it in the midst of winter when there is nothing else to do.
