What is your favorite TV show that you rewatch often?
Almost everyone has one, a TV show that they love so much that they rewatch it every once in a while. For me, it has to be Band of Brothers. In my humble opinion this is the very best miniseries mankind has ever produced. I love every scene of every episode and by now I know the entire show by memory. I still rewatch it once a year. People call me insane and don't understand why and to be honest neither do I. Whenever I come across a post about this show or hear a piece of the music I just have to watch it again.
I was 13 when the show first aired on TV and I watched it every week with my father. We're both WW2 buffs and consume every piece of media that has anything to do with it. Band of Brothers was right up our alley. Not only have I watched the show more times than I can keep track of, I also read all the books written by the men of Easy Company just to learn more and find out about what the show got wrong. The show has some errors but I still love it.
Enough about me, what is your favorite show to rewatch? How often do you rewatch it? What triggers your need to rewatch it? :)
Edit: thanks for all the cool replies guys. It's my first day on Tildes and I'm really liking it here so far. I just want to reply to everyone but the site is telling me to slow down!
Arrested Development is extremely rewarding to rewatch (I only rewatch the first 3 seasons). So many tiny jokes, I still find myself catching new things there and then.
Psych, IT Crowd and Black Books are my other comfort shows. I put them on to fall asleep to.
The recurring jokes are the best part of Arrested Development. Great show. Always leave a note.
\o/ STEVE HOLT!!
There's always money in the banana stand!
I've made a terrible mistake
Psych is max comfy. Even the latest movie they put out was fun! The chemistry between Shawn and Gus, is second to none, in my opinion. Somehow, makes me a bit nostalgic to a time of good procedurals, or slower paced shows, whereas now we have tight, cliffhangery season-long arcs, where each episode ends in a bait for the next one.
Arrested Development is great too. The first 2 seasons are GOAT and third one is a very slight dip, imo. Haven't really felt like re-watching S4 or even watching S5, despite having watched the first 3 seasons multiple times now.
Third one mainly dips towards the end. I don’t rewatch the last three or so episodes of S3 usually (especiallly that gimmicky SOB one)
Try the "Smarless" podcast with Jason Bateman, Will Arnett and Sean Hayes. They have the same great chemistry!
Thanks for the recommendation! Definitely will. I’m currently chewing through the always sunny podcast which has a similar feel: same chemistry as in the show.
I watch every 1-2 years: Community, Parks and Rec & Brooklyn 99 (sometimes I sneak in Modern Family, too). I recently added Ted Lasso to the rotation.
I love feel good comedies. Currently watching Shrinking, I might add that to the list above, too.
If you like feel good comedies, I adore "Joe Pera Talks With You". It's an adult swim series, so a little off the normal, but absolutely wholesome and I wholeheartedly recommend it. Season 2 episode 4 is one I go back to often, and the soundtrack is a warm blanket.
Picked Joe Pera up per your recommendation. Only 2 eps in but I'm enjoying it - it's very cozy feeling but also has funny moments. I love it.
I love Community and Parks & Rec too! I rewatched both during the first COVID lockdown :)
We may have similar taste. Please add to your list (these all hold up to repeat binge viewing):
New Girl
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
30 Rock
Black-ish
IT Crowd
Black Books
Thanks for the suggestions, I will check them out! I have watched 30 Rock and Unbreqkable Kimmy Schmidt and I liked them both, but mostly because I loved a single character (Jack Donaghy & Jacqueline, respectively). IT crowd is a classic, I rewatch episodes from time to time, but never from start to finish (I can still hear Matt Berry's "Faaaather" in my head).
Also, your nickname reminded me of The Good Place. I haven't watched it since it finished airing. I might give it another go. I remember it being wholesome, too.
Yes, my name is a Good Place reference. :)
If you like Matt Berry, have you seen Toast of London and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace? Both highly recommended!
Also, the TV series of "What We Do in the Shadows".
You really should give The Good Place another watch, it's fantastic (it was made by the same creator as Parks and Rec and Brooklyn 99 too!)
You have great taste, would you be able to recommend a delicious biscuit?
Coincidentally with one of the actors showing on Schmigadoon, I have had a real hankering to rewatch that show.
Honestly, not owning it is one of the few remaining reasons I am still paying for Netflix.
It is like you have commented for me! I guess we must be streets ahead.
I can't get enough of Ted Lasso, I think it's is a perfect blend of everything. I am so glad I found it, and discovered Brett Goldstein's (Roy Kent) Flims To Be Buried With pod cast. If you have not heard of it I highly recommend it. Especially the Jack Whitehall one, that I think leads to Ted Lasso being made.
I’ve been meaning to start with Parks and Rec because I love all the other shows you mentioned but I hear it doesn’t really hit its stride until the second season and I’m hesitant to wade through a whole season just cause maybe I’ll end up liking it. Is it fine to just start with the second you think?
I hear the first season is a bit more of an Office knock off and I’ve never cared much for The Office.
I have watched all episodes of The office and didn't like it one bit. I am not fan of cringe humour as I suffer a bad case of second-hand embarassement.
The first season of Parks and Rec is like another show, they kind of tried copying the main character from The Office in terms of "cringiness". I've seen people recommend skipping the entire season, but I don't think that is necessary. Just keep in mind that the show improves after the first season and enjoy the rest of it.
That is some dedication! Sitting through an entire TV show and not liking any of it!
I prefer parks and recs humor as opposed to the office. Unlike the office, P&R characters are just weird and quirky. They're not trying to be relatable to the general audience which makes the show work.
It's very charming... But the moment Rob Lowe and Adam Scott enter the cast it completely takes off. It's hilarious.
Rob Lowe's delivery of "Stop. Pooping." gets me every time. I made the mistake of watching that episode after jaw surgery, and boy did it hurt.
Parks and Rec is great and you should definitely give it a go. If it’s not for you, you move on!
I bounced off the first season a few times before I gave up and started with season 2.
I'm so glad I did because I absolutely love the show and I almost missed out on it.
There's a few references to season 1 throughout the show, but not very many and it's not much of a problem. I also found on subsequent rewatches I have more patience to get through it knowing how the characters and story improve.
I love Parks & Rec and have never watched the first season! I highly recommend just starting at the end of the second season, when the characters Ben and Chris show up :)
I've probably rewatched Community at least 10 times already, it's just always on the background for comfort and noise. Shrinking is amazing too! Actually, I love your whole list, basically everything that I like to cycle through. I'd add New Girl and Bob's Burgers to your list, if you've never watched them!
Edit: OH AND how could i forget Psych!! One of the best detective shows.
Those were the days where is was comedy night. Just back to back shoes on NBC. God I miss those days.
Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Spent 14 years in the Air Force because of that franchise.
That's awesome! Did you get to fight any Goa'uld or Wraiths in the Air Force or is that classified? :)
I love both shows too though I don't frequently rewatch them. I should watch SG-1 again some time.
Had a few run-ins with the Taliban, but no aliens. I did go through some training with a couple cops from Cheyenne Mountain though. They had some funny stories about people coming there on vacation from overseas asking to see the Stargate.
You mentioning the Wraiths has brought back a flood of memories. My brother loved SG1 growing up, but it never really clicked with me, reruns after reruns did I suffer through, it almost soured the entire brand for me..
But then, I came across Atlantis and those sick fucking Wraiths, man. Putrid looking feckers, but as I was going through an rural emo phase in my early teenage years, I loved the astetic and subsequently the show itself!
Oh man, that penultimate episode of Atlantis must have made your teenage head explode. Literally an emo wraith in that one.
I am convinced the first wraith they meet in the pilot is inspired by the cover art of the MM album Mechanical Animals. It's worth the search, I swear it's uncanny
(Unsure how/if to link)
SG1 and Atlantis on top.
TNG, DS9, VOY, SGU bring up the rest.
You know, I never watched TNG until COVID. My parents were Trekkies but I never got into it as a kid. That show holds up though. Once it gets going, it really is amazing. Especially as ex-military -- the relationships of the rank structure is so well written (when Data pulls Worf aside and tells him to get his shit together...fucking beautiful). I totally get why everyone loves it.
No Stargate Universe? I don't rewatxh it as often as SG-1 or Atlantis, but it's decently enjoyable. Not as good as the first ones but also not terrible.
I grew up on SG1 and Atlantis as a kid and found SGU to be insufferable. It felt like someone was envious of Battlestar Galactica and made a gritty reality show filled with mal-adjusted adult children set in space with Stargate wall art.
Am I missing something about that show? Viewed in a different light, is it better or even good?
That is exactly the vibe I got when I first watched it.
I felt it got better as it went on, but the first season was trying too hard to be BSG.
SG-1 for me as well, one of the only shows I’ve rewatched multiple times (TNG and MacGyver being the others).
Futurama for me. It hit at just the right spot of my adolescence, and in its own way it's timeless.
Scrubs too, when I'm in a bad place mentally.
I'm with you on Futurama. My hot take: Futurama is the best Matt Groening show — better than The Simpsons.
It’s not even close. Futurama has funnier jokes, better characters, more interesting premise, and on top of that still has all the main tropes from the Simpsons. Like Mr burns and mom.
Futurama squad assemble!
I'm a Futurama sleeper myself. Got my girlfriend hooked too.
100% with you, it's my comfort sitcom, it strikes such a nice balance of comedy and dealing with serious topics.
I’m pretty much always rewatching Star Trek: TNG. I’ll make it all the way through and then start over. It’s a rare show I can watch while working.
Can I start with TNG without watching the original? My brother loves TNG, and Star Trek in general. I've enjoyed the few episodes he's shown me, I just don't want to be totally lost the first few episodes/season.
You absolutely can (and should)
Absolutely! The Original Series is a tough watch for a modern audience, it really didn't age well in my opinion. TNG is great, especially the full HD re-release (scanned from the original film reels, so the quality is great).
100%
I have never seen an episode of TOS. I’ve seen the movies, and recognize a few of the cameos but prior knowledge is not required at all.
Be aware that the show has some very poor episodes in the beginning. There are a few great ones, but once you hit season 3 there are very few bad episodes. And the first couple seasons are almost entirely episodic so you miss pretty much nothing if you skip some of the bad ones.
I usually advocate for watching all the episodes at least once, but just be aware if it's putting you off the series entirely that you can skip some.
I agree with most of these on a 'must watch' list for The Original Series.
https://movieweb.com/star-trek-best-episodes-original-series/#quot-the-trouble-with-tribbles-quot
There really is no order, and it's not episodic, so if you skip some you aren't going to be lost.
Except for 'Space Seed', the basis for Star Trek 2 I'd say there isn't anything you HAVE to watch. And The City on the Edge of Forever is just a great story.
Live long and prosper.
Same. Long ago found a collection of HD episodes, put em on a drive, and that has gone with me for years. It's always nice to put on an episode when I've got little to do. I've always taken some comfort in watching a bunch of adults be adults about their problems lol.
I think part of what doesn't work for me with the newer Star Trek properties is they don't have the ability to just drop in on an episode and be totally fine.
I definitely agree with that. There's a few things about "new" trek I'm not on board with, and that one is a big one. Felt like folks got to flex a bit when each episode was self contained, do some ideas you wouldn't see in a longer structure.
My gf and I just finished the seasons of Taskmaster that are on YouTube, so we started back over again with season 1 just yesterday, so there's that.
I could watch any episode of Seinfeld at any time.
Taskmaster is fantastic, though I tend to just re-watch clips as opposed to entire episodes/seasons. I recommend checking out the Youtube channel No More Jockeys featuring Alex Horne, Tim Key, and Mark Watson from Taskmaster.
Oh wow, I will definitely be watching these when I get home, thank you!
I love Taskmaster so much. I've watched all of the series. It's the most creative show I've ever seen - some of the tasks are downright diabolical. FYI, I was able to see series 15 using a VPN and catching episodes on Daily Motion. I need to look into the versions from other countries (IIRC Australia and New Zealand have versions).
Too lazy to set up a VPN, so I'll just wait patiently for newer seasons.
I should also look into the other countries, but I feel without Alex and Greg it wouldn't feel the same.
It is definitely the most creative show on TV, regardless of nationality lol. What we need is Japanese Taskmaster, but idk if the world is ready for that.
I pay for Google One (I thinks that the name) and it comes with a VPN. So I'm just using that one becausethe barrier to entry was low (just clicking a button). It does seem to help me access stuff that's not yet available in my country (US).
Top three favorite seasons?
UK 5, UK 1, NZ 2 for me I think. (but that leaves out a few great seaons)
I don't know about top 3 but my fave has been UK series 14. There are some tasks that are truly diabolical. ETA: I used the word diabolical in my previous post and I repeated it for a reason - they are evil geniuses!
I got COVID last September, and had just learned of taskmaster. I spent a week in bed and watched all of it, and have since moved on to the NZ and AUS versions.
Are the nz/aus versions really worth a watch? I’d love your opinion on it. Alex Horne kinda makes the show for me :)
NZ 2nd season is amazing, one of the best ever imo, and 3rd season has exceptionally good tasks.
Their taskmaster is fine, not nearly as funny as the original one. The NZ Alex is great, though. Try to get over your gut-"it's a ripoff copy!"-feeling and just embrace the parallel universe.
(1st season doesn't work for me thanks to the bald guy, unfortunately)
I think so. The dynamic between host/co-host is a bit different, and neither of the hosts are as "hard ass" as Greg, but I think the contestants more than make up for it - the NZ series 1 and 2 are two of my favorite of all the taskmasters.
Taskmaster really figured out how to hook people with that first season and first task honestly. As soon as I saw Romesh with that watermelon I was in for the long haul with the show.
Two shows that I constantly come back to at the moment are True Detective Season 1 and Chernobyl.
True Detective is such an interesting show. I've always had a deep fascination with the deep south and the setting is such an integral character in the show.
It relaxes me deeply, despite being about two burned out cops hunting down a serial child killer. (Except the biker episode, that's always tense as shit.)
I don't now watch it that much because I'm a busy family man, and I find I enjoy watching it more when I'm completely alone, with some whiskey to try and keep pace with Cole, which is impossible of course.
On the other hand there is Chernobyl, which is a truly breathtaking piece of storytelling that doesn't waste a single second. Craig Mazin is tied up with Last of Us right now, but I really hope we get to see him do more drama focused shows set in real history. Imagine him covering the fall of the Berlin wall, the JFK assassination, Watergate, agent orange, the troubles in Ireland, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or any other horrific historical event that holds that strange and macabre fascination.
I have also come back to Chernobyl again and again - I thought I might be alone in that. Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgård's performances are too masterful to be seen once in my opinion.
Other docudramas I've returned to are Dopesick (TV) , Spotlight + Dark Waters + Deepwater Horizon (all movies).
Yes the cast does a phenomenal job. Harris alone is an absolute powerhouse, but honestly I can't fault a single performance in the show.
I've not seen any of those other shows or films, I'll have to check them out!
Oh boy, I LOVE Chernobyl too. It might actually be the second-best miniseries ever produced by mankind (in my humble and insignificant opinion). I actually watched it for the third time not too long ago but reading about it makes me want to do it again.
One of the things I love most about Chernobyl is the soundtrack. They just absolutely NAILED it. The music sets the tone perfectly and gives me that unnerving that fits the events perfectly. I can just feel the desperation and the fear when the disaster is happening. The hopelessness after the disaster when they have to clean everything up. It's a freaking masterpiece!
I'm guessing Band of Brothers is 1 for you then? I have seen the first two episodes and loved them, I've always wanted to watch the whole thing.
How could you tell? :P
I highly recommend you watch the entire thing the first chance you get.
I just watched TD season one and LOVED it. Cole was such an awesome character and both Woody Harrison and Matt McConahe (spelling?) did amazing. Season 2 was iffy and I’m on 3 now. So far I like it.
Both great choices. TD season 1 is special. I'm about to start my 5th time through.
I am yet to watch Chernobyl a second time but I intend to.
The West Wing and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine were on a regular rotation with me but then The West Wing started feeling too optimistic for me.
Community has been a regular rewatch for me in recent years, too.
I had the same experience with TWW... My antidote so far is to splice it with The Thick of It ( or if you're US based, Veep [but Thick of It is better]).
Also on rewatch for me is The Newsroom - which if you haven't seen it, and you liked West Wing, I would highly recommend.
I can do a beginning-to-end marathon of TNG and DS9...have several times especially once they hit their stride. VOY and ENT are just way too rough throughout to stick with it
X-Files
I love it, even the rubbish episodes like FPS, Space, Teso Dos Bichos, Ghost in the Machine, and Fight Club can make me smile with how poor they are. But when X-Files hits a high it's some of the best TV ever made.
I've watched it through six times now, it's a comfort show that I put on in the background. Can't wait until my daughters old enough and see if she can get any enjoyment out of it.
I should try watching the X-files. I never got around to watching it, has it aged well?
I'd say generally yes, there's some effects that don't look amazing now but a lot of the shows best, and most frightening, episodes make great use of this limitation by inferring or hinting at horror which allows you as the viewer to fill in the blanks with your mind.
The show covers the whole gamut though, there's the mytharc clandestine alien conspiracy that stretches throughout the whole series. Then there's the horror episodes, comedy episodes (most of which are actually genuinely funny), sci-fi episodes, religious/spiritual episodes, hell there's even an X-Files/Cops crossover episode haha.
The acting is still phenomenal though, Duchovny and Anderson have got some of the best chemistry in TV history, and the supporting cast are all great in their own way, either as heroes or villains.
Cool! I'll definitely try watching it, thanks!
Oh boy, I love the X-Files too but that's the only episode I always skip on full rewatch. I think it's the perfect example of Chris Carter without any guard rails. I'm not a fan of Kathy Griffin but I wouldn't even put any blame on her shoulders for the dual roles she played. It's just an episode that shouldn't have made it into production without some major rewrites, and honestly, I think it probably wouldn't have if the episode hadn't been Chris Carter's baby.
Yeah, it's a grim one although the duplicate Mulder and Scully played by their stunt doubles always gets a laugh out of me.
Theres the bones of a good episode there and with a few changes, some cuts and tightening up it'd have probably been decent but we were definitely starting to get into "Chris Carter loving the smell of his own farts territory" at this point and it almost felt like he was trying to imitate a Darin Morgan style episode but failed.
Same, I love this show so much. The Lone Gummen are one of my favorite parts of the whole show. The way that conspiracy theorists have evolved over time is wild. It used to be kooky, obscure, harder to access... tabloid stuff like "batboy". I wonder what the gunmen would think of today's prominent conspiracies and their communities. The show really did a lot for my critical thinking skills as a developing person. As well as not feeling so insecure about being interested in things like cryptids and other spooky shit. Also, I was too young to know what being bisexual meant, but when I figured it out later, my feelings about Scully and Mulder made a LOT more sense... So... There's that.
The last few series were crap though and a hard watch. But the series as a whole was absolutely fantastic. Its amazing what you can achieve when actors, including all the extras, fully commit to some weird sci-fi story.
Gillian Anderson was my first (and still) childhood crush. When I was ~11 in 1997 I bought this huge poster from the Kings Hall in Belfast of her in Lingerie. My Mum was shocked when it appeared in my bedroom, but for whatever reason accepted it.
I also think the smoking man is the single reason I never took up or even countenanced smoking.
The mytharc episodes were pretty poor from season 8 onwards but there were still quite a few great MotW episodes and I loved Doggetts mini-arc concerning his sons disappearance.
Season 11 has one of my top 5 favourite episodes actually, The Lost Art of Forehead Sweat. Such a great, fun episode and Reggie was an amazing character. Season 10's Mulder and Scully v the Weremonster was also fantastic. Darin Morgan just understands how to pull humour out of the concept of the X-Files, all of his episodes are top tier.
You're right, there are till gems in those later series. The issue was that the underlying X-files mythos that had driven the earlier series was a mismash of nonsense.
In sci-fi people shit on monster of the week, but freed from the limitations of the universe you can have some truly fantastically fun episodes.
You mentioned Darin Morgan being able to pull humour out of a concept. I'll tell you something funny. Late 70's my Da was watching Doctor Who with my mum. In the episode this planet has extremely little metal and it is an incredibly valuable resource.
I've not watched it, but my Dad described a character being stabbed in the back. He pulls out the blade, looks at it with incredulity "Look at that its stainless steel!" and promptly dies. My Da said he jumped up and said, that is Douglas Adams. That is a Douglas Adams joke 100% through and through. Sure enough when the credits rolled he had written the episode.
Its amazing when certain writers can pull out humour no matter the story, and some have such a unique approach that my Dad can recognise the authour from a single joke.
I work from home and like to watch The Simpsons (s1-10), It's Always Sunny, and King of the Hill throughout my day. I'll do complete runs and move on to the next show before circling back again. They're comfort food. I've seen every episode countless times so they don't distract me when I'm busy but when I've got some down time I'm never far from a joke that's going to have me chuckling.
House for me. He might be an ass, but he's an incredibly entertaining ass. As someone whose favourite flavour of humour is sarcasm, I've not yet found a show that can scratch that itch in quite the same way. I like that, while it's a medical show, it primarily focuses on the people, not the medicine.
Some YouTube doctors have also called the show decently medically accurate, which is a nice vote of confidence.
Gonna plug Polite Dissent. It’s a blog written by a doctor that analyzes the medical accuracy in every House episode. Fun to watch and follow along!
Was going to type this. Have probably rewatched all seasons at least 5 times at minimum. I love how witty the dialogue is and how introspective the show is at times.
Avatar: The Last Airbender.
I always love directing this show to anybody who thinks animation is solely made for kids- it's made for everybody.
I highly recommend "The Dragon Prince". It got some lead creative heads from A:TLA and is better in my opinion.
Strengths: Interactions and events are grounded and flow naturally, and the comedy is diverse while it avoids slapstick, quick cuts and sound effects.
Weakness: The animation is uh, not great. Season 4 is a low and the series is not finished, but I'm looking forward to season 5 this july.
Sounds interesting! I'll check it out
The Wire is flawless from start to finish. And despite the technology aging a lot since the show aired, the show holds up in every other regard. I've watched from start to finish at least twice over, and about ready to fire up a third. It's time.
Firefly is another one that I can watch on infinite repeat. Don't forget to finish off with Serenity to give some sort of finale. How Firefly was treated when it first aired was a travesty... it needed 4 seasons of random adventure, then a fifth to finalise the arc.
River Cottage is a cutesy series that you can drop in and watch an episode of at any point. Its always so wholesome. There's half a dozen of the things but they're all listed as separate TV shows so finding them can be slightly more tricky than just "season 1", "season 2", etc.
I’m watching The Wire for the first time right now. What an exposé! And the dialogue is tight, tight, tight. I’m in nursing too and often interact with police in the ER, so I find the issues of poverty, crime, war on drugs, and addiction very relatable on a ground level. Plus all of the job-related bullshit that interferes with the good work (incompetence, nepotism, admin bureaucracy, politics, emphasis on profits, etc. I mean geez where do you start? Lol) You feel like a pawn in a broken system. Yeah, that frustration definitely resonates!
I would suggest reading some of the Firefly books if you haven't yet. Since we're well past ever getting the show to come back they have a really good feel to them and a number of them really do feel like you're watching an episode reading through them.
The Wire may be the only show I’ve properly rewatched instead of merely replaying favorite episodes. If I watched more TV, Bojack Horseman would join that list. All the pieces matter in both shows, thus rewarding rewatches with subtle story arcs of background characters.
One Punch Man is my comfort watch. Whenever I'm just too exhausted, upset etc. to do anything else, I put on a random episode. It happened enough times for me to rewatch it in entirety multiple times.
I rarely rewatch anything.
Any other shows you feel are similar? I’d love to find others along these lines. What about season two? I really enjoyed season one but have been hesitant to start season 2 after the mixed opinions I’ve heard about it.
I roll from both seasons and the specials. The first is definitely more popular, but I genuinely don't understand such mixed opinions. Even if there was a drop in quality, both seasons are extremely solid.
I'm a huge fan of overpowered comedy, which is how I'd classify it, and if you're looking for more, Mashle is a relatively new contender. It starts well, though unsure how it holds up. I'll be binging it soon.
Mob Psycho 100, Overlord, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious are interesting variations of the trope. The Saga of Tanya the Evil is less of a comedy, but tickles the same neurons.
From the west: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency plays with the idea. The Umbrella Academy has vastly more tragedy, but maybe you'll like it, too. Rick and Morty if you're into endless references and don't plan to interact with the so-called fanbase.
Can't think of anything more from the top of my head. Depends on the specifics of what you're looking for.
You should watch Mashle.
It’s OPM set in Harry Potter universe.
Pretty much how it looks like, but I'll wait until the season concludes so I'm not slapped with a surprise turd of an ending. Store policy, you see.
Don’t think it can fail from what’s been aired. Some scenes are just amazing.
Gintama is similar. If you like action-comedy, parody, satire anime, definitely give it a try. Very light-hearted, absurd, but with a lot of heart. There are a lot of filler-y and stand-alone episodes, mixed with longer arcs that explore more character development. It’s a long one, but easy to pick up and put down. A genuinely feel-good anime with laugh your ass off episodes. There’s a lot of Japanese-specific humor though (current event, pop culture references), so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to someone who’s just getting started. :)
I've heard that a lot, but I find the similarities superficial. Gintama focuses on being vagabond comedy, and absurd. OPM has some of these vibes, Saitama being poor as hell and the powers being weird, but that's not the focus. That still lies in being overpowered and ignorance (misunderstandings, Saitama not knowing his impact etc.). It's completely different.
Mashle is One Punch Man set in Harry Potters universe. Quality story and has a very similar MC.
Futurama
Firefly
Steven Universe
X-Files
My Name Is Earl
Castle
Law&Order SVU
Law&Order Criminal Intent (Vincent D'Onofrio, I had such a little girl crush on him back in the day!)
Law&Order Trial By Jury
Awake (2012 NBC series)
Most of these police procedural shows haven't aged well and feature sexist and other language. I think one of the draws to them is that they are episodic. I tend to do other things while the shows are playing and so my attention is divided. Unfortunately, most shows I've ever enjoyed either get canceled right away, or stay in production far too long. The think one of the draws is that most aren't too compelling or Of Quality, so I don't feel bad when it doesn't have my full attention, lol.
Every year for over a decade I devote a lazy weekend for a Firefly marathon. I almost have enough Firefly t-shirts to wear a new one each episode.
I still hunt for the hidden Han Solo each episode.
Fargo, Firefly, Red Dwarf.
Fargo is great! I rewatched all four seasons just a few months ago! Can't wait for the next season.
I haven't gotten my hands on season 4 but the early reviews weren't particularly encouraging - what's your thoughts if you don't mind me asking? I've rewatched all the first 3 seasons so many times over... a scene or a song pops into my head and then I gotta go watch that episode again to live it again!
I think it's messier than the first three seasons by quite a bit. EDIT: far longer post than I'd intended incoming
I like the broad concept of the season a lot and it has some episodes I really like, as well as a few really good Fargo-y characters -- Gaetano and Josto are two of my favorites in the series, and Rabbi Milligan is good. Doctor Senator has the funniest name for a character I've ever heard and I like him too. But a lot of the characters, including major characters, are just a general sketch of a cool concept that fails to evolve or be developed.
Loy is okay, in concept, but I didn't ever feel like he had inner life, he was mostly the antagonist to other people's stories until the end so he remains a bit of a cipher. Another example is Deafy, who they hint at having these bizarre beliefs about the world but then it never really has any relevance. Or Odis, who has one cliche character trait and throughout the season we learn the most cliched possible backstory for why he has that character trait, before that character trait results in the most predictable result you could imagine. Or Oraetta, who is supposed to be a wild card character that injects chaos into the story a la Hanzee or Lorne Malvo, but her actions just feel semi-random and arbitrary, like she has no existence independent of doing wacky things to push the plot forward, and crucially she doesn't really take any major wacky actions that move the plot forward outside of the first and last episodes. Ethelrida has basically nothing going on except that she's a wunderkind watching the show happen around her, and then she jumps in right at the end, which I think is a major problem given that she's basically supposed to be the hero.
And I have these broad problems with the structure of the story and characters' arcs that would be hard to fix, but there are also very specific things that just feel like they were rushed. There are entire episodes with major sound mixing issues, where every 10 or 15 seconds the room tone blasts in your ears and drowns the dialogue or music for a few seconds then goes back down. The finale is extra-long but doesn't feel like it's doing anything with that time, it just feels like they forgot to edit it. There's a lot more of this type of stuff, and it was all apparently the result of behind the scenes delays and drama, so I can kinda forgive it? I have to imagine some of the more structural creative issues were too.
I just don't think it comes together. Toward the end, a lot of characters' fates feel arbitrary, and not arbitrary in a way where it feels like it's saying something about the universe like Fargo usually does (with one massive exception in my favorite episode of the season, if you watch it you'll know which one) but arbitrary in that it just sort of feels like they were throwing darts at a board. And I say this as someone who really liked season 3 despite many people making that exact complaint about season 3.
I'd say it's the worst season by a lot, but probably still worth watching. A bad season of Fargo is still pretty good TV.
This is a fantastic comment, thank you! I did really like certain parts of season 3 - Nikki Swango was a fantastic character - focused, strategic, ruthlessly loving... and once she and you know start showing up on screen together it is an amazing time.
The Office. Seen it countless times, it's a background watch for me.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, hands down. I've seen it at least a dozen times.
Archer. I haven't actually finished the whole series. But the first 6 or so seasons I've watched on repeat many times. Often just to have something in the background. Still need to finish the latter seasons.
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, season 1 and season 2, I watch practically yearly. Even the "Arise" reboot/prequel I've watched a few times. It's probably my favorite anime series/universe.
Lastly, Star Trek TNG and DS9. I have not seen all the episodes, but there are some episodes that I'll watch over and over.
Seinfeld, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Seasons 2-6 mainly) and Top Gear (UK) (Series 4 - 22) are the shows I constantly rewatch. Got them all on a simple Jellyfin server at home so I can stream them on all my devices. There's just something about the simplicity of Seinfeld, the comedy of It's Always Sunny, and the chemistry between the Clarkson, May, Hammond trio that has me rewatching these shows all the time.
There a re a number of shows that I cycle through in the background when there isn't a new show I'm watching.
In no particular order:
ST: TNG, DS9, Voyager, Enterprise
Babylon 5
Fringe
Expanse
Farscape
Mad Men
Mr. Robot
Downton Abbey
Schitt's Creek
Northern Exposure
Cheers
Office
and I'm sure there's some I'm forgetting at the moment.
With Star Trek, Farscape, Stargate and others I can happily rewatch random episodes entirely out of order.
I have to be careful with Babylon 5 because if I watch just a single episode I end up having to rewatch the entire 5 series and buckle in for the emotional rollercoaster.
Twin Peaks for me, I rewatch it every 3-5 years, it feels like coming home. The 3rd season is probably the finest work of television ever produced.
Red Dwarf. I don't really follow a lot of British comedy but I got to see this show in the US on PBS in the 90s and it quickly became my all-time favorite. I re-watch it especially when I'm not feeling well and it never fails to cheer me up a little.
I love sci-fi, but Red Dwarf is one of those shows that's just a little too silly for me. I understand why you would like it though, it's definitely a classic!
I'm always surprised that Red Dwarf is popular outside the UK/Ireland. So many of the jokes are British references. And I'm actually shocked that they can understand Lister's scouse accent. It isn't an accent that you will usually find in film or international tv.
I grew up watching it in the 90's, it is part of my soul.
Star Trek. TNG, enterprise, voyager, deep space 9, lower decks, strange new worlds and even discovery.
All solid watches and comfort shows for me. I've watched all of them multiple times and always find myself going back to them.
I have never rewatched any shows, but if I did, they would be:
Psych
Firefly
Better Off Ted
Arrested Development
Schitt's Creek
The Good Place
Detectorists
I give Deadwood a re-watch every year or so. I just never get tired of it. Like some others here, I also seem to have Futurama on basically a never ending loop.
Surprised you’re the only other person I’m seeing say Deadwood. I know of no other show with writing that good while being that entertaining. It’s hilarious, sad, disturbing and uplifting all in equal measure. I’ve watched it a good five times and I know there’s still more to see. Just the best.
Altered Carbon, but I don't acknowledge the existence of the second season.
For real! The second season is such a disappointment, I loved season 1!
I feel like the core idea of the show could've really worked as a kind of anthology style series where each season we get a new Kovacs (maybe along the lines of like Doctor Who), but yeah that second seat just doesn't click. Anthony Mackie was just... Not interesting, especially compared to Kinnaman.
Joys of my childhood, but I can do MacGyver and Quantum Leap, regardless of how cheesy they might get.
Did you see It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia where they met Scott Bakula and kept talking about Quantum Leap?? It was really funny.
That was one of the single most unexpected and beautiful bits of tv I've ever seen.
I grew up watching Quantum Leap in the 90's on BBC. I absolutely loved it. That Always Sunny episode, his character, that very cleverly written song and most of all his outrageous singing left me speechless.
Just don't watch the last episode. You will love the series forever more without that episode casting an unneeded shadow.
Just stay away from MacGyver remake :p
Only if you promise to stay away from the QL remake
I only just learned it exists, and I promise I won't touch it with a 10 ft pole...
Currently New Girl. It has also been Boy Meets World, Friends, Community, Gilmore Girls, Buffy. The Owl House is quickly making it's way on the list.
I think calling them comfort shows is so fitting! They're the shows I know by heart and can have on in the background or really sit down and watch and feel relaxed. Life just melts away a little when comfort shows are on.
I may have to try The Owl House again. I loved new DuckTales and Gravity Falls.
My wife and I are always somewhere in the middle of watchthroughs of Community, New Girl, and The Mindy Project. New Girl is also our current one, but an episode of the other two pop in here and there.
Alex Hirsch, the creator of Gravity Falls, actually also worked on The Owl House! He's both a creative consultant and a voice actor. If you liked Gravity Falls, you'll definitely like The Owl House.
Though note that the last season was unfortunately rushed due to Disney's cancellation over a queer main character. The ending is still enjoyable nonetheless.
I think I cried at least once in each episode of the last season. There was so much more they could have done with the show.
I think I did too, my friends as well. The human world had so much potential for our fav dorks to explore.
But aside from the show, the crew also deserves praise. They were so close with the community, even the ending's designs were based on fan requests! But I love them the most for not backing down on their word- they still retained their LGBTQ+ representation despite the cancellation. Instead, they doubled down in the opening itself (trying to not spoil as much as I can, sorry)!
I watched it twice in about 3 months lol
I'd say the first season-ish is light on the overall plot and is mostly fun episodes. It's season 2 that the big plot picks up and when it really drew me in.
I like the themes in the show. It's cool to see a kids show lightly touch on LGBT themes without making a lesson out of it. I also saw a bit of my younger self in Luz. Feeling like an outsider because I'm the crazy, silly, colorful person that no one quite understands. But then she find friends and a chosen family that love her. Super cute!
I just started Gravity Falls and have been enjoying that one as well!
I’m so glad I’m not alone with the new DuckTales. For me it’s mostly because I have an absolute massive crush on David Tenant, but the show really holds its own. We started gravity falls because we love Bob’s Burgers and watch that every night as we’re going to bed. I really need to watch owl house. I’ve heard it’s so good even from non-Disney people.
New DuckTales is in my all time favorite shows, for sure. It played the nostalgia card, but then really just embraced all the things I personally love about modern tv. And then it was like every actor I love playing some voice role - amazing stuff. Probably getting close to starting it again with my way too young youngest.
For some reason I have binge watched New Girl so many times. The show just works.
I'm so mad it moved to Hulu. The Hulu app doesn't cast well to the Chromecast and freezes up after 3ish episodes. Then that's all I can watch on Hulu for the day. No more all day New Girl days
I watch New Girl on Peacock. Maybe that would work better for you?
I just don't want pay for another service. Cord cutting was supposed to be cheaper! But I like that there's another option. I'll see if a friend will let me on their account.
Deadwood! The dialogue is almost Shakespearean. I've lost count on the rewatching tally.
Also The Good Place, MASH, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Game of Thrones (I stop after the Battle of Winterfell), True Detective season 1, and just finished Succession a second time through.
I could watch Scrubs and Firefly and never get sick of it
"30" minute episode shows
"Hour" long episodes
24, up to and including 24: Live Another Day. Action tv at its finest, with characters you really care about. And I love seeing technology transition as the series progress.
I recently rewatched 24 (including Legacy) for the first time since it was on the air. I always thought that it would be a great candidate for a reboot on a streaming service. Netflix experimented with shows that had branching paths, I'd love a version of 24 where you could occasionally switch to an alternate scene showing what's happening with a B plot involving a CTU analyst while the A plot was following Jack around.
I also got a kick out of seeling what was considered cutting edge tech in 2001. Even more fun was watching Jack Bauer seemingly develop superpowers as the series went on.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
Adventure Time: If I'm feeling like I need some childlike lighthearted goofiness in my life.
The Grand Tour: If I want to watch old british men bickering while they drive interesting cars and travel bizarre places.
Better off Ted: For some straight up good laughs.
The Patriot: Good laughs with a very interesting storyline. I can't stop rewatching it. I've shown it to two friends who have really enjoyed it.
I'm just finishing up my fourth or fifth viewing of a six-part miniseries from 2015 called River. Stellan Skarsgård plays John River, a troubled detective with a lifelong history of seeing and talking to dead people. "Not ghosts," he says, "I don't believe in ghosts." We meet him as he tries to solve the murder of his work partner (the very engaging Nicola Walker) while struggling to cope with the voices in his head. He's gruff and anti-social but most of his acquaintances respect him and treat him well despite his erratic behaviour. In particular, River's new partner at work is a gem who offers friendship and acceptance. Their boss is played by Lesley Manville, who is always excellent.
I don't watch a lot of detective/crime shows, but this one is different for me because of the characters. River is so vulnerable while trying to stay sane and keep his job. The "manifestations" are so real to him, the therapist he's required to see is so patient, his colleagues are so willing to overlook crazy-looking outbursts, and of course there are the usual suspects to round up in the name of justice. It's probably not realistic but it offers some hope that there's room for differences in the world, and mental health problems should not mean rejection of a person who has a lot to offer.
Adding River to my list.. Thank you for this rec.
I hope you enjoy it. Would love to hear someone else's take on it.
I just finished River. I really enjoyed it (maybe the better word is appreciated). I think I watched it too fast - I don't think it's a show that benefits from a quick binge; one episode a day would've given me time to absorb it better. But I can see why you revisit it periodically- it's so mournful and heartbreaking but so strangely beautiful at the same time. All of the performances are excellent but SS really was incredible. I don't think I've seen a performance like that before. I want to see everything he's done now. And the chemistry between him and NW was tremendous (she had one heck of an acting challenge). There are a lot of layers to the story: When you say that the show is not necessarily realistic I see what you mean - lots of coincidences lining up perfectly- but I chose to see it as a modern Greek tragedy. River's detective work felt like it was revealing everyone's fate; everything felt like it was predetermined. Also all of the cases echoing in different ways to River's biography made everything seem a bit dreamlike, maybe as much as the manifestations. The song that's played throughout will definitely haunt me for some time to come. Thank you so much for the recommendation.
I'm so glad you liked it! Yes, the music does add to it, giving River glimpses of the joy he's always missed out on in life. "Dreamlike" seems like the right word for the series. What's real, what's all in your mind, what are the unexpected connections? Do you really know someone as well as you think? Thanks for sharing your reaction to it.
For us, The Office is always on heavy rotation. Followed by Parks and Rec. Distant third is seasons 1-3 of Arrested Development.
taskmaster
there is just no situation I can't watch it, if I have friends around and we end up eating just throw it on, family can't decide? taskmaster. a bunch of comedians thrown together to do crazy tasks they review Infront of a audience is such a good premise.
Not the greatest but just don't get sick of it
Sliders. My wife and I have rewatched the first three seasons more times than I can remember (and currently on another rewatch). It's not a "great" show by any means, and turns into a downright unwatchable stinker by the end (we've never been able to bring ourselves to watch season 5 even once), but the first three seasons are probably one of my favorite shows of all time--so much wasted potential with the direction they took it in.
I was hoping I would see a comment for this. And yes the later series were almost as unwatchable as the later series of Andromeda.
I'd rewatch it for Prof. Maximilian Arturo alone. The man throws everything into his roles. My headcannon is that his stupendously varied acting career was due to him sliding.
Including in Wing Commander 3 were he helped humanity defeat the Kilrathi.
Band of brothers, there’s really nothing quite like it for me.
Excellent, so I'm not the only insane BoB fan!
You are definitely not the only insane BoB fan. I give it a watch every one or two years at least. I've tried to get some friends into it, but most ppl find it too serious for their liking.
Also watch the Pacific occasionally. It's good but not as good as BoB.
Don't know if you've heard of the next show in the series: Masters of the Air. Suppose to be coming out sometime this year.
King of the Hill and the first season of Russian Doll.
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Star Trek (original series)
I really love doctor/hospital stuff, but my favorites that I keep going to are Scrubs (minus the "bonus" season, of course) and the first season of ER, which I consider the single greatest season of television ever aired.
There are three I rewatch:
BSG (remake)
Star Trek TNG
Star Trek DS9
The Venture Brothers
Usually at least once a year, sometimes more. I've watched it since the pilot in 2003. It's bittersweet but it will be ending with the release of the movie in July. Despite not being "complete" just yet, the re-watchability is undeniable. I STILL find jokes or little Easter eggs I missed. Every character is lovable in their own ways. My husband and I quote it constantly. The music is amazing, all the retro futurism is fantastic, references so deep there's a whole site about them! (The mantis eye experiment for those wondering.) There are of course other shows I like to rewatch like Futurama, Frasier, Golden Girls, Star Treks, B99, Bobs Burgers etc. But I'll always watch VB. It's soothing, familiar and funny. It's like a comforting blanket at this point. If you like mature adult animation and never checked it out, you should. If you'd like and ep to try if you aren't sure? I always recommend season 1 episode 10, Tag Sale You're It. You meet many of the characters, doesn't give away anything major plot wise and gives a great feel for the style of humor.
It hasn’t been posted yet, though I did comment further up: Bob’s Burgers. It started as a very dark comedy, but I really love that the family love each other and get along, it’s wholesome even when it’s dark. It’s my favorite show and we watch it every night when we go to bed and let it run all night.
The moment it jumps from Hulu to Disney plus, it’s over for Hulu, we’re going to cancel the subscription. It’s like the only thing we watch on there.
I don't rewatch them that often, but I have watched all of these twice:
Sailor Moon! It does have a lot of "filler", though, so I do tend to skip some of the episodes.
I watch a Kunihiko Ikuhara anime whenever I want to cry. Also Metropolis, though that's a movie, not a series. Or anything from Satoshi Kon.
I used to rewatch the IT Crowd quite a lot but it's hard to watch it now because it's tainted knowing about the creator.
I’m one of those people who’ll play a single album on a loop for months on end and the same goes for tv. Right now, I’m in my second month of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on repeat. Before that was about eight months of Bones. Before that was a couple of years of Lucifer. I also do an annual rewatch of Grey’s Anatomy which I feel I’ve finally outgrown. Other shows I watch repeatedly with less frequency are New Girl, Modern Family, Brooklyn 99, and currently Ted Lasso. I watch newer shows in between when I’m in the to mood to focus. Otherwise, my on-repeat shows are mostly to keep me company while I do other stuff.
Breaking Bad and Parks & Rec.
I really dig Rome and Halt And Catch Fire. Both well acted, well written. Halt and Catch Fire I especially love given its relevance to computers and history, bits of it feel like my childhood.
You'll probably laugh, but I watch the 90's show, The Nanny, on repeat constantly. The show gave me such joy during some of the worst times of my life so I feel like it's a part of me now. Also, every few years my husband and I do a run-through of Desperate Housewives. Even though the last few seasons go off the rails a bit, I still think they're good fun. If anyone could give me some suggestions for another good, soapy dramedy, that'd be amazing.
Edit: Oh man, I didn't even think about some of the British shows I watch on repeat. Keeping Up Appearances, Are You Being Served?, Waiting for God are some of my absolute favorites that I watch pretty often.
Futurama
Philip J. Fry, a pizza delivery boy, is accidentally frozen in 1999 and thawed out on New Year's Eve 2999.
The Expanse and Breaking Bad, one to remind me of the boundless capabilities of humans, the other so I don't forget we're still human.
Not TV, but I watch The Martian along with these.
I'm currently listening to The Frontier Saga and I'm looking forward to revisiting the show after that.
That's on my list too, how do you find it?
I'm paying for audio book service and found it there with Jeffrey Kafer as the narrator for all the books. It works really well.
Bit of an odd one here, it seems: I mostly enjoy rewatching British quiz shows, especially Only Connect and QI. I suppose QI is more comedy than quiz but it has given me a lot of surprising trivia, and I enjoy the format a lot. I've watched it since Stephen Fry was the host, and I think Sandi Toksvig is just as great at hosting it, different, but still great. As a Dane, I especially enjoy her quips about Denmark being the greatest country in the world, and poking fun of Sweden. Sandi Toksvig is virtually unknown in Denmark, but I think she is a national treasure.
Enough about QI.... Only Connect on the other hand , is a really tough quiz show, but it's still quite entertaining and fun with the contestants and the questions often being ultra nerdy. I enjoy it a lot but my enjoyment of Only Connect depends more on my mood than QI, I can watch QI any time, any day.
Oh yes, isn't Only Connect just the best! The BBC does such a national service by giving us Monday nights with their back-to-back Mastermind, Only Connect, and University Challenge. Such a perfect culmination of perhaps the best that game shows have ever had to offer, and quite a cultural staple! Such fun.
Only Connect really is extraordinary! I haven't watched the other two much, only a few "best of" videos from Mastermind on YouTube. Is University Challenge as good as Only Connect? I'm not from UK, so I watch it on demand.
It's very different. Running for over fifty years now, it's an annual competition between every U.K. university that manages to make it in, with each submitting its best team of four students, usually after a long and competitive internal selection process. With the very high bar for entry, University Challenge questions do tend to be rather more difficult, ranging from Pakistani political geography to particle physics to Charlie Parker to pop music, it's a consistently charming and delightfully tricky quiz!
I do recommend a watch if you enjoy this breed of quizzing. :)
As you can probably guess from my post, I highly recommend Band of Brothers if you haven't watched it already.
I loved the first few seasons of Peaky Blinders, but then Tommy started seeming kinda one-note -- I think Cillian Murphy is great and has done a lot of really good work, both in this and other roles, but by the last season he was giving me the vibe of just being bored with the whole thing and phoning it in. The rest of the cast, while also great, seemed to be following his lead. I would totally rewatch the first few seasons though.
Home Improvement
3rd Rock from the Moon
American Pickers
Anything automotive - NASCAR, Indy Car, F1, Counting Cars
3rd Rock from the Sun*
Oops!
Tough for me! Between Futurama, Scrubs and the West Wing!
Nip/Tuck. It was the first show I binged and got addicted to watching. Still a great watch.
I think the TV show I rewatch the most often is Leverage. I also occasionally rewatch 911, Parks and Rec, and Brooklyn 99.
I Think You Should Leave.. over, and over, and over..
While his comedic style isn't for me personally, I rewatch the sketch of the obnoxious jazz fan at a dinner party quite often. It's quite brilliant and I quote it to myself pretty often!
I've only watched each season once through. But my husband and I quote parts of it to each other. I wonder how it will hold up for me in repeat (I suspect it might be even funnier).
Have you watched Detroiters?
No, but I keep meaning to.
Band of Brothers is great! I was also around 13 when it aired.
My personal favorite is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I watch it once through every few years. It's been a staple since I was a kid. I would also throw Smallville in there as well. These are by no means what I would consider the best shows on TV, but they are what I come back to.
12 Monkeys (2015)
Inspired by the classic blockbuster film, which commemorated its 20th anniversary in 2015, 12 Monkeys explores the provocative story of a time traveler from a decimated future in a high-stakes race against the clock. Utilizing a dangerous and untested method of time travel, he journeys from 2043 to the present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will all but annihilate the human race. IMDb: : 12 Monkeys
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3148266/
This show is so great. There are references made to the movie, but you don't need to know anything about the movie to enjoy the show. The show uses time travel but is really about family and found family. The show ends the way the showrunners meant it to. If you watch this show, be sure to rewatch episode 1 after the finale. It will have you scream crying at the television.
How has no one giver Frasier any love? I could fall asleep to Frasier every night, there's even a sub (Frasiersleepers) for people who do just that!
The writing is always so tight and each scene jam packed with out feeling like it's a bombardment. I'm constantly amazed how much sotryline can be packed into a 22 min episode.
It used to be on regularly in the UK. And yeah, in the 90's it would send me to sleep from boredom.
I fully admit that is my own failing, I've seen many people like you praise the writing. But honestly I just never got it. I'm not sure if that was due to being a teenager at the time, or because I'm Northern Irish. The humour never worked for me. I'd only find myself smiling at scenes, not laughing.
Anyone else from Ireland/UK who understood the humour here?
Mourne man here. I got it. It's more of a sensible chuckle show than a side splitter. I wouldn't be in the market for chasing it down but I came across an episode on the telly I'd probably find myself watching it to the end.
That is a perfection description of my watching experience. I'm from Spa outside Ballynahinch, my bedroom window faced Slieve Croob. It was always our mountain, the Mournes are also nice I suppose :P
Where 'bouts are you from?
Closer to the shimna river than god.
America didn't export authentic working class comedy at the time. So the likes of Frasier struggle strike the highs of what was coming out of the UK
I walked along it with my sister and her kids in Tollymore for the first time in decades a couple of years ago.
When I was growing up my Da was an on call GP for south Down. As a result he was known everywhere he went. As a kid when we went to Tollymore with our caravan, he would be constantly questioned by people about having a weird itch, or what they should do about X problem, what they could do to stop their husbands drinking.
He was meant to be on holiday to get away from being a Doctor, not provide on river health advice. Trying to walk even a short distance on that river was a nightmare. And my Dad being a clinician didn't want to tell them to fuck off and let us enjoy our holiday. Instead we just stopped going.
That's such a real story. GP's back then were a legit part of the community. Now everyone is an inconsequential fragment of egotistical fear.
I used to use the Shimna as my route into Newcastle. To run down it as it was quicker than the roads.
Arrested Development
30 Rock
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Bored to Death
Columbo
The Visitors - this one is Czech so most of you will not be able to appreciate it, which makes me sad - this show about a group of people from a distant future visiting the year 1984 is a brilliant mix of humor and nostalgia.
The Middle
and The Professionals with bonus points for the best theme.
Daredevil! My lord, Daredevil. I love superheroes and comic book stuff in general, but was never huge on Daredevil; as somebody who isn't religious and has actually been discriminated against for it in real life, the concept of a character being so heavily Catholic left a bad taste in my mouth, so I just never bothered with Daredevil.
I'd been watching Arrow, and that went to shit, and I hopped on board and watched the first season of Daredevil and was instantly hooked. Great writing, amazing acting, and some of the best fight choreography I've ever seen. I was in love, binge watched the first two seasons + Defenders (not as good, but still fun) in time for Season 3 to come out.
Good god, Season 3. Absolute favorite season to come out of any TV show ever. Tight, crisp, packed with action and drama top to bottom without feeling forced - but most importantly, it made me feel pride in a character for sticking to morals that I fundamentally disagreed with. Never had that happen before. They did such a good job of showing how Matt's religious ideals had been tested and bent by the ordeal he had been suffering through that, when he came out on the other side still holding on to who he was, I actually literally cheered. Yes, I was alone. No, I'm not ashamed of that.
Then a few short days later, I woke up one day, got on my computer, and was immediately confronted with the news that the show had been cancelled. I just went straight back to bed. The day was no longer worthwhile.
Wolf Hall. The acting; the sets; the script; the costumes; the music, I love it all.
Poor Cromwell (no angel himself but is portrayed more sympathetically than any other character) a self-made man, who feels that his talents and connections would be wasted on the sole pursuit of wealth and comfort, launches himself into the last glass ceiling that resticts one as low born as himself, high political office. Once there he finds himself surrounded by utter psychopaths and at the beck and call of the worst of them.
My only lament is that there are only six episodes.
How do people have time to rewatch shows that are multiple seasons long?
I can barely keep up with stuff I haven't watched even once =)
I've done a few rewatches now of The Office, Mr. Show, Peep Show. All pretty solid comedies that hold up pretty well.
Two and a Half Men, there is relaxing vibe around the house.
Star Trek, in chronological order, TOS, TNG, DS9, Voyager and Enterprise. The same goes for Stargate, SG1 and Atlantis.
So how do you feel about Orville?
Love the old-school TNG vibes.
They're not making any more seasons are they? Or am I wrong? I hope I'm wrong.
Fun show.
I actually enjoyed it. The mix of humor can be refreshing in sci-fi, as long as it’s not over done. You?
In my book The Orville is far more loyal to the history and spirit of Star Trek than ST: Discovery and ST: Picard are
Agreed, sad to say a few of the Orville episodes feel more in the spirit than the recent ST stuff.
Which in my opinion, feels far too dramatic. I honestly would say the removal of mid season “filler episodes” of broadcast television (20 episode seasons) hurt it. It’s almost as if I grew numb to the constant action without a cushion between.
Surely that would be Enterprise first?
You’ve got me there, but I meant by air dates. I even watch TNG and DS9 at the same time lol. No clue why I do it, but it just feels right.
I love TNG, I can enjoy watching DS9 but I struggle with Sisko being a war criminal. When he used chemical weapons against the Maquis, he committed an absolutely horrific war crime.
I was shocked. When it first aired I thought the Federation would arrest him and try him for not just committing war crimes but for violating almost every principle the Federation was founded on.
After that I struggled with him in command, every scene all I could think was this man should be in prison. Really hard to watch after that, and his actions later continued to be awful.
For example in The Search, regardless of it being a simulation which Sisko didn't know. He decided he was so high and mighty that he committed an act of war on the Federations behalf that would have started a bloody conflict. It doesn't matter if he was right about the Dominion. The man basically considered himself above all of the Federation and would have forced a conflict.
I can understand his abhorrent behaviour being tolerated once total war had started with the dominion. But there was absolutely no reason for him not to be locked for for his Maquis war crimes.
I sort of agree with you on Sisko, on first watch his choices were a lot. But on a rewatch I remembered just how far out DS9 was, it was more a western frontier town with a sheriff.
Not to mention coming off the death of his wife and having to raise a son, he was lucky he was a religious icon to the local populace and was in charge of a base on the war front. Otherwise, I sincerely doubt Starfleet would’ve tolerated everything. Sure he reached Captain, but I doubt they ever had plans to move him anywhere outside the backwaters of Bajor after the Dominion conflict.
It wasn't far out though. TOS started with "five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before!". They were actually far out, going where the Federation had never gone before. TNG continuously entered new regions, had first contact with uncharted civilisations far from federation space. Voyager was entirely about being far out and more akin to a western frontier. Enterprise was earths first real foray into the galaxy, everything was new and distant.
DS9 was the only series that wasn't on a frontier far from home. Bajor was well known, Ensign Ro was even a starfleet officer. It was on the edge of Federation space, not a distant system. On DS9 they were guests of their Government, not owners. Instead of being wild west sheriffs, the story line describes that they should represent the best of starfleet, acting as diplomats for an ally and potential future member.
That is a reason to be sympathetic to the man, not to excuse his role as a starfleet commander/captain. If his PTSD and wider mental health issues compromised the space station he should have obviously been replaced.
His genocidal chemical war crimes with the Maquis are unrelated to his religious icon status. There is no rationale for him not being immediately arrested and imprisoned. The federation, namely through section 31 have done some horrific things, but ecological genocide via chemical warfare is extreme even for them.
Also, the second he started to have a weird religious status on Bajor they should have reassigned him for conflict of interest. It was obvious that they should have told him he's not the Messiah. He's a very naughty boy... who committed war crimes.
As I said I struggled to watch it with that context, if they had gone the Babylon 5 route presenting Earth as horrific authoritarian war criminals that'd be fine. But they tried to present him as an honourable courageous starfleet captain. The writing was just bad, particularly any long term story telling. For example Bashir suddenly being genetically enhanced. There was no build up to that and it makes absolutely no sense especially rewatching the prior episodes with that context. The writers just decided it was now a character trait.
Star Trek mainly TNG had spent so much time world building the federation as a post scarcity, post currency society. Then in DS9 suddenly all of starfleet has money, gambles, buys drink/gifts/resources and they pay for services like holodecks. None of it is explained, makes terrible writing and ruins all that prior world building.
But, I still enjoy the series for Garak alone.
Corner Gas.
It's one of those shows where I can have it play in the background and mostly just listen to the episode. I've gone through the full series a few times now, so I'll probably start rewatching the animated show next.
I am surprised at how many times I've seen superstore, great feel good sitcom.
I struggle to sit down and watch TV these days, but I’ll always catch the Fraiser re-runs that are on after work. I’m a bit dubious about the new series… but I hope it turns out well. Hopefully Kelsey’s politics don’t permeate through it all..
Bobs burgers is my favorite morning breakfast show and during the day Curb Your Enthusiasm has made it into my everyday rotation. I can recognize practically all lines of The Office and Misfits first few seasons are always fun to rewatch. "Save me Barry!!!"
PS- Shoutout to Community as well!
I find myself watching Dexter again after 2 years interval. I love the background narration.
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Just a fantastic show all over
For me, The Office is pretty much in repeat. It is just background noise at this point for me but I love it.
I also usually do a while rewatch of How I Met Your Mother and That 70s Show a couple times a year as well. I then will always do my annual rewatch of Band of Brothers and The Pacific over the summertime. Eagerly waiting for Masters of the Air to finally come out. Really hoping it hits the same feeling that Band of Brothers did, which the Pacific sadly missed. Still love the Pacific, but nothing will ever compare to Band of Brothers. Just an absolute masterpiece.
Babylon 5. I was previously in the habit of re-watching it about once a year, but I'm trying to break out of the habit of re-watching the same few shows endlessly and actually reading or watching new things. Even so, B5 will always be something I return to eventually because it's just so philosophically and emotionally relevant to life in general. For all of its casting and production struggles and the resulting flaws, it's amazing show start to finish, and I feel like I learn or am reminded of something important about life every time I watch it. There's always an episode or scene that's relevant to what I'm struggling with at the time.
That said, it's getting harder and harder to re-watch as the cast keep tragically dying far too young.
Without a doubt the British series Utopia.
If the first 5 minutes of season 1 ep 1 doesn't hook you then move along. It got me that quick. I don't rewatch it "every year" but I do rewatch it "often".
The original was made in 2013/14 and then in 2020 an American version was made as well. I was hesitant to watch it thinking they would destroy something I valued but then I saw John Cusak was involved and I was in. No regrets there.
Is it as good as the UK version? IMO no. But it could have been.. it came close. It's well worth the time. I've rarely watched something as good.
Edit: I'm rewatching the UK version now... because I have too. The American version furthers the plot a bit more and that is awesome. They are both excellent.
The shows my girlfriend and I rewatch more then any others are probably south park, futurama, and king of the hill. The sightly-less-frequent tier includes 30 rock, Bojack, arrested development, and I think you should leave.
I keep re watching Doctor Who although I haven't been able to recently as I'm in Canada and they removed it from streaming.
I rewatch Vikings and House every single year, it's almost a tradition at this point.
IT Crowd & Silicon Valley. Both hilarious and surprisingly accurate shows about tech