Binge Watching TV

Over the years I've grown to love binge watching. Whether it's an old show that’s been off the air for years or a new one that I’ve been meaning to check out, it’s so much fun. I dive into a new show, normally with the Huz, and for a month or two that's what we watch whenever we have time. 

Our latest binge is Friday Night Lights and we just finished it this week. I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved it. I've waited to watch this one for years because I thought it was going to be just about football… and I'm not the biggest sports fan. But it was about so much more than football. Landry, Tami, Matt's grandma, there are so many great characters that I’m going to miss. Sure there are cheesy plot lines and annoying people as well, but overall it was so good! It reminded me why I love being able to sink into a show and lose myself for hours in excellent story writing and character development. 

Ana wrote a great post on the show at Things Mean A Lot that was one of the reasons I finally decided to give it a shot. 

Here’s a few of the shows that I’ve binged… 

House of Cards, Doctor Who, The Bletchley Circle, Game of Thrones, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Orange Is the New Black, Scandal, Orphan Black, Sons of Anarchy, True Detective, Dollhouse, Bones, Sports Night, Drunk History, Firefly, The Wire, Sopranos, Call the Midwife, and Luther.  

So, what shows and my missing? What do I still need to binge? I tried Battlestar Galactica, got three seasons in and then Netflix dropped it! I've also got The West Wing, Supernatural, Boardwalk Empire and Damages on my list, but what am I missing? 

P.S. If I haven't mentioned it before on this blog, I kind a love TV. But only a couple weeks ago we finally pulled the plug and have no cable. We’re currently using Netflix and debating whether we should get Hulu Plus or Amazon Prime too.   

P.P.S. There a few notable shows that I've never binged like, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Parks and Rec, Parenthood, Fargo, Gilmore Girls, Walking Dead, Downtown Abbey, and Scrubs, but that's only because I watch the shows  from the very beginning and I've loved them all the way through.

 

Image from here.  

Top Ten Favorite TV Shows

This week's Top Ten from The Broke and the Bookish asks for our Top Ten Favorite TV Shows! It actually asked for movies too, but since that list is crazy long I’m limiting myself to only TV shows that are currently on TV. There are tons that I love that have ended or been cancelled, but these are all great ones that you should be watching!

1) Game of Thrones

2) The Good Wife

3) Fargo

4) Mad Men

5) Walking Dead

6) Downton Abbey

7) Parks and Rec

8) The Americans

9) Sherlock and Elementary

10) Doctor Who

Are there any great ones that I missed?

The Doctor

Hello my name is Melissa and I’m a Whovian. (Insert loud chorus of “Hi Melissa.”)

When I was growing up I occasionally watched the old Doctor Who with my Dad. I heard about the reboot a few years back, but for some reason I never checked it out. Then a lovely friend prompted me to watch it and (thank goodness) I finally did.

I’m a complete addict now. I dare you to watch the entire first and second season and not fall in love with the characters. Yes, there are aliens and end of the world attacks, but the show is really about people and the complicated relationships they have (no matter what planet they are from).

The man who plays the doctor changes every few seasons and David Tennant is far and away my favorite. He’s clever and funny and yet he can break your heart with a glance. He also has companions that travel around with him, but each one never last more than a few seasons. That keeps the show interesting because the chemistry is always changing and it stays fresh. I adored Rose, but Donna is my favorite because she’s so sassy. It took me a minute to warm up to her, but once I did I was a fan for life. She’s not a love interest for the Doctor, she’s his best friend and she provides a much needed balance to his life.

The writers never shy away from difficult issues or plot twists. They are always trying new things and surprising their audience. They create such memorable characters and then continue to grow their stories even when they aren’t series regulars anymore.

A few things I didn’t realize when I started the series:

1) Doctor Who is freaking hilarious. It has that wonderful dry British sense of humor that I’m so fond of.
2) The Harry Potter movies are like a Who’s Who of the people who have guest starred on Doctor Who.
3) Even if they weren’t in HP, if they are a British actor, they’ve probably made a guest appearance.
4) The show has a fierce and faithful following, many of whom are incredibly creative and have awesome etsy shops.

Some of my favorite episodes:

1) The Empty Child
2) Love & Monsters
3) Doomsday
4) Human Nature/The Family of Blood
5) Blink
6) Silence in the Library
7) Turn Left
8) Journey's End
9) The End of Times Part 1 and 2
10) Vincent and the Doctor
11) The Big Bang
12) A Christmas Carol
13) The Day of the Moon
14) The Doctor's Wife
I may be late to the party, but I’m glad I’m finally here. Any other Whovians out there?

Awesome images from here, here and here.