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March 05, 2008
TV : Desert Island Media (TV)
This is the continuation of my response to a suggestion for posts from Melissa. Essentially if I had to go a long period of time with access to only a small set of movies, books, TV, games, which would I choose? Previous posts in this series can be found here:
My short list of TV shows to have and re-watch is also pretty easy to generate. What’s more, unlike books, this is pretty close to my list of best or recommended shows as well.
This should come as absolutely no surprise to regular readers of this blog as I have waxed effusive about the series on several occasions. While most TV series become less interesting after the third or fourth viewing, my appreciation of Buffy continues to grow each time I watch it. I spot new connections, new nuances, new moral or philosophical conundrums. I am in the midst of (slowly) re-watching it and Angel all over again (on my Monday posts, look under DVDs Watched for “BtVS” and “AtS”). In fact I would go so far as to say that if Buffy was the only TV series I was allowed to watch for several years, I would be content.
2. Babylon 5
Again, this should not be a surprise. I re-watched the whole series again last year and still enjoyed it. It is a far less subtle series than Buffy (which likely accounts for the lack of academic interests in the show) – JMS said what he wanted to say so clearly that there is little to discuss afterwards. Still, I could stand to watch it again and again.
3. Battlestar Galactica (the 2005 version)
This is the one of only two current series on my list (and the only one in the top three); but it is also clearly a masterpiece (although I am doubtful it could have been made unless Babylon 5 and Buffy had broken the ground for it). It even has potential to move up to the number two slot on my list when the series is done; but right now it is still an open question as to whether they can bring it to a satisfactory conclusion.
If I could take a few more, I would grab:
4. Angel
Back to Joss Whedon’s work and the other half of the Buffyverse. While the first two seasons of Angel struggled to find its distinct voice, seasons four and five more than make up for the shaky start.
5. Firefly
Finishing out the Joss Whedon trifecta. While less than a season’s worth of TV, I’d still want it.
6. Dead Like Me
A fascinating series about the meaning of life as told from the perspective a slacker girl who dies and becomes one of the grim reapers (harvesting the souls of the dead). While it sounds morbid, it is actually both funny and poignant.
The other current series in my list, and its down at number 7. I was afraid that this series might go the way of “Desperate Housewives” (great first seasons and downhill from there); but they have managed to keep the writing, acting, and directing at a consistently high level. There are some individual episodes of Grey’s that I might put forward as among the top ten episodes of a TV show ever.
Posted by Steven at March 5, 2008 05:00 AM
Comments
While I graze a number of shows (e.g. Law and Order: SVU, Bones, Simpsons), there is very little TV I am willing to watch a second time. My list would therefore be empty.
And when you get around to games, I'd settle for a deck of cards and leave it at that.
Posted by: janbergs ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://sighsandmusings.stevenanne.net/nav-commenters.gif)
at March 5, 2008 06:51 AM
