5 Great TV Shows

It can be very difficult to come up with a list of only 5 top tv shows; the topic of which TV Shows are the “best” is quite popular and can create fierce competition. It’s easy to forget that everyone is different, and likes different things, so coming to a consensus can be difficult if not impossible. Somebody may like crime-related shows like CSI, whereas other people may be into sci-fi like the Stargate series, or into drama, or a little bit of everything. Nonetheless, I have compiled a list of my 5 favorite TV Shows, which I think have something to offer to everyone, and can be rightfully classified as “to watch before you die”.

You knew it would be on this list before you even started reading, but Lost is rightfully the king of 21^st century television, even after its controversial and mixed-reactions finale.

What It’s About

Lost is set in modern times, focusing on the crash of a large passenger airplane on a remote, exotic island. While it is difficult to summarize this incredibly rich show, the overall plot centers on the experiences of the survivors of the airplane crash, as they encounter many mysterious forces, characters and situations on the island. A typical episode divides itself into a main storyline, on the island, and a related story off island, which is usually a flashback or a flashforward of whichever character the focus is on. There are a total of 6 seasons.

Why You Should Watch it

Mysteries/Mythology (or “Plot”)

To start off, Lost has quite possibly the best story of any TV show. It’s deep, it’s exciting, it’s got hundreds of major and minor characters, but most importantly, the viewer is introduced to dozens of different mysteries, which remain unexplained even after the finale. You don’t just have one main storyline, with a two or three sub stories; you have an intricate plot woven around thousands of threads, each going off into their own directions, yet remaining a large, intertwined web. There’s the mysterious hatch, the smoke monster, dead people appearing to the living, time travel, immortality, and so much more; and the best part is that the viewer gets to form his own conclusions as to the explanation of each, with the help of many different hints.

The Characters

Although some may argue that in the end, Lost’s mythology and mystery-based half did not deliver as well as it should have, it’s other half, the characters, is undoubtedly its crowning achievement. You get to grow and bond with a large ensemble of people, each with their own unique stories, and personalities. While some of them may seem stereotypical, Lost manages to bring a fresh feel to almost every character; any viewer will find at least one character with which he can identify with, and enjoy watching. Ultimately, everyone is flawed; but they have their own positive traits which allow them to transcend their shortcomings. This is exactly why the show’s characters are so incredibly effective.

Combining the plot with the characters, you get a show that will satisfy everyone’s taste. You have romance; you have action, mystery, drama, sci-fi, and so much more. In the end, Lost will you pull you in so hard, that by the time you get to the finale, you will feel like you’ve known these people all your life, and are not willing to let go of their incredible journey.

What It’s About

Often called the “sci-fi that non sci-fi fans can enjoy”, BSG is a rich, futuristic saga of a 50 thousand-strong group of people escaping the complete annihilation of the human race by the “cylons”, the robots which people themselves created. Most of the story takes place on the “Galactica”, the only battleship to escape the destruction of the human colonies, as well a group of civilian ships. The basic plot focuses on the struggle for survival, as the escapees constantly have to deal with food shortages, mutinies, apparent cylon spies, and a myriad of other problems, while at the same time being chased by the cylons themselves through space. There are a total of 4 seasons.

Why You Should Watch It

While BSG at first appears to be simply another sci-fi, is it, in fact, a rich human drama, which just so happens to be in a sci-fi setting. Much like Lost, BSG has something to offer to everyone; there are many different characters with their own stories and problems. But above all, the series truly brings the word “epic” to the screen. This is really it; you are watching the last remaining part of our own race battle for survival against a cold, merciless enemy, while at the same time being plagued by numerous internal problems.

What it’s About

Dexter focuses on the life of Dexter Morgan, a Miami blood spatter analyst, who lives a double life as a serial killer of criminals. The typical episode follows Dexter as he attempts to balance his normal life and his “dark passenger”, which ultimately lead him closer and closer to being discovered by his friends and coworkers.

Why You Should Watch It

Dexter is a revolutionary TV show simply for its premise. The idea of the protagonist, i.e. the character that you, as the viewer are supposed to like, being a serial killer plays on human morality in a very interesting way. On one hand, we do know that Dexter only kills people who he verifies are guilty of doing various crimes such as murder, rape, and child molestation, but on the other, he is still taking people’s lives. This creates a very interesting dynamic, which the viewer constantly goes through; do you like him, or do you hate him? Do you condone his actions or do you reject them? This combined with the absolutely genius acting of Michael C. Hall, the actor playing Dexter, makes for a very compelling character, and a very compelling show. Furthermore,  Dexter constantly comes close to being discovered for who he really is all throughout the show, which adds a lot of tension. The show makes you reexamine your own moral values and decide for yourself what’s truly good and bad.

What It’s About

Prison Break is perhaps the most straightforward show on this list. A man is wrongfully imprisoned and sentenced to execution, and his brilliant brother hatches a plan to break him out by getting into the same prison himself, through which they ultimately uncover a huge government conspiracy. There are a total of 4 seasons, but the last 2 seasons are much lower quality than the first two (but don’t worry, the first two seasons make up for this quite amply).

Why You Should Watch It

While I don’t want to discredit the show in any way, I will say the one reason I absolutely love it is the tension it creates. Prison Break takes tension to a whole new level. Pretty much every single episode of the show brings the characters’ plan to escape so close to being discovered, that you will literally be at the edge of your seat. Moreover, there is a continuing line of seemingly impossible obstacles for the characters to overcome. The premise itself is incredibly fun, unique and likeable too; one brilliant man creating a seemingly impossible and complex prison escape in order to save his innocent brother. The bottom-line is, Prison Break is incredibly interesting, exciting and fun show to watch, and the two main characters are very likeable.

What It’s About

Game of Thrones is a medieval fantasy TV show that just finished its first season on HBO, set in a medieval world much like "The Lord of the Rings". Adapted from an award-winning series of books titled "A Song of Ice and Fire", Game of Thrones follows 3 main plots in the world of Westeros - the battle over the Iron Throne which commands the human kingdoms, the struggle of the last remaining members of the previous ruling house to win back the Throne, and the rising threat of a dangerous race of humanoids known as "White-Walkers" in the North. As the story goes on, the 3 plots become increasingly interwoven and dependent on each other.

Why You Should Watch It

Game of Thrones is the best new show on television, because it retains the story from the books. The story is very interesting and complex, and has a very large cast of characters which reflect almost every side of human nature. The acting is good, and the cinematography is great as well. Due to the high budget, all locations, props, and clothes look top notch, and truly allow you to step into the world of Westeros. While Game of Thrones is classified as medieval fantasy, it has the cornerstone elements which make any show successful. For this reason, it can enjoyed by almost anyone.

So there you have it. While my top 5 tv shows are most probably not all to your taste, I believe at least 1 show here has something to offer to almost any person. So pick one and dive right in :)