On this episode, Emily and Nikko discussed
EPIC TV SHOWS
See what I did there? These are the shows (in our humble opinion) that changed the way we watched TV as a society.
The Sopranos
Tony Soprano juggles the problems of his fractious family with those of a "Family" of a different sort - the mob. He sees a therapist to deal with his professional and personal problems, which bring on panic attacks. He deals with personal and professional power struggles, affairs, violence, the threat of exposure and betrayal, and a whole bunch of people being whacked.
First aired January 10, 1999
Final episode June 10, 2007
The Sopranos is widely regarded as one of the greatest television series of all time. The series won a multitude of awards, including Peabody Awards for its first two seasons, 21 Primetime Emmy Awards, and five Golden Globe Awards. It has been the subject of critical analysis, controversy, and parody, and has spawned books, a video game, soundtrack albums, and assorted merchandise. Several members of the show's cast and crew were largely unknown to the public but have since had successful careers. In 2013, the Writers Guild of America named The Sopranos the best-written TV series of all time, while TV Guide ranked it the best television series of all time. In 2016, the series ranked first in the Rolling Stone list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time.
“it’s impossible to overstate The Sopranos’ influence on television across the globe. Though HBO’s epic Game of Thrones has since surpassed its viewing records, The Sopranos paved the way for that series’ filmic scope, massive budgets and worldwide popularity. Arguably, every drama that premiered afterwards bore its mark: plots were instantly darker, heroes were instantly anti-heroes, stakes were instantly higher. Even comedies adopted some of its hallmarks, including deeply flawed main characters and twisting, highly serialised storylines. This rippling influence began with The Sopranos’ true artistry, and the landmark performances of James Gandolfini as Tony and Edie Falco as his wife, Carmela, among others. But the TV landscape of the time and changing technology amplified that effect enormously.” - BBC Article
Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman, this gritty drama portrays life in the months and years that follow a zombie apocalypse. A group of survivors travel in search of safety and security, constantly on the move in search of a secure home. But the pressure each day to stay alive sends many in the group to the deepest depths of human cruelty, and they soon discover that the overwhelming fear of the survivors can be more deadly than the zombies walking among them. At times, the interpersonal conflicts present a greater threat to their continuing survival than the walkers that roam the country.
First aired October 31, 2010
American post-apocalyptic horror television series for AMC based on the comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The series features a large ensemble cast as survivors of a zombie apocalypse, trying to stay alive under near-constant threat of attacks from zombies, colloquially known as "walkers". However, with the fall of humanity, these survivors also face conflict from other living survivors who have formed groups and communities with their own sets of laws and morals, often leading to hostile conflict between the human communities.
https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/deeper-message-walking-dead/
The Walking Dead is fun and exciting, but it also reminds us of the importance of the communities we live within and create. It’s a caricature of the dangers we face—underlining the reason we have to stick together. Because as in real life as much as The Walking Dead, there are two kinds of dangers: external forces and forces from within. We have to fight the pride, violence and injustice we see in the world as much as we have to fight internalizing these ugly powers ourselves. As the heroes in the best stories know, the best safeguard is compassion, through community, for one another. This is not only what keeps us safe, but it also keeps us from bending to the same depths of depravity we see in our enemies. - Relevant Magazine Article
X-Files
In one of the longest-running science fiction series in network TV history, FBI special agents investigate unexplained, mind-bending cases known as "X-Files." Though the government is convinced that the outlandish reports are false, conspiracy theorist Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and realist Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), for most of the series, stop at nothing to prove that "the truth is out there." Series creator Chris Carter also serves as executive producer of the thrilling pop-culture phenomenon.
First aired September 10, 1993
Final episode March 21, 2018
The X-Files was a hit for the Fox network and received largely positive reviews, although its long-term story arc was criticized near the conclusion. Initially considered a cult series, it turned into a pop culture touchstone that tapped into public mistrust of governments and large institutions and embraced conspiracy theories and spirituality. Both the series itself and lead actors Duchovny and Anderson received multiple awards and nominations, and by its conclusion the show was the longest-running science fiction series in U.S. television history. The series also spawned a franchise which includes Millennium and The Lone Gunmen spin-offs, two theatrical films and accompanying merchandise.
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2018/09/the-x-files-25-years-later/569389/
“Beliefs create themselves on The X-Files, which premiered 25 years ago, on September 10, 1993. Mulder (played by David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson), partners on a unit dedicated to investigating unexplained phenomena known as X-Files, became sci-fi archetypes: the believer and the skeptic paired up to probe spooky cases. It seemed like their job was to determine what was real, but more often they looked at what they felt was real, and why, and whether there was a difference. The show was less about absolute truth than about the truth as a concept, and how it bends around collective perception.” - The Atlantic Article
M*A*S*H
Members of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital care for the injured during the Korean War and use humor to escape from the horror and depression of the situation. Among the 4077's people are Capts. Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce and "Trapper John" McIntire, Majs. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan and Frank Burns, and Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly.
First aired September 17, 1972
Final episode February 28, 1983
Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
American media franchise consisting of a series of novels, a film, several television series, plays, and other properties, owned by 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) and based on the semi-autobiographical fiction of Richard Hooker.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/what-mash-taught-us
“mash: A Novel About Three Army Doctors,” a little-remembered shaggy-dog volume by Richard Hooker that engendered fourteen more novels; a feature-film adaptation (directed by the then up-and-coming Robert Altman); and one of the highest-rated television series of all time. Of these iterations, it is the last that arguably left the greatest cultural imprint, running for eleven seasons and considered by many to be the gold standard for quality programming in its day. The show was embraced by audiences and critics alike (it also spawned three of its own spinoffs), and when its finale aired, on February 28, 1983, it set a record for the most-watched television episode in broadcast history—a mark that still stands. “mash” was mainly about decent people trying to survive an intolerable situation” - The New Yorker article
MASH is about surviving amid the chaos
George R.R. Martin's best-selling book series "A Song of Ice and Fire" is brought to the screen as HBO sinks its considerable storytelling teeth into the medieval fantasy epic. It's the depiction of two powerful families -- kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and honest men -- playing a deadly game for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, and to sit atop the Iron Throne. Martin is credited as a co-executive producer and one of the writers for the series, whose shooting locations include Northern Ireland, Malta, Croatia and Spain.
First aired April 17, 2011
Last episode May 19, 2019
Game of Thrones attracted a record viewership on HBO and has a broad, active, and international fan base. Critics praised the series for its acting, complex characters, story, scope, and production values, although its frequent use of nudity and violence (including sexual violence) was criticized. The final season, especially its last two episodes, received significant criticism for its condensed story and creative decisions, with many considering it a disappointing conclusion. Many critics and publications have named the show as one of the best television series of all time.
“Game of Thrones tapped into a large number of fantasy fan networks and built a large mass audience for its showings. The blending of several different genres in the show attracts interest from a broad range of interests, and the high production values and high-quality acting allowed the show to explore a lot of issues related to power, politics, social justice, gender and race representation. Seeing the watch party videos with people gathered in pubs and theaters cheering at the show as if it were a sporting event shows the broad popularity and enthusiasm for this show.” - The University of Colorado
“But on the other side, the show features powerful women who use their cunning and authority to exert their will on their world. Though the show reflects the misogynistic environment of it’s source material (the book itself invokes 15th-century English historical events, and that ties the narrative to the cultural norms of that period), female characters are able to act both within and outside those constraints to affect their society.” - The University of Colorado
https://www.metro.us/the-cultural-impact-of-hbos-game-of-thrones/
“It has proven to every media outlet that ‘geeks’ are people too, with populations, committed interests, deep passions, and pocket books to match the rest of the world’s television consumers,” Vince Gerardis, co-executive producer for “Game of Thrones,” told Metro.” - Metro
So there you go kids! Our list... hope you enjoyed it!
Stay Sharp. Stay Caffeinated. Stay Cool.
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