Number 6:
The Flash
I know I have been talking a lot about superhero shows lately, but
that’s because they are making TV look great again after that rather long
period of nothing but reality TV. First starting with Arrow, the Flash is a
spin-off within the same universe, featuring Barry Allen as the Flash. Season 1
started off strong, introducing the main characters, setting up story lines,
and throwing us into their world from the very beginning because it has already
established itself via the backdoor pilot during Season 2 of Arrow. The majority
of people watching the Flash are also fans of Arrow, but for those that start
with the flash, knows what a great standalone the show is on itself.
Episode 8 of Season 1 saw a phenomenal crossover between the Flash
and Arrow, where both characters from very different cities fought each, each
character being pushed to their limits, and the result will make you want to watch
it over and over again. Episode 8 of the new season, Season 2, saw them once
again crossing over, except this time, with their differences settled. I’ve talked
about the crossover during one of my ‘… Of the Week’ articles, and I stand by every
word that I said: Each Character was given the right amount of screen time to
introduce them to the story, get them up to date with what is currently going
on, and move the story forwards as well.
Season 1 dealt with Barry having to get used to the fact that he
now has super speed, that the Reverse Flash is after him, and making sure that
his secret is safe. Season 2 deals with the aftereffects of season 1 and
introduces the villain, Zoom.
The science that is cleverly woven through each episode not only
is confidently given, but when the episode ends, we can say that we’ve actually
learnt something useful. It’s lightheartedness allows us to sit back and relax,
and although it does have some dark bits now and again, but they are only there
to move the story on further, then it’s right back to the core nature of the
show. It’s funny, entertaining, and will without a doubt be on our screens for
some time to come, and I will make sure that I would have watched the lot.
Number 5:
Ed, Edd, ‘n’ Eddy
Putting this show here is going to be controversial to at least
one person I know, not because it’s on the list, but because it’s number 5 on
the list, not a lot higher up, but when I was younger, this was a heck of a
show and it still remains just that.
Ed, Edd, ‘n’ Eddy follows the adventures of the characters, Ed,
Edd, ‘n’ Eddy as they try and do whatever it takes to get their hands on a jawbreaker.
Each episode shows Eddy coming up with some ridiculously awesome in a ridiculous
way scheme that will, at first, rope in all the other boys and girls of the cul-de-sac
in giving a quarter to the three boys, but then things quickly take a turn in
the wrong direction and they ultimately fail. Some episodes, their schemes don’t
even make it from the drawing board, others they have to run away from those
annoying Kanker sisters who want nothing but to be with the three boys.
I can’t talk about the show without talking about the three main
characters. Ed, the strongest and least intelligent of the three, loves gravy,
chickens and jawbreakers. Edd, who is the polar opposite of Ed as he is
physically the weakest, but ultimately the smartest. He is usually the one who
figures out how Eddy’s grand plans can become a reality. And Eddy, the
self-appointed leader of the three Eds. Eddy is shown to be selfish at times, lives
in his own world, and is frequently overambitious with his ideas – these are
the episodes where their plans fail before they even begun – and it is because of
this that he has become a rival to Kevin, the cool dude within the cul-de-sac.
But at the end of the day, they are three good friends.
I won’t talk about all the characters within the show, but I have
to mention the one character that is smarter than Edd, more dubious than Eddy,
and stronger than Ed. I am, of course, talking about the one and only, Plank.
As I said briefly above, I used to watch this show a lot when I was
younger, and it is one of the very few that have crossed over to adulthood. Now
that I understand a lot more than I did back then, I am able to appreciate all
the hidden Easter eggs the creators put it, or the ever so subtle double
meanings that only adults would get and would fly over any child, especially
mine. It might have ended a few years ago, but it will stay on our screens for
as long as people want to continue watching it, and that won’t stop any time
soon.
Number 4:
The Big Bang Theory
The stereotypical nerd in films and TV was exactly that: Big,
round glasses, anti-social, not knowing how the outside world works, and has a
massive interest in comic books. We didn’t hate the stereotypical nerd, but we
were thinking that it was a bit of a cliché. However, that all changed when The
Big Bang Theory came on our screens back in 2007. They feature characters that
were only but stereotypical nerds. Created by Two and a Half Men, Chuck Lorrie,
this show showed us that nerds can be more than just a side character. So what
would happen if you put a young woman into the mix? With them not knowing how
to socialise with the outside world, talking to a girl is much more difficult.
Leonard Hofstadter, Ph.D, Sheldon Cooper, M.A., M.S, Ph.D., B.S.,
Raj Koothrappali, Ph.D, and Howard Wolowitz, M.Eng, met Penny, an aspiring actress
who takes up a job at the cheesecake factory whilst she finds work. Hilarity
insures as they try and deal with how best to deal with the situation. Over the
years, a decent amount of character development has happened. Although they can
be classed as nerds, I would say that they have successfully broken free of the
stereotypical nature of themselves back in the first few seasons.
Much like the Flash, the science is accurate and is spoken with confidence,
and you more or less come away having learnt something new.
Number 3:
Friends
For my very first ‘… Of the Week’ article, I talked about the
Friends episode, The One With the Race Car Bed, and how it has my all-time favourite
line of dialogue within.
Also, during that same article, I spoke about how Friends is that
show that everyone has seen at some point or another, whether it is every
single episode from beginning to end multiple times, or just an episode every
now and again, this show never fails to deliver on the laughs throughout its
ten year run. I know that said the same thing here, word for word, but the
point is still valid. I don’t know of any other way to say how good Friends
really is.
Each of the 236 episodes of Friends saw all six friends in that
episode, whether they are together, or a couple of them are trying to solve a
particularly difficult situation they unintentionally found themselves in, or
whether it’s just the one on their own, having to deal with a problem. No
matter what the combination is, the episode will always be great, and will
always continue to be great. After 12 years since the final episode aired on
Channel 4, the success and loyal fan base never went away, always hoping that
they would do a reunion special or a film to document what happens next and see
our beloved Friends, Rachel Green, Monica Geller, Pheobe Buffay, Joey Tribbiani,
Chandler Bing, and Ross Geller, together once more.
It will always be a staple of television.
Number 2:
Doctor Who
Ever since Doctor Who started 53 years ago, with William Hartnell
as the Time Lord know as the Doctor, it has become an instant sensation,
captivating many generations and so many more to come. The very first episode I
watched as Blink during season 3 when David Tennent was playing the Doctor.
That episode was considered the scariest episode of that season and quickly
became one of the greatest episodes of all Doctor Who, thanks to writer, Steven
Moffat. When I watched that episode, the concept of the Weeping Angles, the way
the episode flowed as a hole and the way that the Doctor was there but not
there at the same time, I was immediately addicted, fascinated, impressed, and
enthusiastic with what the next episode has in store. Little did I know that
Blink was the final episode before the massive three part storyline featuring
the Master and his attempt to take over the world and beyond, Captain Jack
Harkness, and so many more elements that I just cannot include fully otherwise
the article would go on for ages about one episode when I need to talk about
the entire series as a whole.
And I have been watching it ever since. When David Tennent left
and Matt Smith stepped in, I along with everyone else was sad that a great
Doctor was leaving us. But Matt Smith certainly was able to prove himself
worthy of being the Doctor. Then he left and Peter Capaldi stepped in. His, and
current Doctor, was met with a bit of a split opinion at first as Steven wanted
to go down a bit more of a darker route than before, but by the time Season 8
ended, the majority of the fans were loving the new Doctor, and when Season 9
finished, that was when he cemented himself as one of the all-time great
Doctors.
Every episode takes us, the audience, on a journey to mesmerising
worlds, seeing wonderful new aliens, and of course the brilliant bad guys as
well. The Doctor and his companion, travelling through time and space, saving
countless worlds, galaxies and even the entire universe many times, he is
someone that no one should mess with.
Season 10, which will air Spring of 2017 will see the end of
another era as Steven Moffat steps down from being head writer. Chris Chibnall
will head Season 11 onwards. I can only say good luck to him and I hope for all
the best.
Number 1:
Monk
Adrian Monk is a former homicide detective who suffers from severe
OCD. When you first met him, he has dropped down from being a full-time
detective to a consultant when his wife, Trudy Monk, was killed in a car bomb
attack two years prior, which resulted in him not leaving the house for two
years in a row. He has numerous phobias that range from germs to milk. But that
doesn’t stop him from catching the bag guy. Each episode sees him tackling a
difficult murder case with his assistant, Natalie Teeger, who took over the
position from Sharona Fleming when she moved back in with her Ex-husband. Captain
Leland Stottlemeyer and Detective Randy Disher of the San Francisco Police
Department and the place where Monk used to work before Trudy was killed.
When Adrian Monk is on the case, he is the best of the best. He
can spot things that no one else can. He has an eidetic memory, which is powerful
enough to allow him to count the cards in a poker game. At the end of the
episode, you can guarantee that Monk would have gotten the guy.
The first episode that I watched was during season 2 when Sharona
was being tricked into thinking that she was having a mental breakdown due to
high levels of stress. Although it is one of the darker episodes throughout its
run, it did introduce me to Adrian and his way of thinking, and I found the
show entertaining.
My favourite episode is during season 4 when Natalie convinces
Adrian to find a diamond that’s worth $1,000,000. When he reluctantly investigates
the case, he finds that he isn’t the only one looking for it. I don’t want to
give away any spoilers, so you will have to watch it for yourself to see how it
ends and who stole the diamond.
The show exhibits comic and dramatic tones as it explores the main
characters personal lives. Although Monk isn’t as popular as some of the shows on
this list, it will always be my favourite. You will have to go a long way
before you can beat Monk in my opinion.
Thanks for reading
Antony Hudson
(TonyHadNouns)
My book, Sector 22: Zoey, is now available on Amazon, eBay, and SkyCat Publications' website:
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