I’ll be completely honest before I start. I do not like Dr. Who. Sam does not like Dr. Who. One of the professors I had at drama school was the man in charge of BBC dramas and he made the controversial decision to cancel Dr. Who way back when. So I am clearly biased. But some people go absolutely crazy for Star Trek and I think few people would view that as the quintessential American show. So why has Dr. Who taken over as THE flagship show of the BBC?
.jpg "rhyme & ribbons")
Personally, I think that the special effects in Dr. Who have all of the charm of the scene in Indiana Jones where the Nazi melts. Except that scene is charming because it was the pinnacle of special effects in the 80s. Dr. Who has no excuse.
If I was a fan, I’d argue that the show is popular because it is willing to be silly and playful, while seeing poignant and wonderful sights of the universe. It’s a show that’s famous for low-budget manic charm that celebrates regeneration and humanities finer points. But….I’ve given it a chance, I really have. I just get a bit bored and put off by the tacky special effects while watching it.
The moral of the story is that Dr. Who isn’t my cup of tea. But if you like it, we can still be friends of course! And who am I to judge someone else’s television habits? After all, I love watching my Big, Fat Gypsy Wedding.
I decided to turn to Sam for help on this one because two heads are better than one for his kind of thing!
Shows Sam and I would recommend:
1. Sherlock
We both immediately agreed on this show right off the bat. And it’s created by Steven Moffat, who is also lead writer and executive producer on Dr. Who. Sherlock is clever, entertaining and all around excellent! Plus the Season 2 cliffhanger ending was incredible!
2. The Hour
It was controversially canceled after two seasons despite just having won an Emmy and being nominated for countless BAFTAs and Golden Globe awards, as well as being picked up by BBC America. And Sam claims that Ben Whishaw is one of the finest young actors in England today, which is a big shout, in my opinion.
3. Luther
I’ll be honest, Sam is crazy for Luther. Me? Not so much. But it is a smart cop drama so if you want a darker, smarter version of Law and Order mixed with Dexter this might do it for you. I will say that the lead, Idris Elba is a brilliant actor.
4. House of Cards (The original)
That’s right. The show existed before Kevin Spacey and Netflix got their hands on it. If you are anxious for the next season of House of Cards to be released on Netflix why not try giving the original show a go?
5. Criminal Justice
6. The Great British Bake Off
Who says that great television has to be serious dramas? I’ve blogged about my love for this show before. It’s wholesome, funny, entertaining and frankly, artful. Plus I have a crush on Sue Perkins.
7. Skins (The first generation, so seasons 1 and 2)
This was entirely my choice. Sam had nothing to do with it. He’s never even seen it. But I love it. I think “Skins” handles teenage problems without turning them into grotesque melodrama in a way that is atypical to US counterparts. Plus actress Hannah Murray as Cassie Ainsworth portrays one of the most interesting and fleshed out characters suffering from eating disorders on television.
8. Downton Abbey (The first 2 seasons)
When Downton Abbey first premiered I was hooked. I loved the first season. I enjoyed the second season. The third season was an immense let down for me. The melodrama reached the point of silliness and the only reason I continued watching was for Maggie Smith’s brilliant one liners as the Dowager Countess. I feel like I’m the only person in the world that finds Lady Mary increasingly irritating.
What are your favourite British shows?
