16 TV shows you’ll want to watch in one go
Convoluted plots, tension, conspiracies, triumph and tragedy, complex ideas - every TV show has its own approach to entertainment. But whichever one you watch, you don’t notice how time flies by as you devour episode after episode. BrightSide.me put together a list of sixteen of the best shows for you to choose from.
Prison Break
2005 — 2009
To save his brother from prison, the protagonist commits a crime. His escape plan: he built the prison himself, and knows it like the back of his hand. The show’s writers managed to push the plot twists to the limit - and at the same time didn't confuse themselves.
Black Mirror
2011 — present
A cool British series about the dangers of modern technology. The people of the future have withdrawn into a perfect virtual reality created using advanced technology. Each episode reveals a different aspect of this perfect world. Over the course of the show, we are presented with a truly dystopian image of the future.
Eureka
2006 — 2012
Somewhere in the wide open spaces of the state of Oregon there’s a town where a group of real geniuses lives. They invent useful things which the world has never seen before. Sometimes though, accidents happen, and it falls to a local sheriff with a mediocre IQ to sort things out.
Foyle's War
2002 — 2015
Britain, 1941. A middle-aged police detective very much wants to fight at the front, but work intervenes. During the evacuation of the English south coast, a diverse mix of people has been thrown together — the wounded, refugees, as well as all kinds of criminals. Detective Foyle has to carry on with his usual work of looking after his home country in wartime.
Fargo
2014 — present
An unsuccessful insurance salesman, much to his own surprise, commits murder. Soon he has no choice but to keep on killing and killing. He’s offered a helping hand by a visiting criminal and sociopath. This stylish and surreal tragicomedy has gained a massive following which can’t wait for the new season.
House, M.D.
2004 — 2012
The TV serial ‘House’ is for those who appreciate sarcasm. No one who watches this show can fail to be indifferent about the thoroughly charismatic Dr. House - some can’t stand his frankness and devil-may-care attitude towards those around him; others are enraptured by his sparkling intellect.
True Detective
2014 — 2015
For the time being, there is only one season of this stylishly shot miniseries. The plot centres on two detective investigating an unusual murder in a remote part of Louisiana. Piece by piece, they put together a picture which, slowly but surely, leads them to a conclusion about what happened.
The Walking Dead
2010 — present
Zombies are roaming the land and people try to save themselves. Life continues even after the Apocalypse, and everyone’s busy with something. Frank Darabont is a master of the genre. A drama, horror, and thriller all mixed in one.
The Sopranos
1997 — 2007
A show about the daily life of a simple mafia boss who tries to find time for everything — whether its resolving issues at work or dealing with problems at home. This takes place against a backdrop of constant stress felt by a man down on his luck, afflicted by fainting and panic attacks. It’s crammed full of plot twists and personalities more colourful than the last, and on the whole is very well made.
Lost
2004 — 2010
Forty eight people find themselves on an uninhabited island after a plane crash. Life on the island is not all that it seems - the place begins to ‘show its teeth’. It was with Lost that big-budget, epic shows began to be produced for TV.
The Mentalist
2008 — 2015
Patrick Jane is a psychic who works as a private detective for the Bureau of Investigation. He’s known for his superior powers of observation, as well as his love for the comfortable sofa in his office. He also wages a personal struggle against a serial killer and is tortured by a painful past.
Rome
2005 — 2007
Ancient Rome in all its pomp and glory. It is the era of Julius Caesar and war is being waged against Gaul. The country stands on the brink of civil war. An unpleasant surprise awaits the Emperor upon his return home. The most expensive TV show ever made, this joint project between the BBC and HBO is a thoroughly enjoyable affair, with a solid plot and impressive presentation.
Vikings
2013 — present
A high-quality and well-paced series which painstakingly recreates the everyday life of the Vikings. The well-choreographed battle scenes, detailed reconstruction of ancient rituals, and the beauty of the Scandinavian fjords is a joy to watch.
Big Bang Theory
2007 — present
This comic saga about a group of physicists who are highly successful in the world of science but unlucky in their personal lives has gained a cult following around the world — and become a source of memorable quotes — in the seven years since it first aired.
M*A*S*H
1972 — 1983
M*A*S*H is as relevant and topical as it was when it first aired nearly 40 years ago. Humour combines terrifically with harsh satire on war and its horrors. A classic, high-quality sitcom.