+1 for Deadwood, forgot about that one.

The Walking Dead AINEC. My wife and I both think it's the best show we've ever seen, and she hates horror/zombie fiction. And we know plenty more women who get sucked in because the show's characters and storylines are so compelling, so do not dismiss it as just a BRAAAIIIIINS show. Only Season 1 is avail on DVD, but Season 2 should be out soon. For almost all of S2, every single episode is better than the last, which meant that every week we were watching the new best episode of the best show ever.

+1 to Sports Night - one of my faves. You have to get past the awful laugh track they have for the first half of Season 1, though. Tragic that it didn't get a Season 3.

And one that won't get any noms elsewhere ITT is Slings & Arrows. It's best if you have any theater experience or a love of Shakespeare, but it's fantastic regardless. Oh, and it's Canadian. ("To be...or not to be, eh?")

The Walking Dead is THE greatest graphic novel of all time, but the acting on the show is sub par. With that said I have still seen every episode and looking forward to season 3, I just wouldn't say its top 10 or anything. But maybe 11, lol.

+1

+1

LOST is my favorite show of all time.

I love LOST, I really do. I fondly remember marathoning 3-4 weeks in a row (I would miss episodes as I had a newborn). But then... the 6th season happened and I felt cheated by the ending, such that even though the show was so brilliant in the first seasons, I can't recommend it anymore. Do you feel the same way or do you "forgive" the last season?

I'll go with Scrubs. One of my favorite shows of all time. Especially the first 4 seasons. Since The Wire, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad have already been mentioned.

Neither, actually. For me, the final season, and especially the ending, was a huge reward for sticking with the show through some of the down parts (such as midway through Season 3). I feel that the final ten minutes of the series, for me, without exaggerating, is the greatest, most transcendent television I will ever see. If that makes me a rabid fanboy, so be it. (-:

I understand where you're coming from, though. It was always going to be a question of what the show was about, at its core. If the show was about the scientific mysteries of the Island, it was going to be a letdown. But if it was about the characters and the relationships between them, as I saw it, it was a masterpiece. I saw the fan base about evenly split on this, and it should be obvious which side I strongly fall on.

Also, +1 to Scrubs. It's super easy to watch 8 or 9 episodes in a row. It was my favorite sitcom until Community came along.

I should also mention Doctor Who, Buffy/Angel, and Veronica Mars as shows which were far better than I ever imagined. And Heroes had a good first few seasons, but rapidly degraded after that.

If I could only recommend one it would have to be Breaking Bad.
Breaking Bad is one of the best shows off all time. I cant recommend it more highly. Every episode is GOOD.
The plot is compelling with many of those "whoa" moments. The main characters are always trying to impose their will on each other and their aren't compromises to be had in the meth game. The series really is a game and it will appeal to the poker player in you with some of the moves the players make. You get to see the characters evolve as people as the story goes on.


Honourable mentions: The Wire(also very good), Prison Break, Dexter, Lost

Yes, The Wire is excellent. You'll be disoriented at first with all the characters to remember, but stick it out.

The Wire is a must-watch.

Not mentioned yet: Rubicon. Ran only for one season, but I liked it a lot. It's a bit like Homeland meets The Wire.

The first season of Spartacus will make your face hurt.

The exectuive producer is Sam Raimi and he must have hired all the special effect staff. The action sequence are 5 stars will make you grind your teeth cause your gonna feel the pain. The story is average but well directed with a lot of sharp turns.

the second and 3rd season are not good though. well way less.

walking dead is way overated imo.

BOARDWALK EMPIRE is realised by Scorcese and has one of the greatest actor of the last decades in Buschemi. It's almost as good as the Sopranos.

Deadwood is the best western story put in a TV. movies and tv combined.

Falling Skies? Any thoughts? A friend highly recommends.

If you have not watched The Wire watching anything else is -EV.

Yeah. A+.

The pilot was shot much earlier than the rest of season (afaik), so it's a bit ****tier than the rest of season 1. You'll be hooked by the end of the season 1.

Season 2 is finally airing, so it's an easy recommendation. Otherwise I'd say pass for a bit. Was highly annoyed at how long it was between seasons.