Wanted: Love and Death on the Small Screen
My husband and I just spent a riveted month watching Justified, the FX show starring Timothy Olyphant as a modern day U.S. Marshall in rural Tennessee. I am feverishly counting the hours until the fabulous Orphan Black starts its third season. I’m also one of the millions who’s watching to see who dies next in the latest season of Game of Thrones. (I so hope it’s the genuinely creepy Melisandre but I’m sure I’ll be disappointed.) And while I’m not watching Outlander–I don’t get Starz–as soon as it’s available to stream, I’ll be glued to the story of Claire and Jaimie.
All three of these shows–and many of the others I’ve loved in the past few years–share two things: Love and Death.
I like complicated shows that show the intricacies of relationships. What then is more integral to human connection than the promise of love and the fear of death? I suspect one of the reasons I’m such a Buffy fanatic is that characters, people I’d become invested in, did die (and, of course, love) in ways that made me sob. I could never get into The Sopranos because there wasn’t a love story there I cared about and, without passion, all the killing left me cold. At the same time, love without the threat of death, is too easy for me. (I like my television on the intense side.) Unlike ever other member of my family, I didn’t care who the mother was on How I met Your Mother. (A death in the last episode of a nine season show doesn’t count, guys.) Even the smart coupling of Jim and Pam didn’t keep me hooked–once they were a done deal on The Office, I too was done.
Now that we’re done with Justified I am looking for some new shows to watch. My preference would be shows that are already finished (For example, I’m waiting for the show finales of The Americans and Mad Men.)
Here are my criteria:
- At least two long term relationships (one of the romantic variety) which direct much of the plot and/the story development.
- There are sexy times that advance the relationships rather than existing just to show skin.
- Real loss is a part of the story–I’m not demanding the main characters leave this mortal coil, but, I need to have a reason to keep watching the relationships develop. (Six Feet Under did this well, if you’re looking for an example.)
- At least one of the leads is a strong woman. Additionally, women are not punished for being sexual, cranky, or smart. (Sadly, this writes off the vast majority of TV.)
- The dialogue crackles. (Think Deadwood or Friday Night Lights.)
Got a show that you think I’d like? Let me know in the comments! Until then, I’m off to watch An Honorable Woman.
How could I forget this one – Dabney, I bet you’d love “”Veronica Mars”” if you haven’t already watched. Fantastic kick-butt heroine, crackling dialogue, smart stories, and a will-the-won’t-they love story that makes your knees melt.
Such a serious VM fan. I even own the movie! If I were to write a piece about great screen kisses, the first Logan/Veronica one would be in the top three.
Hi Jenna! I love Vernoica Mars but I hate the third season. I wish they would have stayed with the FBI theme for the movie.
Yes, B&B is new, starring Kristin Kreuk and Jay Ryan. It’s about to start its 3rd season in May and has been renewed for a 4th.
“”A Town Like Alice”” is one of my favorite books, and I loved the miniseries. I haven’t been able to find it released on DVD though. My library used to have an old VHS copy but today, that’s about as easy to use as riding a dinosaur!
I’m watching Gotham right now and it’s pretty good. I mean, it’s based on a comic book world but it’s very entertaining. Besides, Little Cat Woman and Baby Bruce Wayne/Batman are so cute!
We watched FNL two years ago and it is now in my top ten favorite shows ever. I couldn’t get into Alias when it was on and haven’t tried again but I’ll check it out. Chuck is too silly for me. I’m not a fan of funny shows, in general.
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve wondered if I should check out Alias or 24, another show I skipped when it initially ran.
Ah, “”Justified””–I am so going to miss new episodes (fortunately, I have my DVDs to keep me company!). Don’t want to give away plot lines from the last episode in case someone hasn’t seen it yet, but I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. I was so sure that. . .oops, better stop here!
Is anyone else watching “”Wolf Hall”” on PBS? Great performances all around, especially from Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell. It also features Damian Lewis from “”Homeland”” and Joanne Whalley from “”The Borgias””. I first saw Rylance in a movie based on the A.S. Byatt novel “”Angels and Insects””. It was definitely NOT for children (incest, anyone?), but Rylance kept me watching!
The suggestions other commenters have made are also favorites of mine (e.g. “”Nashville””). And if you have a DVD player, the first episodes of “”Outlander”” might be available to borrow from your local library. I got Starz just so I could watch “”Outlander””–one of my better investments!
Yes, I am watching _Wolf Hall_ and love it! The adaptation from book to small screen is wonderful, as I also loved the books. Mark Rylance is terrific, but I didn’t connect him back to the film version of _Angels and Insects_ until you wrote that. He’s a great actor!
Considering your likes and dislikes, I think one show you might try is Friday Night Lights. Romance (and lots of it), drama, excitement, complex relationships, things not always working out well. All in a small Texas town. This stars Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton.
In terms of escapism, both over-the-top and fun of the spy vs. spy variety, you might try Alias starring Jennifer Garner and Michael Vartan. Or, for something a bit more “”goofy”” but which fits into your parameters, you might go with Chuck starring Zachary Levi and Yvonne Strahovski.
Another show you might enjoy was actually a mini-series: A Town Like Alice, starring Helen Morse and Bryan Brown. It’s based on the Nevil Shute novel which is set during and after WWII — in Asia, England and Australia.
I think Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries checks all of your boxes. It is set in 1920’s Australia (hello costumes!) and is available for streaming on Netflix.
We got halfway through the second season and quit because the love story was going nowhere. We just discussed finishing it last night. I adore the clothes. After the untouchable House of Eliott, it is my next favorite show for fashion.
I understand what you mean about the love story. You have to be prepared for a loooooooong slooooooow burn with only a good friendship for payoff. The third season, which premieres soon, promises to speed things up a bit in that department.
Dabney, a show I recently got hooked on was Luther. It’s more crime/cop show than romance, and the strong female lead is a psycho ( no really, killer type psycho named Alice who is fixated on Luther (the yummy Idris Elba) but I think you’ll love it, I now I did. it was only on for three seasons, though I hear they’re filming a 2 part episode as we speak.
I’ve watched Season One. I have had the TV hots for Idris since he played the scrumptious Stringer Bell on The Wire. I have been waiting for it to end. I have a deep reluctance–which I overcome regularly–to watching TV shows before they’re finished. I was so burned by Deadwood that, since then, I’ve aimed for shows that I know are worth the investment from start to finish.
I loved Deadwood! Yeah, it would have been nice to get more seasons but I’m grateful for the 3 seasons we got. I can’t imagine being disappointed in that show but I’m biased since I think it’s the best thing ever shown on television. Certainly, the best acting on a show I have ever had the pleasure to watch.
My last comment took 3 days to post which is usually after the conservation has eneded. Does anyone know, are you not allowed to post links?
Nope. You can post links. The systems has many kinks.
We just started Faego!
Fargo!
Hope you like it! I’m kind of blown away by how good this show is. Love Alison Tolman and just adore Billy Bob Thornton! Actually just the whole cast, and the writing!!
We enjoyed the first episode. I’m not the biggest fan of the film so I wasn’t sure it would be for me. But, thus far, I liked it. The husband really liked it.
It is very much like the film in spirit and tone, though the story itself is original. If you didn’t like the film, it may not be for you. We liked it so much we’re actually rewatching it now, but I was a huge fan of the movie.
Have you tried the new series _Fargo_? It has a central romance at the heart and it is so, so good. Season 1 is out on DVD and Season 2 is to air this fall. I can’t recommend this show enough!
Woohoo – http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/poldark/
Wow, Dabney, I think we are twins split at birth. Your descriptive of what you love in a great show is identical to what I love. And pretty much all of the programs you’ve listed are ones that I’ve adored (Justified! FNL! Buffy!!) except for “”Orphan Black.””
If you like spy/action shows, I can recommend “”Nakita””. It ticks off most of your boxes, although there aren’t a ton of sexy times. There is a long-term relationship (friends to enemies to lovers) and definitely the risk of death.
I’ve also enjoyed the CW’s “”Beauty and the Beast”” although it’s not a finished series and it can be a bit over the top.
And another CW show that is proving to be very good is “”The 100″”. It’s action/sci fi but with tons of personal relationships, definitely love and death. Again, though, not a finished series.
My Twitter feed is full of 100 lovers. It’s definitely one I’ll check out. Is this a new Beauty and the Beast?
You mentioned two of my all time favorite shows, Deadwood & Buffy the Vampire Slayer and I’m currently hooked on Game of Thrones, Walking Dead and Outlander. I can’t agree with you about The Office because I loved those characters and would still be watching that show if it was on.
If you have not already given it a chance, I would definitely recommend La Femme Nikita (90’s show not the remake) with Peta Wilson & Roy Dupuis. That show was all about love and death, was very intense with a very strong female lead. I freaking love that tv series (well, at least the first 3 seasons). I couldn’t imagine anyone playing Nikita but Peta Wilson and Roy is one of the most attractive and intersting men that has ever been on televison.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLz-RMoWNRc&feature=related
The first season of Fargo on FX had an awesome female lead and was a great show. I’m looking forward to season 2. Have you seen Breaking Bad? Not a love story but smart writing and great acting.
I’m a huge Robin of Sherwood fan. It’s a british show from the 80’s that has all british actors, was filmed outdoors or in castles, beautiful celtic music and has a cast, led by Michael Praed, I just adore. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K2OAC5ISPI
Burn Notice was a fun show and I really grew to love the Michael & Fiona relationship!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKXjS9Ygm6E
So obviously I’m totally biased because I write for the show, but SALEM has a terrific anti-heroine in Mary Sibley. She’s unapologetic about her sexuality, and her love affair with John Alden is the backbone of the first season. There’s an equally compelling love story developing between Anne Hale and Cotton Mather. Most amazingly, of all the novels, plays, and scripts written about the Witchcraft Trials in the 300 years since they occurred, this is the first one to be about women and power. I really hope more romance readers discover it.
How much horror (gore?) is in it? And, thanks for telling me about it. I’ve never heard of it and it’s available on Netflix for streaming!
Yes! Season One is on Netflix and Season Two is airing right now on WGN. There’s gore, but it’s a very gothic Hammer Horror sort of gore–really visually lush.
I also just finished watching Justified. I will so miss that beautiful Timothy Olyphant strut.
I recommend Borgen (the Danish series about a female prime minister…think West Wing with a Scandinavian twist). It actually fits all of your criteria, even though the stakes are usually political. There are three main characters (two of whom have a romantic involvement with each other). Hard to find streaming legally, but I just bought the DVDs.
Also, if you’re a Buffy fan, I highly recommend the campy Lost Girl (streaming on Netflix). It’s no Buffy, but it hits some of the same notes and there’s lots of romance, sacrifice, and occasionally pretty hilarious dialogue.
Have you seen Mr. Olyphant in Deadwood where he perfected that strut? I loved that show too.
Yep, I love Deadwood, too;)
I also say give The Walking Dead a try. I do NOT watch horror movies or enjoy scary stuff, but this show is so centered on relationships and characters, I LOVE it. Give it a try! If you stick with it, you will be fully rewarded with drama, laughter, and tears.
I do plan to watch The Walking Dead. I’m just waiting for it to end, just to make sure it doesn’t go pear shaped.
My youngest son loves it and says I would too.
Have you tried The Walking Dead? I put off trying it because zombies but after we watched the first episoode, we inhaled it. I love relationship-focused stories and that’s what it is, just set in the zombie apocalypse. It’s got intricate plotting, complicated and mature relationships, and true loss. The characters change, grow and sometimes collapse. It’s basically an exploration of what happens to humans when all the rules they knew fly out the window. Each person has to choose how far they’ll go to survive. Lots of strong women characters. We often would watch each episode twice, and have re-watched the first three seasons several times, getting more out of it each time. If you liked Buffy, you might really like it. (There’s lots more gore but it’s plot-driven.)
Really enjoyed An Honourable Woman. Last weekend binge-watched Season 1 of A Place to Call Home, an Australia miniseries set in a small town a few years after WWII.
Actually, I meant the entire first three series. 20 hours of my life, very well spent.
I just spent the school holidays in a telly coma because I discovered Being Human, the BBC version, about a ghost, werewolf, and vampire living together in Bristol, and I watched the entire first series almost nonstop. (And incidentally, the vampire is Aidan Turner, aka new Poldark, aka the Shirtless Scyther Whose Pic the BBC “”Leaked”” on purpose http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3030536/Poldark-return-Aidan-Turner-signed-second-series-steamy-Cornwall-based-period-drama.html.)
I actually think Being Human (UK, not USA – haven’t seen the American remake) fits most, if not all, your criteria. First series is lighter, a bit more sitcom, second series is darker, third series combines both.
Hah – the shirtless scything picture has really done the rounds over here! Not that I’m really complaining… and fortunately, he’s much more than a pretty face.
And yes, Being Human is a great show. Aidan Turner and Russell Tovey left it after three seasons and I confess I didn’t keep up with it after that, but it’s well worth watching. I don’t know if it’s on Netflix, but it’s on Amazon Prime over here and isn’t at all expensive.
Just realized who Aidan Turner is – Kili of “”The Hobbit Trilogy”” fame and fantastic. So now I’ve got to hunt down this Poldark series…
Hah! Yes, he’s the hot dwarf! :P
I believe Pokdark starts in the US in June.
Yes, June 14th!!
If you don’t mind Spanish sub-titles “”Gran Hotel”” season 1 and 2 and soon 3 are on Netflix. Takes place at a big hotel, run by the ruthless Alarcon family, in turn of the century Spain. Very hot stars in a central romance, villains are really villainous (but human), lots of upstairs/downstairs stuff, murder mysteries, and absolutely STELLER plotting, as well as some gasp out loud moments, some heartbreaking stuff, but a nice old fashioned morality running through it, in spite of some bad decisions, made by the “”good”” characters etc., characters are human, (in spite of hotness! :) How could you not love a handsome male lead who goes undercover as a waiter to find out who in the Alarcon family killed his sister, who is also a pit fighter in the local bar and falls in love with the beautiful (and good!) daughter of the hotel owner? Yes, this a romance, soap opera style. Wish I could say more, but I have to go watch this show now! I cannot stay away!
That sounds great and I’m always interested in improving my Spanish. I’ll check it out. Thanks.
I too, cannot wait until Melisandre meets her god of light . . . preferably at the hands of a White Walker or buried under a snow bank.
Right now, other than the shows you’ve mentioned, I’m into Revenge and Nashville. True, they’re Soapy, but they definitely bring the love and loss. Besides, Nashville has one really big thing going for it for me: Connie Britton. Rayna James is not quite as epic as Tammy Taylor, but it works for me.
I watch Nashville but I find it as equally annoying as it is entertaining. I think I’m the only person on earth who thinks Rayna would be the happiest with Luke. They’re both sane grown-ups. I keep watching, though….
I watch in spite of myself. Also, I find the music is, depressingly, better than what is getting released on mainstream country radio.
And no, I thought Layna was a good thing too! The things Luke did to piss Rayna off (and vice versa) could have been worked out if the Deacon drama (which will never end, b/c people with addictive personalities tend to be drama/chaos magnets even when they’re on track) was not always right there, front and center.
But hey, too much reality and it wouldn’t be fun anymore.
I do like lots of the music. And I could watch the Stella sisters all day.
I’m looking forward to the return of Orphan Black, too. Even though it’s OTT, it’s fun OTT.
HBO recently offered a week-long watchathon, so since I had read GRRM’s books, I singled out some episodes to watch, but I haven’t watched more than 4 or 5 episodes total across the seasons. I don’t feel all that rabid about watching them. I’d drive myself crazy with trying to remember what they’ve changed from the books (LOL). BTW — if you like the actress playing Melisandre, you should watch the movie (WW2 thriller), Black Book. She’s great in that.
Starz must be offering a free service special because for the last several weeks, shows have been available for streaming on my Comcast. I did take advantage of watching all the Outlander episodes so far. Not sure when that special ends.
I’ve seen An Honourable Woman. Excellent series. And I just finished Season 1 of A Place to Call Home, a miniseries set after WWII about a family, friends and enemies in a small Australian town. So good!
The BBC’s remake of their huge 70’s hit, Poldark is a must-see. It might not quite hit the “”crackling dialogue”” mark, but it’s got everything else. The central love story is one that develops over time and which is really tested through tragedy and hardship; it’s one that has to be worked at, just as real ones do.
Because it’s based on a series of books which span a number of years, there are several other romances, and the late 18th century setting throws up lots of political conflict.
The female lead – Demelza – is, quite simply awesome.
It’s the BBC, so the production values are really high – and it certainly doesn’t hurt that the leading man (Aiden Turner) is a fantastic actor as well as being drop-dead gorgeous.
The first series (8 episodes) covers the first two books and a second is in the works.
I will add it to my list! Thanks.
_Poldark_ will be shown here in the U.S. in June and I’m very excited to see it!