TV.
For many years it was seen as a field of B-class talent. Since the early 2000's however, it has seen a resurgence, to the point where many viewers would sooner sit and be enthralled by an episodic series for 6 hours than pop on their favourite movie.
There's been a wave of incredible TV in recent years, where some of the best writing and most complex characters to grace our screens have come to life.
If you're after ideas of what show to next binge, we have you covered, with these 5 TV shows you simply must watch before you die.
1. Breaking Bad {AMC}
Breaking Bad is Vince Gilligan's epic character study of a mild-mannered chemistry teacher turned drug-lord.
What sets it apart from other crime shows is the distinctive tone that it sets. Nothing else feels like it; from its unique New Mexico desert setting to its quirky comedic touches, Breaking Bad is a must-watch if you want something with enough twists and turns to keep you engaged over it's 5 season run.
2. Lost (ABC)
Lost is arguably where the modern TV renaissance began.
Launching in 2004, it bought well written, high budget character driven TV to network audiences.
A mystery show at heart, the story picks up a number of characters who are the survivors of a plane crash on a remote island in the Pacific. It lost (no pun intended) fans over the course of its run for the show's habit of setting up questions that it never ultimately answered.
Hardcore fans remained though, and to this day they will passionately defend the show's divisive finale.
Lost launched careers, as well as introduced us to its eventual showrunner Damon Lindelof. More on him next...
3. The Leftovers (HBO)
The Leftovers is Damon Lindelof's first post-Lost show as showrunner. And boy does he seem like he have something to prove.
An intriguing premise based on a novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta. The Leftovers establishes a world set 3 years after the mysterious and sudden disappearance of 2% of the world's populace in a rapture-like event.
Featuring some standout performances from Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon, The Leftovers is a fascinating study of how we deal with inexplicable loss, and move on from it in a confused and damaged world.
4. The Wire (HBO)
The Wire is considered by many to be the greatest TV show ever made, and to this day it remains a hallmark of HBO's stamp of quality in every area.
Over the course of 5 seasons, The Wire spun an enthralling, gritty tale of crime in Baltimore, and the men and women tasked with cleaning up the neighborhood.
Expertly written, expertly paced, The Wire is a must-see for any TV aficionado.
5. The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)
Whilst this may not be the greatest show on this list. It's included largely because it sits in a genre that is notoriously hard to pull off on the small screen.
Just how many great horror TV shows have there been?
Yet Hill House manages to pull of some truly great moments.
Written and directed by horror master Mike Flanagan, the serious tells a cross-generational tale about a family plagued by, you guessed it, a haunted house.
Not only does it contain copious amounts of jump scares for fans of the genre, it also showcases some genuinely expertly crafted tension.
A high point in the series is episode 6, 'Two Storms' (unsurprisingly the highest rated on IMDB), which contains a number of single take scenes that go some way to rival more famous ones in film and TV (Looking at you, Goodfellas, True Detective etc.)
If you found this post useful and has given you some ideas of what to watch over the coming months, please do share on your socials!
