Watching Television After Battlestar

Alright, if you have been keeping up with Battlestar Galactica, by now you know that the series is over. Now all there is to look forward to is the direct-to-DVD release of its prequel, Caprica.

So, now that it is all over, what is there on TV, or for rent, that is worth watching? Good question, and thankfully we AGR-folk can help answer that very question.

But what did I think of the BSG finale? In all honesty? Overall I was rather meh about it. No worries, I won’t go into spoiler-territory, I try to not play that game. What I can say is that I was a little disappointed, but there were some definite bad ass moments in this last episode.

If you’ve not watched the entire revamped Battlestar Galactica series you really ought to give it a whirl. I was very skeptical at first, and I actually skipped the first season when it was on TV. When Season 2 was finishing up I decided to check out a couple of episodes. I borrowed the pilot episode/movie as well as season 1, and I was convinced that Battlestar was worth watching after 2-3 full episodes. I continued to be impressed, but somewhere halfway through Season 3 I was getting antsy for things to just wrap up. That’s not to say that it was starting to suck, I was just ready for it to wrap up and come to a conclusion of some sorts.

And what a conclusion did we get. Yeap, it will definitely go down as a series that will be talked about for a good while yet. But if you are ready for something different and are uncertain as to where you should turn, here’s what I am watching these days.

What’s new on TV

I have to admit that watching new television episodes as they air is something I am not used to doing, I tend to wait for a season or two to be complete and them do a marathon watching session over a few weeks. But the following two new television series have me hooked, and now I am tuning in on the nights they air on a weekly basis.

Dollhouse

Yeah, that Dollhouse. Still not watching it? Still not convinced it is a great show? I predicted that this show would start as a slow-burn and then it would let loose once the ground rules of this new Whedonverse were well defined. With its 6th episode airing this past Friday we got to see things start to unravel as we near the half-way point in this first season of Dollhouse.

Without going into spoilers, we got to see some of the darker-sides of Dollhouse, including the darker sides of people that work within the Dollhouse, the darker sides of the technology and its potential uses, and some really good fight sequences!

I fully expect that Dollhouse will garner a larger audience as this season trundles along. Right now it’s got people’s attention, they are just not sure about this changeup in Whedon’s usual formula.

And newcomers to Whedon’s work are likely unsure about watching a show whose name suggests playing with dolls. Just don’t kid yourself, Dollhouse is a smart quick-paced thrillride that’s just about to open the six-pack of whoopass, mark my words.

Castle

This is a definite change of pace for me. Castle aired its 3rd episode this week, and the show is proving to be a quality watch.

The show is about an author, Richard Castle. He writes murder mysteries… until recently. Things were going very well for him, he had a best selling series of books, a daughter to be proud of, his fans adored him, and the ladies love him.

But he’s decided to kill off his gumshoe in his most recent book, and with his death being a bloody mess, there’s no bringing the guy back.

In a Murder-She-Wrote (don’t run away shrieking, please!) style, Mr. Castle aids in solving murder cases using his expertise in researching what makes a murderer kill. His aid is proving invaluable to the local police district, and he’s now helping them solve cases in exchange for field research for his next series of books.

And with as simple of a series framework as that you somehow get a very interesting show that keeps you smiling. The show does not take itself too seriously, the writing is smart, the dialog is purposefully cheesy in parts yet fun, and Mr. Castle is played by someone that pulls off cocky-yet-likable like no other: Nathan Fillion.

You might recognize Nathan from Firefly/Serenity, or from last summer’s blockbuster hit Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Well, Nathan is all aces in this series. He makes the series that much better just by being on camera. He’s pulling the more arrogant aspects of Captain Mal, and the self-centered aspects of Captain Hammer, and pulls out the wry wit from his own arsenal for this role. And the results are one of the more strangely amusing and likable characters on television right now.

Catching up on shows currently airing

How I Met Your Mother

I love this show. You need to watch this show.

Those two sentences alone pretty much sum things up, but here’s some more meat for my reasoning: I started watching this series because I fell in love with Neil Patrick Harris in Dr. Horrible this past summer. The man is really damned funny, and I needed more NPH funny in my life. So I decided to finally give a sitcom a chance.

The show’s about a small clique of friends that hang out, and the series tells their life stories. The central character is Ted, but the show’s really about all of the life experiences these people have, and how they share these experiences with each other. Neil is by far the funniest guy in the show, but every actor and character in this show is amazing.

I cannot recommend this show strongly enough. This is must see TV, and with every episode coming in 25 minute chunks you’ll be wondering how you managed the blast through an entire season in just a handful of sittings.

Terminator - The Sarah Connor Chronicles

I had started watching this series when it started airing, and I honestly have no recollection as to why I stopped watching. I was really enjoying it, but somehow I missed it week after week. The show had a good start, and people have been telling me that it deservedly got a second season based on how good the remainder of the season I missed was.

I figured it was time to catch up now, because not only were friends praising it, but in its current second season there’s a new badass Terminator, and it’s none other than Shirley Manson. I have always had a thing for Shirley, I don’t know if it’s the accent, her vocals when she sings, or what, but… yeah. I wanna see Shirley kick some ass is what I’m saying.

The Big Bang Theory

Here’s another show that’s currently airing, and one that I’ve been telling myself I need to watch. Everyone’s been telling me that I’m a fool for not tuning in, and it is not that I don’t want to, people… I just don’t… have… the time!

Again, I am avoiding as much spoilerific content as possible, but based on the fan art I find all over the internet, the watercooler chat at work, and the way people balk when I say “Sorry, never seen an episode…”, I believe you that I need to watch this.

Doctor Who

Alright, line up and get your chance to smack me silly folks, because I have never, ever watched Dr. Who.

I’ll give you a second to catch your breath, or to nod with me when you admit you’ve not seen it either. There seems to be three very very distinctive camps with this series - those that have watched every single episode ever, ever… as in, ever - those that have started watching the newer episodes, and love love love it - and those that have never seen a single freakin’ episode ever.

I’m of that last group. Don’t hate me, it’s just that the idea of watching such a prolific series with a very deep lore and background is very daunting for me. I want to watch it from the very beginning, but last time I watched a certain 7-season-long television series, people started calling my house to see if I was OK. I tend to marathon television series, and I fear I may never resurface if I was to watch this entire series.

So I think I’ll try to become part of the group of people that started watching the newer seasons of Dr. Who - it’s time I figure out what the allure of this series is… that, and I am tired of being smacked for never having watched a single episode.

Legend of the Seeker

Remember when I posted about this series in early January? I had the very best of intentions of catching up and watching this show. I loved it. Much like Terminator, I don’t know why I stopped watching it, but I’ve got every episode queued up for viewing on my PVR waiting for me to just park it and watch.

I enjoyed the first 7 episodes of this show very much. The story is very compelling, the characters are really interesting, the world is a lot of fun, the writing is strong, dialog is great, the fight scenes are exciting, and the cinematography is beautiful - really, this show is just great.

Give my first impression post a read and I am sure you’ll be looking up the airing time in your local listings soon enough… I just have to find the time to watch all of this stuff!

Star Wars: Clone Wars

My son and I have been watching these episodes two at a time for a couple months now, and we are both really enjoying them. It follows up the movie of the same name that hit theaters this past summer, and it’s actually quite well done.

My son gets confused as to why all the clone troopers look the same, but he’s 3 years old. That’s his biggest complaint. Well, he also finds Grievous a little too scary and covers his eyes when the General is on screen… but then again, who does not have a childhood memory of them doing exactly the same, right? The way I see it, I am just an enabler for these memories he’ll have when he is my age.

I’m such a good father.

But is the series any good? Actually, considering it is really meant for a younger audience, I find myself looking forward to watching the show with my son because it’s quite good. Even if you’ve sworn off Star Wars, or you are secretly jonesing for more Star Wars but are worried that this series will only disappoint… I can say with confidence that this series should pleasantly surprise you. I know I am enjoying it.

And there’s even more good news for those of us enjoying this series; StarWars.com is reporting that Cartoon Network has picked up the show for a second season.

What you should be renting

If you are like myself and prefer marathoning it, here’s a quick list of the shows I’ve been either re-watching or watching for the first time in the last few months.

Dead Like Me

This is a series that everyone has to see. It’s only 2 seasons long, but when I say “only 2 seasons long” I can’t help but cry out that this series was too brilliant to be only 2 seasons long.

It’s a serious comedy about life, living, dying, death, and the afterlife…and really crappy day-jobs.

Our main character is George, and she’s died by getting slammed in the noggin’ by a toilet seat from space shuttle Columbia as it burned up upon re-entry in 2003. And things do not get any less-weird after she’s dead. She finds out she’s a Grim Reaper, and her job is to save the souls of those about-to-die before the gravelings get to them. They have to find the person that is about to die and touch them to claim their souls before they’ve passed on.

The hard part is always to figure out exactly who is dying, how they will die, and how the hell to get there in time to save them. Believe it or not, as morbid as it seems, the entire cast is belly-laugh killer funny and you just have to see this series.

It’s a smart comedy though, it does not just go for the funny, it also will swell up tears as the more difficult aspects of life and death come to play with our Reaper-friend’s lives. As you get to know the Reapers, you learn that life after death is not always full of rest and happiness.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Where do I even start with Buffy. I’m always talking about Buffy, and I am always unapologetic about it - I love this series, and everyone needs to know about it!

Those of you that have not seen this really do need to see this entire series, seriously. It’s one of the best television series I have ever watched.

I don’t want to go all Buffy-crazed here, so I’ll keep this one short. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is smart, well written, campy, serious, hilarious, sad, touching, romantic, frightening, thrilling, nightmarish, and gut wrenching. You never know what the next episode is going to deliver, and it’s always fresh.

Angel

I’ll keep it short on Angel as well. For those that might not know, this series is a direct spinoff from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but the formula’s been reworked to be darker and I feel it is a little more adult. Characters from Buffy do some cross overs, but for the most part its stories revolved around Angel and a couple other characters from the Buffyverse, and takes place in Los Angeles rather than Buffy’s home in Sunnydale.

While I did not find this series as strong as Buffy overall, it’s a damned good series and it had me bolted to my seat for several episodes in a row most evenings for a couple months straight.

Firefly

And to round out my Joss Whedon trio of shows you must see, Firefly is probably the one that is closest to my heart. While I grew to love the Buffy and Angel series, I immediately fell in love with this one. The first episode had me hook line and sinker.

This is probably the best character development I’ve seen, and everyone single character feels real, every bit of dialog is both appropriate and fitting to each character, and nothing said is without relevance, be it to further story, to deepen a character’s development, or to help flesh out the world we find our motley crew living in.

However, if you are not aware… this series was canceled before it ever finished its first season. As a result the last episode really leaves you hanging. No worries though; there was a follow-up movie named Serenity (named after the ship they travel in) that continues the storyline to help tie things together. Once you’ve seen the series, you will definitely be wanting to see the movie right afterwards. So if you order the series, get the movie too - it’s a must see as well.

What’s on my radar

There are some shows that I missed when they were airing, and I have them slotted to be watched in the near future. Here’s a list of the shows I either have in-hand ready for the watching, or I’ve made plans to get into my Blu-Ray player soon.

Wonderfalls

Here’s a single-season series that so many people have told me I just have to see. Because they have touted this show as being a must-watch, I have purposefully avoided most everything spoiler-wise about it.

I wish I could tell you more about this show. Except for the monikers of awesome and excellent, I honestly know very little… but I’ll be watching it soon. I do know that the awesome Tim Minear worked as executive producer, and this man’s track record alone makes me want to see this.

I have the DVDs on my shelf now, and the fact that the picture on the DVD box set has an old-school Viewmaster? I’ll def watch it.

The IT Crowd

Aggro Me and oh so many others keep bugging me to get my act together and watch this series. I’ve seen episodes of it on TV before, but I always found everything so over-the-top that I ended up flipping the channels.

But friends of mine are usually bang-on when it comes to show recommendations, and Aggro Me’s even posted here about it to aid in persuading the masses this show’s worth watching. I’ve not gone so far as to purchase this one, but it does come highly recommended, so you might want to add it to your list of things to check out.

Spaced

Wow, yet another show that friends of mine tout as being worthy of my time. This one has a pretty good fanbase, and what little I do know I learned from Aggro Me’s post about it last year.

To be honest, this show was never on my radar until Aggro Me wrote about it. Since then I keep stumbling into posts, tweets, and conversations that mention Spaced and how much they loved it. I’m adding it to the list of things to try and watch this year just by street cred alone.

What are you watching?

I know the list is rather long, but I don’t want to end things here. I am always looking to add more good shows to the must-see queue. If there’s a show that you feel others have to see, let us know.

I’ve also updated the poll in AGR’s sidebar to see which television series you are currently enjoying the most. You might need to scroll up a bit to find it though… sorry about that!

So let us know what you are watching these days, I am sure there are gems out there that I am missing!

:Karnatos