2013 comes to an end with surprisingly few climatic moments, unless you count the fact that ‘What Does the Fox Say?’ is still stuck in my head two months later, but brought around a year’s worth of fantastic television, whether with new episodes or repeats of old ones. Here are five television shows you should definitely be ending your year with:
(Spoiler alert though: This list doesn’t include Breaking Bad, because if you haven’t already watched it, you’re defying society’s norms in a way you totally shouldn’t be)
Show me one person who is not down for historically inaccurate representations of love, couture gowns that look like they belong on the runway instead of in a French castle circa 1570, and five minutes worth an episode of creepy girls laughing and I will show you a liar. The new series ‘Reign’ is indulgent in the way most shows on the CW always are (believe me, I still remember the years of my life dedicated to 90210 or the cringe worthy last few seasons of One Tree Hill), but it’ll make you want to watch the show even more. Of course, the show features aspects that are to die for (just like someone’s lover in episode two, spoiler alert) like the amazing soundtrack and cinematography that can be expected from any big budget movie.
The show only has 8 episodes so far, but even they are enough to get you hooked on the show, and even possibly make you actually want to put in some extra study time for your World History class.
Warning: there are going to be times when you have to stop watching an episode of the show because you feel like you need to take a bath. That’s how gross some of the scenes of this show are.
The seasons of the show arrive with new characters, new time periods, and completely new storylines, but two things never change- the actors (most of the main actors cast in the show have played three different characters over the three seasons), and the fact that the show’s creator, Ryan Murphy, is probably secretly a psychopath. Seriously, who goes from a season of murder house mysteries, to a mental institution, to a witches’ coven, and does it all with a smile and that ridiculous yellow hat he wears?
I can’t even give you a good reason to watch this show- it’s like a car crash. You can’t help but watch it, even though you’ll be horrified the entire time. There’s nothing the show hasn’t featured: murderers, bestiality, incest, teenage witches with great taste in fashion, men decked out in rubber suits, women who literally breathe the youth out of others to stay alive, centaurs, and a whole bunch of psychopaths.
Also, did I mention that the show’s third (and current) season features actresses that have won multiple Tony awards, Oscars, Grammys and Golden Globes? I don’t know how Ryan Murphy does it.
You can probably tell that I’m a sucker for shows featuring female leads, which I unashamedly am. There’s always something better about seeing women kick ass than watching pasty white boys having conversations on screen that have homoerotic undertones (not that I mind) and don’t pass the Bechtel test (I do mind, very much so). Therefore, Orphan Black has quickly made its way on to my list of best television shows, EVER.
Orphan Black rose to prominence with its first season’s 12 episodes airing in the first part of 2013. One paragraph could never contain the amount of intellect, foreshadowing, amazing acting and storytelling that has gone into the production of Orphan Black. As a sci-fi show, I was skeptical at first at how great the plot would be, but I was blown away by the intricacy of the storylines that somehow always connect to each other but play huge roles on their own.
But the best part of the show has to be Tatiana Maslany, the one woman powerhouse who makes the show what it is. Acting with the kind of grace and skill that some of the world’s most renowned actresses would probably die for, she handles over seven characters with ease, each with their own subtle mannerisms that seem like second nature to her. Her ability of being on screen for 40 minutes out of an entire 45 minute episode without ever boring anyone watching is remarkable. Before researching the show, I couldn’t believe that it was one person.
The show will give you chills at least once every episode, and every character is likable. Watching this is like an investment with no disadvantages. Do it for your own good.
Woman of color represented in a position of power? Check. Cute, smart and sadly, fictional male characters with financially security and wit that you can day dream about? Check. Men worshipping the ground upon which Mindy Lahiri, resident doctor/badass walks on? Check. The Mindy Project is a sarcastic, ridiculous bundle of cliches with surprising twists and it’s downright impossible to not enjoy the show. Many comparisons have been made when it comes to the Mindy Project and New Girl, and I’m not here to make it seem like they’re not very much alike; on the contrary, both worlds feel like they could be taking place at the same time, just on different coasts. Yet, I cannot help but love the Mindy Project more, simply because I’m always down for people of colour in leading roles, and comedy shows written by females. Almost every girl will be able to find a piece of themselves in the characters created by Mindy Kaling, and if they don’t, their bound to find someone in the guest stars featured in every week’s episode that they love.
To put the cliched line ‘old is gold’ to use, the show Pushing Daisies still resonates in my life full of ever changing television schedules. It’s like entering a forensic fairytale, only this time, the dead is being awakened and you can’t touch the girl you love, like ever. For a theme that sounds rather morose, the show is one of the happiest I’ve ever seen. Its advantages include: cameos from celebrities that are actually very famous currently and you would never expect to see on an old tv show; witty dialogue that specializes in tongue twisters, metaphors and and double entendre; and most importantly, Kristen Chenoweth, whose character is hilarious, quick witted, and bursts out into song on a couple of occasions. Its disadvantages include: there are only two seasons because of the writers’ strike of 2007, and the fact that the show was cancelled leaves me laying on my floor and staring at the fan wondering why all good things must come to an end.
Also, the show is incredibly relatable. I mean, I too struggle with the fact that I can’t touch Lee Pace (who plays the main protagonist, Ned the Pie Maker) on a daily basis, because hot damn, what a cutie.
Written by : Sarah Quraishi
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