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Just a normal neanderthal looking forward to giving his not-at-all-informed opinion.
Well, let me tell you something, guys. Despite how you feel about the ending of this famous HBO series, I feel like there is a TV hole in my TV heart. Yes, the finale was controversial (at best), but that doesn’t mean that, for most of us, Game of Thrones represented a lot of our adulthood and our Sundays.
If you are tired of walking aimlessly though your streaming service, let me be of some assistance with some TV shows that might be to your liking. Be aware that I won’t be recommending shows that are ending this year (i.e. Supernatural, Orange is the New Black, Mr. Robot, etc.) or that have ended. Not because they are not good, but because we need something to see weekly with intrigue and without fearing possible spoilers when we search for it on the Internet.
Also, the list contains my personal opinions of good television, from animation to live-action shows, either current or upcoming. So if you don’t agree with me, it’s okay to be wrong. No, I’m kidding, it’s fine.
Without further ado, here they are.
Barry
From HBO (bare with me) comes this Bill Hader-led television show. The creator, besides Hader himself, is Alex Berg, the writer of a bunch of Seinfeld and Silicon Valley episodes. It deals with the titular character Barry, an ex-veteran that became a hitman because he only knew how to kill. In a mission, however, he realized that he has a passion greater than taking lives: Acting.
It’s weird. Hader is better known for comedic roles and it shows that he is hilarious, but he can also be tragic. The comedic show-stealer is Henry Winkler, who is playing Barry’s acting coach. This is not a straightforth comedy. It blends the sadness of Barry and the comedy of his situation masterfully.
Its second season just finished (the same day that Game of Thrones ended, I might add). Go check it out.
Rick and Morty
Okay, this is an obvious one. Even if you don’t watch it, I’m sure you’ve heard of this Adult Swim series. It is a cultural phenomenon. Although, if you’re among the 1% of the worlds population that don’t know what this is, let me explain.
Dan Harmon (Community) and Justin Roiland created this series about the genious/alcoholic Rick Sanchez that, after being absent for most of his daughter’s life, comes to live with her and her family. Among them, there’s the 14-year-old dimwitted grandchild, Morty (both of the titular characters are voiced by Roiland) and the both of them go on sci-fi adventures. In addition, the series explores parenthood, power struggle, loneliness and the meaning of life. This is no joke.
That’s all you need to know. It’s one of the smartest and dumbest comedies I have ever seen. It has 3 seasons and its fourth season is set to premiere later this November.
What We Do In The Shadows
This FX series is set in the same universe as the 2014 film with the same name (you can learn more of the movie here). It deals with four roommates living in Staten Island, all of whom are vampires. The creator of the series is Jermaine Clement, who played one of the vampires from the original movie and is a spectacular comedic mind.
The show is the most pure and absurd type of comedy, dealing with really old vampires living in the 2010s, along with one human that provides them their human food and is in denial about being a killer for it. The cast is spectacular and the writing is amazing.
Its first season has just ended but it has been renewed for a ten-episode second season. Now is the time to watch it. If you want to laugh for 23 minutes straight, this is your type of series.
Westworld
This HBO series comes from the mind of Christopher Nolan’s brother Jonathan, his wife Lisa Joy and JJ Abrams, among others. But reading those names, you’ll have an idea of this one. It is partially based on the 1973 movie with the same name. It follows the doings and undoings of the amusement park called Westworld, where you can be and do whatever you like because the people living in it happen to be androids.
Although, when these androids start to realize what they are and become sentient, all goes to hell. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but the cast of this series, lead by Evan Rachel Wood and Jeffrey Wright, is stellar. It also includes Ed Harris, James Marsden, Tessa Thompson, Anthony Hopkins and Zahn McClarnon (you’ll know by the end who the last one is). Lastly, the writing, led by Nolan and Joy, is fantastic, as is the set design, and I can’t stress this enough.
Season 3 (with Aaron Paul) comes out in 2020. Go check out the first two seasons.
Watchmen
Wrapping up my list is the show that has me beyond excited, and it isn’t because of the cast, which includes Black Manta himself Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jeremy Irons himself, and the absolute wonder that is Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk).
Not because of the source material from Alan Moore that, if you haven’t read it yet, you should give a try. It’s one of the most revolutionary graphic novels ever written and drawn. There’s also a sequel currently being published by DC Comics, written by Geoff Johns, but we don’t know if the series will be related to this comic arc.
I am excited by the creative mind behind it: Damon Lindelof. He is one of the minds behind Lost and The Leftovers, among others. Yes, Lost is far from perfect, and Star Trek: Into Darkness isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. But, when given full creative control, he can create something so unique and emotional like The Leftovers.
And he aparrently has all the creative control in this new Watchmen project. Here’s to hoping!
Okay, for fear of making this a lot longer, I’m just gonna give some honorary mentions:
Shingeki No Kyojin, an anime based on a manga with a masterful story.
The Good Place, an absolutely amazing comedy with spectacular characters, lead by Kristen Bell.
The Twilight Zone (2019), that comes from the mind of Jordan Peele and so many other talented creators.
The Dragon Prince, another Netflix original that scratchs that Avatar: The Last Airbender itch you have since it ended.
Atlanta, because, c’mon, it’s Donald Glover. You cannot go wrong there.
I’m cutting myself off. I enjoyed this article, and please give me your recommendations of TV shows if I haven’t mentioned them here.
I’m @luisdnavas!
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Just a normal neanderthal looking forward to giving his not-at-all-informed opinion.