Great TV Series to Binge-Watch

I don’t know about you but I really struggle to find TV shows and films that are of high quality in terms of: plot, dialogue, costume, cinematography etc. There is a vast amount of content that is churned out, but very little I would consider worthy of my very limited time. I would include in there films like Barbie and Oppenheimer both of which were pretty basic, shallow and boring in my humble opinion. I don’t think they deserve the accolades they gained. Here are some that I really loved….if you have seen these let me know what you thought…maybe others won’t agree with me.

Silo

Apple TV (2023)

Series: 1, Episodes: 10

In a dystopian future following a disaster, a community exists in a giant silo that extends hundreds of stories underground, 10,000 people live in a society bound by regulations they believe are meant to protect them. The lie about what happens on the surface above the silo and why they are all there below ground slowly unravels in this deeply compelling and well-executed detective style narrative.

Shōgun

FX (2024)

Series: 1, Episodes: 8

An English sailor ends up shipwrecked in Japan circa 1600. What unfolds afterwards is a deeply complex, nuanced and sophisticated power struggle between minor and major lords involving dangerous political rivalry. Based on the historical fiction novel by James Clavell, it is in English and Japanese. This is an extremely high quality production with exceptional dialogue, acting, costumes and cinematography. Unlike other ‘European people who discover and conquer the New World’ type narratives, there is a distinct narrative focus on the perspective, philosophy and world view of the Japanese and how they saw European interlopers.

The Bear

FX (2022-2023)

Series 1 and 2

A young chef, Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto also known to his friends as ‘The Bear’ inherits his family’s Italian beef sandwich shop in downtown Chicago after his brother (who used to run the place) kills himself. Carmy leaves behind a gilded and successful career as a chef in one of the most feted restaurants in the world. The noisy, chaotic, dirty world of running a malfunctioning diner comes sharply into focus – along with the residue of his family’s trauma. This is a superb masterwork of what it viscerally feels like to work in a busy restaurant kitchen. If you ever have – you will be able to relate to this. Through its fast cuts, montages, superb acting and dialogues, sweary diatribes and evocative soundtrack of long-lost radio classics…The Bear becomes absolutely legendary and has gained a cult-like following.

Poor Things

Poor Things is quite possibly the most genius and darkly funny film I’ve ever seen. Set in Victorian London, it focuses on a woman christened ‘Bella Baxter’ who was created as a crude scientific experiment by eccentric surgeon Godwin Baxter. Godwin salvages the body of an unknown pregnant woman post-suicide and brings her back to life. He uses the brain of the baby inside of her to reanimate her adult female body. If that sounds weird, it is! but nevertheless it is totally hysterical and delightful in its weirdness. The film is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and all of the actors in this are superb: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe. It delves into timeless and modern themes – a woman’s independence versus her reliance upon men, and men’s sexual claim over women. It is absolutely hilarious as well!