My Top Ten Favorite Current* Series
*On Hiatus/Airing/Returning/Status Unknown with at least two completed seasons (the true test, IMO, should actually be three seasons, but I'll only be left with a top six)
10. 24
09. Chuck
08. Damages
07. Lost
06. House
05. Criminal Minds
04. In Treatment
03. Dexter
02. Spooks (aka MI-5)
01. Breaking Bad
Quick Notes: I'll probably add more of my thoughts (and links to guides) later. Apart from the usual reasons for loving a show (i.e. captivating dialogue, brilliant acting, unique and entertaining characters, interesting storylines, etc.), I noticed overlapping/similar elements among my favorites --
- protagonist leading a double life (1, 2, 3, 9, maybe 10)
- my love for spy stories (Alias is on my top 10 shows of all-time; one of my favorite cartoons: Spy vs. Spy -- yes, I'm that literal; although I'm not much into Bond -- James Bond, not S&M bond, not that I'm into that either!)
- non-scifi/fantasy (except for Lost, which makes this show special for me)
- preference for serialized over non-serialized/procedural shows
- dark, disturbing (sometimes depressing) dramas (which makes Chuck special, and Friends too!)
- not sure if this is relevant... no voiceovers/narration (except for Dexter and quotes from Criminal Minds)
Supernatural would've made it if their S1-S3 had the same quality as S4/S5 (reverse scenario for The Office). Medium, Big Love, Grey's Anatomy, and comedies TBBT, 30 Rock, HIMYM are somewhere in the Top 20 (I haven't really thought this through).
Among the 10, I'd say it's only In Treatment that is hard to recommend. It's just a psychotherapist and a patient (five different cases per season/one per day of the week) talking for about 20+ minutes every episode. No special effects. No non-stop action. Not much camera movement. And yet it's still one of the most engrossing TV series I've seen in years. I've actually seen both seasons twice, and I fell in love with the show even more after the second screening.
If you're into NCIS, Alias, The Unit, and 24, I highly recommend Spooks. Just don't check their IMDB listing during the course of watching the series. You'll regret it if you do. Breaking Bad is Weeds on meth (not that I've tried the stuff)! Bryan Cranston winning back-to-back Emmys (as Glenn Close did for Damages) is no fluke. All the rest, I assume you're familiar with.
Which among the ones above make it to your current top 10?
Enjoy the coming weekend, everyone!