Sun's Top 10 Shows

1. Breaking Bad:

   
   What can I possibly say about Breaking Bad that hasn't already been said? The writing is incredible, the characters are strong and memorable, the setting is charming. As someone from the southwestern United States, the New Mexico setting is close enough to where I've lived for most of my life to pretty much feel like home. It's honestly really fun to see. I loved Jesse with all my heart, he's just the perfect tortured little guy, and I loved to hate Walter. My only bone to pick with this show is the final season. Gus was a WAY more effective antagonist than those stupid nazis, and things kind of went off the rails for the first half of the final season in a way I really didn't appreciate- but I think this show really nailed the landing.

2. Succession:

   
   Holy. Shit. This show blew my mind. The characters are all strong and memorable. The dialogue is snappy and cut-throat. The DRAMA is to DIE FOR. The thing I really appreciated while watching this show was how far every episode carried you. So much was packed into each of them, and each episode left you in an entirely different place with an entirely different set of problems than the last. Unfortunately for everyone, Roman really caught my interest the most. Maybe that's to be expected, though- I've alreadys really liked Keiran Culkin. The last season of this show hit like a truck and left me wanting so much more. But respect for knowing when to call it- I think another season would have really been a bad move. But wow. So much is left on the table. I still think about the aftermath for these characters- often.

3. Frasier:

   
   I will never understand why Seinfeld and Friends get remembered as great 90s sitcoms and Frasier gets shunned. I LOVE this show- the characters, the premise, the plotlines. I think taking this uptight, snobby psychiatrist, giving him a spinoff, and making his brother an even UPTIGHT-ER and SNOBBIER psychiatrist in the spinoff is pure genius. Niles is the standout character for me by a mile, and most fans of the show that I've talked to would agree. I think seasons 4 and 5 are where it really hits its stride. It does unfortunately suffer from a decline in writing quality towards the end of its lifespan, but even the later seasons have plenty of episodes that hit the ball right out of the park. And, for being a 90s sitcom, there are very few episodes that I think aged poorly in the grand scheme of things.

4. The Bear:

   
   Another show that everyone seems to love. The Bear is STRESSFUL in a way that I haven't seen a show be before. It doesn't just do a good job of conveying stress, no, it makes the viewer stressed by just watching it. I think the very first episode is a killer example of that. The fast-paced dialogue, the constant barrage of problems, the bad choices that the characters make- it's like watching a train crash. Over and over. With lots of flames. It's great! The show takes a slower, more feel-good pace in the second season, which I was hesitant about... but it's nice. It gives more time to really explore other sides of the characters. And, ultimately, when shit hits the fan again, it makes it more impactful- like that Christmas episode. Hoooo boy. Excited to see where this show goes in the future.

5. M*A*S*H:

   
   This one is a classic. There's a reason the show went on for so long- much longer than the war it was about- and a reason why its finale remains the most watched television airing of all time (besides some superbowls). Parts of the series have admittedly aged poorly, but when you look at it through the lens of the 1970s, it was incredibly progressive and important. The characters are delightful, and I love the delightful mix of banter and physical comedy that this series has to offer. The transition from Trapper and Colonel Blake to BJ and Colonel Potter absolutely shattered my heart, but I do think that I agree the change in cast suits the show even better. The character that really stole the show for me is Radar. I just think he's great. I liked the more sly and snarky Radar of the early seasons, which I affectionately dub his Movie Radar era thanks to the similarities to how he played the role in the film, but there's something to be said for his innocence in the later seasons and its juxtaposition with the horrors of war. Good stuff all around.

6. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia:

   
   This might be a controversial take. This show has a lot of moments that tread the line, and a lot of moments that shoot past the line without a second thought. I definitely won't say it's without its problems. Hell- they drop the N-word in the first episode, really setting the tone for the whole series, and I think the way they handle race in particular is worthy of criticism beyond the likes I can give in a one paragraph review. That said, this show is hilarious, and I've loved it since I first discovered it as a teenager. I genuinely can't believe how long it has lasted, and while I think there's a slow dropoff in humor in the more recent seasons, at this point I love the characters so much that I'll almost certainly end up laughing anyways. But this is definitely not a show for the faint of heart. In fact, the only reason half my friends like it is because I cherry pick the episodes to show them that aren't outrageously offensive.

7. Severance:

   
   This one's a thinker. I like that. It doesn't hold your hand and baby you through all the concepts, it leaves you to figure things out for yourslf. And boy, are there a lot of things to theorize about. Just when you think you might have an answer, it throws a curveball your way. Like, uh, those baby goats. Huh? Mark is a great protagonist, and probably my favorite character, but I don't watch him with the same fervor as I do the faves in some of my other shows. I think the premise and drama of this show carries it further than just the characters. Helly and Mark are considerably more fleshed out than their coworkers. I do like Mr. Milchik. He's got a really interesting energy. And that cliffhanger at the end of the first season? Absolutely CRUEL. I hope this show has a long enough run to reveal everything it wants to reveal, because if it ends on another moment like that? I'll be inconsolable.

8. Community:

   
   I haven't met anyone who has watched a good chunk of Community and hasn't liked it. A bit corny at times, but this show is FUNNY as hell, and pulls out all the stops for its gimmicky episodes like the paintball wars. Casting shakeups in the later seasons really weakened this show for me- I think my interest started to wane around when Troy left, because we all know Troy and Abed's dynamic was the highlight of the series. I don't appreciate most of the canon relationships that happened in the show. Britta and Troy felt forced, and the age gap between Jeff and Amy was just too fucking weird for me to see past. Ultimately, I watched for Abed. I really relate to Abed in a lot of ways. I'm sure you might can see why.

9. Bluey:

   
   Yeah, the baby show for babies makes the list. Sue me. I work at PBS, I've got good reasons to be into children's media! This show is hilarious and heartwarming and adorable. There's real substance here. The characters feel really full and dynamic in a way that not many shows for audiences this young really bother with. And it's just... real. There's so much truth in the show. It doesn't shy away from reality. I think one of my favorite things about it is when Bluey and Bingo and many of the other kids do that little scream/squeal/giggle. It's so true! That's how kids laugh! And it's adorable! My favorite character is, of course, Bandit- though Muffin ranks pretty high on the list. She cracks me up. I don't get the Muffin Haters.

10. What We Do In The Shadows:

    
    Vampires? QUEER vampires? Queer vampires who are losers? Count me in! I have always enjoyed WWDITS the movie, so seeing this show come out has been a blast. I think the characters are great, and of course the premise is as well- it's essentially the same as the movie, but with a whole new cast of characters to love. And I really do love them all. The Fuck-You vibe of the series is refreshing, as is the casual queerness of most of the characters. Laszlo in particular has stolen my heart from the start, but I totally get why most people didn't really like him as much until the Jackie Daytona episode or the raising Baby Colin Robinson season. I will definitely be really sad to see this show go.

Every Show I've Ever Watched

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Watchlist

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