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FINISHED | Allstar's Best Of 2014
ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 4/4/2010
Posts: 10,437
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So many good shows that didn't make the top 10...
But great list so far.
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Member Since: 11/20/2010
Posts: 29,258
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Quote:
Originally posted by Superiore
The Big Bang Theory. It's declining but I still love it.
I heard a lot of good things on Orange Is The New Black, should I give it a watch?
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Definitely. The first season was better but it's still great.
Quote:
Originally posted by Innovator
So many good shows that didn't make the top 10...
But great list so far.
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I know, I know. I felt especially bad about The Good Wife thinking of you.
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Member Since: 7/22/2009
Posts: 13,429
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I really love Modern Family! Fantastic show
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Member Since: 2/13/2012
Posts: 62,082
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Orange Is the New Black
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Member Since: 12/24/2010
Posts: 37,039
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Modern Family used to be fantastic now isn't that awesome but I still don't miss any episode
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Member Since: 10/2/2011
Posts: 43,174
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Quote:
Originally posted by Allstar
Definitely. The first season was better but it's still great.
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Nowadays I'm doing marathons of Friends but I trust your flawless taste. I'll give it a try in the future!
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Member Since: 6/9/2011
Posts: 16,500
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Member Since: 10/8/2009
Posts: 8,118
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The Big Bang Theory
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Member Since: 11/20/2010
Posts: 29,258
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Top TV Comedies
#10 - Community
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'Community's comeback in 2014 must definitely be amongst one of the most surreal, unexpected and truly amazing things to have happened to a tv show. Dan Harmon was fired from the show he created and ran by himself and to no surprise 'Community' for the first time ever became quite bad - at times even disastrous.
So it was more than just a pleasant surprise to see NBC hiring him back and the show subsequently perfectly moving back to its old glory. What makes 'Community' is how richly filled it is with all kinds of popular culture references and how extremely meta it intentionally gets at times. Yet, surprisingly it never feels too convoluted or even forced in any sense (in its best, that is). Last season miserably failed at achieving that but Dan Harmon decided that instead of trying to ignore all the messiness of the last season and steer away from it he embraced it staying true to the show's meta-core in the rawest sense possible which helped the show find back to its original lane on tv and become funny, fascinating, creative, witty and smart again.
While S5 definitely isn't the best season or as strong as the show used to be a few years back it still presented some of the show's greatest episodes ever - an entire Fincher tribute episode, an animated episode homage to G.I. Joe or a futuristic dystopian installment in which the entire Greendale community participates in a 'rating'-system that leads to a new hierarchy.
'Community's social satire moments aren't always as poignant or strong as they could be but because the show tells them in such a creative and unconventional way they don't have to be. With two main characters departing this season the show found depth in topics such as growth, loss or maturity. Yes, 'Community' is not as great of an awesome meta-reference show as it used to be but it returned to a place of strong quality, always knowing its place while still being ambitious and after a chaotic season has become one of the most niche yet truly great series to watch.
Best Episodes: "Cooperative Polygraphy"; "Bondage And Beta Male Sexuality"; “Basic Story”
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Member Since: 11/20/2010
Posts: 29,258
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#9 - Silicon Valley
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I don't have a lot to say about 'Silicon Valley'. As the title suggests it is set where so many revolutionary innovations of our digital age have been found out and perfected. The great thing about this HBO comedy? Our protagonists have already found their 'revolutionary idea' so we can just skip ahead of all the boring, repetetive and unnecessary focus on geeks ruminating through a bunch of unimaginable ideas.
Instead, our protagonists have to deal with the struggle of putting their idea in motion - not so much in the technological sense (even though they do have problems sometimes) but much moreso in trying to fond financial support and having to deal with the corrupcy of big and already established global powers wanting to steal their idea. This makes 'Silicon Valley' a great show not only about the drives and motivations of the kind of people we associate with that location but also about greed, ambition and our modern web generation.
It's a good show. Certainly not this year's best comedy because while it's undeniably consistent it's just that - there's never really an incredibly strong moment or single masterful episode to put 'Silicon Valley' into the ranks of the top tier comedies. It has so much potential to grow, however, so just maybe it's going to do just that. And if not at least it seems safe to say it'll stay consistent.
Best Episodes: "Articles Of Incorporation"; "Signaling Risk"; "Proof Of Concept"
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Member Since: 3/5/2011
Posts: 15,589
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Need to watch Silicon Valley.
It's a comedy? had no idea
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Member Since: 11/20/2010
Posts: 29,258
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#8 - Parks & Recreation
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I find it interesting to observe how critics praise so many single episodes of 'Parks & Recreation' - A ratings have become a norm for this comedy, even. Reading reviews you can tell that the consensus is that P&R is one of today's best comedies and of all-time. Yet, an appearance on year-end lists is a rare ocassion for this show. That wasn't always the case which supports the fact that it's just no longer the comedy to root for for criics and just once more proves how, at times, incredibly fickle they are.
Honestly, saying that 'Parks & Recreation' is one of the best comedies of all time, as I just did, is no stretch by any means. As an overall season it's not as strong or cohesive as it used to be because there are a few episodes bringing it down. However, there are so many single moments and such a great palette of selective episodes that are incredibly hilarious, sharp and just amazing.
Leslie Knope is one of the best comedic characters ever and the entire cast dynamic is one of the few things that has perfectioned itself gradually through each season.
Best Episodes: "Ann And Chris"; "Flu Season 2"; "Moving Up"
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Member Since: 11/20/2010
Posts: 29,258
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#7 - Review
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At first, I, like some others, wasn't quite sure what to make of this show. Its premise just seemed too absurd for someone to pull off well and the first two episodes seemed to prove just why. The viewer had no connection to Forrest MacNeil, didn't care about him or what he was doing so the jokes fell flat and the moral part of the show didn't come across very well. However, once it settled in and found its footing - which was by the third episode that also ended up being one of this season's brilliant highlights - it suddenly actually... worked. The reviews about "life" Forrest set out to do started to finally inevitably impacting his own life and gave us not only a true insight into his personalty but also into those of his surroundings. Some of the reviews were extremely cringeworthy to observe as our protagonist had to literally destroy his entire life or painfully embarass himself for them. Exactly those, though, were the most hilarious and expressive moments that made this entire experiment worth watching and pay out in the end.
'Review' delivers some clever dark humour, nice punchlines and an interesting insight on morals and business. After a bumpy start it ended up becoming one of this year's best comedies. Even if I'm still torn on how many stars I would give the show for its quality, it definitely gets 5 stars for making its idea work.
Best Episodes: "Pancakes; Divorce; Pancakes; "Quitting; Last Day; Irish"
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Member Since: 11/20/2010
Posts: 29,258
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#6 - Jane the Virgin
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I didn't want to include this CW comedy because its season isn't finished yet and we only got 9 episodes. But I thought it would have been a very false represantation had I not included it either so here it goes - 'Jane the Virgin'. A CW show. It shouldn't work. It shouldn't be good. So how come it is? And not just that - how come it was one of the best comedies of 2014 even just nine episodes in?
This campy over-the-top soap opera-like comedy soaking in clichés, in kitsch, predictability and unpredictabilty (yes, that's possible) is legit great because it knows its place - at all times. 'Jane the Virgin' is so self-aware that the show even reaches moments when it mocks itself. Its so wacky plot is always being underlined by how much the show revels in it through things like its hilarious constant commentary. It's so honest, respectable and loveable that it practically dares you to spend time with all of the show's characters because the series never wants to be anything it's not. in 2014, there was no other show with a bigger heart than 'Jane the Virgin' and no other show that used that so much to its favor you couldn't help but falling in love with it.
The lead actress Gina Rodriguez is one of the main ingredients to make this show work as she's giving an amazing performance that transcends this show's tackiness and surrealism and transforms Jane into a warm, loveable character with real problems and real feelings.
For everyone who has a thing for the CW atmosphere or for soap-operas this is the great thing to turn to. And for everyone who loves a good show in general, well, you have to watch this because it's a tv miracle.
Best Episodes: “Chapter One”; “Chapter Four”; “Chapter Six”
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Member Since: 11/20/2010
Posts: 29,258
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Quote:
Originally posted by Damien M
Need to watch Silicon Valley.
It's a comedy? had no idea
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Oh, it's definitely a comedy!
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Member Since: 12/14/2011
Posts: 21,274
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I didn't catch every episode of Parks & Rec this year but that would have to be probably the straight up funniest show I have watched.
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Member Since: 10/8/2009
Posts: 8,118
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I would like to watch silicon valley and Getting on
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ATRL Moderator
Member Since: 4/4/2010
Posts: 10,437
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Community, Silicon Valley (thanks for recommending that to me) and Jane, The Virgin!
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Member Since: 4/7/2009
Posts: 34,961
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Parks & Recreation seems interesting. I'll try to check that out.
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Member Since: 10/2/2011
Posts: 43,174
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Community is so funny
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