What's the best TV Drama of the Last 25 Years?

[affy18]

Buffy!

Please, details of your viewing experience.

I know Season 1 doesn't seem that promising but...keep watching and get to Season 2 and the greatness shall be revealed.

[Moviefreak]

I'm actually already on season 4 lol (just started). Season 2 and especially season 3 were both brilliant.

[affy18]

LOL, awesome.

Season 4 of Buffy isn't quite as consistent as Season 2 and 3 but it features some of the best, most experimental and audacious episodes in the entire series. Some of the best character development, as well. I'm so glad you're watching it. Buffy is

[Moviefreak]

Season 3 in particular was stellar. It was very consistent, not a single bad episode. I'm still just getting into season 4. A lot of changes that I need to get used to. Still a bit strange seeing them in a new environment and without some of the old characters.

[affy18]

Season 3 is the most consistent and after that one Season 5. Season 4 is probably funniest (and most experimental) and Season 6 is the show being Bergmanesque.

You have a lot of brilliant stuff ahead of you.

I miss watching Buffy.

[Moviefreak]

I'm excited!!

[affy18]

And The Shield is predictably taken down by The Sopranos. Excellent write-up, btw.

[Blasty]

I have Battlestar Galactica sitting on my self waiting for me to finally watch it. It will be interesting for me to compare it to say Twin Peaks.

I have no problem saying that one of the reasons I think Twin Peaks is the greatest show of all time is because it speaks to me on some kind of subliminal, subconscious level that is hard to put into words but I suppose it is as McBrilliant put it, because of it's Lynchian influence and LOL I have only ever seen Mulholland Drive once and other than that, Dune and the Twin Peaks prequel are the only other Lynchian ventures I have seen and all were years after I saw Twin Peaks, so I guess I am just trying to refute that I love the show because of some obsession I have "with my favorite auteur" ( I don't even believe I have such a thing), as I have sometimes heard that charge levied against Twin Peaks fans.

Anyway, I watch movies/tv because of the primal feelings they evoke in me, and thus I am particularly susceptibility to incredible mood pieces, such as Twin Peaks is. Of course, it's so much more than incredible style and atmosphere, but really, something must be said for it's style! The tone it sets is just so striking and wondrously weird and subversive and delightfully quirky - the show just seems to speak to me LOL. I saw it when I was 10 years old and I really believe it had the most stunning effect on me and my psyche - it was far and away the most sophisticated and intense and delirious tv/cinema I had ever seen, obviously, at such a young age. I actually think it was Twin Peaks that set me up to want MORE from movies/art than merely the next Star Wars/Spielberg/'80s movie adrenaline/thrill/silly comedy rush, which was what I had grown up on. Soon enough, I began to be more curious about real movies and from Twin Peaks, I was turned on to the trailer of Martin Scorcese's The Age of Innocence - another triumph of mood and music and imagery and from there, there was no turning back.

So, suffise it to say, I cannot be unbiased about Twin Peaks as I feel it has helped to map out my artistic DNA aesthetic.

So, while I understand others may find other shows more hard hitting or powerfully dramatic and I would never doubt that such shows like Mad Men, The Sopranos, The Wire, BG all have some various superior qualities to some of the weaker aspects of Twin Peaks, in the end, we like what we like, don't we? In my case, my first love is still my greatest.

I have really only grazed the surface of why I love Twin Peaks, this post was more about my fandom for it than anything else LOL. I will post more about it later.

I rather doubt it will win this tournie though, as I think today's critics seem much more in love with one of the aforementioned shows that are part of this new 'TV Golden Age Renaissance'. I mean, Twin Peaks changed the face of television of course, and that will get it quite far, but I just see them going with something like The Sopranos or Mad Men as those just seem to appeal much more to today's critics and are far trendier and edgier choices. I guess The Wire could win, but I think even critics are a bit too, I don't know...what's the word? attention cravers? to pick something that small and relatively unpopular (mainstream wise I mean) as their top pick, as that will get the least amount of attention. I don't know who is voting on this - I would think critics that were around and in love with Twin Peaks back at it's height might be more inclined to vote for it, but if many of them, as many AD-ers, came of age later and firstly on these more recent shows, I imagine they find Twin Peaks rather quaint in some ways.

[Habsburg]

Twin Peaks & Deadwood.

[haqyunus]

I just wanted to point out that the fact that TP was destroyed in the second half of the second season (in sorth: its short-lived-ness) has to mean that it didn't reach "emotional and intellectual heights". Now, I cannot compare those heights to those in BSG for I haven't seen BSG (I however, can dispute Moviefrak's assertion without having seen BSG, because TP hits the heights of any of the best works of art in history, cinematic, lliterary or otherwise, so it can be simmilarly masterful but not "never, ever able" to reach those levels), but that doesn't mean Movifreak's statement was wrong.

Although, I agree with you that when talking about series, consistency through different seasons is something to value, but not the ultimate criteria, frankly.

And that is another reason that 'The Wire' is way above the rest (of course from the series that I have seen.) This show maintained a surprising level of quality through out its 5 year seasons. Have you seen it btw?

[Blasty]

I really think that Twin Peaks is still must see TV in it's 2nd season. I mean, I won't pretend that the quality of the 2nd season plots are anywhere near as as earth shattering as 'Who Killed Laura Palmer?' was but I find the critique and subsequent backlash against it to be incredibly overblown. I mean, like, I'll always consider it a damn shame that it got cancelled when it did - I would have happily watched many more seasons of it.

[affy18]

I have Battlestar Galactica sitting on my self waiting for me to finally watch it. It will be interesting for me to compare it to say Twin Peaks.

I'm not going to claim you're going to prefer Battlestar Galactica over Twin Peaks but I think if you like sci-fi as much as you say you do, I think there's almost no chance you won't at least enjoy BSG.

You may not like it as much as Twin Peaks but I think you'll have a great time with it.

And that is another reason that 'The Wire' is way above the rest (of course from the series that I have seen.) This show maintained a surprising level of quality through out its 5 year seasons. Have you seen it btw?

I'm starting The Wire probably this weekend.

[affy18]

And The Wire prevails over The X-Files.

[Aurelius]

I however, can dispute Moviefrak's assertion without having seen BSG

This CANNOT be a typo. I have to believe this statement is a lie.

[affy18]

This CANNOT be a typo. I have to believe this statement is a lie.

[Moviefreak]

I noticed that as well and thought it was hilarious.

[affy18]

I really think that Twin Peaks is still must see TV in it's 2nd season. I mean, I won't pretend that the quality of the 2nd season plots are anywhere near as as earth shattering as 'Who Killed Laura Palmer?' was but I find the critique and subsequent backlash against it to be incredibly overblown. I mean, like, I'll always consider it a damn shame that it got cancelled when it did - I would have happily watched many more seasons of it.

I need to re-watch the show but from my recollections I do think Twin Peaks kind of went down in flames after the Laura Palmer mystery was resolved.

I think there were probably a couple of strong episodes before the finale, but the rest was bordering on unwatchable for me. I kinda had to force myself to plow through those episodes.

[haqyunus]

I need to re-watch the show but from my recollections I do think Twin Peaks kind of went down in flames after the Laura Palmer mystery was resolved.

I think there were probably a couple of strong episodes before the finale, but the rest was bordering on unwatchable for me. I kinda had to force myself to plow through those episodes.

Don't you all think that acting was another issue? I found that half of the cast was just I know in a series of this kind performances take back seat but still there has to be something. Thanks to the writing, direction and originality of the series itself, otherwise it wouldn't have been as successful as it was.

[Blasty]

I'm going to have to disagree strongly with any critique of the acting on Twin Peaks. I think the cast is utilized perfectly? I mean, while they may all be various degrees of talented, I think they pretty much maximize the talent of everyone they got, and I rather love the contrasting styles of some classic movie star actors from Hollywood's old school like Piper Laurie and Richard Beymer, tv stars from old tv shows like Peggy Lipton, B movie actors like Everet McGill, Lynch regulars like Kyle MacLachan, and raw talents like Sherliyn Fenn and Sheryl Lee - they make a most interesting soup together - all of them and I think it adds to the quirkiness of the show.

I don't think there's a single actor that drags the show down at all? It's also a huge ensemble, and certainly the key roles, like Kyle, Fenn, Laurie, Beymer are all played outstandingly. And I think there are little great performances from some unlikely cast members at interesting times that you don't expect as well like Dana Ashbrook as Bobby in scenes with Dr. Jacoby and his father often is startlingly great or Peggy Lipton has several scenes that she owns as well, like with her mother visiting, and one of my personal faves, Michael Ontkean finally has an amazing scene where his peaceful resolve erupts in rage I believe near the end with Josie I think. I even think season 2 newcomers Billy Zane and Heather Graham are quite charismatic and interesting and I loved their characters.

I think I once heard someone say they were rather bored with Lara Flyn Boyle and James Marshall's characters and well, maybe they aren't the greatest of actors, and they do have an awful lot to do, but I thought they were quite likable and committed to their roles even if they aren't as talented maybe as some of the others.

The actor who plays Laura's father and the actor who plays Agent Cooper's nemesis/serial killer in season 2 I will agree DO overact up a storm and their performances may not be to everyone's taste. I think Ray Wise as Laura's dad does give an unforgettable, disturbing, and heartwrenching performance though even if he does overdue it at times. As for Kenneth Welsh as Wyndom Earl...the villain of the 2nd season after the Laura plotline wraps up...well, I admit he does eventually grow tiresome and I think his scenes of torture go on WAY too long - but it's certainly an unsettling performance - they just spend too much time on his scenes - less would have been more.

There are SO many actors in this LOL - I haven't even mentioned the stunning Grace Zabriskie as Mrs. Palmer, or insanely interesting Wendy Robie's Nadine, the adorable Harry Goaz's Deputy Andy, and oh yeah, the most carnal and terrifying tv villian of all time, Frank Silva's Bob.

[haqyunus]

The thing is that I don't mind the deliberate overacting or the exaggerated-ness or quirkiness. For me some of the actors were simply not even able to deliver that. For example, in season 1, actors playing Leo Johnson, Bobby Briggs, Mike Nelson, Leland Palmer, Ed Hurley were just disappointments.

I agree, the cast is huge and those who were good were quite good (or decent enough as required by the character) e.g. Piper Laurie, Sherylinn Fenn, Lara Flyn Boyle, Joan Chen, Madchen Amick, Russ Tamblyn, Richard Beymer, James Marshall or actor playing father of Bobby Briggs who for some reason reminded me of Jeffrey Jones, and then of course MacLachlan It was so sort a split experience for me.

I don't remember Season 2 that much.