Being as 2011 is drawing to a close, I figured I’d follow convention for once and start rounding up all my favourite things from the year. To start with, I thought I’d go with television, and give you a brief description of some of the things that I liked most on the tellybox this last 12 months. Hope you enjoyed some of them too.
The Fades
The Fades – I see dead people. A story that centres around Paul, an unpopular teenage boy, and his struggle to cope with his emerging supernatural powers. In the mainly American dominated market of sci-fi, horror, and drama, The Fades was a complete delight and unusual to boot. A British series that was intelligently written, and emotionally engaging, and thus completely trouncing some of the dross that us sci-fi fans have put up with recently (V and Terra Nova to name a couple). Never pulls its punches, and because of this, delivers some amazingly hard hitting scenes. A new series is planned for next year, so try and catch up, it’s well worth it.
Trollied
Trollied - One thing that I think British TV has been missing for a while is a decent sitcom. Produced and written by people with a string of hits to their name (including The Office), Trollied was the first of a few British gems this year. Set in a supermarket, and with a talented ensemble cast that all add value, it’s easy to see that this show will run for a while. If you’re a fan of this show, keep checking back, as I’ve only managed to go and get an interview with one of the writers!
Spy
Spy - Following hot on the heels of Trollied, Spy was another new British comedy that hit the ground running. It’s your basic everyday story of a bloke going for a council job and accidentally getting a job as a spy for MI5, while trying to win the constant battle of wits with his far more intelligent son. A top cast, with the brilliant Darren Boyd finally getting a well deserved lead role, and Robert Lindsay stealing as many scenes as possible.
American Horror Story
American Horror Story – If I could use two words to describe American Horror Story, they’d be “fucking mental”. A family move to a new house to try and give themselves a new start. Sadly though, they’ve chosen a house with a bad history, and one that doesn’t want to give it’s new inhabitants an easy ride in the slightest. Everyone in this show has something to hide, and even though it’s only seven episodes into season 1 (in the UK at time of writing), you just know it’s going to get a whole lot more freaky before things start getting resolved. One of the best things to be imported from the States in a long while. Supernatural, horrific, terrifying, and utterly compelling.
Only Connect
Only Connect – This has been around for a few years now, (hidden away on the wonderful BBC4) but I feel is worthy of a mention, simply because it’s the one quiz show on TV that I am utterly hooked on (and not just because I’ve got a bit of a thing for the host). There are very few quiz sows that make you think, they all seem to just rely on knowledge, and not intelligence. Only Connect however, requires both. Not only do you have to know stuff, you have to be capable of such abstract thinking as to spot connections between things that should have nothing in common, at all. It makes University Challenge seem like a pub quiz machine in comparison.
So there you go, my random TV highlights of 2011. Stay tuned (if indeed you can be tuned to a blog) for my interview with Nat Saunders, co-creator and writer of Trollied. Very excited about that. And so should you be.
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