If You’re Not, You Should Be 1

This series is designed as a way to call attention to things, practices, places, activities, or anything else you might not be aware of that I think are worth checking out. I’ll try to cover as wide a variety of topics as I can. So far I’ve actually found this the easiest of the three new features to think of content for, and already have a list of 14 topics waiting in the wings. For this week, though, I thought I’d start with one right in my wheelhouse: TV shows. Here are my picks for three lesser known/watched series that are worth your time:

Fringe
This is by far the best television show currently airing on any of the major networks. What started out as a dull procedural in the vein of The X-Files evolved by the middle of its first season into a mythology heavy, science fiction epic. Parallel universes, alternate timelines, everything but aliens, Fringe is full of rich characters, compelling storylines, and enough action scenes to satiate the less psychological viewer. The one caveat with this one is that you should absolutely not start watching it with the next new episode to air. At this point, halfway through its fourth season, Fringe has built up so much mythology that new viewers will find it completely incomprehensible. Start from the beginning (or if you’re really impatient, from the second season) and you will be rewarded for your effort. Fringe airs Fridays on Fox.

Sherlock
This is a modern update of the classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories. What primarily separates it from the theatrically updated version is that Sherlock doesn’t assume its audience is comprised exclusively of idiots. Rather than turning its protagonist into a superpowered action hero and stringing together a series of chases and explosions and calling it a mystery, Sherlock takes a far more cerebral approach. The characters and their mysteries exist in the present day with the circumstances of the mystery itself being updated to make sense in the context of modern technology. It features real mysteries that reward careful viewing and yet is still slick enough that it is an entirely enjoyable ride. It’s just completed its second season, each of which consisted of three 90 minute episodes. Season two will air in North America on PBS in the spring, but if you don’t want to wait until then, the BBC broadcasts can easily be torrented in bits by the less-ethical. Sherlock airs Sundays on BBC One.

Homeland
This series focuses on a CIA agent attempting to track down a terrorist, as well as a former POW marine who has recently returned home and may or may not have been turned. While this may sound like a standard procedural, Homeland is anything but. It does have some thriller elements, but it is primarily a character drama, examining the lives and motivations of all its players. No one here is purely good or evil, everyone is shades of grey. It is through attempting to understand the thought processes and actions of the characters that Homeland derives its drama. Lead by an amazing performance by Claire Danes, this is easily the best new show of 2011. Though it has completed its run for this year, like Sherlock it can easily by acquired online. Homeland airs Sundays on Showtime.

Bonus: Community
If you spend any kind of time on the internet, you’ve probably already heard your fill of praise for this show, but I figured I’d throw my voice in as well. This is an incredibly inventive, consistently hilarious comedy. Now in the middle of its third season, it has always struggled to find an audience, a problem which hasn’t been helped by the network’s constant timeslot changes. Its offbeat brand of humour won’t be for everyone, but it’s certainly worth checking out, whether on Netflix or elsewhere. Community airs Thursdays on NBC.
And that’s it for this week. If this inspired you to check out any of the above, let me know! And feel free to suggest anything you think is worthy of inclusion on these lists.

Sleep well,

DTE