With 'Mad Men' ending, what's TV's next 'greatest show ever'?
“The Sopranos.” “The Wire.” “Breaking Bad.” “Mad Men.”
These four TV dramas from the past 15 years come up again and again when TV critics, bloggers and obsessive watchers are asked this question: “What's the greatest show of all time?”
So what current shows are viable candidates to be called “the greatest ever”?
‘Game of Thrones'
Why: HBO's medieval fantasy adaptation is a feature-quality production with A-1 actors, delicious dialogue and shocking twists. In an age when the word “epic” is thrown around as much as the word “awesome,” this show's tapestry of characters and subplots actually lives up to it.
Why not: The fantasy genre will always feel like a guilty pleasure to many viewers, and that epic storyline might prove to be too cumbersome by the show's end (if not already).
‘Louie'
Why: Stand-up comic Louis C.K. reinvents the sitcom every week on FX with an honest, independent and raunchy spirit. C.K. seems determined to always try new things — and always find new ways to humiliate himself — for the sake of our enjoyment.
Why not: Comedy will forever be perceived as drama's little brother, and C.K.'s blunt, sometimes abrasive sense of humor is undoubtedly off-putting to a great segment of the population.
‘Orange is the New Black'
Why: Netflix's binge-watcher set in a women's prison delicately balances intense personal drama and wacky character comedy like no other. It makes us truly love a cast of criminals like we did in “Shawshank Redemption” and is structured not unlike “Lost.” (Think about it.)
Why not: The setting could prove to be a hindrance as the show goes on, leading either to desperate plot lines or an abundance of new characters.
‘True Detective'
Why: Perhaps the most cinematic TV show yet, HBO's existential crime drama boasted instant-classic performances from Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in its first season. The second season, premiering June 21, has an impressive new cast (Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams) and a new mystery.
Why not: Can “True Detective” maintain a unifying identity with a completely new storyline every season? “American Horror Story” has but is hampered by its kitchen-sink approach to subplots, characters, gore and more.
‘The Walking Dead'
Why: With its massive audience, a weekly wrap-up talk show and fan conventions inspired by it, AMC's horror saga seems as unstoppable as the zombie hordes it depicts. Every episode inspires a national dialogue online and at the water cooler.
Why not: But most of those conversations seem to be about how much we hate the characters, don't they?
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Which show do you think has a shot at being among the greatest ever? What shows did I leave out? State your case in the comments online or shoot me an email at sstangland@dailyherald.com.
• Sean Stangland is a Daily Herald copy editor who totally votes for “Game of Thrones.” You can follow him on Twitter at @SeanStanglandDH.