TV SERIES: Drama (watched) +review
Sorted on date of watching final episode/series finale for the first time. With additional note for each series.
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12 titles
- CreatorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAaron PaulAnna GunnA chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine with a former student in order to secure his family's future.Watched on Netflix from Jan 11, 2015 to Jan 31, 2015. Then in May 2015. Third time from Aug 17, 2022 to Nov 15, 2022.
10/10
Every scene adds to building the story and characters. Perfection.
As a naive 22-year old movie lover I stated that drama series were not really my thing. When a close childhood friend (who had always heavily influenced me regarding movies, games, hypes etc. during our youth) said I really had to watch Breaking Bad, I saw the 62 episodes within 20 days and a passion for drama series was born.
No coincidence that Lost would be the next show for me to watch, since I remembered the euphoric enthousiasm he had towards Lost during our youth.
S1 (10/10)
S2 (10/10)
S3 (9/10)
S4 (10/10)
S5 (10/10)
Final episode (10/10) - CreatorJ.J. AbramsJeffrey LieberDamon LindelofStarsJorge GarciaJosh HollowayYunjin KimThe survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.Watched on Netflix from Jul 30, 2015 to Sep 12, 2015.
9/10
First 4 seasons are the most tense/addictive tv I have ever seen. Season 5 still had great ideas. Also enjoyed season 6, but derailed too much towards the end.
S1 (9/10)
S2 (10/10)
S3 (10/10)
S4 (10/10)
S5 (9/10)
S6 (8/10)
Final episode (8/10) - CreatorDavid ShoreStarsHugh LaurieOmar EppsRobert Sean LeonardUsing a crack team of doctors and his wits, an antisocial maverick doctor specializing in diagnostic medicine does whatever it takes to solve puzzling cases that come his way.Watched on Netflix from Dec 24, 2015 to May 15, 2016.
10/10
Many episodes but the amount of good/excellent ones is absurd. Very enjoyable variety of characters, each with their unique humor. Each episode has its own story, but as more as the show progresses almost all lead/recurring characters will find a place in your heart.
I love compactness and minimalism and therefore the biggest advantage and my initial sacred enthousiasm for movies was that they try to tell the best possible story within a limited runtime. After watching Breaking Bad, Lost and House M.D. I realized that the big benefit for TV Shows is that they allow their characters to grow, without any hurry. The more in depth character building allows us to really start caring for their journey, destiny and fate. When done right, a lot more (caring) than any movie could achieve.
S1 (9/10)
S2 (10/10)
S3 (9/10)
S4 (10/10)
S5 (10/10)
S6 (9/10)
S7 (9/10)
S8 (8/10)
Final episode (10/10) - CreatorJames Manos Jr.StarsMichael C. HallJennifer CarpenterDavid ZayasHe's smart. He's lovable. He's Dexter Morgan, America's favorite serial killer, who spends his days solving crimes and nights committing them.Watched on Netflix from May 16, 2017 to Jul 3, 2017.
8/10
Mostly enjoyed seasons 1, 2, 4 and 7.
Seasons 3 to 6 missed some necessary progression on the main storyline. Nevertheless season 4 was the most shocking one obviously.
In season 7 an important side character was dragged into the main storyline which was a revival of the show in my opinion.
Before starting the show I was aware of the debatable ending. Normally it would be a sign for me to not watch a show at all, but the status, popularity and reputation of Dexter as a whole made it impossible for me to ignore the show.
At one point during the final season they created a major opportunity to let Dexter's coworkers affect the main storyline, after being side characters for the entire runtime of the series so far, it was a golden chance to lift the show towards a critically acclaimed climax. Unfortunately they chose the opposite direction, while it could have saved the final season.
S1 (8/10)
S2 (8/10)
S3 (6/10)
S4 (8/10)
S5 (6/10)
S6 (5/10)
S7 (9/10)
S8 (4/10)
Final episode (3/10) - CreatorMatthew WeinerStarsJon HammElisabeth MossVincent KartheiserA drama about one of New York's most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm's most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper.Watched on Netflix from Feb 28, 2018 to Apr 17, 2018.
9/10
Never seen such vivid character writing before. Every character has their own beliefs, ideals, mindset, ideology. Set within a beautiful timeframe in history. I love this show.
S1 (9/10)
S2 (8/10)
S3 (9/10)
S4 (10/10)
S5 (10/10)
S6 (9/10)
S7 (8/10)
Final episode (8/10) - CreatorBeau WillimonStarsKevin SpaceyMichel GillRobin WrightA Congressman works with his equally conniving wife to exact revenge on the people who betrayed him.Watched on Netflix from Jul 27, 2016 to Nov 8, 2018.
9/10
First 4 seasons were an investment, season 5 lost some unpredictability but was still good. Should have waited with the final season until matters were solved, or not produce the season at all. Main argument to continue production on season 6 was so people kept their jobs. But the bigger picture and legacy of the show are now ruined unfortunately.
After the debacle of the final season, and The Walking Dead that had no clear path of working towards a final season, I decided to only start watching series that are already finished, to have some clearity on what to expect (how many seasons, main reviews) and the benefit of never having to wait 1-2 years for a new season again :)
S1 (9/10)
S2 (9/10)
S3 (9/10)
S4 (9/10)
S5 (8/10)
S6 (5/10)
Final episode (1/10) - CreatorCraig MazinStarsJessie BuckleyJared HarrisStellan SkarsgårdIn April 1986, the city of Chernobyl in the Soviet Union suffers one of the worst nuclear disasters in the history of mankind. Consequently, many heroes put their lives on the line in the following days, weeks and months.Watched from Jun 16, 2019 to Jun 17, 2019, second time in the beginning of Jul, 2019.
10/10
Mindblowing, 11 out of 10. After seeing Jared Harris in Mad Men in 2018 it was a joy to see him portraying another role. That scene in the final episode with the caterpillar will never leave my mind, outstanding way to show the fragility/beauty/fertility of life in contradiction to the Chernobyl disaster.
All 5 episodes (10/10) - CreatorAaron KorshStarsGabriel MachtPatrick J. AdamsMeghan MarkleOn the run from a drug deal gone bad, brilliant college dropout Mike Ross finds himself working with Harvey Specter, one of New York City's best lawyers.Watched on Netflix from Oct 10, 2021 to Aug 4, 2022.
10/10
Maybe a few too many seasons, mainly lower ratings in season 8 & 9, nevertheless I enjoyed the whole series, with many, many tears. Ending was near perfect.
S1 (8/10)
S2 (9/10)
S3 (8/10)
S4 (10/10)
S5 (9/10)
S6 (9/10)
S7 (8/10)
S8 (8/10)
S9 (9/10)
Final episode (10/10) - CreatorVince GilliganPeter GouldStarsBob OdenkirkRhea SeehornJonathan BanksThe trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill in the years leading up to his fateful run-in with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.Watched on Netflix from Feb 9, 2015 to Aug. 16, 2022, then back to back with Breaking Bad from Nov 17, 2022 to May 21, 2023.
10/10
Slow like a good book and carefully crafting the bigger picture along the way. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul make each other better. Watching them back to back revealed many details and adds to my admiration for these series.
[8th drama series in a row (except Chernobyl) that I watched on Netflix. Kind of an end to an era for me, as my focus will now shift to HBO Max, starting with The Sopranos, Succession and Game of Thrones.]
S1 (10/10)
S2 (9/10)
S3 (10/10)
S4 (10/10)
S5 (10/10)
S6 (10/10)
Final episode (10/10) - CreatorFrank DarabontStarsAndrew LincolnNorman ReedusMelissa McBrideSheriff Deputy Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to learn the world is in ruins and must lead a group of survivors to stay alive.Watched season 1-5 on Netflix, season 6-10 on a Dutch tv channel, final season on Disney+, from Oct 2015 to Nov 21, 2022.
8/10
Initially not a fan of the concept (surviving in a world of the dead has basically no ultimate climax to work towards to, while ending the show with a cure for the virus would be too much of a happy/unrealistic ending), I started watching TWD curious to figure out the core of the hype. Series slowly grew on me and got interesting from the prison onwards. Season 6 to the premiere of season 7 were the best the series had to offer in my humble opinion. Episodes 6.9 and 7.1 made me shiver to the core of my bones.
Episode 2.7 was the first that got to me emotionally, which made me understand how a series with this concept could actually work. Then episodes 4.08, 4.14 and 5.1 had a major impact on my increasing enthousiasm for the series. But as many said, the formula of The Walking Dead started turning more and more towards human versus human instead of human versus the dead, which kind of supports my initial doubt about a tv series with the concept of surviving in a world were the focus should be (majorly) about human versus the dead.
Seasons 7-8 mainly received negative reviews. Personally I kept supporting and enjoying the show, focusing on the positive and being curious how the storyline of the new bad guy would evolve.
Seasons 9-10 were a definitive return to form, with episode 10.22 as the most welcome bonus.
Final season dragged on too long in my opinion, no risks were taken and therefore the shock value was totally gone. Could have intertwined the return of our beloved 'lost' characters into the final season instead of doing a spin-off, potentially reaching the most desired climax in the main series. Episode 11.9 was a highlight.
After the uncertainty of when the show would end, and the debacle of House of Cards' final season, I decided to only start watching series that are already finished, to have some clearity on what to expect (how many seasons, main reviews) and the benefit of never having to wait 1-2 years for a new season again :) - CreatorDavid ChaseStarsJames GandolfiniLorraine BraccoEdie FalcoNew Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.Watched on HBO Max from May 25, 2023 to Dec 10, 2023.
9/10
Definitely among the greatest series of all time, but still had some era related flaws that are usually smoothened out in tv shows nowadays.
Never having a pre-intro scene (or a cold open) started to become predictable and a bit dull towards the end of the show.
Especially when I started watching Succession halfway through The Sopranos. Near the end of their cold opens the music would often build up to / fade into the actual start of the title sequence. As Succession got better and better throughout its run that sometimes really excited me.
Sometimes characters would practically dissapear for half a season (Meadow or Artie for example). While I got mildly irritated that characters as Sil, Paulie or Dr. Melfi did not get more depth of character or exciting storylines in the final seasons.
In the final 3 seasons the show usually would fall a bit flat in the middle of its season. If season 4 and 5 both had 11 episodes, and the final season 16 episodes, it would have been more compact and possibly would have saved the attention span in continuing the story throughout the season.
S1 (9/10) Fresh and exciting
S2 (8/10) Started messy but got very good
S3 (10/10) Near perfection. Many great intertwining storylines
S4 (8/10) Started very strong but missed a bang towards the end
S5 (10/10) Near perfection. Especially this season got a bit dull halfway trough, but the pay off-episode skyrocketed this season into an easy 10/10
S6 (8/10) Season was simply too long in my opinion. Final two episodes of the series were shocking though. Although the final shot left me a bit annoyed/unfullfilled. I would have loved to see Meadow join her family in the restaurant. While otherwise there would have been no clear narrative of anyone who ordered or wanted Tony murdered in this specific part of the story.
Final episode (9/10) - CreatorJesse ArmstrongStarsNicholas BraunBrian CoxKieran CulkinThe Roy family is known for controlling the biggest media and entertainment company in the world. However, their world changes when their father steps down from the company.Watched on HBO Max from Aug 18, 2023 to Jan 7, 2024.
10/10
The life of a father with three sons, a daughter, son-in-law and a nephew in their poisoned ivory tower of wealth. Most dialogues were so fresh, entertaining and sharp that I did not even mind the slow progression of the plot.
Succession is like Community for adults, regarding their shared similarity of meta humor.
Unique, brilliant show.
One thing I missed sometimes was a more intelligent approach in strategies and decision making from Logan Roy. Most of his 'victories' were due to having the loudest voice in the room and/or showing his charismatic dominance.
S1 (9/10)
S2 (10/10)
S3 (10/10)
S4 (10/10)
Final episode (10/10)