An incomplete list of the good (and so bad it’s good) tv and cartoons Part 1

So recently I did a list like this, showing all the new stuff that has come on to tv, but I realised that I  wanted to make a shout out to all the older shows that have finished or just have been running so long that I couldn't justify putting them into the last list. I’m also adding both anime and cartoons (because for some reason people think of them as different things) a. Obviously this is going to be incomplete as I haven’t watched all the tv programmes in existence, these will also mostly be genre stuff though if I think of a particularly good show I’ll add it in.

On the rating system, all of these shows are watchable so my system will be slightly different:

1 = bad but fun (either to laugh with or to laugh at),  2 = alright, some might like it, not be for everyone but a decent show, 3 = I recommend you watch this show, 4 = definitely watch this, 5 = if you already haven’t seen this then put down whatever you’re holding and start watching this.

TV

Alice

 A mini-series giving the adventures of Alice in wonderland a new twist. A grown up Alice finds a mirror a falls into another world and begins looking for her lost love and father. With great visuals, a decent story and nods galore to the original, this is an interesting take on the original and leaves you satisfied.

Completed.  3/5

Alphas

See previous articles about this show.

2 series. Ongoing.4/5

Andromeda

The original idea came from the same mind as star trek (gene Roddenberry). It’s the tale of a man out of time with a huge sentient space ship. In his past there was a commonwealth and he was a defender of it. But fast forward three hundred years the peaceful days of the commonwealth are just a legend. He with a rag tag group of aliens set out to recreate the commonwealth in a galaxy gone mad. Interesting show, though the first season is a bit slow, it definitely deserves a look.

5 seasons, completed. 4/5

Angel

A spin off of buffy, and written by Joss Whedon, it is the story of a vampire (back when vampires were cool) trying to do good in the world. Slightly darker the buffy it still has the same humour and the same sense of epicness that makes this show great. Plus if the idea of a vampire fighting a dragon doesn’t get you interested then you show visit a doctor because obviously you have no soul.

5 seasons, completed. 4/5

Arrow

See previous article for more detail, but this show even in its first season has become one of my must sees of the week.

1 season, on-going. 4/5

Babylon 5

To describe this best I would call it a good version of deep space 9. It’s about an international space station which is meant to promote peace, so be prepared for a lot of alien politics. I always preferred star trek myself but I can’t deny this is a great show.

 5 seasons. Completed.  3/5

Band of brothers

About easy company in WWII it is just amazing.

1 season. Completed 5/5

Battlestar Galactica

the re-imagined version takes the idea of a human cylon war and makes it dark and gritty. The series starts off with a small fleet of human survivors fleeing the cylons and trying to find a way to survive. It’s intense and incredible.

4 seasons. Completed. 5/5

Being human

A ghost, a vampire and a werewolf live in a house in Bristol. An interesting look and good world building, I like the fact that all these people have drawbacks, and aren’t awesome superpowers like what is normally portrayed today. A look at how it would most likely ne (you know if it were possible to be a werewolf).

4 seasons. On-going. 3/5

Buffy the Vampire slayer

If you don’t at least have an idea what this is shame on you, go on Wikipedia and become a little bit wiser.

7 seasons. Completed. 5/5

Castle

A detective show with so many genre shout outs it should be listed as sci-fi. A best selling author decides to shadow a police detective and they solve crimes together.  It has Nathon Fillion of firefly fame in it, which makes a run of the mill detective show infinitely more interesting. Funny, intelligent, the best detective show still being made.

5 seasons. Ongoing. 4/5

Charmed

I grew up with this so might be a little biased, but from what I remember it’s about tree witches (always three even though some die or leave and the writers had to come up with more and more elaborate ways to link the three women) who have a book all the daemons want, and so every week they have to kill a new bad guy. Light hearted fun on the whole.

8 seasons. Completed. 2/5

Community

A lawyer who has faked his way into the bar has to go back to community collage and actually get a degree. Though this sounds like another mediocre comedy it is filled with so much hilarity I’m actually chuckling about some of the jokes while im writing this. Filled to the brim with geek humour, for example… you know what just watch a couple of episodes. Six seasons and a movie!

3 seasons. Ongoing. 5/5

Continuum

Time traveling cop goes back to stop future terrorists. See previous article for more info.

1 season. Ongoing. 4/5

Cougar town

The premise of this show was about a newly divorced woman (Monica from friends, yes I know her real name but that is all she will be to me forever) going after younger men. By about episode 6 or 7 the writer’s obviously decided that they instead wanted to write about a group of friends getting drunk and having fun. It was the best decision they could have made. Honestly it’s amazing how well the writers changed direction, and just how funny a show it could be. Plus this show is essentially a reunion for both the scrubs and the friends cast, so we get to see plenty of familiar faces.

3 seasons. Ongoing. 4/5

Dark angel

Dystopian future! Mutant/ Ninjas! Jessica Alba! If you like any of these things you might like dark angel. A government made super soldier on the run helps make the world a better place.

2 seasons. Completed. 3/5

Doctor who

Another show that I’m sure you’re at least familiar with. I haven’t yet had the chance or inclination to watch the old ones but even just the new series is great.

5 (new) seasons. Ongoing. 4/5

Dollhouse

Another joss whedon series, its about a corporation that hires people for years at a time, wipes their mind and then can put whatever the customer wants, so if some rich dude wants a biker chick thats the mind they download into the "doll" (hence the name). Problems start to build up in the first season, then the show quickly explodes in a ball of awesome with world wide conspirises, super ninjas and so many twists, with so many great characters. the premise is a disturbing true but this is one great show.
2 seasons. Completed. 5/5

Eureka
A town full of geniuses, lots of mad science, and more geekery then you can shake a stick at. A light hearted show with a fun disaster of the week theme, but also manages to do series long plots as well. so if you like talking houses, time travel, alternative realities and , much more check this out.
5 seasons. Completed 4/5

Firefly
A scifi western written by joss whedon is one of the most short lived, yet greatest shows out there. full of adventure, stuffed with wit and comedy, jam packed with amazing world building, an all round amazing show. plus the sequel film serenity is just as good. if you are a fan of this, then you a an objectively better person.
1 season + movie. Completed. 100/5

Falling skies

A post apocalyptic future where aliens have taken over and its up to a group of rebels to fight the good fight. the main character is a history teacher so that gives this show brownie points  think of it as independence day if the stupid play to give a hugely advanced computer a virus didn't work. 
2 seasons. ongoing. 3/5

Farscape
An interesting take on the alice in wonderland theme, a man tossed to the far reaches of space trying to find his way home and meeting hundreds of strange characters. the living spaceship he finds himself on is actually some escaped convicts ride.  the first season is a bit dull but once the main bad guy turns up the show goes from stride to stride.
4 seasons+movie. completed. 4/5

Fringe
this has been explained in another article in more depth but basically mad scientists create stuff and another friendly mad scientist has to stop it.
5 seasons. ongoing (though this is the final season). 4/5 

Game of thrones
If you don't know what this is then you a living in the same hole as batman got put into in the new film, except that a tv in, so in an even worse hole. But as i  am a geek hipster and came to this whole thing late (so automatically dislike it), plus i find the books to be meh normally i can't really give a good review of this.
2 seasons. ongoing. ?/5

Going round the twist
This is more because i watched this as a child and i still can't get the theme song out of my head. Seriously watch the little video, it is just full of crazy shit. Form what i remember random things happen to this family for an unknown reason.
4 seasons. completed. 2/5

Grimm
Police procedural mixed with really quite dark fairy tale supernatural shinnagans. As it is in its early seasons it still follows the monster of the week outline, though its starting to branch out. A show which is good now but has huge potential.
2 seasons. ongoing. 3/5

Hercules
This is the live action ninties version, my concept of it is a bit hazy beacuse of all the childhood nestalgia wich stops me getting a good look at it. Basiclly its about Hercules and his sidekick wandering around solving things by being really strong.
6 seasons. completed. 3/5

Heroes
This show started to wander and fall apart in later seasons but the first season or two are simply great. About a bunch of normal people getting powers, it was a huge hit for a reason. 
4 seasons. completed. 4/5 (5/5 for season 1 and 2, 3/5 for season 3 and 4)

Human target

Based on a comic book this is about a dude who protects the weak and needy. he is the answer to a bodyguard, in that he will solve the reason for people to need a bodyguard. full of great spy moments and action moments imagine James Bond if it started life as a comic, and the protagonist worked to be a good guy rather then a cold blooded killer.
2 seasons. completed. 3.5/5 (i know this stupid rating but i couldn't think ofm a better way of describing it)

Jericho
I have actually been re-watching this, and can declare it as the most interesting look at what life would be like in a post apocalyptic world. So a bunch of nukes hit america, but at least the one town of Jericho survives the bombing. this show then is about how a town tries to survive, plus the fact that no one knows what is going on. it feels like each of the large cast is fleshed out, and the problems are real, like the worry about the water being contaminated. sadly this show was cut short but this is still interesting plus season 3 and 4 got made in comic book form.
2 seasons + 2 seasons in comics. ongoing. 4/5

Justified
So imagine a old school american lawman, wide brimmed hat, six shooter on his waist giving the no good cattle rustler a day to get out of town before he forced to use his guns. now transport him into the modern world and that is essentially this show. sound good? that's because it is. one of the few interesting police shows out there and has a huge body count (he shoots to kill). 
3 seasons. ongoing. 4/5

Legend of the seeker
So this is based on some excellent books, about a man with a magic sword who fights stuff and a woman who's very touch can make someone love her unconditionally. Ok this sounds kind of crappy any way i write   it but the books are one of my favourite series of all time. plus Cornelia of Buffy and Angel is in it in skin tight latex and whipping people... so there's that. 
2 seasons. completed. 2/5

Lie to me
About an englishman who has spent all his life reading peoples expression, so can read faces like a childrens picture book, if your picture book got uncomfortable by a strange man staring at it for minutes. he and his gang help solve crime and talk about SCIENCE all day. an interesting retake on the eccentric crime solver.
3 seasons. completed. 3/5 

Lost girl
this then is another fairy tale with a dark twist show that are popping up lately, but is pretty decent dispute that. so in this world there are two groups of fey (fairies) the dark and light, the protagonist is a succubus, and won't choose a side. so its lots of her being in the middle solving problems and having a awesome sidekick. the world building is interesting and the show is genuinely fun.
2 seasons. ongoing. 2/5

Misfits

One of the few English contributions, it is surprisingly good, and has won a ton of awards. so it takes the idea of superpowers and origin stories, but it gives them to a bunch of delinquents. Funny, interesting and one of the best and original origin stories around this is a definite must watch.
4 seasons. ? maybe a movie. 4/5


Ok so this article is getting way too long, anf for those who have got this far, you are odviously brilliant people. I will pick up the rest soon but for now i hope you found at least one new show to watch. so for now enjoy part 1, part 2 and the other half of the list will be up soon.

Sorry

So for any of you who have thought to check in and found a severe lack of articles, it turns out that christmas is a busy time. but that,s no excuse. So to make up for it here is a picture of a bear wearing a hat, because why not.

i'm not sure if this was meant to be scary but his eyeless face will haunt my dreams for eternity. the question of how the hat stays all will also haunt me as well.

Squirrel girl, the unsung hero (or why she is apparently better then wonder woman)

So recently marvel announced that they were going to make a guardian of the galaxy movie. Don’t know who they are? Well don’t worry neither do very many people, but during my investigation of them i ran along one hero who i can’t figure out... Squirrel girl. (By the way I’m all for this movie, it sounds great and in the past few years marvel has been really knocking it out of the park with their films. This film looks like it’s going to be awesome but it makes me wonder about DC, and why they can’t produce anything like this). It seems odd that DC can’t even get superman or wonder woman to the big screen. Does no one think this is odd? In a couple of years people are going to know who squirrel girl is, and let’s be honest there are going to be films about her then wonder woman.  And for all those out there who are trying to remind me about the new wonder woman pilot that’s coming out, stop it, it’s not working.  This is the second one that has come out in recent years, so I’m not exactly positive about the idea of a long term wonder woman any time soon. So in my fondest dreams i imagine a time when people talk about squirrel girl in the same breath as the other greats. So for this article I’m going to compare them, and show you how much better squirrel girl is.

So firstly powers, as you might have guessed she has the power to talk to squirrels, and not just telepathic, but she actually went out and learnt the language. She looks like a squirrel, with a long furry tail, strong and fast and has knuckle spikes. So you might have guessed but she’s a mutant. She also has gadgets in a utility belt, where she has all manner of stuff (though its mostly nits, seriously)   So a couple of weeks ago I said that put all my money behind Cyclops as the best mutant. And i still agree with that but frankly squirrel girl is coming in a close second.  Read the above again, its doesn't sound that impressive does it, but she kicks ass. In one of her earliest adventures she beats Thanos, yes that dude at the end of avengers. Alone. With just her furry little tail and the ability to jump really high she beat a bad guy so bad he was based on the Greek daemon of death.  She defeated wolverine! (and yes it made me happy to write that) she beat him up with her fists. That is awesome. She has defeated deadpool, and Doctor Doom. These are major people in the marvel universe

Wonder woman on the other hand has a huge amount of powers, she is the superman for women, with super strength, super speed, flight. But you know all this, she is one of the biggest heroes around. At first a comparison is almost ridiculous; one is a golden age minor character, while the other wears a huge w on her chest while wearing very little. That is one thing that squirrel girl has going, at least she doesn’t have a revealing costume. Also, squirrel girl didn't star in a load of bondage cartoons... so there’s that going for her. Don’t believe me? Look it up the creator of wonder woman, he was massively into all that, it explains why the only weakness wonder woman has is being tied up.

So you might be thinking “pah how ridiculous i like in heroes dark and serious!” (you would also be speaking in a turn of the century British voice).  But seriously don’t judge her by her powers. Many heroes started out a little but ridiculous, and yes her powers are never going to be serious. But is that necessarily a bad thing? Squirrel girl is a left over from a past age, but i don’t think its such a bad thing. After all comics which take themselves too seriously just come off as ridiculous to me (i’m looking at you wolverine). A hero who understands even a little bit how ridiculous he or she is perfect.