Television Reviews

Television has transformed itself from its early beginnings as a “vaste wasteland” into the dominant narrative device of contemporary times. The best shows are a form of modern day literature that are not only gripping and entertaining but serve as windows into the souls of culture and society. If “quality” is defined by great characters and great dialogue, then the writing on television has never been better. Dexter and Justified, for instance, exhibit a style and substance that can stand up against even the most literate of modern playwrights. Mad Men and Lost, meanwhile, could very well be two of the best character-driven shows in the history of television. It’s not just about dramas, however, as The Office and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia are just as funny as past classics even though they are fundamentally different than a “traditional” series. Whether it’s great writing or character development, a psychological study or social critique, television indeed has it all.

Boardwalk Empire and the Birth of Modern Times Review of the HBO drama set in Atlantic City during Prohibition and the 1920s that combines elements of both The Sopranos and the AMC series Mad Men.

Bones: A More Likeable David and Maddie Review of the FOX drama about an FBI agent and an anthropology who solve crimes together that features Moonlighting roots and quirky characterizations.

Burn Notice Season One Review of the USA Network series about a former spy trying to clear his name with the assistance of an oddball-assortment of friends and family and touch of old-school MacGyver.

Dark Skies: History As We Know It is a Lie Review of the late 1990s sci-fi drama that intertwines a UFO governmental conspiracy with actual events of the 1960s to create a fictitious alternate history.

Ellery Queen: Classic 1970s Detective Noir Review of the NBC “whodunit” detective series that follows the adventures of mystery writer Ellery Queen and his police inspector father in 1940s New York City.

The Gates is a Welcomed Addition to the Genre Review of the ABC drama about a private suburban community populated with supernatural beings and the human police chief hired to protect them.

Heroes: An Extraordinary Beginning Review of the first season of the NBC series about a group of ordinary individuals who suddenly find themselves with extraordinary abilities and supernatural powers.

Jericho Season One Review of the CBS drama about a small Kansas town dealing with the fallout of a nuclear attack on the United States that was brought back from cancellation by a fan protest.

Moonlighting: From Hit to Writers Strike Casualty Review and critique of the classic 1980s comedy/drama whose cancellation is partially blamed on the 1988 strike by the Writers Guild of America.

The Television Career of Young Indiana Jones Review of the 1990s television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles created by George Lucas, and the educational value of its three-volume DVD set.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Review of the first two episodes of the FOX drama, emphasizing the show’s realistic characters and comparisons to The X-Files and short-lived Firefly.

Tim Minear's Drive Review of the FOX drama co-created by Tim Minear about an illegal cross-country road race with mysterious origins, which was subsequently cancelled after only four episodes in 2007.

Twin Peaks: Monumental Television At Its Best Review of the short-lived classic television series created by David Lynch about a murdered teenage girl in a small, tranquil Washington community.

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