It won't come as a surprise to any of you (or if it does i'm really sorry to be the one to tell you) but Merlin is about to end. On December 24th, the very last episode will air and we will all cry of despair.. Maybe that's just me. Anyway, since we need to get over the whole Merlin depression i'll give you a few ideas on what to watch next.
I have always been more attracted to american shows. At one point in my life i didn't even want to try to understand the British accent let alone watch British TV shows... That is when Merlin arrived... After that all i could watch was British TV shows. That's why the first part of this article will be all about what The UK has to offer.
1- Doctor Who BBC 1 (7 seasons and counting)
I do not like science fiction. I do not like aliens. I do not like things set in space. I adore Doctor Who. I know, i know, Doctor Who is a science fiction show about aliens that is moslty set in space. So what? I had heard of this show so many times that i didn't want to watch it just so that i wouldn't be like everyone else. I held on until last april... I had to find something to take my mind off my exams and i thought "Maybe i should watch the pilot of DW. I'm not gonna like it and i'll be able to get back to revisions". This exactly what didn't happen. I didn't like it, i LOVED it. Everything from the cheap fx to the amazing presence of Chris Eccleston and of course the superb Billie Piper. Nothing in this show could work individually but together it's masterpiece. I won't reveal any of the many plots and changes that occur in this show because some of you might not have watched it but it is "fantastic" and you should definitely give it a try.
2- Downton Abbey ITV 1(3 seasons and counting)
That show is simply outstanding. The acting is at its best. The stories are touching, heartbreaking, funny. Set in the early 1910s (for the beginning of series 1), the drama centers on the Crawley family and their servants. You spend as much time upstairs than downstairs and their stories are equaly as interesting. Dame Maggie Smith is at her finest. She is dry and hilarious. Hugh Bonneville is the perfect Lord Crawley and i'm forever in love with Allen Leech and Brendan Coyle. You're litterally transported in the begining of the last century with the beautiful costumes and scenery. A MUST SEE!
3- Sherlock BBC 1 (2 seasons and counting)
My parents watched that show before me... It's like the end of the world had come early. How can my parents be more in fashion than me? Anyway! I won't let myself think about it and I'll tell you about the brilliance of Sherlock. In this modern day re-reading of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes we meet Benedict Cumberbatch who plays Sherlock. That man! That Man! He is flawless. His voice is so deep yet soft, his cheekbones are out of this world, you're gonna feel guilty of loving him so much when he does everything he can for you to hate him. John Watson is played by the adorable Martin Freeman. He is everything that Sherlock isn't in terms of normality and kindness. A perfect gentleman! The only bad thing i could say about Sherlock is that there are only 3 episodes per season and only 2 seasons so far. It seems that season 3 is about to be shot but we might only see it in 2014. That's just mean Mr Moffat!
4- Luther BBC 1 (2 seasons and 1 more to come)
Just like every other BBC show, Luther is amazing. It's a cop show but also so much more. John Luther is a good cop but he also has a tendancy to over express his anger, which isn't such a good thing after all. I can't really tell you much about it for i've only seen 3 episodes so far but that was 3 fabulous episodes and i can't wait to get my dvds from the mail so i can continue watching it.
5- Switch ITV 2 (1 season)
Back in October, I heard about this new show about witches. No really my scene but why not. After one episode i was convinced that Switch was gonna be a ray of sunshine in my TV life. It is the story of 4 young women who live together and practice magic to help their lives. It is funny, fresh, you can tell they don't take themselves seriously and that really refreshing in a world of violence. The story are never complicated but always surprising. Sadly there won't be a second season. Still you have 6 very fun episode to watch.
6- Being Human BBC 3 (4 seasons and counting)
Last summer i started watching Being Human US because everyone was doing so and as much as i want to be different i'm sometimes just a sheep and do as i'm told. It is the story of a ghost (girl), a vampire (man) and a werewolf (man) who live together and try to have a life as "normal" as possible, considering. I watched 2 episodes and stopped there. I didn't like it, i didn't want to try and connect with the characters, to sum up, that show wasn't for me. Then last week, The Hobbit came out. I discovered the amazingly beautiful and charming Aidan Turner in the role of Kili and because when i start something i see it to the end i needed to see EVERYTHING that Aidan Turner had ever been in. Mr Turner is the vampire is the UK version of Being Human... Ok i'll give it a try. One season in 2 days later i can say i'm hooked. The next 2 seasons should arrive in the mail very soon, i'll tell you more about it later. PS: Lenora Crichlow (the ghost) and Russell Tovey (the werewolf) are both perfect as well.
7- Skins E4 (6 seasons and 3 TV movies to come)
If you've read some of my other entries on this blog you will have understood that when i have one thing in mind i don't let go until i'm fed up with it. It works with songs (We are never ever ever ever getting back together Taylor Swift! EVER!), movies, and TV shows. The good thing is that i'm not obsessed with one show in particular but with all the British shows so it'll take more time for me to be disgusted by them. To come back to Skins, it seemed logical to watch it since it is pretty famous and that most people i know find it great. I had seen the pilot of the US remake and didn't click with it and although the pilot of the UK version is the exact same thing as the US one i immediately fell in love with every one in the cast. The youth of Bristol drinks, smokes, does drugs and yet they are so vulnerable that all you want to take them in your arms and tell them it's all gonna be OK. What's different with this show if that every 2 season the cast completely changes and you either fall in love with them or you reject them. I guess i have a big enough heart to welcome anyone that needs love and i loved every new generation just as much as the last one. Be ready though, this show is violent in more ways than one.
8- What i still need to discover
- The Hour
- Silk
- Black Books
- The Thick of It
- Misfits
- and so many more....