Television shows come in all shapes and sizes. Here are some of the best show that maybe you shouldn’t talk about at Thanksgiving in front of small children or your great aunt, but should still totally watch if you aren’t already.
Game of Thrones – HBO
If you do not know what Game of Thrones is you have probably been living under a rock…or come from a small town in Utah. Game of Thrones is based on the book series by George R.R. Martin A Song of Ice and Fire. The show is currently seven seasons long and is expecting its eight and final season in the first half of 2019.
Game of Thrones is a medieval fantasy, but at the same time is so much more than that with complex characters and plot lines that anyone can get behind. It discusses topics such as feminism, disabilities, family, sexuality, friendship, self-acceptance, and battles of good and evil not just on the battlefield but within each character. The show is critically acclaimed for its fantastic acting and production and currently holds 47 Emmy Awards. Plus there are dragons!
However, if you know what Game of Thrones is, you probably know that it has many critics. Game of Thrones does have a TV-MA (mature audience) rating with intense scenes involving graphic sex and nudity, profane language, and a lot of violence and gore. The show also features graphically killed animals and torture.
Westworld – HBO
Westworld is a television show produced by HBO that came out in 2016 but is based on the 1973 film with the same name. The series is currently at two seasons but has been renewed for a third.
The show takes place in a Wild-West theme park where androids or hosts cater to every whim of it high-paying guests. Westworld deep dives into the idea of artificial intelligence. Similar to Game of Thrones, Westworld is well known for it excellent acting and production, and the timeline for the show is very appealing and shocking.
Westworld also received a TV-MA rating and contains countless scenes with nudity but much less sex compared to Game of Thrones. The show also contains its fair share of violence.
The End of the F***ing wold – Netflix
The End of the F***ing World was co-produced by Netflix and Channel 4 and is based on the graphic novel of the same name by Charles Forsman. The show has 1 season which was released in 2018 and recently was renewed for a second season in August.
If you ever want to feel normal or love dark humor, I would suggest watching this show. The End of the F***ing World follows James, who believes that he is a psychopath. James, tired of killing animals, turns to humans more specifically Alyssa, who is a 17-year-old rebel and smart alec. Even though it might be a bit strange, the show is really about finding yourself, and in my opinion, this show does finding yourself in a really unique and beautiful way.
The show is rated TV-MA for moderate frightening/intense scenes including alcohol, drug and smoking use, and sex/nudity. The End of the F***ing World involves many severe incidents of violence/gore and profanity use. This show also involves a rape scene and the killing of animals.
The Handmaid’s Tale – Hulu
Hulu released two seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale based on the novel by Margaret Atwood, and the show has been renewed to have a third season sometime next year.
The show is set in the near future when fertility is at an all-time low. Chaos and civil war ensue and leads to the remaining fertile women being rounded up and raped by powerful leaders of the new government “Gilead.” The story hits on a lot of relevant topics such as homophobia, motherhood, feminism, and more, and with a few twists and turns along the way this show will leave you wanting more.
The Handmaid’s Tale received a TV-MA rating with severe sex, nudity, violence/gore, frightening/intense scenes, and mild profanity, drug, alcohol and smoking use.
Some honorable mentions:
Hannibal – Amazon Prime
Harpers Island – Amazon Prime/CBS
The Sinner – USA/Netflix
Sharp Objects – HBO
Sharp Objects is a TV series that premiered in 2018 and is based on the book by Gillian Flynn. The show currently only has 1 season.
The story follows the alcoholic journalist Camille Preaker, and her investigation into the death of 13-year-old Ann Nash and disappearance of Natalie Keene in Preaker’s hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri. Throughout the investigation Camille is forced to face past and new demons. The timeline and filming style are both done in a way that brings out an almost organic beauty. The story is full of plot twist and mysteries and touches on some very dark notes like suicide, alcoholism, and self-harm, and if you love solving a mystery, you will adore this show.
Sharp Objects received a rating of TV-MA for severe sex, nudity, violence, gore, profanity, frightening/intense scenes, and alcohol, drug and smoking use.
All of these shows, even though nudity and sex scenes or use profanity, have been produced excellently and have really valuable messages. Be sure to tune in to these five shows the next time you get a chance to kickback and chill at home…you know, just not when your grandparents are present.