Intercession is almost here! And for those collegiettes that won’t be jetting off to abroad (or domestic) adventures, it is time to catch up on all the television you have (or not) been neglecting to get through finals. Since I took all my finals in December at my study abroad school (jealous?), the past couple of weeks have been like an extended intercession month. Your turn is coming! My question is what will you be watching? Will you be digging up a series from the past that you’ve been pretending to get the references to? Or will you be catching up on a popular show currently running?
During my extended intercession, I’ve been surviving living with my parents and little brother for all this time by permanently attaching my headphones to my ears and my laptop to my lap (or arm when mobile). What have I been watching you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. I’m personally a fan of going back in time. This way I know for sure that these shows are worth watching. Additionally, there is no catching up to its current schedule. The worst thing in the world is going from watching a couple of episodes of a show a day to having to wait every week for the next episode. Below I’ll share what exactly I’ve been watching this January and hopefully convince you to do the same. But watch whatever you want. It’s ultimately your decision. No hard feelings if it’s not from this list I’ve spent all night writing. What evs… I don’t care.
· The Wire This show is universally loved. I felt like I was not a full citizen of the world having not watched this HBO series. But now I’ve watched 2.5 of the 5 seasons, so I guess I’ve put in my application and am waiting to schedule my interview. If for some reason you do not know the Wire, set in Baltimore, engages with the city’s drug scene, following the lives of both drug dealers and law enforcement. First airing in 2002, the show stars British actor Dominic West, Julius from Remember the Titans Wood Harris, and my prediction for the next James Bond Idris Elba. The show definitely lives up to the hype. It is a little dated. When the show was airing it hit the zeitgeist of the war on drugs perfectly, and wire-tapping was considered sophisticated technology. I’m guessing it was the Homeland of its day. In short, at some point in your life you are going to need to watch this show, so might as well during Intercession 2013.
· Battlestar Galactica My sister introduced me to this show, and I oh my gods it is addictive. BSG originally aired on the Syfy channel from 2004 to 2009. The show first started as a mini-series and was later extended into a four-season TV show. Following an attack from the Cylons, the remaining humans of Caprica rely on the protection of Captain Adama and his crew of the Battlestar Galactica. The show often tackles difficult moral debates including torture, abortion, racism, and religion. Though it sounds heavy, it’s full of fun and comedy as well as drama. The only actor I recognize from the series is Captain Adama played by the actor who played Jennifer Lopez’s dad in Selena, Edward James Olmos. The show obviously has a low budget and not all the acting is spectacular, but it’s a great watch and full of awesome female characters. So, why the frack not?
· Freaks and Geeks Back in 1999 Judd Apatow brought the world the best teen high school TV series of all time. The world was not ready for its brilliance, and the show was sadly canceled after one season. Filled with familiar faces like that of James Franco, Jason Segel, and Seth Rogan, this show captures adolescence in a way that no show since has been able. Seriously, it’s a classic, and there are only 18 episodes. This is actually doable in a week, and young James Franco is so cute!!