TV Shows for Smart People

List creator: enemyfan Created on: April 10, 2004 - 9:33 AM PDT Description: As rare as they are

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movie title	related list	average rating	MPAA rating	watch	rent	buy
Firefly - The Complete Series (Disc 1 of 4) (2002)			Not Rated
Sci-Fi for people who dont like Sci-Fi. A western for people who don't like westerns. The truth is, it's a rich character drama with moments of clever humor surpassing any so-called "comedy".
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1 (Disc 1 of 3) (1997)
The beginning of an under-rated legacy of groundbreaking TV. Critics praise it, but regular people tend to ignore it -- don't make the same mistake. It's not a teen or action show. It's a Shakespearean morality play with 7 years of character development.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 2 (Disc 1 of 6) (1997)
The first season and a half of Buffy are good, but not quite great. It's midway though Season 2 when the show becomes something more than clever dialogue and neat metaphors -- it becomes legitimate art.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 3 (Disc 1 of 6) (1998)			Not Rated
Great dialogue, great characters, great drama, poignant humor. Season 3 is the show at its most refined.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 4 (Disc 1 of 6) (1997)			Not Rated
This season loses the dramatic resonance that Season 2 and 3 had, but it's still a smart show with some truely great episodes and subplots.
Angel: Season 1 (Disc 1 of 6) (1999)
As a spinoff of Buffy, the first season of Angel is a let-down. Too many self-contained episodes, too small of a cast, and a lack of focus. But things pick up towards the end of the season, making way for what becomes a great show in Season 2 and beyond.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 5 (Disc 1 of 6) (2000)
After the minor stumble in Season 4, the show is back in full-force. Contains the episode "The Body" which is the best hour of television ever made. Period. "The most honest portrayal of death and its aftermath ever put to film." -- Time Magazine
Angel: Season 2 (Disc 1 of 6) (2000)
Though the show still lacks the emotional resonance and subtext of the show that spawned it, Angel's second season is still a strong drama with countless surprises -- and of course the trademark clever dialogue.
Angel: Season 3 (Disc 1 of 6) (2001)
The cast grows even larger and with it comes a strong season-long story that doesn't disapoint.
Sports Night: Season 1 (Disc 1 of 6) (1998)
Aaron Sorkin's first show is his best. It's like West Wing with more character drama and less political propaganda.
Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series (Disc 1 of 6) (1999)			Not Rated
One of the best casts ever (a huge one too). Often hilarious, occasionally poignant. Consistantly good.
The West Wing: Season 1 (Disc 1 of 4) (1999)			Not Rated
Though not as strong as Sports Night, Sorkin's second show is still a winner. Full of clever dialgoue only surpassed by Buffy/Angel/Firefly.
The West Wing: Season 2 (Disc 1 of 4) (1999)			Not Rated
Though not as good as the first season, it's still a strong show with that much-appeciated clever dialogue.
The Sopranos: Season 1 (Disc 1 of 4) (1999)			Not Rated
Yes, this show is over-rated. But it's still pretty damn good. At least the first season is. I suggest you stay away from the following seasons, as they repeat themselves and lose all sense of dramatic tenstion the further you go.
My So Called Life - Complete Series (Disc 1 of 5) (1994)
The best, most realistic high school show ever -- unless you count the first three seasons of Buffy of course.
Six Feet Under: Season 1 (Disc 1 of 4) (2001)			Not Rated
Like Sopranos, this is over-rated. Like Sopranos, it's still pretty good.
Gilmore Girls - Season 1 (Disc 1 of 6) (2000)			Not Rated
It's like West Wing for chicks! In all seriousness, this show has so much smart, clever dialogue and hilariously cynical sarcasm, it makes up for its sugar-coated surface and then some.
The Simpsons: Season 2 (Disc 1 of 4) (1989)
See the show as it begins to resemble the best cartoon series ever made. Go ahead and skip the first season.
The Simpsons: Season 3 (Disc 1 of 4) (1989)
Watch a great comedy form into what eventually, in Seasons 3 thru 5, becomes better than any sit-com ever made.
The Shield: Season 1 (Disc 1 of 4) (2002)			Not Rated
A character-driven cop show! Good acting! Character-development! Not quite great entertainment, but it's still a welcome relief from the boring, predictable cop shows.