By Medha Roy Chowdhury:
With the sun bearing down with all its might, spewing heat that crackles like electricity in dry air, one retires to the den, craving for the comfort of television and home-made iced-tea. In an age when T.V has fallen easy prey to pre-fabricated programming, showcasing degeneration, more often than not, into scripted charades; it is time to retrieve to T.V series that have gained mainstream prominence owing to the sheer brilliance of production, casting and dramatization.
Game of Thrones: This is first in the line, to convert one into a T.V addict this summer.
“Civilization was a thin, dangerously fragile veneer and when the veneer cracked, man became one with the beasts again, falling back into the shrine of primeval abyss he prided himself on having climbed up from.” – Sidney Sheldon
A meticulous adaptation of George R.R Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire”, this medieval fantasy drama has emerged with 4 sublimeyet gripping seasons. Belonging to the HBO canon of excellence, this T.V series is a welcome change for those disillusioned by the exhaustive narrative of the thick volume. With superb direction, David Benioff and D.B.Weiss depicts the power-struggle motif in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The 3rd season after leaving viewers thirsty, paves the way for the 4th season. Celebrated for its riveting plot, the globe-spinning series achieves epic grandeur promising more dungeons, dragons, duels and death. Grim, gory and with acute attention to detail, it masterfully captures the brooding atmosphere of the archaic settings. Love, incest, lust, murder, combats, treachery, deceit are juxtaposed in the bloody canvas of Westeros. The fight for the Iron Throne has received critical acclaim besides winning an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. Inarguably, the latest season with a flair for ‘Stark’ intrigue, is sure to keep you hooked on for more.
True Detective: Nic Pizzolatto’s well-crafted script, powerful and immensely compelling concept and “penetratingly nuanced moments” are borne out of HBO’s pioneer crime drama. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson have been lauded for their acting. With an unsettling analysis of the unfathomable depth of human psyche, the plot revolves around the search for a serial killer. The disturbing epicentre of the investigation is sure to get one’s heart racing.
Homeland: There is no denying that each Homeland episode ensures a frenzied hour of being on tenterhooks. Visionary and skilfully convincing in its plot construction, it is currently being aired again on Star World. Unfolding the desperate fixation of the bipolar Carrie Mathison, a CIA analyst, to unravel mysteries; the series with 3 seasons is aptly suited for Emmy recognition. Sharp performance and sophisticated cliff-hangers result in a roller coaster ride of thrill with an incredible combination of wit and suspense. Whetting our appetite for more, the action sweeps across the domains of CIA incorporating the solid essentials of terror. With top-notch direction and spell-binding acting of the characters with distinctive traits, Homeland is a genius in itself. Spoiler apart, the tight-knit, edgy script is a huge shift from the clichés.
Friends: The finale of How I Met Your Mother brings to mind the heart-breaking finale of Friends 10 years ago, which brought tears to our eyes. For those on the quest of unbridled laughter, it is time to re-live the journey with Monica the control freak; Rachael the confused; Phoebe the quirky vegan hippie; Dr Ross with a PhD and dinosaur toys; Chandler with sardonic jokes and Joey who can eat two pizzas all by himself. Refreshing and humorous, Friends is sure to bring you joy even if you are watching it for the umpteenth time.
House of Cards: A political thriller created by Beau Willimon, House of Cards with 2 seasons of 26 episodes each, is a summer special. Based on the novel by Michael Dobbs, it has already earned a Primetime Emmy for itself. The currently running 2nd season is a treatise on ambition, corruption and authority. Thematically rich, the series has a menacing charm that draws attention of the viewers.
Breaking Bad: Ground breaking in its subject, Breaking Bad had its mojo working on me within just a few episodes. The finale of each season left me with a tide of longing for the next. With winsome charm it strikes the cord of inescapable infinitude of tragedy and overpowering lust for gaining the upper hand. Commendably unpredictable, the show when initially broadcast, captivated the audience owing to the skilful portrayal of an ordinary Chemistry professor who rises to fame in the drug cartels. Battling the demons of terminal cancer, the family man takes up the undaunted resoluteness of the ‘one who knocks’. The calm, cold, yet queerly calculated measures to settle scores that Walter is compelled to take, kept me at the edge of my seat. With plenty of ‘blue meth’, dope and enough blood to gratify Quentin Tarantino, this tale of delicious metamorphosis depicts moral depravity like no other. Danger shaping the dramatic trajectory makes it a must watch.
This summer break it’s time to watch some new shows and to catch up with the shows that were missed in 2013 owing to tight schedules, ticking clocks and dreadful deadlines. With the sun giving adequate hint of the summer strength, it is time to rekindle the spirit of the couch potatoes in us!