You might be surprised to hear it, but Mrs Romance and I spend quite a bit of time at home watching telly. There’s nothing like cosying up in front of the box to watch our favourite shows. But in truth our telly addiction is pretty bad and we have a tendency to binge-watch certain shows.
Mrs Romance also has the amazing ability to double-screen like a demon. It’s almost like she has two brains! She says her skill at blocking out noise comes from when she a teenager working in a store that played really bad looped Christmas music throughout the festive holidays.
But I think it’s more from training herself to blank out my stupid jokes over the years!
Either way, I can’t seem to get the knack, so my productivity dwindles to almost coma-like levels when the tube gets going.
As a result of our need for such massive televisual consumption, we’ve accumulated some favourite TV shows that we can’t live without.
Here’s a quick run-down:
1. Game of Thrones
This is our current favourite. If you haven’t heard of this show, then you have my pity; I’ve heard living under a rock can be quite cramped.
This programme is about seven noble houses all fighting to sit on the throne of Westeros, a mythical land where the sword rules and where dragons once reigned. There’s also something creepy and zombie-like going on there, but we’re still waiting to find out more about that.
Our favourite character is the Hound – a huge man with a ferocious reputation. He has the best lines and – in spite of his evil façade – seems to have inner depths.
Mrs Romance has also recreated a number of hairstyles inspired by the show. Here are her Game of Thrones hairstyles over on Hair Romance.
2. Mad Men
This ‘60s styled show about New York ad agencies is very slick. It’s all lunchtime cocktails, misogyny and adultery, smoking endless cigarettes and impeccable wardrobes. The attention to detail in the sets, the language used, and the character development has kept us glued for the eight series so far.
The enigmatic character of Don Draper, kingpin of the advertising world, is impressive yet so tragically flawed you can’t help but like him.
3. Breaking Bad
Every now and then, a TV show comes along that confounds you from beginning to end. I remember watching the first episode of Breaking Bad wondering how the storyline would get to the flashed-forward scene pre-title credits from how the story starts out.
The image of a man wearing only a pair of white undies and a gasmask, and driving a Winnebago erratically across the dessert with three bodies rolling around inside will stay with me forever.
Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with Stage III cancer, discovers how easily he can make pure crystal meth and also how easy it is to earn buckets of cash from it. He needs the money to pay for his expensive cancer treatment. His failed ex-student and two-bit meth dealer Jesse Pinkman works with White to build an empire.
Although this series is now at an end, we love to re-watch episodes from time to time. When it was being aired, we would go to enormous lengths to get our up-to-date hit of Breaking Bad. Sheer genius.
4. Orange is the New Black
Set in a women’s prison, I thought this was going to be just another revamped version of Prisoner Cellblock H, but Mrs Romance convinced me to watch the first episode. I must say I wrongly tarred this show with that Prisoner brush.
The main character is sent to prison for a crime she committed over a decade before and who has completely changed from the person she was then. However, as life in jail starts to take hold of her, so she begins to change as well.
This is compelling, heart-wrenching, funny and completely believable. Can’t wait for the next series.
5. The Sopranos
We came very late to this show. In fact, it had been concluded some five years previously by the time we started watching it. But we binged through it and watched all six series in about three months. It’s amazing to watch the characters transform in the eight years the show was running.
Unlike me, Mrs Romance doesn’t usually like gangster shows, but this is so good it had even her hooked. It’s certainly a TV epoch and deserves your time. Tony Soprano – head of a New Jersey crime syndicate – is very complex. He has shades of hero and antihero, virtue and villainy, loveable rogue and just straight rogue that make you love him, hate him and pity him all at once. There are many depths to all the characters in this show – it’s a true masterpiece.
Oh, and let’s not forget: Sherlock – the one with Benedict Cumberbatch
Unlike the American series with hundreds of episodes each season, shows in the UK often have only 5 or 6 shows. This one has three a season!
Probably the best interpretation of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books, this series is set in modern day London where a savant-like upper-class social reject imposes himself on Police investigations. Watson – an ex-Gulf War field surgeon – becomes embroiled in Holmes’ adventures, as you would expect.
This is very entertaining and, because each episode is its own story, less of a commitment. That’s not to say it’s any less addictive than any of the others we’ve mentioned!
There’s definitely something to be said for a night in front of the teev – especially now the internet is providing us with more and more opportunities to watch shows online minus the ads. And with companies like HBO and AMC doing such great work, we’re looking at a time where TV series take over from Hollywood blockbusters.
What’s your favourite TV show at the moment? We’re always on the look-out for more! Do you have any favourite characters? Tell us in the comments!
Sara-May
I couldn’t get into breaking bad, and I’ve never watched the sopranos, but I’m right there with you on GoT, orange is the new black and Sherlock. I’m also really enjoying Elementary (I’ve been an Arthur Conan Doyle fan since childhood) and Person of interest.
Mr Romance
Breaking Bad’s an interesting one, Sara-May. It never seems to make sense until the end of the episode, and the main character, Walter White, just gets darker and darker. Well worth persevering with. I was never sold by The Sopranos – mostly because I had a problem listening to Gandolfini’s snuffling nose noise – but I quickly got over that when it started to dawn on me how good the show was. It’s quite a commitment, but worth getting into.
I don’t know why, but I can’t get into Elementary. Maybe it’s because my mum and dad both love it and told me to watch it, and I’m basically just a brat/teen rebel at heart!
Will certainly check out Person of Interest – thanks for the tip. We’ve also been tipped off to watch True Detective, which sounds pretty good too.
Jxx
Nikki @ Styling You
Three words … House of Cards. Get on it! Two series waiting for you!!
Mr Romance
We’re on to the third episode as we speak, Nikki! It’s an impressive show, and how sinister is Kevin Spacey?! You can really imagine this sort of stuff going down in real-life DC.
It’s a funny show though; because it’s so intense, it precludes binge-watching. My poor old brain can only seem to deal with one or maybe two episodes in one sitting – then I need some Black Adder or 30 Rock to let my brain relax for a minute! Great show though!
Jxx
Kat - The Organised Housewife
I’m loving Puberty Blues at the moment and Game of Thrones of course.
Mr Romance
Mrs Romance likes Puberty Blues too, Kat. It’s so well done – with the sets and the clothes and the lingo. Very accurate. I haven’t really got into it yet, but I haven’t really given it a chance. Will have to, I think! 🙂
Jx
Sonia from Sonia Styling
We’re hopeless in our house – there’s not too much TV we can both agree on! We’re currently watching The Voice together and that’s it. Wednesday nights I go to bed early to watch Offspring and every other TV watching minute is spent with Mr Styling watching the NBA playoffs while I’m on the iPad!
Mr Romance
The Voice is weirdly addictive, Sonia. I like watching it just to see Ricky Martin’s funny face when he’s listening to people. Classic! I think the only thing saving Mrs Romance from sport overload is the fact we don’t have sports channels at home… that’s quite funny, isn’t it? As if I’d get a look-in with the EPL while Grand Designs, Project Runway, Gok, Australia’s/America’s/UK’s/New Zealand’s Next Top Model etc were on.
I must say, I think we’ve found something we won’t ever agree on though, Sonia. I’m afraid I can’t stand Offspring. The show drives me mad. It’s a real shame – Asher Keddie is a good actress (she was awesome as Ita Buttrose in Paper Giants) but she just really winds me up in Offspring. Strange, isn’t it?
The question I have for you, though, is when the NBA’s on, who gets the remote control?
Jx
Liz @ I Spy Plum Pie
Great collection of shows! I’m ashamed to say I’ve never watched Breaking Bad or Sopranos but love Game of Thrones, Mad Men & Orange is the New Black. In fact, I think I watched most of Orange in one sitting when I was home sick last year – addictive stuff!
I also have a weird love for Sons of Anarchy despite the fact it’s usually way too violent for my liking, I watch half of it between my fingers!
Every year or so I go back to the start of West Wing again too, it doesn’t matter how many times I’ve watched it, I still love it. I was too young to watch it when it was originally on TV but I’ve made up for lost time since!
Mr Romance
There’s still time for you to enjoy Breaking Bad, Liz – it’s so good you won’t be able to turn it off! The Sopranos is much more of a labour of love, but still very good!
As for that Orange is the New Black – so addictive. We’re hanging out for the next season to start! We haven’t seen Sons of Anarchy though the ads have caught my eye. Might just check it out! Thanks Liz!
Jxx
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