A personalized TV show guide

There is no better way to escape from the stress of school than with television. Some shows provide light comic relief, and others beg to be binge-watched. Here are our suggestions of great shows for any audience:

Gotham– The Comic Book Favourite

If you’re a fan of Batman, crime, and action, then this show is definitely for you. The show is both visually appealing and true to the original story, making it a potential hit in the eyes of any viewer. Gotham, as you may already know, is the corrupt city where Batman resides and fights crime, although the vigilante won’t make an appearance in the show. It instead chronicles the life of James Gordon, a soldier-turned cop who administers justice. What separates it from most entries into the Batman franchise is the exploration into the city of Gotham before Batman came along, while focusing the story on the post-murder of his family. It is well written, driven by strong performances and is a definite recommendation even for those who are unfamiliar with the world of Batman.

Orphan Black-The Dark Addiction

This series has gained phenomenal success mainly due to Tatiana Maslany’s performance where she plays half a dozen characters. The series follows twenty-six year old Sarah Manning, who gets a glimpse of a woman right before she jumps in front of the train—a woman who looks exactly like herself. From there she finds out that she is a clone and there are several more of them. The show then focuses on the lives of the clones and how their stories interconnect, specifically their connection to a creator, the Dyad Institute. Suspense and action is around every corner with Sarah trying to protect her daughter and everyone around her. The show is expertly made and highly addictive so if you choose to watch I suggest it should be after midterm season.

Ultra Rich Asian Girls – The Mindless Kardashian Substitute

Though not a TV show, Ultra Rich Asian Girls is a mini reality web series on YouTube focusing on, you guessed it – the lives of four ultra-rich Asian girls, who live in Vancouver. It reminds me of Keeping up with the Kardashians but much funnier and somewhat more ridiculous. The girls engage in senseless conversations and take spontaneous excursions to private islands on helicopters. It sounds terrible but there’s just something about scrutinizing and laughing at the elite that we can’t help but like.

Game of Thrones – The Crowd-pleaser

The latest season has got to be the most shocking and satisfying yet. The build-up has been gradual so I recommend binge-watch this show on a weekend before you have a bunch of things due (just kidding, but it’ll probably happen). In all seriousness, however, there are many characters and simultaneous plot lines, which requires some concentration. Although it’s probably not the best idea to watch it with parents because of the occasional sex/ brothel scene, it has a bit of something for everyone including action, drama, and fantasy. As the noble families fight for the iron throne you’ll find yourself falling in love with unexpected characters and passionately cursing others.

American Horror Story – The Niche Audience

If you’re into haunted houses, insane asylums, witches, freak shows or Ryan Murphy pushing the limits of what’s shown on television, this is the show for you. The coolest thing about it is that the cast is recurring with only the characters, locations and story lines changing from season to season; this means that you can start with any season out of order with no confusion. If you can stomach a Walking Dead level of horror then it won’t be too scary either. The show is dramatic, mysterious, clever, romantic at times, and full of surprises. It’s also roughly based on historical events with chilling twists. I personally recommend seasons 1 and 3. In fact, I’m probably going to go re-watch season 1 right now.

Parks and Recreation – The Comic Relief

As this show enters its seventh season, it’s time to give credit where it is due. Parks and Recreation is hilarious, light and easy to pay attention to even if it plays in the background. The beloved Amy Poehler will win over the heart of any viewer as she plays the determined yet naïve head of the Parks department. Although many viewers may not know the first thing about a government run division, the characters’ daily lives and problems make the plot all the more original and interesting to observe. This sitcom is similar to The Office but less awkward and more relatable in its modern personalities of the characters.

All images courtesy of Google