THE ERA OF BIG SERIES
By José Luis Ruiz Bureau
The huge amount of garbage that broadcast television has meant that has fallen on the reductionist view that everything that comes out of the small screen is rubbish. One has always had the impression that things would get worse. Those films are already an author of Paradise Lost. Now if a film is broadcast quality is at times unexpectedly. Music by its absence in the grid-edge television and if something is banished to the early morning hours. Certainly, it was abused before the music business (in the pejorative sense of the word), but it is also true that there were spaces for concerts and special styles that and groups argued for prestige. We have long been prey to "Big Brother", "Operation Triumph" and other Telebasura.
The fact is that to paraphrase Woody Allen in Spain do not throw garbage into the television. But there is a glimmer of hope for maverick: American television series. It has been said that this is the golden era of products "made in USA" and the undersigned can not agree more. But habits have changed and many people enjoy this series is not over the idiot box, but through the Internet. The reason: comfort. You do not have to wait until you get your weekly ration. You can do this whenever and wherever they wish. Gone are the days when an irreducible became a fan of "Doctor in Alaska and the unspeakable suffering that you or changed every two to three hours or chapters were no order. That was insane.
There has always been quality series, but now proliferated to the extent that there is no doubt that the best productions in the USA are not movies, but series. A simple enumeration loaded enough to defend the idea of reason: "The Sopranos," "two meters underground," "Lost," "The West Wing of the White House," "Nip / Tuck," "Rome," " Deadwood, "" 24 "," Dexter "...
These are the highlights, but there are another handful of works that have just hooked, "Heroes" (interesting approach, and debatable decision bleak future), "Weeds" (fun and with the backing of the great Marie Louise Parker) "My name is Earl" (corrosive, though repetitive), "House" (great character that if there indeed would be abhorrent in the extreme, a few other unique chapter ... and repetitive), "Gray's Anatomy" (started well, but which is diluting azucarillos), "Californication" (David Duchovny shines blocked by writer and promiscuous), "The Office" (without entertaining claims), "Prison Break" (despite the clichés is very addictive, is losing interest progressively), "The Shield" (the excellent character of Michael Chiklis), "Damages" (interesting and unique structure Glenn Close), "Desperate Housewives" (has a point, but is losing with the passing of the seasons), "Carnivale "(metaphysical thoughts and a very personal vision of America, 1934) ...
The genres are playing extremely varied: political, western, mob movies, history, film noir, drama, thriller, fantasy, comedy, etc.. So it is impossible that one can not find what you need in one of the series mentioned above. There's something for all tastes.
Those who recommend a more passion deserves a brief comment. So let's get to the point:
- "The Sopranos" (1999-2007) is a masterpiece you look where you look. It has nothing to envy of the artistic peaks of the "mafia movies as" The Godfather "or" one of us. " It has a spectacular cast that stand in the James Gandolfini and Edie Falco as husband and wife in this particular family of New Jersey. It has an added value, maintains the level with the passage of the (six) seasons. David Chase, who by the way he also got in calling for "Doctor In Alaska, has provided a heartbreaking story that serves as a reflection on power and corruption of a sick society. Has memorable dialogues, situations brilliantly resolved, and certainly is a great treatise on the human soul.
- "Two meters below ground" (2001-2005) also reached sublime heights. "The Sopranos" is an analysis of the modern mafia, while "two meters underground" focuses on the vicissitudes of a Pasadena family that runs a funeral home. The Fisher are raritos and dysfunctional relationship. Alan Ball, who wrote the disturbing "American Beauty", dissects with a brutal honesty about the reality of characters always too involved in human conflict. The tone of the series fluctuates. May contain moments of black humor, or dive into the consciousness with exquisite sensitivity. And do not hide anything. Homosexuality, sexual perversion, parental abuse ... Talk about death with the most natural way to avoid. It is a work deeply vitalist. And when it was suggested you put a lump in the throat.
- "Lost" (2004 -?) Is hard drug. If good cause addiction series, "Lost" is the palm. Mixed rightly adventure, drama, fantasy and thriller. 48 survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 fell into a lost island in the Pacific. The idea of the stories of these characters through "flashbacks" (now have begun to use "flashforwards) and relate them to a strange and hostile environment has led a successful public art and well deserved. It seems written by Stephen King with a vague philosophical and is so well done that many chapters have nothing to envy to the best commercial cinema. That is, has been spent or pasta. The problem is that the plot is getting fat too. That has already caused something of cast padding and does not take Nostradamus to know that in the future will continue to do so if, as announced, will the six seasons. A shame. Tied ropes and should have responded to the many questions that have been launched into the air. If they had saved from a narrative would have left a work round.
- "The West Wing of the White House" (1999-2006) addresses a topic that held by other than creator Aaron Sorkin could have been a brick. This series teaches the intricacies of an administration which manages the White House and is billed masterfully. Your best guarantee is to provide clarity to the stories and sharing a lot of height. Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, Martin Sheen, Stockard Channing, John Spencer and Richard Schiff embroider their roles. The President Bartlet and his staff operate under a common sense and an idea that we would take Bush.
- "Nip / Tuck" (2003 -?) Is a disturbing development for Ryan Murphy. Sean McNamara and Christian Troy are two plastic surgeons who have a clinic in Miami. As long as one has a sad family life is collapsing gradually, the other is a ruthless womanizer worshiper of the god dollar. In the course of the series running a disturbing serial rapist. "Nip / Tuck" is an acid criticism of a society whose values are corrupt. The importance given to the appearance when it is essential otherwise. We live superficial lives and what matters to us is that we allow ourselves to operate more beautiful nose.
- "Rome" (2005-2007). I have not mentioned, but anything that comes from HBO deserves our attention. "Rome" is another product of this channel and, of course, oozes quality. The plot is unbeatable. It's fascinating history. It focuses on the years of Julius Caesar and his adopted successor Octavian when Rome was the center of the world. The internecine struggles for power, war and brutality are more stark very well filmed. Moreover, the story moves through the viewpoint of two Roman soldiers (Lucius Vorenus and Titus pull). Everything is careful to detail (costumes, stage set, etc..) And has such memorable characters as played by Polly Walker (Atia). The history of the Roman Empire had been told well in the classic "I Claudius" (1976), but "Rome" is emphasizing the harshness with which he reported the facts. It is, of course, a more modern.
- "Deadwood" (2004-2006) is a western shakespeariano breath. The author of this great series is David Milch, which has much expertise with the vicissitudes of a border town in the nineteenth century to know what is the law and order. Yes we know what is the crime and prostitution. And the ambition to enrich whatever. The head of Deadwood is cloudy Al Swearengen (Ian McShane impressive), whose goings are the backbone of the plot. The cast is wonderful and the story is very well written. However, the start is the best of this series. The first season is over what happened next (two more seasons).
- "24" (2001 -?) Can boast of having a different format. Each chapter is one of the 24 hours that contains a day. Therefore, each season takes place in a day when there were breaks and events happen so fast. Jack Bauer works for the agency's anti-terrorist and is the absolute protagonist of a highly addictive series. Kiefer Sutherland, who embroiders her role, thwarts bomb threats and expansion of virus lethal to prevent murders galore ... It is an unusual hero who follows his own rules. Of course it is not a good use. It is capable of any such tropelía to do what seems appropriate (the torture of suspects is one method that abuses) and sometimes insisted act on its interest instead of thinking in general. Terrorists may be Chinese, Russian, and Balkan Muslims, but often those who do harm are the Americans themselves. ... People from the government or the president of the USA. The best season to date is the first and fifth.
- "Dexter" (2006 -?) Part of a challenging and transgressive premise. How is it possible to understand the universe of a "serial killer" and that the public is not completely heinous? Dexter Morgan works for the Miami Police Department. It is a lab rat, whose knowledge about blood are very useful in forensic analysis. Is traumatized as a child witnessed his mother killed. His adoptive father channeled his homicidal cravings with a code. Only murderous criminals. It is a monster, but he knows to hide. It is empty, but clings to the relationship with his sister and his girlfriend, a vulnerable woman abused by her ex with two suckers. "Dexter" is cleverly constructed in his first season and everything works like a clock mechanism. The second is still good, but does not reach the level of excellence of the former. Two things: the masterful composition of the main character of Michael C. Hall (the gay "to two meters below ground) and ingenuity put into the titles of the series.
