The past 8 years have arguably spawned some of the best television shows ever. We’ve also seen some of the worst, with a huge glut of “reality television” shows, but still… there are some brilliant quality shows out there. The best part is that in this day and age, we have the great pleasure of having entire series at our fingertips on services like Virgin Media.
Whether you’re reliving old classics or catching up on some modern greats, box sets are the way to go. It’s cold outside and the nights are long, so set aside a weekend and channel the likes of Ed the Sofa Bear, a master of binge-TV viewing who has perfected his skills and enjoys nothing more than settling down on the couch for a hard day of TV and movie consumption.
Here are some of my favorite box sets, all available on Virgin Media’s Big Kahuna Bundle or other popular services, depending on your region.
Mad Men
The classy and glamorous drama that transports us back to 1960s New York, where we follow the goings on of an advertising agency.
It’s sharp, smart, and beautifully crafted, with authentic details of the era that really make it stand head and shoulders above its peers. The dialogue is incredibly well written, and the story-lines deal with intense themes like sexism, alcoholism, and adultery – you’ll be hooked.
Believe it or not, the legendary Don Draper is even based on a real person!
The Walking Dead
Based on a comic book series, this is another take on the classic zombie apocalypse premise, but this gritty drama stands out. It follows a sheriff who wakes up from a coma to find himself in a world of flesh-eating zombies; as he sets out to find his family, he comes across others fighting to survive.
Praised for its creation of tension and characters with real depth, it’s also well-known for its shocking gore.
The Wire
Every season of critically-acclaimed crime drama, The Wire introduces a different facet of the city in which it’s set, Baltimore. In over five seasons, we’re shown a realistic portrayal of the illegal drug trade, the seaport system, government and bureaucracy, the school system, and print news media. Created by a former police reporter, the series is considered by some critics as one of the best TV dramas of all time – so very worthy of a TV binge session.
Of course you don’t have to follow in Ed’s footsteps and watch an entire series in one go, but don’t miss out on all the amazing shows that have come out over the last few years.
