Category: TV Series

The 90s spawned a series of shows and movies that would become the defining trademark of that decade. Undoubtedly, one of the most prominent of these shows is Seinfeld, the sitcom created by Larry David, and the person our titular protagonist is based on, Jerry Seinfeld. Often described as “the show about nothing”, Seinfeld depicts stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his three friends George, Elaine and Kramer, as they deal with the inconveniences and struggles of their daily life in Manhattan, New York. Seinfeld is known to be among the best sitcoms ever made, and its massive cultural impact has left a significant mark in the history of television.

Seinfeld follows the traditional 22-minute sitcom format, where each episode a new issue is introduced that has to be dealt with, and by the end of the episode a conclusion is reached and the issue is resolved. However, Seinfeld’s approach to this format feels fresh with each episode. Since the show has four main characters, the majority of the episodes follow a structure where each character has their own separate storyline. What makes Seinfeld’s humor work so well is the way the storylines intertwine together, and how a series of coincidences leads to a series of hilarious situations. The season 5 episode titled “The Marine Biologist” is a perfect example of this, where (without spoiling too much) one of Kramer’s usual shenanigans coincidentally connects with the end of George’s story arch, and the final few moments of the episode where the culmination of both these storylines is reached is among the most iconic parts of the series, and it makes the episode one of the most memorable of the entire show.

An important factor in Seinfeld’s success is its unique set of main characters. Unlike many sitcoms, the ensemble cast of Seinfeld consists of a set of deeply flawed people with a significant lack of moral principles. Throughout the 9 seasons of the show, these people experience absolutely no growth or development, and remain the same self-absorbed, arrogant individuals that we met on the very first season. By keeping its focus on comedy, Seinfeld avoids the trend of creating forced and sappy emotional storylines that many sitcoms follow. Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld developed a “no hugging, no learning” rule while writing the show, thus making Seinfeld feel fresh and different from the countless sitcoms out there.

The plot of Seinfeld itself is never anything mind-blowing. Usually the episodes are either about relationship issues or everyday inconveniences the four characters have to deal with, many of which are based on Larry David’s and Jerry Seinfeld’s real-life experiences. What makes this seemingly mundane premise work is the execution.  Each actor gives their character a unique personality; for instance, Michael Richards’ performance as Kramer with its brilliant physical comedy, or Jason Alexander’s subtle details in his facial expressions and line deliveries as George. Filled with iconic quotes and lines, Seinfeld is immensely quotable, and to this day many catchphrases from the show are used in popular culture.

Seinfeld’s key to success was its focus on ordinary, relatable situations we’ve all been in. Waiting for hours for a table at a restaurant, forgetting where you parked your car, experiencing “shrinkage”, and so on. According to its creators, the show was supposed to be about where a comedian gets his material. Essentially, each episode is a stand-up routine packed into the form of a television sitcom. The four main characters make us laugh, and we make fun of them as they make everything worse for themselves, but in reality, all of us have a part of each of them within us. George’s compulsive need of approval, Elaine’s superficiality and selfishness, Kramer’s aimless wandering in life, and Jerry’s indifference towards everything and everyone around him. We are all, to different extents, the same as these people, and we just hate to admit it.

In 2023, we’re living in an age in which we are relentlessly being bombarded by media in all forms, and it is constantly becoming more challenging to find content that displays original ideas and creativity. In particular, there are heaps of movies and television shows being released every day that offer nothing more than recycled concepts and storylines. This is why I think it’s important to acknowledge our independent filmmakers who use their innovation and ingenuity to put out valuable pieces of art for us to experience. 

One of these filmmakers is Canadian actor and director Matt Johnson, who you may recall for his most recent film, BlackBerry, which was released earlier this year. Johnson’s work often shows a very minimalistic approach to filmmaking that utilizes low budgets. Despite this, he always manages to come up with concepts that push the boundaries of filmmaking in ways that you might not have thought about before. One of his finest projects is the mockumentary television series Nirvanna the Band the Show, which Johnson co-created with his longtime friend and collaborator Jay McCarrol. The show is entirely filmed in Toronto and it follows Matt and Jay (who both play fictionalized versions of themselves), as they go around the city, coming up with plans and schemes to get their band to play in a club on Queen street called the Rivoli. 

The initial selling point of this show for most people would be the inclusion of publicity stunts, meaning similar to the work of Sacha Baron Cohen, the public isn’t aware of the real reason that filming is taking place, thereby resulting in genuine reactions as caused by Matt and Jay’s silly acts. This creates a series of unscripted events, and the duo cleverly utilize these interactions to tell a fictional story around them. For instance, in the episode The Blindside, a random passerby makes fun of Jay for playing with devil sticks, and that single unplanned interaction stems his entire character arc thereafter. Throughout the whole show, Matt and Jay write scenarios based on these random encounters, which makes the show feel a lot more authentic and real.

Additionally, something that is consistently present in all of Matt Johnson’s work is how he blurs the line between reality and fiction. In this show, Matt and Jay use the mockumentary style and clever editing choices to make the audience question whether what they’re watching actually happened or not. Not only does this make the show wildly entertaining, but it also sends a deeper message about how we perceive art. In the fiction world, Matt and Jay are starring as two silly friends who constantly try to find an audience, and to be seen and recognized. Simultaneously, the real-life Matt and Jay are friends who grew up together and are now presenting their creation (this show), to us (the real-life audience). The first scene of the show encapsulates this meta concept perfectly, where the two are trying to brainstorm ideas about how to start their show (the musical show they’re planning to play at the Rivoli). This scene paralleled the real-life Matt and Jay’s creative working process as they came up with the idea for this TV series. There are scenes in the show where Matt and Jay laugh at their own wackiness, and usually it is genuinely impossible to tell whether they’re laughing as the characters, or as themselves. It’s a simple but brilliant way of showcasing the idea that art imitates life, and vice-versa.

I chose to write about this show because as an aspiring filmmaker it inspired me, and I believe it can do the same for others who are ambitious about having their voice heard through the medium of film. Even if film isn’t your passion, Nirvanna the Band the Show is among the funniest and most entertaining comedy shows out there. Seeing Matt and Jay go around Toronto and perform their bizarre antics is enough reason to be invested. The two have great chemistry and play off each other’s jokes exceptionally well. This show gave me a new perspective on how to approach filmmaking, with the idea that you don’t need a huge budget or studio money to tell your stories, and that if your idea is interesting enough, there are minimalistic ways to execute it and still create something that feels authentic and original.

Tony Soprano is an Italian-American gangster and mob boss in New Jersey. At the start of the show, Tony is visiting a therapist due to recent panic attacks. Throughout the series he constantly deals with depression and mental problem. At the same time he also has to deal with family problems and his work.

The Sopranos is one of the most well-received television shows in history. During its run on HBO from 1999 until 2007, it gained large numbers of ratings and several awards. In the past couple of years, the show has gone through as resurgence and has gained new fans and followers.

The show’s creator, David Chase, grew up in an Italian-American neighborhood in New Jersey and a major part of the culture and traditions portrayed in the show are influenced from his experiences. In regards to the organized crime side of the show, The Sopranos paints a realistic and logical picture of the gangster life.

The characters are the most important parts of The Sopranos, and instead of focusing on a particular storyline, the show mostly spends its time fleshing out each character and developing them properly, and it uses the TV show format to its advantage by showing the lives of these people in long periods, which gives each of them enough depth and personality. The characters are what make the situations entertaining. For instance, the show has lots of scenes where people are just sitting at a table, eating lunch and talking, but are knowledge of these characters and the expertly written dialogue, make these scenes interesting and occasionally humorous.

Generally The Sopranos has a serious tone, with dark themes being explored in it; however one of the reasons it has gotten so popular, is the humor. Many of the most memorable scenes and quotes from the show are comedic. Blending comedic and dramatic elements together is one of the major strengths of the series.

Tony’s appointments with his psychiatrist are also some of the most notable parts of the show. In these scenes we can clearly tell how much research has gone to psychological subjects, so Tony’s conversations with his therapist feel as real as possible.

The Sopranos, which at first glance might just look like a simple mob flick, deals with themes such as the American dream, family life, existential dread and so on. It had a big impact on the television industry by creating a morally conflicted and even villainous main character, played brilliantly by the late James Gandolfini, who could make you forget Tony Soprano wasn’t a fictional character. Just by watching the opening credits, the quality of the directing, cinematography and soundtrack of the show becomes clear.

The Sopranos is a masterpiece among the countless media surrounding us, and an unforgettable landmark in the history of cinema and television.

The Office is an American sitcom that has received lots of praise and attention over the years. It is based on the British series of the same name, though the American version has become the more popular among audiences. The show revolves around employees of a paper company called Dunder Mifflin. The main character, Michael Scott, is the manager of the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the company.

Michael is constantly trying to make a friendly atmosphere for his employees, although he’s always unintentionally making them uncomfortable. He lacks the social skills to communicate with people properly and instead just comes off as irritating. At first glance, most of the characters of the show, particularly Michael, are infuriating and annoying to watch, but after some episodes we starts to see multiple layers of them and they slowly become more likeable. Therefore the Office doesn’t immediately hook the viewer.

In most cases the humor in this show falls into the Cringe Comedy genre, which primarily focuses on awkward and embarrassing moments. If this type of humor is something you enjoy, then The Office has some of the funniest and most memorable scenes in this category. The show is presented in the form of a mockumentary that depicts the day in the life of Dunder Mifflin. This allows the show to use cinematography and editing in creative ways for visual humor, in addition to the dialogue and characters. Another notable fact about the show’s comedy is that many of the scenes are improvised, and the actors do a great job at making the conversations feel as natural as possible.

While the Office has its fair share of comedic scenes, it also includes many emotional and heartfelt moments, that go well alongside the hunorous part of the show. For instance the will they, won’t they relationship between Jim and Pam (two other main characters of the show)

Steve Carell who plays Michael Scott, leaves the show on the seventh season, and this is when the show’s quality begins to lessen, and it starts to lose its charm and uniqueness. The last two seasons have their moments, although they’re not nearly as appealing as the episodes featuring Michael Scott.

Since Michael is the main character, we are following his development from the beginning of the show, and making more episodes of the show after he leaves is pointless, and it was done solely due to the success the show gained over the years.

On the whole, The Office is among the best sitcoms out there, and the feel-good nature of it can make your day better. So maybe give it a try if you’ve never seen it!

Walter White, a fifty-year-old high school chemistry teacher, lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his family. He has a completely regular, mundane life until the day he’s diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. With his great knowledge of chemistry, Walt secretly starts cooking methamphetamine as a way of providing money for his family, since he knows he’ll be dead soon.

This introduction for Breaking Bad is probably, to some extent pointless. This series is widely considered one of, if not the best show on television, and there isn’t anyone who hasn’t heard of Breaking Bad. The production quality of tv shows is often lower than theatrical films, but in the case of Breaking Bad, each episode feels like a competently made, cinematic experience, with care and attention given to every single frame.

Breaking Bad has an engaging, eventful and unique story, but when it comes to filmmaking, the most important thing is the way the story is told, and Breaking Bad does this in the most impressive and impactful ways. The fantastic dialogue and editing choices aside, what makes this show a masterpiece are the set ups and pay offs. Each unexpected event is set up in a way makes it engraved in the viewer’s mind.

The technical aspects of Breaking Bad are flawless. It’s filled with beauiful cinematography and unforgettable imagery, and actors who give it their all, especially Bryan Cranston with one of the best and most unbelievable performances I have seen.

Breaking Bad isn’t your average show. It appeals to movie fans and people who are interested in the process of filmmaking, and also people who just want an entertaining show to watch.

The dark comedy-drama series “Succession” revolves around a family that owns a media corporation known as Waystar Royco. The founder of the company and the father of the family, Logan Roy, is a serious, no-nonsense, and sometimes even intimidating person. His four children are Kendall, Roman, Shiv and Connor, three of whom also work for the company.

There have been many real-life influences for the creation of the Roy family in Succession, the most important being the Murdoc family (one of the largest media tycoons in the world). These people have a great impact on the general public’s mindset, and in Succession, the power and authority of media corporations is vividly portrayed. Almost all the characters from the show are selfish, and desire nothing but personal power and high positions. These characters aren’t necessarily likeable, but their relationships and their unique attributes, creates a captivating set of characters.

The siblings in the family are constantly arguing and competing against each other, and their worries and concerns seem silly and meaningless to us. We, as an audience, are more aware than these people, since we can clearly see that they are gradually ruining their lives and causing their mental state to worsen. Despite their overwhelming wealth and success, all of these people live lonely and empty lives that are devoid of any kind of compassion. The most important thing that Kendall, Roman and Shiv have in common is their relationship with their father, and the fact that they all have the same goal of making their father proud of them, and proving themselves to him. Other than the brief glimpses shown in the opening credits, the Roys’ childhood lives are never seen, but from those brief moments and the general progression of the show, we can understand that Logan has always been distant from his children, and that he’s never shown enough kindness to them. As children they’ve all had wealthy and prosperous lives, but this lack of connection from their father still affects their mental state, and so we can, at least to some degree, sympathize with these people.

The show utilizes cinematography techniques like handheld camera or quick zooms to create tension. Although in certain scenes the camera moves slowly, and the crowded, depressing sight of New York City is captured, accompanied by Nicholas Brittel’s fantastic musical score. With top-notch performances, quick witted and comedic dialogue, Succession is one of the best shows running right now, and I’m eagerly waiting for the fourth season.

My Top 10 Episodes:

10. S01-Ep01 | Austerliz

9. S01-Ep10 | Nobody Is Ever Missing

8. S02-Ep08 | Dundee

7. S03-Ep07 | Too Much Birthday

6. S02-Ep04 | Safe Room

5. S01-Ep06 | Which Side Are You On?

4. S03-Ep09 | All the Bells Say

3. S02-Ep03 | Hunting

2. S03-Ep05 | Retired Janitors of Idaho

1. S02-Ep10 | This Is Not For Tears

The animated TV series BoJack Horseman takes place in a world where humans and anthropomorphic animals live among side each other. The show has five main characters, but the series mainly revolves around the titular character BoJack, a horse who has received fame and success from being in a very famous tv show back in the 90s. Now, he’s a middle-aged, washed up star living in a large and fancy house directly in front of the Hollywood sign.

BoJack constantly drinks and whines and wastes his time. In the early parts of the show BoJack wants to write his autobiography to prove that he’s not just another washed up star, and to gain his former popularity once again. But after many months due to his laziness and irresponsibility he fails to make any progress, and the publisher hires a “ghost rider” to write the book. The writer is a woman named Diane who from the very start impresses BoJack and becomes one of the main characters of the show, whose influence on BoJack becomes very important later on.

The other main characters are Princess Caroline (a cat who is BoJack’s agent), Mr. Peanutbutter (an optimistic and friendly dog, who similarly to BoJack gained fame from being in a tv show), and Todd (a homeless boy who has been sleeping on BoJack’s couch for some time).

The first season of the show mainly focuses on comedic character moments and developing the relationships of these characters, and as an adult animated sitcom, hits all the right points and is full of powerful and memorable jokes. The characters are likeable and are put in entertaining situations. But from the seventh episode of this season onward, we get to see the darker and more serious sides of the show being put to the screen, and we’re not going to be prepared for the later seasons which have many more layers and much more depth to them. There are moments in BoJack Horseman which make us laugh out loud, and there are moments which can make us cry and get immersed in various thoughts and emotions. In a fashion that makes us completely forget that we’re watching a show about a horse! I can safely say that no other show has portrayed the confusion and bewilderment of people as good as BoJack Horseman. BoJack’s struggles with addiction and his complex relationships with the people around him, which are shown in short, 25 minute long episodes, are sometimes more impactful than a 2 hour long movie. Some scenes from this show will be engraved in our minds forever.

Other than its intricate and fascinating character studies, BoJack Horseman portrays a broad and critical perspective of Hollywood (Hollywoo) and the celebrity lifestyle, which is filled with humor. In a season 4 episode, due to a shooting in a mall and increased criticisms to violence, the producers of movies with glorified portrayals of violence run into problems with releasing their newest film. Their only concern is getting the permission to release their movie and they don’t care the least bit about important social issues. addressing serious problems in humorous and subtle ways is another one of BoJack Horseman’s strong suits.

Another noteworthy point about the show that separates it from other sitcoms, is its immaculate attention to detail. Whether it’s in the dialogue or animation, or even the opening credits which changes sometimes depending on current events happening on the show. Usually shows which last many for many years, especially sitcoms, are filled with continuity errors. Although most of the time they aren’t that important and the viewer doesn’t really care much about them, I can daringly say that we won’t find continuity errors in BoJack Horseman. For instance in a season six episode we can see a figure in the background that references a seemingly unimportant event in season one, and it’s clear that the writers have in no way forgotten about the earlier parts of the show.

The creators of the show have put so much work into making it with as much subtlety and intricacy as possible, and they’ve done an excellent job to say the least. All of this references and jokes and clever foreshadowing hidden in between the scenes, are like rewards to the attentive audience who watch the show more than once. Whenever we rewatch an episode of BoJack Horseman we will surely find a detail we had missed before, so rewatching BoJack Horseman is something you won’t want to miss.

All of the five main characters of the show are present from beginning to end. They each have their own arc and they go through a development. Although the main focus on the story is on BoJack himself, there are episodes that focus on Princess Caroline, Mr. Peanutbutter, Diane and Todd and let the audience feel closer to these characters’ personal lives. In spite of taking place in Hollywoo and being about the film industry of the United States, the average audience can still be engaged in the story since the writers have gone further than just showing these people’s lives on the surface, and by delving deeper into the inner emotions of the characters we can see a more familiar side of their lives. They have the same concerns and emotions that each of us can go through in our daily lives.

BoJack Horseman is a comedy and it’ll make us laugh, and I think this alone is a reason to give it a watch. Most likely the majority of the show’s fans went into it by thinking it’s nothing more than a show about a funny talking horse, but soon started to realize that it’s much more than that.

I think I’ve said most things that can be said about this show without spoiling it. I recommend it to everyone since not only is it very entertaining, it might even give you a different perspective on life…

Thank you for reading! Hopefully this has been an appropriate introduction to BoJack Horseman for you.

Series Rating: 10/10

My top 10 Episodes:

10. S06 – Ep16 | Nice While It Lasted

9. S01-Ep11 | Downer Ending

8. S05-Ep08 | Mr. Peanutbutter’s Boos

7. S03-Ep09 | Best Thing That Ever Happened

6. S02-Ep11 | Escape from L.A.

5. S06-Ep15 | The View from Halfway Down

4. S04-Ep02 | The Old Sugarman Place

3. S03-Ep04 | Fish out of Water

2. S05-Ep06 | Free Churro

1. S04-Ep11 | Time’s Arrow