A Writer’s Life: TV Shows with Excellent Writing

I used to watch a lot of television.  I watch less now, but I still manage to consume a few shows a season that are not HGTV or Food Network related.

There is a lot that goes into making a good tv show, but it’s always been about the writing for me. Even if I didn’t like the actors, or the direction of the show, the writing would keep me hooked.

This, of course, is subjective. Some people enjoy raucous humor and some people want to be made to feel.

Personally, I like a little of both. No, I like a lot of both. I want to have all the feels.

The top of my list, purely for writing, would be Sons of Anarchy. This show did make me laugh, and I am not ashamed to say it made me cry, too. Made me scream at the poor television. Made me clutch my pillow to me and wince. Even if I did not like the direction of the final season, the writing, up until the last minute, was beyond incredible.  I have rewatched the series twice and am working on my fourth time through. It’s violent, so I take it in small doses, but the writing keeps me coming back every few years for a rewatch.

Second on my list is the Sopranos. I know that it tops many lists, but it comes in just under SoA for me. The very idea of a mob boss with mental health issues is incredibly creative and compelling. As with SoA, there is violence, humor, and raw emotions that anyone would be hard pressed to sit through without feeling empathy. The characters felt real to me. The dialogue rarely felt forced or fake. That last scene though….

Next on my list is The Office. People either love or hate this show, and frankly, I fall on the deep in love side. The humor is almost never forced, and in watching the show, you can tell that the actors are having a great time with their characters and the dialogue. The character of Dwight Schrute is unforgettable, and I cannot imagine anyone but Rainn Wilson in that role. Sure, there are a lot of cringe-y moments, especially in the first few seasons, but that is what gave the show its edge. The writing just shines, and for a sitcom, that’s a rare and wonderful beast.

Following that, I must mention Queer as Folk. Probably a controversial choice. But it’s a show I’ve watched through a few times and enjoyed just as much the second time as the first. It has some edgy moments, and some cringe-y moments, and some moments I simply don’t look at the screen for, but the writing is magnificent, and it should not be ignored. I like writing where humor is not forced, and this show has quite a lot of that. It keeps you curious, ready to watch the next episode. It keeps the relationships interesting. That’s what makes good TV.

I’ll round out my top 5 with one that surprised even me. West Wing. I did not watch this show until a couple years ago, on Netflix. At the time it was airing, I was ignoring politics as much as humanly possible, and even with Rob Lowe and Stockard Channing in it, I could not be bothered. People keep insisting to me that I should watch it. So, I did.  And I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, there are a lot of politics in it. But it’s a richly written show with humor and tears and unrequited love and emotional scenes that will wring you dry. It’s quirky and cute and at the same time, emotionally draining and real. Which, to be honest, more shows should aspire to. If I’m going to get lost in a TV show, it better be entertaining on all levels.  And this one was.

I have a few honorable mentions: Married With Children, Brothers and Sisters, The Umbrella Academy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veep, and my most recent addiction, Billions (very clever show. Highly recommend).

I do realize that not everyone watches TV to swing on an emotional pendulum from laughter to tears. But I do, and it’s the same reason I return to the same authors time after time. Make it real for me, and I will keep buying whatever you are selling.