Welcome to the seventh installment in the weekly Bamboo Shoots: The Care and Feeding of Pandas. Good storytelling comes in many forms. At Pandamoon, ours come in the form of books. However, all of us appreciate a good story that we can see unfold on either the big or the little screen. Today, I asked my Pandas what their favorite television show is and discovered that many like current shows, but also shows that are no longer airing new episodes. I found the latter fact interesting in that the old shows still resonate with them; that's a hallmark of a great story...one that lingers long after it's done.
As for me, I'm currently binging on Orphan Black. I'd heard the hoopla about it over the years, but just didn't take the time to check it out. Once I did, I fell in love. There are more twists and turns in this series than the Kingda Ka rollercoaster at Six Flags. I've just finished Season 3 and am trying to take it slow with Season 4 to enjoy it longer. I've got Season 5, the final one, recording on my DVR to watch when I finish Season 4. I'd love to hear what your favorites are as long as you don't share any Orphan Black spoilers! :-)
Rachel Schoenbauer, Pandamoon Editorial Coordinator
Leverage. Hands down. Unfortunately, it’s been over for years and only had five seasons, but it ended perfectly and is still pretty much the best show. It ran from 2008 to 2012, and it has aged surprisingly well. The basic premise is a team of robin-hood-esque thieves performing a heist (or a con) a week. I love heist movies, the more ridiculously intricate the better, and somehow Leverage manages to pull off five seasons worth of various heists and cons without ever seeming stale (although towards the end the cons and the heists get...epic in proportion.) The kicker really is that they’re the ‘good guys’ despite the tension of being thieves and criminals, and all the characters are genuinely fun to watch grow and be awesome. It’s one of my comfort-food shows that I can pick up at any episode and enjoy.
Christine Gabriel, Pandamoon Global Publicist and Author of The Crimson Chronicles
Expedition UnknownDestination TruthExpedition UnknownMy favorite television show just so happens to be on the SyFy Channel. . It stars Josh Gates, who was also the star of the hit television show takes viewers to remote locations throughout the world to try and prove the existence of mythological creatures. They also attempt to uncover the truth behind some of the world’s most mysterious secrets, like Stonehenge. I love how this show borders the line of fantasy and reality, which is exactly the kind of worlds I tend to create with my writing. Heck, with a world is a big as ours, anything is possible, right?
Laura Ellen Scott, Pandamoon Author of The Juliet and the New Royal Mysteries
Doctor Who, of course. I’ve been watching since I was a kid when Public Television would show the Tom Baker Series. Back then the stories were multi-part serials, with brief episodes that ended with cliff-hangers. They were definitely meant for children, even though there were subversive elements--some of which were courtesy of Douglas Adams, who wrote for the show. Low budget, tattered, but always thrilling. I think the most interesting difference between the shows that were meant for children and the contemporary reboot--which is definitely more adult--is that the Doctor now goes through emotional arcs, whereas in the 70s he was reliably energetic, no matter what was going down.
Elgon Williams, Pandamoon Global Publicist and Author of Fried Windows (in a Light White Sauce), the Becoming Thuperman Trilogy, and the Wolfcat Chronicles
I like comedy in the classic sense of the word-- happy endings. I think my books reflect that even if it may take a while for the characters to resolve their tragedies, requiring a story arc extending over several installments.
When I watch TV, it tends to be something with humor but I prefer it with a bit of darkness, a sense of irony, or complete absurdity. Some of that works its way into my writing in subtle ways, I suppose, even if what I write isn’t necessarily funny. In the US there isn’t a lot on TV that fills the bill for me. I have enjoyed several BBC shows over the years, though. Examples are: Monty Python’s Flying Circus and the IT Crowd. There is one British show that may be pretty obscure to most Americans but it is one of the most warped showed I’ve ever watched. It’s called the Mighty Boosh, which featured Noel Fielding. If you’ve never seen it, search the Internet for an episode titled “Old Greg.” It is a hysterically funny sample of what the show is like.
David Valdes Greenwood, Pandamoon Author of the Revengers Series
The Fargo series on F/X. The three seasons are set in different decades with different characters, but they all share the same region, an exaggerated and off-kilter vision of the Midwest. Noah Hawley, the creator, has a masterful vision that blends macabre details, gorgeous cinematography, real humanity, and horrifying violence, all leavened with deadpan wit. Add the cast--Billy Bob Thornton, Ted Danson, Kirsten Dunst, Jean Smart, and Ewan McGregor being among the leads over three seasons--and it's a stunning creation. I'm hoping that Revengers can emulate some of Fargo’s freshness in creating a singular version of its characters’ world and in taking readers on a bumpy ride through dark places.
Rachel Sharp, Pandamoon Author of the Phaethon Series
Oh, geez, I’m no good at favorites. Can I take it by genre? All Star Trek except OS for sci-fi (conceptually fascinating), Buffy for fantasy (girl kicking butt is also a favorite genre), West Wing for political dramedy (best dialogue ever), How to Get Away With Murder for crime thriller (brilliant pacing, acting), Daria for cartoon (my high school life). You may notice I didn’t pick a superhero show. It’s all of them. Except Iron Fist...Danny annoys me.
Meg Bonney, Pandamoon Media Coordinator and Author of the Everly Series
I have many favorites but the one that stands out to me when asked would have to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character development on that show is amazing and the subtext handled some heavy issues. I also love that the writers weren’t afraid to let Buffy make mistakes and be selfish every once in awhile. Buffy was charged with saving the world (a lot) and she did it with passion and drive. It wasn’t just a vampire show, it was an empowering series that, when I watch it, makes me feel like I can take on anything. It’s my go-to whenever I am in a writing funk too. Buffy always manages to inspire me. It never fails!
Jeff Messick, Pandamoon Author of Knights of the Shield and the Magehunter Saga
This is difficult, because the parameters are so open. Favorite shows--Highlander: The Series, Sherlock, Doctor Who, NCIS: New Orleans, Star Trek (all series), Dexter.
Highlander wins out for me, with Sherlock coming up fast. The Highlander movie was a cult classic, but overall, nothing great, other than the basic idea. However, the series was able to define and develop the character Duncan MacLeod, with a good portrayal by Adrian Paul. The series enabled us viewers to view the psyche of a man living over 400 years and dealing with the stresses of knowing there are others out there, trying to kill you.
Sherlock may be the best writing I’ve ever seen. The latest season shows are getting a tad bit formulaic in their approach, but what they offer is still head and shoulders above the rest, in my opinion. The show introducing “The Woman” is hands down, my favorite episode. The director adds tidbits to the film to help the audience see how Sherlock’s mind works, but when he looks at “The Woman” and sees question marks, the effect is simply terrific.
Dexter was a surprise for me, but I love what they did. Adapted from a series of books, they changed nearly everything, but the show was outstanding...until they ended it. A lumberjack? Really? If you get a chance, grab a copy of Darkly Dreaming Dexter. This series of books is one of my favorites.
Penni Jones, Pandamoon Author of On the Bricks and Kricket
My favorite show right now is Better Call Saul. I was a huge Breaking Bad fan, and I was a little nervous about the spinoff. But it is amazing. Vince Gilligan, the creator of both shows, is a master of character development. The episodes build on the story, and often in unexpected ways. It’s also really fun to learn more about characters from Breaking Bad, including Mike Ehrmantraut, Gus Fring, and Hector Salamanca.
Bob Odenkirk stars as Jimmy McGill, a morally ambiguous attorney who is mostly a good guy. In Breaking Bad, he was a sleazy money-laundering attorney named Saul Goodman. The primary plot of the series is Jimmy’s evolution to Saul. It’s worth watching even if you didn’t watch Breaking Bad.
It airs on AMC, a network that has become known for quality shows over the past decade.
I hope you've enjoyed these glimpses into some of our Pandas. Be sure to come back every Wednesday for another interesting question and answer post.