When I'm not watching this, it can sometimes be hard to remember why I put it at number one. Heck, even while I am watching it, it can be hard to remember. To be sure, there are other series that in many ways I seem to enjoy more and consider to be of at least as high a quality as this. Shows which maybe I enjoy every single episode of immensely, whereas this one, not so much. But while I do enjoy many episodes of B5 a great deal, and certainly enjoy some scenes more than I can possibly tell you, the thing about this series, the real beauty of it, is how well it works as a series. The five-year story was planned out beforehand, which you can really see if you watch the whole series in proper order. It all just comes together brilliantly as a whole, and is often compared to a novel or a series of novels (each season comprising a major story arc, though they all flow seamlessly together). It truly is a peerless modern epic (a word which is very much overused, but genuinely applies to this series), borrowing from many familiar legends and fantasies, all while weaving its own fascinating, exciting, moving, amusing, and quite original, story. The characters, the relationships between them, as well as between the various alien races, are all remarkably involved and involving, not to mention constantly evolving. Well... what else can I say? However often I may forget, there are more than enough reasons why this show deserves the top spot on my list of all-time favorite series.
Easily a contender for the top spot, this is probably the most consistently enjoyable series I've ever had the distinct pleasure of watching. To call the title character simply a "vampire slayer" is far too limiting, it doesn't begin to do justice to the myriad of evils from which she tirelessly saves the world. In theory we know well that on any given nightly patrol, some random vamp could get lucky, and take the life of the Slayer. And yet, there is seemingly no end to the impending apocalypses Buffy and her friends manage to narrowly avert. Demons, gods, magic-users, and humans of every description imaginable have been friend or foe (sometimes both) to our heroes over the course of the series. Each season, of course, has its major story arc, but there is no shortage of random side-stories, little bads to either provide a brief breather from the battle with the big bads, or else to ensure that even when the world's been saved, there's really never any such thing as "down time." But as thrilling, dramatic, world-threatening, and indescribably dangerous as the never-ending fight against evil may be, there's always time for humor. There's no such thing as an episode that doesn't induce inordinate amounts of smiles and laughter. It's quite simply one of the most hilarious shows I've ever seen, and that's no mean feat, amongst the constant excitement, fear, and even frequent sorrow. The characters are remarkably well realized, and despite the utterly fantastic nature of their lives, it would be a rare series indeed which managed to offer up characters as truly believable as the ones on this show. I feel like I know these people, fictional though they are; and I definitely care about them as much as it is possible to care about fictional characters. Hell, I probably care about them more than some real people I know. The point is, they're not just there to kill the bad guys and crack the jokes. Things matter to them. Events, people, whatever. Things matter. They are necessarily deeply close to one another, but it's not just necessity or shared experiences, it's genuine and well-earned affection, pride, respect, and loyalty. Not to say they never have their differences, cuz, damn. Shit happens, on pretty much unprecedented levels. Falling-outs aren't exactly uncommon, here, nor in any way could they be called mild. Friends become enemies, and enemies, allies. And while it may often seem that nothing is as constant as change, some things are forever. People don't just go away and that's all. It couldn't be all, when the feelings run this deep. It hurts like hell when things end, and there's no guarantee they'll ever go back like they were. Time does, however, scar over the wounds and dull the pain for a spell. And every now and then a tragic loss will be reversed, good times come again. The scars, of course, remain. In short, this series isn't so near the top of my list simply because of the kick-ass stories and, well, ass-kicking action. The writing is brilliant, the acting is superb, the humor is extraordinary, the whole damn thing is unbearably fun and engrossing, but the most important part is undeniably the characters and their relationships with one another. It may get melodramatic at times, even soap opera-y, but on the whole, it is in many ways more real than reality. It is more intense than just about any other show around, but intensity to a purpose, and with great cause. This, perhaps more even than the literal demons they fight, is what raises the series so far above shows where intensity seems to be a purpose in and of itself.
What's this? A sci-fi show, then a supernatural show, then... a chick show?? No. In point of fact, I don't believe in such concepts. Art is art, that's all. Some things might apply to a greater percentage of one group of people than another, but for the most part that's irrelevant. What's important is the quality of the writing, acting, etc. The biggest difference between this show and Buffy is the subject matter, which is of some importance, but not as much as you might think. Like that show, the most important aspect to me is the characters. This being a quirky show, the characters tend to be more, well, quirky, than most people you might meet in real life, or even see on a fantastic show such as Buffy. Even if they are all just humans, who've never even met a demon. Anyway, quirky characters can be quite amusing, and even sometimes realistic. And while the stories may sometimes get almost unbearably melodramatic... it's okay. I know these people. I care about them. I'm interested in their lives. I hurt when they hurt, and I'm happy when they're happy. And to be sure, there's plenty of both hurt and happiness. The pure speed of the show, the pace, is in its own way intoxicating. I don't even always have time to catch everything, let alone get all the jokes and references. This series is one of the top producers of pop culture references in the history of television, and what's more important is that the references aren't always as obvious as the ones made on other shows. They're often more obscure, and just plain cooler. That's another reason a fan such as myself of such genres traditionally popular with outsiders as, say, sci-fi, fantasy, and the paranormal, would like this show. It may not appear to be aimed at sci-fi geeks like me, but it does seem to be aimed at people who might consider themselves outsiders, or at the very least wouldn't consider themselves "mainstream." The show is for true individuals, people who make up their own minds about things rather than allowing themselves to be programmed by either the media or even their own families. The pop culture references may be more counterculture, and the mainstream references are often made in a mocking, if playful manner. Even the Star Trek references. :) Anyway, enough about that. The show may sometimes seem a bit like a kind of... one might say, "sugary pop confection." Certainly the theme song and musical cues would suggest that. And it isn't entirely ironic, either. Yes, it can all be ironic and mocking, but there's nothing wrong with being genuinely sweet, as long as it's kept essentially in check, and generously counterbalanced by said ironic, playful mocking, and of course the cool, counterculture (or as I say, just plain obscure) references. Not to mention the fact that it's all very smart. The references aren't all pop culture, some are actually high culture, historic, academic... learnèd. "Vapid" is the first word that comes to mind to describe these characters as not being. They are interesting, intelligent, and terribly funny. And while I might consider myself something of an outsider, and as I say the show may naturally appeal to people like me, the main characters aren't really outsiders. Yes, they're smarter and more individualistic than most people in the real world seem to me to be, and have less common tastes in various things, as well as more ironic or playfully sarcastic attitudes in general (without being condescending in their use of irony, as most ironic people tend to come off as being). But unlike, say, Daria (another character and show I love, btw), they're also outgoing, charming, beloved by many (including at least one person they delight in needling). The main characters, as well as the incredible supporting cast, are really great, and their relationships are great. This show can make me cry, and no mistake. But it makes me laugh more than any sitcom I can think of. I mentioned the pace, and by God, I literally often haven't finished laughing at one joke before one or two more have been made. Which is a great shame, because it means I sometimes miss them. And they're each and every one fucking priceless, okay? Hmmm, now what else can I say? I rejoice at being able to watch a show that doesn't talk down to the audience, that doesn't pander, that is actually smarter than I am, while at the same time making me feel smarter than I sometimes do. I rejoice at watching a show with characters who have similar sensibilities to my own, as opposed to the well over 99% of shows on television that just seem mind-bogglingly insipid to me. I enjoy watching characters who can have so many things in common with each other and still mock each other, and also love each other, and make me realize how mercilessly they would mock me if I knew them in real life, and how I would enjoy it. These are the kind of people I wish I knew in real life, and yet would somehow feel inadequate to be in their presence (perhaps because I don't have a couple of the most talented writers in Hollywood writing my lines for me). And yet somehow I feel that if I lived in Stars Hollow, I might actually manage to come out of the shell that life as an outsider in a supremely unquirky small town has forced me to build around myself, lo these many years. Yes, I am a man, and I am not afraid to admit that this show makes me feel as giddy as a schoolgirl. And it is not a chick show. As I said before, there's really no such thing....
Anime happens to be one of my favorite things in the world, so it's surprising to me that most of the shows I put on the first tier in these pages, I'm not quite sure really deserve to be there. But one show is unquestionable, and that's Cowboy Bebop. It's just so damn cool! It's also smart, in its own way, but it's not really about that. It has its share of themes, and God knows serious anime loves to proffer lessons. But this series doesn't really feel like it's trying to impart its lessons. Stuff happens, y'know? Maybe there are lessons in it all, but if so, they're just sort of there. They're not being shoved down our throats. It just feels like we're free to take them or leave them, or to come away with whatever we come away with, without worrying about what we're expected to come away with. Some of the stories are frivolous, some even downright silly. Some have genuine weight to them, whether independently or as part of a larger arc. Again, it's the characters that are important. They're all unquestionably flawed. But they're also very interesting, and they feel more real than most any other animated characters on television. More real even than most live-action characters. They have pasts, and the past matters. Especially pasts like these. It's a funny show, and a tragic show, and exciting, and deep, but in a way I'd say what best characterizes the show is that it's laid-back. As Jet once said of Spike's whistling, "Nice tune, real easy." This show is kinda like that, I think. Yes, it's about layers. There's the nonchalant veneer, but simmering under that (and sometimes boiling to the surface) is great pain and loss, tumult and tragedy... And the question is always there, though usually unasked, "what's it all about?" The fundamental questions of human existence, whether on a grand scale or a deeply personal one. But beneath all that, there lies an answer. But the answer is subjective, as individual as human beings themselves. The show doesn't give one answer, and many different viewers will take away their own answers. For me, I think the point is that all that turmoil is pointless unless in some way it ultimately allows the relaxed, easy-going air to be the norm. Of course it would be boring if that's all there was, but if the drama was all there was, that'd be just as bad. I dunno... I guess that's about all I have to say on the subject....
I was watching an old episode of "Family Guy" the other night, and after licking a psychadelic toad, a character said something like, "I finally get Aaron Sorkin's 'Sports Night.' It's a comedy that's too good to be funny." Well, it's definitely a damn good show. Very clever, witty, smart. Yep. I definitely feel smart when watching it, though once again, the show is smarter than I am. It's a quality show, brilliantly written and acted. And surprise of surprises, what I love most about it is the characters. Sports I couldn't care less about. Luckily, an intimate working knowledge of sports, either as games or as an industry, is of no importance whatever. The sports reporting elements work well enough even for someone like me, because the sublime style of the reporting belies my ignorance of and disinterest in the actual subject matter. Besides, it's more about television production. And more than that, as I say, it's about the characters. I like these people, I care about them and their relationships, and oh yeah, anyone who thinks this show isn't LOL funny a tremendous amount of the time happens to have a somewhat limited sense of humor, IMHO.
Is there something deep and philosophical I can say about this show? Well, I suppose it's the best representation of the Batman mythos I've ever seen on television. And Batman is a fairly deep character, himself. From a psychological standpoint, at least. Y'know, what with seeing his parents murdered when he was a young boy, then devoting his life to fighting crime, but never killing or using a gun (an plot element that is briefly touched upon in the first episode of the spin-off "Batman Beyond," but which is integral to the genesis of that series). Anyway, I often like to point out that the biggest difference between superheroes like Batman and Superman is that Superman's true personality is Clark Kent, but Bruce Wayne's true personality is Batman. That's really the key to understanding Batman, always bearing in mind the sublimation of his original personality in favor of the one he felt compelled to assume for himself. He's never been truly at ease with his public persona as Bruce Wayne, it's really more of a tool he uses, but also a role he's forced to play to keep up appearances. Which is not to say Bruce doesn't have a few genuine friends, including those who know his secret and those who don't. They all help humanize him, keep him grounded... and without them, there's no telling what the abyss might do to him. Still, as interesting a psychological case study as he may be, there's more to the show than that; and at the same time, less. Of course this theme lying ever present in the background, and occasionally called to the foreground, greatly increases my appreciation of the show. But after awhile, if that's all there was, it would get tiring, monotonous, and far too draining. Why then, ultimately, do I like the show? Well... because I like comic books, and Batman's my favorite comic book character. Sure, he's smart, and he's not a metahuman, which theoretically makes it possible for a real live human to do some of the stuff he does. Which is nice. Of course he's also dark and broody, which is also appealing to a dark, brooding outsider like me, wouldn't you think? But more importantly, the stories are fun and amusing, and rarely if ever dumbed down. The action is cool, the detective work is integral to the plot (rather than being some necessity to get out of the way as quickly as possible, as is the case for some superheroes), and the villains are among the most interesting in literature. Most of the characters, good and bad, are familiar and well-liked by true fans of the mythos, and are well written and commendably portrayed. Yep, all my usual criteria apply: good writing, good acting, interesting stories, good characters, and most importantly, it's just plain fun.
The spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's all too easy and common to review both shows as if they were one and the same. And to be sure, they're of basically the same sort of supernatural subject matter. Good guys fighting the big bads. And it's brilliantly written and acted. And I know and very much care about the characters. Yes, it's all very compelling and funny as hell. Plus it's particularly dark and broody, a quality I generally appreciate. So why is it all these spaces down the list? I dunno. I guess in part it's that I can't really accurately choose where to put things. Maybe in part I feel Buffy is representing, so this isn't needed up there, give some other stuff a chance, right? But hey, that wouldn't be fair to Angel, would it? Hmmm. Well... the simple fact is I don't enjoy it quite as much as I do Buffy. There's no reason for it. I still love the show intensely. I mean obviously, cuz here it is on the "favorite shows of all time" list. In any event... it's very much about a struggle for its hero's redemption for past sins. As a vampire who's been cursed with a soul, Angel can never truly forgive himself for all the evil he's done. Nevertheless, he is a champion, and is compelled to do whatever he can to protect people, and sometimes the world. As for the other characters, well, they all have their own histories, their own reasons for what they do. Well, I guess I just can't think what else to say....
More to come...