Shows that have aged well

Sonics2k

So a recent discussion with some friends brought this one up, just the variance of shows that used to be hugely popular, but for one reason or another just haven't aged very well with time.

For me, I'd have to say the show Scrubs is a fantastic example of a show that has aged well (ignoring season 9), and is relatively timeless. It ran for 9 years overall and had some truly amazing writing, great casting and possibly some of the saddest moments on TV.

pixelburp

Having recently watched it again from the start, for the first time in years, the Battlestar reboot remains phenomenal in every way. Even the early 2000s CGI holds up pretty well.

(Conversely, to immediately deviate from the thread OP, I could see something like the West Wing coming off positively quaint after years of fake news and populist politics)

silverharp

the IT Crowd , didnt really watch it when it was out first

JDigweed

Sonics2k wrote: »

So a recent discussion with some friends brought this one up, just the variance of shows that used to be hugely popular, but for one reason or another just haven't aged very well with time.

For me, I'd have to say the show Scrubs is a fantastic example of a show that has aged well (ignoring season 9), and is relatively timeless. It ran for 9 years overall and had some truly amazing writing, great casting and possibly some of the saddest moments on TV.

The Paramedic with the photo of her kid gets me every time.

JDigweed

Just finished watching the Sopranos again, still stands the test of time.

TenLeftFingers

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Re watched it recently and the acting and story telling is so good that I don't think it even matters of you don't like sci-fi.

It did serialized plot before game of thrones too.

@Sonics2k I also watched Scrubs last week after many years. It still has it alright. Really enjoyed it.

Mr.Nice Guy

I've been watching The West Wing for the first time having not seen it in its original run. I find it enjoyable, but it's so surreal watching this in light of what the Trump administration did to the reputation of the office.

The characters on the show speak about the institutions with a deference and a respect that just hasn't aged well in light of what we've experienced the last few years.

I wish I had watched when it originally aired as watching it now feels a bit like observing the Wizard of Oz after the curtain has been pulled away.

Agent Coulson

TenLeftFingers wrote: »

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Re watched it recently and the acting and story telling is so good that I don't think it even matters of you don't like sci-fi.

It did serialized plot before game of thrones too.

@Sonics2k I also watched Scrubs last week after many years. It still has it alright. Really enjoyed it.

Which stole from Babylon 5 which also did it better and it also holds up well today.

Rebel_Kn1ght

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

I've been watching The West Wing for the first time having not seen it in its original run. I find it enjoyable, but it's so surreal watching this in light of what the Trump administration did to the reputation of the office.

The characters on the show speak about the institutions with a deference and a respect that just hasn't aged well in light of what we've experienced the last few years.

I wish I had watched when it originally aired as watching it now feels a bit like observing the Wizard of Oz after the curtain has been pulled away.

Give it a few months and watch it again. One of the few shows that gets better with each watch

Also Starring LeVar Burton

Land of the Giants

Not an obvious one compared to some of the others mentioned here, but one I revisit every few years and even though it's a much older show and you know its dated, it never really feels dated, as theres a timelessness to the stories they tell.

For a formulaic adventure-of-the-week type show that can appeal to all ages it does the job and it does it well, with likeable characters. It was an ambitious show and ahead of its time in the '60s in terms of production, and I'd still be more inclined to recommend it than most modern television.

Capt'n Midnight

TenLeftFingers wrote: »

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Babylon 5 Re watched it recently and the acting and story telling is so good that I don't think it even matters of you don't like sci-fi.

It did serialized plot before Star Trek: Deep Space Nine too.

FYP

ElJaguar

+1 for the Sopranos.

HBC08

Oz

Fred Cryton

Frasier seasons 1-6 still miles better than anything made since.

The_Dave

Perhaps not visually, but the humour from some UK sitcoms is still relevant. Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister still hilarious (to me at least)

Capt'n Midnight

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

FYP

There were plenty of serialised tv shows before either of those.

Stratvs

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

I've been watching The West Wing for the first time having not seen it in its original run. I find it enjoyable, but it's so surreal watching this in light of what the Trump administration did to the reputation of the office.

The characters on the show speak about the institutions with a deference and a respect that just hasn't aged well in light of what we've experienced the last few years.

I wish I had watched when it originally aired as watching it now feels a bit like observing the Wizard of Oz after the curtain has been pulled away.

Jed Bartlett, probably the best President America never had.

There’s a YouTube clip “Bartlett quotes scripture” which for me is one of the best scenes in the entire show.

The_Dave

The_Dave wrote: »

Perhaps not visually, but the humour from some UK sitcoms is still relevant. Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister still hilarious (to me at least)

I never once got a half smile from only fools and horses.

OU812

Stratvs wrote: »

Jed Bartlett, probably the best President America never had.

There’s a YouTube clip “Bartlett quotes scripture” which for me is one of the best scenes in the entire show.

That's the first episode & a brilliant introduction to him.

On season four & absolutely love this show.

OU812

I've found the thing that ages a show most (apart from outdated attitudes) is when they're not "set" in a period & the technology used while cutting edge at the time of broadcast, has been positively outdated by now, flip phones, digital cameras, old beige box computers etc.

OU812

OU812 wrote: »

I've found the thing that ages a show most (apart from outdated attitudes) is when they're not "set" in a period & the technology used while cutting edge at the time of broadcast, has been positively outdated by now, flip phones, digital cameras, old beige box computers etc.

They can’t help that. It’s the ones that try to guess the near future. I particularly hate the last season of parks n recs for that. It’s set in their future which was 2017, but it’s was filmed in 2015. The mobile phones are see through to indicate the future.

(In fact I hate the see through electronics idea anyway. Not ever possible.)

cian68

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

I've been watching The West Wing for the first time having not seen it in its original run. I find it enjoyable, but it's so surreal watching this in light of what the Trump administration did to the reputation of the office.

The characters on the show speak about the institutions with a deference and a respect that just hasn't aged well in light of what we've experienced the last few years.

I wish I had watched when it originally aired as watching it now feels a bit like observing the Wizard of Oz after the curtain has been pulled away.

I'm on my first watch as well. Whenever the characters are worried about some scandal I want to tell them it doesn't matter. You can say whatever you want and still win

Jellybaby_1

M.A.S.H.

JackTC

Sonics2k wrote: »

So a recent discussion with some friends brought this one up, just the variance of shows that used to be hugely popular, but for one reason or another just haven't aged very well with time.

For me, I'd have to say the show Scrubs is a fantastic example of a show that has aged well (ignoring season 9), and is relatively timeless. It ran for 9 years overall and had some truly amazing writing, great casting and possibly some of the saddest moments on TV.

I loved the first season of Scrubs.

I found that after season 2 or 3 it ran out of steam and the silly gags became a bit too much.

Rikand

Murder She Wrote - Still looks brilliant and always watchable. All seasons brilliant except for the one where she narrates her stories and its her characters solving the crimes. That series sucked. Jessica is timeless!

Capt'n Midnight

fvp4 wrote: »

There were plenty of serialised tv shows before either of those.

Not many of those were about a new commander arriving at a space station beside a transit point and featured multiple plot arcs and a major interstellar war.

titan18

Simpsons seasons 1-9 or so are still fantastic when you watch them now. The first few episodes do throw you a bit (pre voice and animation change ones) but once the familiar style sets in its episode after episode of quality.

Agent Coulson

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Which stole from Babylon 5 which also did it better and it also holds up well today.

The story of B5 bolds up, but it's often the only thing.

Outside main cast (usually) the support acting is more wooden than the sets and the CGI was overly ambitious, for its time.
No way you are getting too many new people to look past the low production values.


PS: And I am a fan.

Invader Zim.

A bit before its time. Had it been released in recent years it'd have been a smash. .

Capt'n Midnight

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Not many of those were about a new commander arriving at a space station beside a transit point and featured multiple plot arcs and a major interstellar war.

You probably need to expand your viewing.

jonon9

I still find Magnum Pi entertaining to watch I love the love hate relationship between Magnum and Higgins

RobbingBandit

House MD the show was great still worth a watch

RobbingBandit

Futurama

Bender Zoidberg Zapp Branigan and The Hedonism Bot still crack me up

martingriff

jonon9 wrote: »

I still find Magnum Pi entertaining to watch I love the love hate relationship between Magnum and Higgins

The original I am guessing. At least the reboot kept the music

the whole year inn

martingriff wrote: »

The original I am guessing. At least the reboot kept the music

Red dwarf.
30Rock

Nigel Fairservice

The_Dave wrote: »

Perhaps not visually, but the humour from some UK sitcoms is still relevant. Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers, Yes Minister still hilarious (to me at least)

Have to agree with Only Fools and Horses. It's simple humour but it gets me every time even after I've seen most of the episode a few times.

the purple tin

Blackadder.
The style of humour is still great and the jokes still hit the mark. Timeless comedy.

_Kaiser_

The Shield.. still as good now as ever. I watch it all through again every year or so

Scrubs and DS9 as already said. I'd add SG1 and Atlantis too. Just great characters and chemistry between the actors in both

Two and a Half Men until Charlie exits, although by then it was dying anyway. Still very funny IMO

Cool Hand Lucy

The West Wing

_Kaiser_

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

The Shield.. still as good now as ever. I watch it all through again every year or so

Scrubs and DS9 as already said. I'd add SG1 and Atlantis too. Just great characters and chemistry between the actors in both

Two and a Half Men until Charlie exits, although by then it was dying anyway. Still very funny IMO

The big fall down, for me, with SG1 is that the Goa'uld always just planked their statgates in lightly/non defended fields within easy strike range of their mega important base.
Atlantis didn't suffer from it as wraith weren't base builders


It was a visible error in the day, nowadays it's criminal oversight

Firefly is as quirky as always, you can see so much taken from it in The Mandalorian (so just taking it back from Firefly lifting from Star Wars)

It, for once, benefits from a single season in this regard

Itssoeasy

First two season of prison break still holds up for me. The later series start to get a bit rudderless and far fetched.

Zaney

I’m going to exclude period drama and sci-fi as I just think it’s easier for them. There are many fabulous tv shows in these categories I’ve watched again and again: Pride and Predjudice with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, Downton Abbey, Miss Marple, Farscape, Buffy, Angel, Red Dwarf (the original run), Quantum Leap

So excluding period dramas and sci-fi my list would include in no particular order:
- House
- Monty Python
- Father Ted
- Twin Peaks (the original run)
- The Wire

_Kaiser_

Deleted User wrote: »

The big fall down, for me, with SG1 is that the Goa'uld always just planked their statgates in lightly/non defended fields within easy strike range of their mega important base.
Atlantis didn't suffer from it as wraith weren't base builders


It was a visible error in the day, nowadays it's criminal oversight

I think the theory probably was that until SG1, there wasn't really any resistance or threat to the Goa'uld anyway. Plus the arrogance of the System Lords that the Tau'ri weren't a serious threat anyway.

Plus I assume the gates were originally located there by the Ancients. I can't remember if it was clear if the Goa'uld (aside from Ba'al and probably Anubis) knew much about them anyway. Maybe they thought they couldn't move them or something?

Weepsie

Rikand wrote: »

Murder She Wrote - Still looks brilliant and always watchable. All seasons brilliant except for the one where she narrates her stories and its her characters solving the crimes. That series sucked. Jessica is timeless!

Caught an episode of this yesterday
. Guy who played Seth played a guy who killed someone in the first series.

It's a really silly show but it's easy to see why people still watch it.

Anyway, Alan Partridge and fast show are still as funny as they were 25 years ago

jk23

Only fools and horses, Father Ted, Seinfeld ,Curb your enthusiasm, the wonder years and Quantum leap..

Did you smash it

The Wire is untouchable. I rewatch it often and just marvel at the realism, the complexity, the acting and for characterization of even minor characters. It’s more than just a tv show.

Cracker is amazing tv. Far ahead of the normal British detective series’s.

As someone already said the Simpsons was the **** in the 90s.

The Sopranos is very watchable.

Love/hate at the end of series 2 and the whole of series 3 was better than almost all tv out there.

Personally I’m fussy so most of the modern tv that gets acclaimed doesn’t do it for me. True detective series one and Chernobyl being the most notable exceptions.

_Kaiser_

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

I think the theory probably was that until SG1, there wasn't really any resistance or threat to the Goa'uld anyway. Plus the arrogance of the System Lords that the Tau'ri weren't a serious threat anyway.

Plus I assume the gates were originally located there by the Ancients. I can't remember if it was clear if the Goa'uld (aside from Ba'al and probably Anubis) knew much about them anyway. Maybe they thought they couldn't move them or something?

I heard that and I agreed with it for a bit until I realised that the Goa'uld were constantly at war with each other. No way one of them didn't invade through one. Hell, that is the opening scene in SG1



The only reasoning I can see would be that they would not bing it into a base, in case a bomb was chucked through, but would at least expect major fortification.

gameoverdude

Agent Coulson wrote:

Which stole from Babylon 5 which also did it better and it also holds up well today.

Liar!

gameoverdude

Deleted User wrote:

Firefly is as quirky as always, you can see so much taken from it in The Mandalorian (so just taking it back from Firefly lifting from Star Wars)

One series! Ridiculous. At least we got Serenity.

godtabh

The ones I really liked are

The Wire
The Office ‘ an american workplace’
How I Met Your Mother
My Name is Earl
Serenity
Community
Silicon Valley
Lost

Really like Father Ted but I think that has not aged well

Not much of the stuff above would get made these days.

One I’d like to re with is Entourage. Listening to their podcast. That defo wouldn’t get made now.