Short-ish TV show recommendations.

fretmeister

I will shortly be spending a week on the coast in a place with very limited web access, no mobile phone access and only 5 TV channels.

There is a DVD player though - so I'm looking for a relatively short series I can get and take with me.

In the past I've taken a series of Life on Mars / Ashes to Ashes and that sort of thing.

Not fussed about genre as long as it's well written and actually has a story!

All recommendations welcome!

Sporky

Wonderfalls - just one series, entirely self-complete. Very silly, very funny.

Don't Trust The B**** in Apartment 23 is excellent - two short series, both painfully funny, and has James Van Der Beek as James Van Der Beek in it. Surprisingly this is a selling point. Every character is a horrible, horrible person, especially the nice ones. Chloe, the titular "B", is as close to a hero/role model as I have.

And The Lost Room - again a single self-contained series (though open for a follow-up), just three 90-ish minute episodes, paranormal without any monsters.

eSully

Sci-fi - Firefly, one season only and very enjoyable.
Horror - Ash Vs the Evil dead - If you enjoyed the Evil dead movies you'll love this, if not, avoid.
Murder/Mystery - Harpers Island, again one season only, very silly but a lot of fun.


Edit: Actually none of those are particularly well written, but they are fun

holnrew

Derek if you've not seen that

Bogwhoppit

Lovejoy seasons 1 to 3

EricTheWeary

Luther.

EricTheWeary

We started watching The Mentalist in similar circumstances. Seven, IIRC,  seasons altogether but it's very episodic. Good if you like modern US crime dramas, don't want anything too dark and can enjoy the homage element to things like Columbo. 

NickBotfield

Agent Carter is only 8 episodes for each of the two series but I think it's the best Marvel series out of all of them, including the Netflix lot.

english_bob

Line of Duty is fun. The most recent series was the best of the lot IMO, but I don't know how quickly the BBC get their stuff out on DVD after it airs so you might not be able to watch that one yet. You need to start at the beginning anyway.

fretmeister

Thanks chaps.

The Lost Room looks interesting, as does Agent Carter (seems like S2 isn't out on DVD yet) so I've ordered those 2

The B in Apt 23 looks fun but Amazon seems to have it as R1 only and I don't know whether the player is multi-region.
Ash -v- Evil dead isn't out on DVD yet, alas. I've been waiting for that.

I've seen Luther - loved it.

Firefly - bargain of the day. I've seen bits but not all of it. Used on Amazon for.... £1.08 + a couple of quid postage!

roundthebend

Can you use an external hard drive and download/rip the stuff? Then you can watch longer shows or indeed use Region 1 etc.

I recommend Fargo S1 if you haven't already seen that.

fretmeister

The telly in the place is a CRT....

Old school or nothing!

UnclePsychosis

Interesting. I love Marvel (books and TV/films) but Agent Carter is really weak in my opinion.

There was a programme on Channel 4 last year called No Offence. British Police comedy/drama. Great cast, very black humour. First season is on DVD and is only 10 episodes or something.

EricTheWeary

The Night Manager is on DVD, highly recommended if you haven't seen it. Certainly well written and has a story. Not particularly long.

The Tunnel is on DVD as well. Series 2 probably better than series 1. Basically an adaptation of The Bridge so it's smartly written. 

fretmeister

I saw The Night Manager. Thought that was excellent!

eSully

roundthebend said:

Can you use an external hard drive and download/rip the stuff? Then you can watch longer shows or indeed use Region 1 etc.

I recommend Fargo S1 if you haven't already seen that.

Fargo is a fantastic suggestion. There are 2 seasons currently but they're self contained stories. You can watch 2 without seeing 1. I can't recommend it highly enough.

If you're looking for a comedy boxset I thought Cuckoo (BBC) with Greg Davies was very funny too

Jalapeno

Vikings - series 1-4

Mr Robot is brilliant - 1 series (2nd is currently airing on Amazon)

The Preacher (on Amazon) - very surreal.

Jessica Jones (Netflix), also Daredevil

True Blood if you haven't seen it series 1-5

Dopesick

Garth Marenghi's Dark Place
Time Trumpet

Both classics.

Sporky

fretmeister said:

The B in Apt 23 looks fun but Amazon seems to have it as R1 only and I don't know whether the player is multi-region.

I think you'd like it. It is very, very wrong.

octatonic

Firefly. The advantage being it is one disc and you can happily watch it a bazillion times and not get bored.

MrSwanson

eSully said:

roundthebend said:

Can you use an external hard drive and download/rip the stuff? Then you can watch longer shows or indeed use Region 1 etc.

I recommend Fargo S1 if you haven't already seen that.

Fargo is a fantastic suggestion. There are 2 seasons currently but they're self contained stories. You can watch 2 without seeing 1. I can't recommend it highly enough.

If you're looking for a comedy boxset I thought Cuckoo (BBC) with Greg Davies was very funny too

Was just about to say Fargo, finished season 2 last night great show!