So I just started watching that show last week, and I'm a good ways through the first season, and I'm about to call it quits. Sure, the whole spy dealing and wheeling spiel is a little far-fetched, but it has been entertaining enough while I was trying to ignore how much silly magic their tech seems to do.

Now that they've introduced this whole stupid 'prophecy' storyline it's just become more than a little ludicrous. I mean, really? Talk about being out there, especially seeing how every character seems to treat it all so seriously. Ugh. How was this popular again? I just don't see it. Also, Sydney is way too emotional for me to ever believe she could be a real spy.

Moving on to something else then.

Alias, wow. Blast from the past. Can't believe that show started airing over 10 years ago.

I watched the show on and off, but I remember it being enjoyable.

Yeah.... I started watching that since I never it when it aired while Nikita was on break... It was uh.... It had it's moments that I really enjoyed and moments like the polar bears in Lost where I just had to shake my head and go ????

Life is too short to watch mediocre TV shows. Especially with all the absolutely amazing shows that have come out in recent years.

To each their own. I watched Lost all the way though and it was the same thing with Alias. After every season I just lost more and more interest. I think the only thing that could have saved it is if dinosaurs suddenly showed up and ate them and then rap battled or something.

This probably explains it the best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDQd1jpYAJM

I think it was a chick show. At least one of my short-time ex'es loved the show, I think she said she liked how the female protagonist is so capable and takes no shit from anyone, or something like that. I never saw the pull either, but then I watched it only occasionally.

But then, she also liked the Superman TV-series ("Smallville"), apparently because she felt it was sooo romantic how the female character had a physically superior admirer (young Clark Kent) who would do anything to protect her. I found this a bit contradicting with liking of the Alias series, but whatever. I think there wasn't enough Superman in me, hence she is an ex.

While we are at it, I've been watching more of the Deep Space 9 episodes, and they still suck. No idea in which season I am currently (still the first one?). The latest episode I saw was how some planet was selling a drug to another planet full of drug addicts, because the latter thought they will die of plague without it. Aww, what a simplistic and moralistic episode for numbnuts. I hope the show gets better soon...

My main problem with TV series like Lost is that it is quite apparent the makers are making it up as they go, without clearly knowing where the series/story is heading, and how long it will last. There have been lots of such TV shows. That's what makes the story so convoluted, because they keep coming up with filler story branches, characters etc. just to fill a few more episodes, or even seasons. True Blood is quite the same in that sense as e.g. Lost.

IMHO: If you make a running TV-series, make each episode mostly self-contained, only referring to earlier episodes if needed. Like e.g. MacGyver, X-Files, Star Treks etc.

If you make a TV-series where all episodes are connected, please make it coherent and decide already in the beginning the whole story arch, how it will develop and end, and how many episodes there will be. For example Dexter or Rome, two of my favourites. Not to mention 24 (restricted to 24 episodes, duh!). Sure Dexter has had many seasons, but each season to me feels like it was completely planned and thought out from the very beginning, not "let's drag out and stretch the story thin as long as the show remains popular".

That said, I admit there are good examples of the "create more as you go" though. At least "Breaking Bad" seemed to remain interesting even though it was quite hard to tell where the series or story was really heading, and it did feel it was made with the same method as e.g. True Blood or Lost.

I quite liked it back in the days. Not for Sydney, but I loved Sloane and Dad. They were the real badasses of the show. I do feel the whole prophecy added to the series, otherwise it would just become boring like Chuck.

This thread is now about good show recommendations.
Seriously, I need some.

Castle? I like that one.

Which ones have you watched? What are your favorite shows?

The first season of Heroes is an incredible experience that I would recommend to absolutely everyone.

All other seasons of Heroes are a godawful atrocity that should never have been released upon mankind, and I wouldn't wish them upon my worst enemy.

Watch the first season, act like the season finale is the series finale, and enjoy the ride.

Well, I really liked Alias as well as Lost. I was even satisfied with their ending.

I would say that you should watch a few episodes of the second season. Atfer that, it will remain more of the same with a few twists now and then.

As said above, watch the first season of Heroes but, stop at the end of it, don't try to watch more episodes as they are total crap (and this comes from someone who loved Alias, Lost and even Smallville). The first season of Prison Break is a must too. I liked the others too but everybody agress that the shows quality decreased after the first season.

I actually disagree on both accounts that the some shows like Lost feels like they're making it on the go and that they need to be more contained, that would weaken the entire main plot as it would become the same just so people could get their grip on what's what.

It's why I prefer shows with a huge story arc and a few others along the way and not like MacGyver and Star Treks altough I'm not sure you can count X-Files out of that but I have only seen a few episodes and received some summary from a friend. Same here.

I must be one of the few that actually thought it got better for every season, the last in particular was strongest in my opinion.

Anyway, to the OP: what genre do you like? If you dislike (incoherent) story arcs then maybe comedies, reality or stuff like Breaking Bad are your cup of tea?