I have come to realize that the BBC puts forth irrefutably superior television programs.
While I enjoy American television shows like Hawaii Five-0, Lost, Human Target, Life and How I Met Your Mother, I have to admit that the BBC’s series are far better.
I was introduced to the wonderful world of Doctor Who in early January of this year. After watching one episode (“The Shakespeare Code,” episode 2, series 3), I was hooked.
I appreciate the overall quality of the show. The actors portraying the Doctor in their respective series are divine. I first saw David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, but I loved Matt Smith as the Eleventh. I still cannot figure out which one is my Doctor.
David Tennant (left) as Ten and Matt Smith (right) as Eleven
I also think it is refreshing that the show does not require spectacular special effects to make it wonderful. While none of the visual effects look shoddy or unprofessional, it doesn’t look like the show is trying to be a multi-million dollar Hollywood film.
Doctor Who also features women who are not traditional, model-thin waifs. Practically all action-y American television shows only feature skinny women as the leading ladies.
But the Doctor’s companions are beautiful, natural-looking women.
Billie Piper as Rose Tyler
Freema Agyemen as Martha Jones
Catherine Tate as Donna Noble
Alex Kingston as River Song
The trend changed in series 5, as Matt Smith became Eleven, but I believe the change was made for no particular reason.
Scottish actress and former model Karen Gillan was cast as Amelia “Amy” Pond. And she’s a knockout.
Karen Gillan as Amy Pond
I also love the BBC version of Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.
Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes (left) and Martin Freeman as Dr. John H. Watson (right)
This show is simply brilliant.
Two seasons are available currently, each comprised of 3, hour and a half long episodes. Each episode is based on a Sherlock Holmes story, as written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but set in modern-day London. It really is quite fabulous.
Cumberbatch and Freeman are unbelievably in tune with their characters, bringing the incredibly intricate story lines together in a seamless dance across the screen.
Character development and plots in BBC shows are just better. Not to mention the other wonderful programs they have made such as The Blue Planet and BBC version of The Great Gatsby, based off the novel of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
The former is the best nature program I have ever seen and I believe the latter to be the best adaptation of Fitzgerald’s masterpiece in existence.
Anyway, I love the BBC, and you should definitely check out their stuff!
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