As 2012 ends in a few hours’ time, I want to look fondly at
some of the nicest TV shows I’ve watched this year. And there have been quite a
few of those. Out of the ones I name, most were released in 2012 but some were
released before and I only got around to watching them this year and the reason
why I’m even including them here is because I loved them so much.
They’re in different languages, from different countries and
different genres but in watching them, I have found solace, happiness and a
much needed escape to a world that I almost wish I was in. Well, nearly all of
them.
So here they are, my fav watches, Television, (even though I
watched more than half of them on my laptop instead of the TV) in 2012 in the
order of preference:
1. Sherlock
Country: UK
I was unaware of Sherlock's existence till this year. Season 1 came out in 2011 January I think but I got around to seeing both Season 1 and 2 only this year (http://anyasmusings.blogspot.in/2012/04/game-is-on-or-was-until-season-3.html). And... definitely the best thing I've watched this year. Benedict Cumberbatch is a GREAT Sherlock Holmes. Martin Free is a great Dr. Watson. And Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are geniuses. And even though Benedict Cumberbatch's acting, voice and cheekbones are a pleasure, the award for pure genius goes to Andrew Scott as James Moriarty. Pure evil, he chills your blood. Believe me when I see that one of the things I am most looking forward to in 2013 is to see how Sherlock did not...you know, not do that thing he apparently had done.
2
2. Faith/The Great Doctor/신의
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea
If any other show managed to occupy my thoughts this year as much as Sherlock did, it has got to be 신의. This show is called Faith and also The Great Doctor in English. It was aired (and finished) in 2012 with a total of 16 beautiful episodes each. I began watching this series side by side as it was released in South Korea because...you guess it right: Lee Min Ho! Sigh. Who would've thought that a Goryeo warrior with long hair who doesn't even blink while slaying people would be this hot! Oh, Lee Min Ho, you so dreamy!!
신의 is a sort of a mix between fantasy, historical drama and romance. As if having Lee Min Ho having in the lead was not enough reason for me to get hooked to this show, this has elements of fantasy and the first episode begins with a little animation sequence.
3. Personal Taste/Personal Preference/GaeIn’s Taste/개인의 취향
Language: Korean
2
2. Faith/The Great Doctor/신의
Country: South Korea
If any other show managed to occupy my thoughts this year as much as Sherlock did, it has got to be 신의. This show is called Faith and also The Great Doctor in English. It was aired (and finished) in 2012 with a total of 16 beautiful episodes each. I began watching this series side by side as it was released in South Korea because...you guess it right: Lee Min Ho! Sigh. Who would've thought that a Goryeo warrior with long hair who doesn't even blink while slaying people would be this hot! Oh, Lee Min Ho, you so dreamy!!
신의 is a sort of a mix between fantasy, historical drama and romance. As if having Lee Min Ho having in the lead was not enough reason for me to get hooked to this show, this has elements of fantasy and the first episode begins with a little animation sequence.
3. Personal Taste/Personal Preference/GaeIn’s Taste/개인의 취향
Country: South Korea
This is a 2010 series but I only got around to watching it
this year in August. So glad that I did. Personal
Taste has got two of my favourite actors—Lee Min Ho and Son Ye Jin—in the
lead and that is why I had wanted to watch it. Lee Min Ho, as always, steals my
heart away. Even when he’s pretending to be gay like he is in this show. Son Ye
Jin is a kind and naïve girl with almost no self-respect and self-confidence who
gets dumped by her rich boyfriend and cheated on by her best friend. Lee Min
Ho’s character is a hot (duh) budding architect who puts two things before
himself: his mom and his work. He gets into Son Ye Jin’s house as a roommate so
that he can steal her house’s blueprints for a work project and she lets him in
thinking he’s gay. All’s well until they fall in love. Aww. Kind of like Dostana (that had John Abraham and this
has Lee Min Ho, so yay) but better. Or at least I thought that. I loved the
casting (duh) and was expecially impressed by the character of Do Bin (played
by Ryoo Seung Ryong). The music is beautiful, and this show managed to get me
hooked.
4.
Modern Family, Season 4
Country: USA
Because very few shows can beat Modern Family into making you roll with
laughter. So far I’ve liked season 4 better than season 3. I love this show!
When I’m upset, all I’ve to do is watch some of this and I’m good to go. This
season is the same as ever—Cameron is, well, Cam. Gloria is loud. Jay is the
“tough guy”. Mitch is the eye rolling lawyer. Phil is still giving his
Phils-osophy. Claire is still managing her family. And what I really love about
this show is that the kids of the family aren’t just there for fitting the
frame. They have individual traits and characters. Yay, Modern Family, one of the funniest shows ever.
Country: South Korea
This show (not to be confused with the much
loved American series Full House) was
telecasted for the first time in the year 2004. But despite its immense
popularity all over the world, I only got around to seeing it this year, and
then I promptly fell in love with it. Which is why it is being mentioned by me
here. Clearly I am a fan of romantic comedies which is what this show is. The
story isn’t as great as the acting, script, cast and direction is. I love the
way a seeming less ordinary story is dealt with into making it into a show that
is loved by so many people across the globe for this many years. This show has
Bi Rain, which in itself should be enough reason for people to want to watch
it.
6. Devon Ke Dev—Mahadev
Country: India
Well, finally something that doesn’t have
scheming moms-in-law, naïve daughters-in-laws, poisonous other women. This is
show is based on the story and legends surrounding the Hindu God, Shiva (which
is a refresher in itself because as far as I know, there hasn’t been any
mythological/religious show made on Shiva as the protagonist). Mohit Raina
plays Lord Shiva and plays him very well. Over all the casting is good as is
the way this show is approached direction wise. Also, the make-up done in this
show is brilliant (and here I would like to specially mention the episodes with
Shiva & Parvati’s wedding and the one with Maa Kali) which is really
crucial to a show like this. However, if I had to point anything that I’m not
that happy with this show about, it would be these two things: first, this show
almost goes in waves—while most of the episodes are nice to watch, sometimes
they just linger (and linger!) and you could easily miss two-three episodes
without missing the main point. I admit that I don’t even watch it all that
regularly precisely for this reason. Second, I am not happy with this show’s
animation quality. I understand that they do not want to use actual animals and
stuff… but in the year 2012, what with the advancement of technology, using
such a crude form of animation for such a popular show just doesn’t bode well.
I was very impressed with the animation used in the South Korean drama Faith and wish that Mahadev could also utilise something of that calibre. Eg. In scenes
where people are on a sea beach or a river bank, the place looks obviously computerised and so on. But these things apart,
good show.
7. Playful Kiss/장난스런 키스/Naughty Kiss/Mischievous Kiss
Language: Korean
7. Playful Kiss/장난스런 키스/Naughty Kiss/Mischievous Kiss
Country: South Korea
Yes, another Korean show. Clearly, I watch too many of them.
Watch and love them. First telecasted in 2010, I watched this show this year. Initially,
I admit that I wasn’t exactly hooked while
watching it but this by no means that this show is boring or anything. I mean,
I still loved watching it and fell in love with Kim Hyun Joong all over again.
Of course, as the series goes on, I did get hooked and even after completing
the series and the special edition, I wanted more. Maurrrr. The girl, Jung So Min, is a brilliant actor,
with her million hairdos and billion facial expressions. Kim Hyun Joong has
improved a lot as an actor since his BOF days
(speaking of which, finally I could appreciate him fully now that he’s playing
lead in a show that does not involve Lee Min Ho. Also, the not-blond look
helps.) Playful Kiss is a cute show
and it almost made me want to get married! Almost. To Baek Seung Jo.
