My Encylopedia of TV Shows đş
Here are my reviews of TV shows that Iâve seen so far. Note that this story will get updated every time I watch new shows.
1. Fresh off the boat â 7 âď¸
Itâs a story about a Chinese family in Orlando, Florida. Strong start, a couple of the first seasons highlight the Chinese-ism within the characters, but it seems to dilute in the upcoming seasons. I think itâs because the authorâs involvement is being reduced continuously. Itâs still funny and relatable to Chinese descendants. If you are one, there are a lot of instances where you will go âOmg, thatâs so trueâ.
2. The Mysterious Benedict Society â 8 âď¸
It hooked me in the very first episode. I would say that itâs witty and quirky. If you donât get hooked on the first episode, then this series is not for you. It tells the story of 4 extraordinary kids who have to face a âmysteriousâ (see what I did there? đ) figure to save the world. It has my favorite element which is a mystery (well, duh! đ), and in almost every episodeâs ending, it will leave you with a cliffhanger. Very unusual and fun series.
3. Brooklyn 99 â 9 âď¸
First of all⌠the 9 out of 10 is no pun intended đ Itâs a sitcom about cops' daily life in Brooklyn, New York. We follow Detective Jake Peralta, a bright mind but childish at heart. It has good character development, you can feel that the characters matured and evolved throughout the seasons. I love âHalloweenâ đ episodes (try not to give spoilers here). It also has some of the funniest cold openings Iâve ever watched.
Some episodes also raise real issues such as racial profiling or police brutality amidst the Black Lives Matter incident. Itâs a light-hearted sitcom, but itâs also well-equipped with a range of character archetypes, discussing social issues, and sometimes a lilâ bit of an action cause⌠itâs a cop series guys! What do you want me to say? đ Overall a great series, love it.
4. New Girl â 8 âď¸
Follows the daily life of a nerd named Jessica Day after she gets cheated on by her boyfriend. I would say that the comedy in this series is⌠different, it is not for everyone. I canât explain it though, but if you like it then you like it cause I like it. It gets a lilâ bit boring in the middle and feels like weâre going in a circle for the plotlines. But it has one of the best final seasons for me personally, I rewatched it countless times. If you follow the series from the very first one, the final season is so satisfying. So, will the âTrue Americanâ agree?
5. How I Met Your Mother â 10 âď¸
Itâs perfect. Highly recommended for everyone to watch. It tells the story of a man named Ted in the distant future who is telling a story to his children about how he met their mother. Itâs a sitcom but contains lots (and I mean a LOT) of life lessons about relationships and friendship. One of my stories contains âThe Leapâ which is inspired by the series.
It has the best scriptwriting that Iâve seen so far. Throughout the series, thereâs a lot of setup being planted that gets paid up a couple of seasons ahead. It's packed with small details and intentionality that sometimes went over your head. Even to this day, I still find another âahaâ moment every time I watch an episode. The same case with its comedy, itâs nearly impossible to predict. The continuity of the running jokes is consistent and some of my favorites are Robin Sparkles, The Slap Bet, Ducky Tie đŚ, and âGeneral Knowledgeâ.
You feel that you know each of the characters on such a deeply personal level, up to the point that you can think of something like, âOh no, Ted wonât like it.â or âIt must be Barneyâ. Barney portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris is second to none. Itâs such an iconic, complex, and interesting character and Iâve never it in any other series. It has a strong pilot and first season, but also a strong finishing final season (9)â which is rarely found in a series. If you havenât watched HIMYM, where have you been? Go watch it now!
6. The Umbrella Academy â 9.5 âď¸
From the mind of MCRâs vocalist Gerard Way, this series is not like any other superhero series. Follows the story of 7 gifted kids who get adopted by a gentleman and raised as a family, the series starts with family drama but ends up in a world-ending situation. Each of the family members has their own unique traits which is a result of the childhood experience that theyâve gone through. We got one with âdaddy issuesâ, one with a ârebellious attitudeâ, and that one child that does drugs.
It has a âmysteryâ element which is my favorite. Itâs about how they will save the world in each season, cause letâs be honest⌠saving the world 3 times is a great feat. The series also tackles real-world issues such as racism and the LGBTQ+ community. Itâs one of those great series that I can finish in under a week. Very recommended.
7. Locke & Key â 8.5 âď¸
Again⌠a series that holds one of my favorite elements â mystery. A story about a family who moved into a house filled with mysterious magic keys, and a mysterious figure who wants to rob it all. It is filled with twists and turns, fascinating backstories, and of course⌠the imaginative representation of the magic that each of the keys holds.
I always said that a great series is one that knows when to end. This one has a great trilogy and the finale which wraps up perfectly. Some of the shortcomings may include the plotline. The villains basically come from the same place. Especially in the season finale, I feel like theyâre just repeating the antagonist pattern which I personally would like a fresh take of. There are also some scenes or parts of the story that feel detached. So if we erased the said scenes, I think it would not have an effect on the entirety of the story.
Overall, still going strong as one of the best fiction Iâve ever watched. If you think about it, the magic system is basically just the keys. Very fitted for you who donât like an overcomplicated fantasy story.
8. New Amsterdam â 7.5 âď¸
Follows a story of a new medical director of a public hospital named New Amsterdam. Iâm a fan of science in general so I really enjoyed watching a series revolving around the healthcare system. Each episode has its own issues that need to be solved by the doctors inside the hospital. Like identifying strange symptoms, or managing an overloaded ER. Almost like problem-solving in a way, which I loved.
It has a very strong pilot episode, thereâs this scene that I will never forget. I donât rate it high enough cause sometimes the drama aspect is too much which Iâm personally not a fan of. But hey⌠if you love drama and you love doctors, I guarantee you will love the series.
9. Manifest â 7 âď¸
One of the most intriguing mystery-genre series of all time. A story about a flight that suddenly went missing, only to return 5.5 years in the future without any single passenger aging. It got me just from the plot. Throughout the series, weâre watching this family who tries to make sense of the phenomena that just befall them and try to solve the mystery piece by piece. So far I only watch til the season 2 finale.
10. Prodigal Son â 8 âď¸
Full disclosure: Iâve only watched season 1 đ
Itâs a story about Malcolm Bright, the son of a famous serial killer. Heâs a criminal profiler whose job is to find people who are very much like his father. While his father is behind bars, he and Malcolm end up teaming up together, solving a murder in every episode. But the teaming up also uncovers another childhood trauma that the father did in the past, and it slowly becomes more apparent as the story goes on. The reason why it got a pretty high score is the season 1 finale. I wouldâve never expected that it would go down like that. If you like psychological, thriller, and mystery genres, this series would fit you perfectly.
11. Jupiterâs Legacy â 8 âď¸
I love atypical superhero stories, this is one of them. Exploring the life angle of the superheroes, not the heroic stuff. This series makes us realize that underneath, they are also humans. Weâre talking about family drama, a rebellious daughter, and fatherly recognition. The story goes in parallel between the present and past timelines. The past timeline breaks down the mystery of how they got their power and the present tells a story of how they kept the world safe with it. Itâs also filled with intriguing elements like scheming, morals, and twists and turns. One reason why it got a high score is the season finale. So if you love a different take on a superhero story rather than just action, this could be it for you.
12. The Boys â 9 â
Following the trend of unconventional superhero stories, The Boys comes up as one of my favorites. In a dark timeline where superheroes not only hide their face but also their ugly truth. Controlled by a corporation, heroes are being monetized and franchised which makes them rotten to the core. Iâm talking about drug abuse, sex parties, killing innocent people, and many more. Surely itâs R-rated and not for children.
A ragtag band of non-super people joins hands in an attempt to uncover the âmaskâ of these âfalse godsâ. Itâs interesting to see how theyâre gonna compete against these powerful beings while they are only humans. Some of the scenes are not for the faint of heart. There are many sick and twisted situations that you canât even imagine. Profanity is casually thrown in every episode. I love it though, very chaotic and very bold series.
13. Sex Education â 6 â
A series that explores unusual topics that is teenagersâ sexual lives. I give it respect cause they are brave enough to raise such a topic that is often depicted as taboo. The series is not afraid to show sexual toys, contraception, and even different sexual orientations. The drama part is not really appealing to me, Iâm just here to see what other topic around sexuality the series will discuss next.
14. Kimâs Convenience â 6.5 â
Tells a story about a Korean family living in Canada. It has a strong couple of seasons with the portrayal of the Asian family along with its common issues such as father-son quarrels and an overly religious mother figure. Sadly, the Asian jokes didnât make it until the season finale and the series started to evolve into a generic sitcom. The voice accents of the actors are exceptional though. They also really nailed the stereotypical Asian dad. I think thatâs one of the elements that stand out from this series.
15. The Good Place â 9 â
What happens if we die? According to this series, we will go to âthe good placeâ. Following the life of a bad person named Eleanor, as she learns how to be good when she mistakenly ends up in âthe good placeâ. The series tackles uncommon themes of philosophy and ethical conundrums. Itâs full of unexpected turns of events, great character development, and world-building beyond your wildest imagination.
Oddly enough, the series only focuses on the 6 major characters you see in the poster above. But I never get bored cause in each season there will be a new obstacle, a new background, and a new setup involving these characters. That just shows how good the writings in this series are. Also, a great season finale which wrapped up the entirety of the series perfectly. One of my favorites, and highly recommended.
16. Sense 8 â 10 â
One day, 8 humans scattered across the world suddenly âconnectedâ. They can communicate and be âpresentâ in their other places simultaneously. I started this series cause it has an interesting plotline, turns out it offers me something more and is one of the best series that Iâve ever watched.
First off, letâs talk about the protagonists. We not only have one but instead eight of them. They have their own story and backgrounds. As the series progresses, we follow each of them in their own country and see them dealing with their own sh*t while theyâre also trying to make sense of whatâs happening to them. Occasionally, one will pop off to the otherâs place and âhelpâ with each otherâs problems, strengthening the bond between them. Iâm a sucker for a âcrewâ element in a series, and these 8 people are the perfect crew.
We have a wide range of representation such as Asian, African, Caucasian, transgender, and gay. I appreciate the diversity that is being displayed by our main 8 and all the actors fill in all the spots perfectly. In terms of the story, you can find action, drama, mystery, and even sex scenes that youâve never expected đ I guarantee you never get bored and just crave more episodes as the story goes.
The cinematography is also top-notch. The angle of the camera work and the âperspectiveâ that the directors played on. We get to see the protagonistâs point of view of being the connected individuals versus how the outside world actually perceives them. Itâs so enjoyable to watch.
Overall, I really love this series. If I can describe it with one word is âcompleteâ. It has it all. Perfecto.
17. Peaky Blinders â 9 â
Inspired by a true story, Peaky Blinders takes place in 1920 Birmingham, England. We follow a gang but also a family, the Shelbys â as they try to rise up and pursue power. Itâs one of those complicated series that is not for people with weak brain capacity. Itâs full of propaganda, politics, and strategies. Most of the time you need to figure out what the main character, Thomas Shelby â is doing. The answer will be revealed either at the end of the episode or maybe later on at the end of the season. Almost every episode ends with a cliffhanger which only makes you want to watch even more. Also contains a lot of great quotes. My favorite one is: âFor those who make the rules, there are no rules.â
18. God Friended Me â 8 â
What if God friended you on Facebook? Turns out thatâs what happened to an atheist Miles one day. The so-called âGodâ, then sends him a bunch of posts, pinpoints, and friends' profiles. Later on, we found out that it leads to people who need help from Miles. A series that has a religious theme packed with modern backgrounds. Every episode feels like a mini adventure where we see our protagonist making sense of what the âGodâ from Facebook needed him to do. In doing so, Miles also improved as a human being and started to develop as a character. I love what the series did with its finale. It ended up with an open-ended question which made the audience interpret freely.
19. Upload â 7 â
Another âwhat-ifâ series in my arsenal. What can I say, I love a âwhat-ifâ world.
A story of a distant future where human consciousness could be âuploadedâ so that you donât really âdieâ. In the so-called âvirtual heavenâ, a man tries to figure out the cause of his death. Only to find out that he actually gets murdered and his memories get erased. The story is not really interesting to me cause I donât really remember whatâs going on within a season đ But itâs a joyful ride where you can see a glimpse of what the future might be like. We got a âhandphoneâ, a âsenseâ suit, a 3D printer for food, etc. If you a tech-savvy and would like to see howâs your imagination getting realized, this series is perfect for you.
20. Scorpion â 7 âď¸
A story about a team consisting of a computer engineer, mathematician, mechanic, and doctor. The only difference is that they are all geniuses. This team is a private contractor who often gets hired by government officials to solve global problems. To a puzzle lover like me, this series is interesting. It starts with a bang and each problem in every episode is getting solved with a brilliant approach. But sadly as the series goes on, the plot is getting stagnant and the drama part is getting increased. You can enjoy it for 1â2 seasons, but later from that, itâs more of a preference.
21. Outmatched â 5 âď¸
Another series with a genius theme, specifically involving brilliant children. In this light-hearted sitcom, we see the struggle of parents who have to raise prodigies in their household. Theyâre getting âoutmatchedâ. The comedy is so-so, not really bad, but not good either. Itâs a mini-series of only 10 episodes for those of you who want to enjoy a lite-breezy sitcom at home.
22. Zoeyâs Extraordinary Playlist â 7 âď¸
Another what-if series, what a surprise.
Meet Zoey, a girl who can hear a âheart songâ from people and is destined to help them. A semi-drama-musical series which makes it different from most of the series out there. The production and the IT background that the main character works in are the major factors why it got me interested. Other than that, the series does not really leave a mark on me. The finale which in the format of a Christmas special, and⌠it was a letdown. But hey, a couple of episodes in the first season are good enough. If you love music, I think you should give it a try.
23. Bull â 6 âď¸
What if you can win the trial juriesâ hearts by studying and analyzing their behavior? Well⌠a man has built a company around that. Mr. Bull is a lawyer and a good one that is. But itâs because of this machine that he has that can analyze a personâs preference based on the data that we supply. I know itâs kinda cheating, but I mean⌠come on. As a software engineer, I canât be mad at a person who maximizes the power of big data đ I havenât finished the series, and not intend to reach the finale. Midway it started to feel boring for me, so I stopped around early season 2. But a couple of episodes in season 1, if you are curious to watch, Iâd say go for it. Itâs exciting enough to make me remember this series.
24. Nancy Drew â 7.5 âď¸
Another mystery genre series with a unique theme â supernatural đť Aside from the exciting mystery solving in each of the episodes, thereâs also a bigger mystery that starts from the beginning of a season up to the seasonâs finale. It also has a crew-centric theme, which I loved. Not a fan of the drama within the crew though. Personally, I think it would be better if thereâs no romance involved. Itâs a lore-heavy drama with mystical and ghastly elements. Strong start with the first season, but the finale of season 3 was a big drop. I mean itâs really, really bad.
25. The Big Bang Theory â 9 âď¸
One sitcom that has great character development. One character portrayed by Jim Parsons is very iconic, to the point where it has its own series. Not only one particular character though, I think all the protagonists have their own story and development. The story runs at a âjust enoughâ pace where each characterâs growth doesnât feel rushed. Well⌠they got plenty of time in their 12 seasons I guess.
The running jokes around this sitcom revolve around nerds and geeks. I donât find it offensive though as a geek myself. In fact, I enjoyed it. I love intricate jokes that need a lilâ bit of brain capacity. I must say tho, this series kinda help me embrace the geek side of me. One small shortcoming is the number of science jokes being reduced in the later season, but Iâm not too bothered about it. On the contrary, it aligns with the story and the character evolution throughout the series. I mean⌠thereâs a point where a virgin engineer becomes a dad with 2 children, surely we canât use the same running jokes, am I right?
Overall a great series, love it. The story is unique, has great characters, and has a satisfying finale that wraps up perfectly.
26. Game of Thrones â 9 âď¸
I think this one is pretty popular, so itâs gonna be straightforward. It is set in a middle-aged time where knights serve kings and dragons roam. One of the most famous fantasy stories of all time. It doesnât have the main character in particular, well⌠arguably. More like we kinda see whatâs happening in this world from the birdâs eye view perspective. We see something happening here, some there and we follow each of the characters almost simultaneously. Itâs full of intricacies, plot twists, and betrayal. There are great villains which can fuel your rage up to this day. The story is full of lore-heavy themes like beasts, assassins, magic, gods, etc. If you love playing RPGs, most likely youâll love this series.
But I ainât gonna lie, the final season is not good. Many also say so. The season finale feels very rushed. For me personally, The build-up from season one doesnât pay off equally. There are still some twists, but in the finale, they kinda donât fit with the story. Itâs almost to the point of ridiculous, every time you see an episode in the season finale. That is the only letdown though, the finale. Otherwise, it will have a perfect score.
27. The Flash â 6.5 âď¸
I love the early seasons of Flash. The suit is realistic and not too comical. Every episode is a problem-solving case, often using science. But the series came crashing down. The science is getting more ridiculous to the point that our protagonist can make âanythingâ in the labs. I know itâs a fantasy superhero series, but itâs getting out of hand đ The drama is getting thicker as the series progresses. The story feels like itâs dragged out cause the station wants to milk it out to the core.
But despite all of the shortcomings, it is still the top superhero series for me. The fact that it stood the test of time and still running thru season 9, shows that there are still many fans out there. Itâs also full of characters that youâve never heard of. I donât even know that there are so many speedsters besides The Flash. The variety of extraordinary meta-human powers from the villains and the side character is also one of the plus points that kept me watching. But it only takes me so far.
28. Supergirl â 7.5 âď¸
The story of the cousin of Superman. Pretty much the same as The Flash: realistic suits and great early seasons. But the minus is also the same, it falls in the same pitfall. The story becomes stagnant, repetitive, and contains too much drama. Major conflicts that lasted episodes could be resolved in only an episode, without having to have the build-up. For me, thatâs just lazy writing.
The most appealing thing that I can say about this series is the woman casts. Theyâre all gorgeous in their own way. My favorite is Odette Annabelle â¤ď¸ In addition, itâs one of the rare series where the main protagonist and most of the lead cast are women. It brings gender equality to the table, so I respect it in that way.
29. Legends of Tomorrow â 7 âď¸
Last of CWâs superhero series that I watched. Itâs a witty series including a group of misfits⌠oops Iâm sorry, I mean âlegendsâ where theyâre traveling across times fixing time anomalies. Itâs like a mini-version of the Avengers, but full of comedy and a very unique storyline. One season, their last boss is a giant doll. Throughout the series, the members often get rotated. Some of you might find it annoying, but for me who gets bored easily is a great element that I love about the series. The story is also not only bound in the time travel area. There are things like magic and aliens that get introduced in the later seasons.
I hate to repeat myself, but again⌠the downfall of the series is the drama itself and also the character development. One time there are 2 characters who coexist simultaneously đ. But overall, itâs good enough for those who enjoy an uncommon storyline and character.
30. Doom Patrol â 7 âď¸
Pretty much the same as Legends of Tomorrow, but now itâs the real band of misfits. If the legends still have a sense of justice, this ragtag group of people doesnât. In an attempt to find their chief who one day disappeared, the crew suddenly got dragged down to a freak show. What I love about the series is the absurdity, the element of surprise, and things beyond your wildest imagination. There is a living road, sex patrol, and a giant mouse. The storyline progresses with a lot of flashbacks and runs in a dark setting, very DC-esque. Now⌠I only finished season 1 and âpartiallyâ finished season 2. Not sure why I havenât continued it, but itâs a series that I most likely will continue if I have the desire to.
31. Mrs. Davis â 7.5 âď¸
It started out with an interesting premise: an AI that âtakes overâ humanity by telling people what they have to do in their lives. But it evolves into a post-modern religious theme kinda story. We follow Simone, a nun whoâs given a âquestâ from Mrs. Davis (the AI) to find the holy grail. Each episode ended up with a cliffhanger that left you âwanting moreâ. It has a strong plot storywise up to the middle of the season (climax). Approaching the end, I think the story declines as we finally see the revelations of all the mysteries that have been set up since episode one. But itâs still an interesting story to watch. A solid quirky story with lots of plot twists.
32. Fermatâs Cuisine (ăă§ăŤăăźăŽćç) â 8.5 âď¸
My first ever Japanese series. This series is an adaptation of a manga series with the same name. Following Gaku Kitada, a math enthusiast who suddenly realizes he will never be like Fermat, the famous mathematician, as he meets a young genius cook, Kai Asakura. Gaku then started his new journey as a chef in Kaiâs restaurant where he used his mathematical calculation to create stunning dishes. Itâs a story that combines two of my favorite things: logic and food. It has great OST and sound scoring. The only thing that fell short for me was the finale. I kinda foresee what the climax would be and the way they set it up is a little bit lazy in terms of the writing. But overall, great series. Love it till the end. Not gonna lie, it makes me want to cook even more now.
33. 13 Reasons Why (S1) â 7 âď¸
Someone suggested this series cause he said it has good story-telling and unique premises, and itâs pretty much lived up to its compliment. The series tells the story of Hannah Baker, a teenage girl who kills herself. Prior to her suicide attempt, she made recordings of 13 tapes on reasons why she did it. The strong point of this series is how they integrated flashbacks into the present timeline with lots of cinematographic transitions. This series has a strong premise to begin with, but the added secrets-revealing plot in each of the tapes doubles the complexity of the story. Not gonna lie, I am a lilâ bit disappointed by the finale. The finale kinda leaves us hanging with some of the characterâs closure. I know thereâs S2, but for a series that has pretty good writing, I expected something more.
34. Extremely Inappropriate!â 8 â
This series took me by surprise. At first, I thought it was just a sci-fi series in which an inappropriate uncle from the Showa era travels through time to the Reiwa era. But it turns out to be a series filled with social commentary about the current era and the compliance culture. Itâs funny, serious, and also heartfelt. The only thing that I skipped was the musical numbers, but thatâs just me though â personal preference. The actors all gave great performances to the characters, especially the women đĽ°
