The Best Shows of 2013

Huh, I suppose it’s time to do one of those obligatory “best of the year” lists. 2013 saw me further delve into my second favorite medium of entertainment via some amazing shows. I branched out into new genres and gained a much deeper appreciation for anime, amongst other foreign entertainment. In other words, I sat on my ass for a wider variety of reasons and watched plenty of new things.

So here are my top five shows of 2013. I don’t go into great detail, so fear not the deadly spoiler.

5. Arrested Development- Netflix has a done a wonderful thing. Thanks to their new initiative of creating “Netflix Originals,” there has been an influx of worthy dramas and comedies. Particularly the return of the short lived- but well received- Arrested Development.

True to form the Bluth family is back and stirring up all sorts of hilarious debauchery. Seeing the entire core cast return and practically not miss a single beat is a thing of chuckle-worthy beauty. What made the previous three seasons succeed is the ever-witty combination of crass humor and the more well thought out jokes.  No boundary is too far, as the writers know when to even make fun of themselves, which there is plenty of.

The biggest change is in the presentation. While Michael (Jason Bateman) is still the main focus, each episode tells the season’s story from a different character’s perspective. What this allows for is a culmination of laughter every time paths are crossed and doubly so in the finale.

While it takes a couple episodes to fully get back into the swing of things. Season four of Arrested Development is another welcomed addition to the best comedy out there.

4. Flowers of Evil (Aku no Hana)- Ignore the whiners who complain about the change of art style from the manga, Flowers of Evil is disturbingly delicious.

Masquerading as a simple slice-of-life comedy about high school boy- Kasuga- stealing his crushes’ gym uniform, Flowers of Evil quickly turns into a psychological fuck-house. As a witness to his “sin” classmate, Sawa, blackmails and tortures Kasuga to the brink. Each episode ramps up the tension as he is manipulated further and further into madness as the thought of social ridicule looms over his guilty conscious.

In a mere 13 episodes the arcs are profoundly significant. You may be wondering how high could the stakes possibly be when the biggest offense is a stolen gym uniform, but damn are there some catastrophic moments which put the human psyche on display.

As far as cliche sayings going, “don’t judge a book by its cover,” is an excellent descriptor for Flowers of Evil. Backed by one the most unsettling ending themes, and a incredible tease of the second season, you’d be a damn fool to miss out on this gem. At first you’ll be saying “what the hell am I watching,” but by the end you’ll question “why the hell haven’t I been watching?”

3. Game of Thrones- Is anyone honestly surprised by the fact that Game of Thrones continues to be stellar? Each season seems to electrify the not-so-cheery happenings of Westeros, and season three is no different.

Few shows could continue to add more characters and plots while managing to weave such a compelling narrative. Veteran faces such as Jaime and Arya have started forging their own paths- just as enjoyable as those before- while newbies like Berric and Lady Olenna solidify the foundations.

You can’t talk about season three without mentioning the now infamous Red Wedding. I’ll avoid spoilers, but this is scene is arguably more memorable than the execution in “Balor” of season one. Such gut-wrenching has surely caused more than a few to turn away from sheer fear of being subjected to any more pain.

While not ending on as great of a high-note as season two- splitting a book will do that- Game of Thrones continues to give good reason why it’s not only one of my favorite shows, but a cultural phenomena.

2. Breaking Bad- The end of a brilliant journey. Breaking Bad may not be my favorite show, but I can’t deny it’s holistically the most well put together I’ve seen. Every aspect is a showcasing of masterful talent and season five lights the final powder-keg , exploding into almost everything I had hoped for.

Walter and Jesse continue to be the best duo on television while their worlds come crashing down around them. What Breaking Bad gets that most other shows fail to truly understand is the art of storytelling. Pacing, misdirection, deep character arcs, and beautiful cinematography have always been a mainstay of the series and the second half of season five rises to the top.

Shows typically increase the tension in each successive episode- it’s a natural tactic- but the final half of season five excels in this manner. Being able to wait for Sunday to roll around for eight straight weeks has to be cause for some sort of accolade. Not a moment is wasted on letting the viewer breath while forging on to the conclusion.

Here’s where I tend to disagree with people though. While I enjoy the final episode, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. Don’t misunderstand me. It’s a good ending, but not the ending I expected after five amazing seasons. So yeah.That’s my biggest complaint about the final eight episodes of Breaking Bad, and the only reason it isn’t number one.

1. Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)- Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat! How could anything possibly top both Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad. By being Attack on Titan, that’s how.

Attack on Titan does to the shonen genre what Evangelion and Madoka Magica did to each of their respective homes. A strong will, courage, and friendship will not win the day: they’ll get you killed. While traditional stories are often told through exposition and dialogue, AoT imparts its tale through the action and the intense atmosphere surrounding it. In a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction due to the little understood man-eating humanoids known as titans, there is not a whole lot of hope and cheer.

Game of Thrones is notorious for killing off its cast no matter if they’re despised or fan favorites, and AoT -in many regards- makes GoT feel like a Disney fairytale in comparison. The oppressive world never lets up and when death arrives it’s not this played up event Hollywood has made mainstream. It’s often swift, brutal, embarrassing, and emotionally devastating. Imagine having to watch Red Wedding-like episodes several times in the matter of 26 outings, and potentially more considering a second season seems guaranteed at this point.

It should come as no surprise that AoT took the anime industry by storm this past year. Tetsuro Araki (Death Note) is a highly talented director who had a lot to work with in manga author Hajime Isayama’s work. Paired with one of the best composers in the business, Hiroyuki Sawano, who created a soundtrack with few equals, and each and every second of AoT is a tension filled nightmare.

If you’re an anime fan, you’ve more than likely made the logical choice of watching or intending to watch Attack on Titan. If you’re not an anime fan and you have some sort of aversion towards the genre, STOP! You’re only cheating yourself out of the best show of 2013.

Honorable mentions:

Oreimo- A comedy anime about otaku culture and the more socially unacceptable sides of it.

Kill la Kill- A farcical, parody/satire anime that’s off-the-walls and into your face with everything that’s missing from American action shows.

House of Cards- Game of Thrones’ political machinations sans the fantasy and mass violence, and full of “Netflix Original” and Kevin Spacey.

I Watch Things Too: 2013's Biggest Big Screen Disappointments

Elysium- Back in 2009 Director Neill Blomkamp came onto the big screen with District 9 and caught just about everyone off guard. Not only was it a great bit of sci-fi action, District 9 packed quite the punch as a twist on apartheid in South Africa and similar historical events.

Elysium takes the same “action with a message” approach but with a far more relevant topic: immigration. Earth has gone to hell and everyone of means escaped to the space station known as Elysium, where money can buy you anything. Example: in home med-stations capable of curing cancer in a matter of moments.

Blomkamp’s years as a 3D animator on shows such as Smallville and Stargate SG-1 have not magically vanished. Elysium is a visual achievement across the board. The overpopulated and dilapidated Earth is a site to behold.

Visuals and creativity are a big part of sci-fi, and while Elysium nails both, it fails in the story department. Protagonist Max (Matt Damon) is merely okay and supported by a cast which never gets fleshed out as much as needed. Love interest, Frey, (Alice Braga) is not so much a character as a motivation for the ex-con and semi-selfish protagonist. Appearing and then inexplicably vanishing makes her development nearly nonexistent. And that’s precisely why the overarching message fails. With little to no character investment, it’s a hollow allegory. The final moments are clearly meant to be emotional, but I sat there questioning “that’s it?”

What I found most interesting about Elysium’s political ramifications was not actually in the movie. It’s the criticisms on the lack of subtlety. Folks, can we really afford to beat around the bush? And why do allegories always have to be subtle? The Crucible is as subtle as Phil Robertson's religious views, but it still receives praise. If you have something important to say, then say it. Be blunt if necessary and, get your point to hit home.

My expectations for Elysium were high- I’ll gladly admit that- and disappointment can often skew one’s vision. There is no mincing of words here. Elysium is slips within the 6.5/10 range. The action has its moments and it can be visually stunning, but the story falls short of driving home what should be a relevant and sympathetic tale.

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Often times when a book makes the transition to another medium there are those who criticize because the movie, show, or whatever isn’t an exact retelling. Lord of the Rings fans are notorious for this. Especially in regards to one Tom Bombadil, despite his lack of relevance to the central plot. I for one, am not amongst such a crowd. If it’s good, it’s good. So long as the liberties taken are not so bold you could hardly call it by the same name, I’m not going to cause any fuss. Hell, I rather enjoyed what was added to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

So it should be surprising when I say The Desolation of Smaug’s biggest issue is straying too far from the book.

The Hobbit is not a traditional sequel by any stretch of the imagination. Sure, Bilbo’s finding of the ring and subsequent use is important, but it takes a back seat to the real story. That being a tale of adventure and dragon slaying. And there’s the major issue. DoS isn’t quite sure if it’s The Hobbit, or a proper prequel to LotR.

The first third overstays its welcome or is made irrelevant by the lack of a proper conclusion in the remaining time. If you’ve caught any pre-release buzz, obviously Legolas has made his return despite not being in the books.There’s this weird dwarf/elf love triangle between him, Tauriel (another addition), and Kili that only serves to detract from other events. There’s a sizable scene focusing on the orc, Azog, who then disappears well before the halfway point. It’s these inconsistencies which lead to a schizophrenic film, but the real offender is Gandalf’s portions. For much of the movie he spends time trying to piece together Sauron’s return. While initially interesting, there’s a reason why it was never explained what Gandalf is up to in the book. We know this tale. It’s the LotR. If you’ve seen The Fellowship of the Ring, you know Gandalf was hard at work exposing Sauron’s return. Have some faith in the audience to be able to pick up on something so obvious; no need to tell the same story twice.

Once the party arrives at Laketown things are more focused, and a coherent plot actually begins to form. Wouldn't you know it’s because most other nonsense is dropped in favor of actually being a Hobbit movie. Best of all though is Smaug. Bilbo’s initial encounter with the infamous dragon was always my favorite part of the book and it's captured quite well. The cat and mouse conversation is taut as could be. Even the additional action added is enjoyable, as is much of the action of the entire film. Obviously anytime Legolas is on screen is guaranteed to delightfully stabby.

Is The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug bad? No, it’s fairly enjoyable, but nowhere close to the quality of other Tolkien-universe films. There are some major issues I’m sure will continue into the final piece of the trilogy, but they didn’t destroy my interest in seeing things through to the end.

I Watch Things Too: Something for the Bebop Fans

Wolf’s Rain- Humanity has fallen, the world is dying, and the end times have arrived. For such an oppressive world to birth an inspiring journey around friendship, brotherhood, love, and faith would seemingly be out of place. Leave it to Cowboy Bebop veterans Keiko Nobumoto (creator/writer), Tensai Okamura (director), and Yoko Kanno (composer) to pull such a tale off against all the odds.

Initially the meager setting explanation and how four wolves came to be able to shift back and forth between their human and lupin forms is slightly off putting. Fortunately the mystery surrounding what happened and what’s going to happen is reason enough to carry on. By the fifth or sixth episode there are enough breadcrumbs to become engrossed in the sympathetic cast.

Giving human forms to the wolves could have been a lazy and cheap tactic for character relatability, but their lupin core is at the forefront. Wolves are not played up as this downtrodden minority grasping for acceptance in society. The dynamic is inherently beneficial at avoiding cliches and thusly each episode ends on a profound high note.

When getting into a groove of several episodes, you’re not watching from the comfort of your home. You’re apart of the journey. Kiba, Tsume, Hige, and Toboe’s struggles and successes are your own. You not only desire to see what happens next; you want to watch them reach their ultimate goal: Paradise.

For lack of a better term, the 30 episodes provide an extremely heartfelt story. Not a single character is a weak link, and the ever-amazing Yoko Kanno captures all the right moods with the expertise you’d expect from one of the best composers in anime.

Clearly no compromises were made during production. There was a vision and it was achieved near flawlessly. So commit Wolf’s Rain to memory. It quickly became a favorite of mine and I’m positive many of you will enjoy it too.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.- I’ve been known to harp on American action in the television format fairly often. It’s been some time since I’ve been captivated by such a thing, but I went into Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. with an open-mind. I do enjoy The Avengers- and much of Joss Whedon's work- so what was the worst that could happen?

Imagine The Avengers and Firefly having a child? Sounds pretty terrific right? That’s the clear intentions here, but the result is a mildly lovable bastard.

The above picture is actually rather helpful in explaining. See those outer most, generic looking folks? Well, they’re exactly what I expect out a CBS show. Not too risky, and cliched as could be. Then the pair on the left, well they’re not too bad. Whedon’s scripts are often known for their wit, and the scientific duo manages to hold their own. The Chinese women,- she’s actually Chinese, I’m not being ignorant- well she’s obviously a stone-cold badass and master of the martial arts. Really flexing those creative muscles there, boys and girls.

There is of course Phil Coulson, chosen solely because everyone else of note from The Avengers would have put them in the poor house or are too busy. Of course they forgot he died and now some sort of silly narrative retconning is being used as the big tease.

Despite these fairly significant flaws, I’m still willing to watch the second half when it comes on in 2014. Watching an inconsistent cast fly about the world and attending to matters Iron Man and friends couldn't be bothered with is surprisingly fun. The mystery surrounding the shadowy Centipede operation carries enough drama to keep from starvation. As much as I harp on the lack of creativity behind the cast, they do get the job done, albeit in a spectacularly average manner.

Can I recommend AoS? Not easily, but if your access to a variety of shows is limited and you’re dreadfully bored, give it a whirl.

Outbreak Company- If pandering can be done right, then Outbreak Company has achieved such a goal.  

In the world of OC, young otaku Shin’ichi has been hired as a diplomat and sent to a fantasy world, with anime and manga in hand. Why? Because the Japanese government desires to profit off the export. That’s as complicated as the story ever gets and the comedy is almost entirely reliant on hyperbole of the very culture it focuses upon. Chances are if you’re a more casual anime fan, Outbreak Company isn’t for you.

However if you are a member of the insular community, you very well may get a kick out the inside jokes. Are they terribly clever? No, it’s mostly “Ha ha ha! The boy who was a hikikomori, is now surrounded by the real versions of the 2D things he idolized.”

Early on there did seem to be some sort of message. Not terribly deep, mind you, but more than most comedic anime. In the fantasy world there is all sorts of racism and classism, but otaku culture brings them together. Considering the mudslinging otaku are subjected to from time to time, this is a right bit of irony, but quickly dissipates by the halfway point and then reappears in the final two episodes for a rushed conclusion.  

Outbreak Company isn’t great by any stretch of the imagination, but the cheap jokes are entertaining, even if they mostly boil down to having a laugh at one’s self.  In 12 episodes not a whole lot of note happens. So if you’re looking for something lighthearted and self-indulgent, by all means, watch Outbreak Company.

The World’s End- As a fan of both Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, it seemed certain I’d enjoy the final piece in the Cornetto trilogy. And surprise, surprise I did.

TWE is your standard fare of friends getting drunk, and causing a ruckus. Thing is, while reluctantly revisiting their old stomping grounds, they uncover an alien plot to assimilate Earth’s population. By Cornetto standards this is nothing too unusual and certainly gives way for plenty of hilarity.

Unusual though is the semi-serious tone the movie takes in the latter portion. I won't outright spoil the intended message of the social commentary. Think a more modern Dr. Strangelove. Although I’m sure plenty will call me crazy for comparing anything to the “holy grail” of comedy.

Holistically, The World’s End keep the laughs going at a steady pace with the occasional dry spell, and brings a fitting end to a strong trilogy of films.

World War Z- My expectations were low. Another zombie flick is not exactly something we so desperately need, and opinions were mostly negative. I came out the other end kind of surprised though. It’s not great, or even good really. Now applauding a film for being average may seem odd, but I mean it when I say my expectations were low.

The plot of Brad Pitt’s character globe trotting runs out of steam thirty minutes in and there’s not a whole lot of substance to speak of, but man did they nail those moments of mass hysteria. In the initial Philadelphia outbreak and subsequent Jerusalem one, when the shit hits the fan, it hits hard. The cinematography and set designs give a great sense of scale. There’s not only up-close streets shots, but sweeping ones encapsulating the fear of an entire city.

Oh, and bonus points for not pretending the concept zombies has never existed in the film’s universe. It’s more of a pet peeve of mine wisely avoided, but it always seems silly when you hear everyone asking “what are these things?” Zombies you dolts! Don’t pretend like you’ve never heard of them.

While I’m not suggesting you go and watch World War Z right this second, it wouldn’t hurt to catch it on a rainy day.

I Watch Things Too: Foreign Flicks and the Return of The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead- Here’s a fun comparison of numbers. The season four premiere of The Walking Dead netted roughly 16 million viewers. Breaking Bad’s series finale? 11 million. My reaction to this? Part of me wants to slap some decent taste into the world with all the brute force and arrogance of Kratos. On the other hand, I accept everyone isn’t going to enjoy the same shows as I. Blah, blah, blah; opinions and what not. One thing The Walking Dead has over most is accessibility. The viewer can jump in at any point and within a few episodes have nearly the same grasp of the story as a day one fan.  Then again, mass appeal does not inherently mean high quality. I digress, I really shouldn’t be ranting on about this right now.

Anyway, season four has hit the midway point and I must say, holistically, these past eight episodes were a vast improvement. After Glen Mazzara nearly sucked every drop of quality out like a Dementor, Greg Nicotero has managed to right the ship. Finally, we are seeing how to properly handle the gravity of an apocalyptic setting. It too has become a character. Every moment is tense, and the majority of the cast is far from safe.

Despite the stronger focus on survival, there has been a strong improvement on the character front. It’s still far from perfect, but a couple new additions along with a few old faces have received better treatment, and I dare say this has been the best season yet.

I must admit though episodes 7&8 fail to provide the ending I expected. Just as life is breathed back in, TWD shoots itself in the foot. After some excellent build up topped off with quality storytelling in the 6th episode, conflict and deaths are hackneyed in with reckless abandon. Old plots are rehashed and the cliffhanger is far too similar to a previous season’s. When the big death came rolling into town, it felt much more obligatory than natural.

Even with two fairly weak final episodes, there is a sense of a new beginning. The potential is there and has been realized to some extent. Now it’s time to make it last.

Robin Hood- Occasionally reviewing movies you enjoyed as a child doesn’t always turn out so well. Sometimes you enjoy them just as much. Robin Hood falls somewhere in between. There’s the usual Disney stamp of quality along with some rather enjoyable voice-acting, but the pacing is screwy. Robin Hood feels like an elongated episode of a show. There's not much escalation, and really no climax and proper resolution for that matter.

However, the purpose of some cheery morale compassing is executed well enough, and even as a 21 year-old I still enjoyed it. Whether this is a case of rose-tinted glasses or genuine quality could be debated.

I Saw the Devil- Recently I’ve been watching a whole lot of Korean and Japanese cinema: much of it dark. I Saw the Devil, well frankly the title should give it away. Afterwards I half-jokingly tweeted “If you hate happiness, watch I Saw the Devil.” Truth is, I came away from it far from happy. I didn’t dislike it, it’s just that morbid.

So what makes this bit of Korean filmmaking so disturbing? What’s the premise? Well, it’s rather straight forward, but the execution is deliciously deep. After Soo-hyun’s, a government agent, wife is brutally murdered, he vows track down the man responsible. In the process the viewer witnesses several intimately inhuman scenes. Setting I Saw the Devil apart from torture porn is what backs up the grisly violence. We’re not seeing your run-of-the-mill killer in villain Kyung-chul. In no way is he made a sympathetic character, but his depraved sense of human and uneasy aurora don’t leave a single second lacking in the atmosphere department.

While most moments are well paced there is a 10 minute portion after the discovery of the body that move too quick. Not much time is taken for the introduction of the protagonist, though most the relevant information is revealed along the way.

A word of warning, I advise you to mentally prepare yourself for the murder scenes well in advance. These are not your average gore-fest killing. When I said its brutal, I meant it. Really, really meant it. If you are comfortable with such things, then as a whole, I Saw the Devil is thoroughly enjoyable. The cinematography is excellent, the characters enthralling, and each second uncomfortably tense.

13 Assassins- Looking for a bit of action with a solid story of duty, honor, and justice? Well, look no further than 13 Assassins. While the western may be dead, the very similar samurai genre is quite viable in Japan.

As the Tokugawa Shogunate is in decline during the 1840’s, the stepbrother, of the Shogun is earning himself no love from the people of Japan. His cruel nature has lead to the killing and mutilation of several prominent members of the hierarchy and their servants. Finally, portions of the political inner-circle decides to call upon a renowned samurai to carry out an assassination, before the situation gets any worse. Said samurai gathers a team of trusted and highly skilled warriors to accompany him and blood, guts, and drama ensue.

While the beginning can be difficult to follow thanks to numerous nighttime scenes, it’s rather easy to pick things up through the context clues. Really, all you need to know is that there is one ruthless bastard guarded by 75+ soldiers and 13 assassins are tasked with taking him out.

While a few of the characters are throw-away at best, the majority of the cast is interesting enough to carry the action. Of course, the top-notch samurai ass-kicking is good is compelling enough on its own. The final showdown between the assassin’s and the shogunate stands alongside memorable moments such as the ones found at the end of The Matrix and Saving Private Ryan. There’s not a whole lot of action prior, but the pacing causes those final minutes before the shit hits the fan to be filled with sweat, sweat tension, eventually exploding into all out violence.

The Wind that Shakes the Barley- Historically based foreign cinema is often refreshing. American films tell us some great tales, but we rarely dabble in the more obscure. Not that this anyone’s fault, you write what you know after all.

TWtStB is the tale of two brothers during the Irish War of Independence and ensuing Irish Civil War which took place from 1919-1923. The first issue I have are the accents. For someone unaccustomed to hearing such unadulterated Irish speech, it was difficult to keep up with the dialogue.  Not so surprisingly the two I found the easiest to understand are Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins and Inception) and Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones).

Despite my woes, TWtStB is a solid piece of entertainment. While periodically dragging, the more emotional high points were executed quite well. The IRA’s struggle to gain independence from Britain was tangible and sympathetic. Especially for someone found of American history.