My Golden Age of TV? (COE)

Apr 16, 2020

About 20 years ago, what is now called the Golden Age of TV started. Multi-seasonal, long format Drama series. Not afraid to take their time and let their complex story threads slowly untangle and then entwine the viewer. West Wing, Mad Men and so on.

Writers I respect and enjoy, like Alan Sepinwall, have done assorted fascinating pieces on these shows over the years.

I initially thought we were looking back at this Age. But today, in thinking about my personal Golden Age shows, I came to an interesting conclusion. Of course a conclusion is given at the end. Including of this post.

So what defines my personal Golden Age shows? I set the criteria that:

I had to have finished the entire series, and
I watched it roughly when it went to air

It wasn’t always possible to see them ‘just after their USA showing’ as we were sometimes years behind. Yep, all were from the USA. It follows that at least two shows that are generally regarded as Golden Age, did not fall into my listing.

So here’s a visual picture that illustrates double tautologies, sorry, my Golden Age shows, with their Years Running as the axis.

(This took as long to do in Excel as the article took to write! I had forgotten how to do this)

Better Call Saul is still going, hence the different colour. Also I think some shows had breaks, maybe due to writer’s strikes or directorial decisions. So they may not have run every year shown.

Not just Mad Men, but Bad Men

I doubt I’m the first to spot this, but nearly every show above has a charismatic, but amoral – even unlawful – lead character or two. Usually male as well.

The Sopranos. Tony was a loving father and family man. Who was also a cheating, lying, murdering mob boss.

Mad Men. Don Draper (no spoilers) was handsome, successful, rich and married. But his (current and historical) life was complex, including the phrase ‘Anything Female With A Pulse’.

Breaking Bad and it’s sequel-as-prequel Better Call Saul. A teacher and his student who become crystal meth cooks. Their lawyer probably doesn’t really get the concepts of law and legal any more.

The Americans. A loving, normal married couple with two kids. Except the adults are deep-cover Soviet spies. Who won’t hesitate to kill innocent people who get in their way.

I’d suggest West Wing really didn’t have a Tony or Don in the lead(s).

The ‘Would Be On My List’ Shows

As mentioned, based on my own rules, at least two ‘traditional’ Golden Age shows miss out:

The Wire. Yes, I know, I know. But up until just two days ago, I’d only seen the first 3 seasons. A local podcast – on what to watch during these challenging times – put this up on the top of their tree. I had loved the first 3 seasons – and yes, I had the subtitles on (there’s a big debate on this). So I:

Watched 3 excellent, short YouTube recaps of S01-02-03
Started S04, two days ago

It is just excellent. Subtitles on and lots of notes taken as it has many characters and interactions. Two more seasons to enjoy.

Deadwood. I watched the first two seasons back when. About 2005. Then it was unceremoniously dumped after S03 finished, with all the plot threads left hanging. So I didn’t bother with S03.

Some 13 years later (2019) the TV Movie was announced, to close it all out. Knowing it was on the way, I finally went back to watch S03, then the movie.