There’s an awful lot of really good TV out there, these days – much of it boasting big stars and high production values. So, not that awful at all, in fact. But definitely a lot.
Among the many shows currently available on LOVEFiLM Instant, you’ve hopefully spotted the arrival of Grey’s Anatomy and The Tudors, plus perhaps less famous fare like Reaper and the short-lived (but still worth exploring) Commander in Chief.
Of all our new stuff, the one I’m most excited about is… The Shield.
It’s been mentioned in, if not the same breath, at least the same sentence as The Wire. High praise, indeed. It’s a different flavour, of course, from the immersive Baltimore-set pinnacle of crime drama (before any fired-up Wire fans rail against the comparison).
And since I’ve been intending to get stuck into this show for years now, now is finally the time.
Chris Bird, our Film Strategy Director, has long been a fan. He reckons The Shield is right up there with the best TV series ever made…
“If I described what happens in the pilot, it’d tell you all you need to know about why The Shield is different from other cop shows. But that would ruin the pilot, which would be a shame, so all I’ll say is – watch the pilot, and you’ll soon see what I mean.
“It’s tough stuff. Far more brutal and uncompromising than you’d expect. And with much more ambiguity and grey area.”
And what of the comparisons to The Wire. Overstating the matter, surely?
“The Wire’s pretty much in a league of one, I think most people who’ve seen it would agree with that. It also has a very distinct tone and atmosphere. The Shield has a different tone, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. And Michael Chiklis in the lead role is just brilliant.”
December will see extra seasons/series added to some of our existing shows – Downton Abbey – Series 3, for example, and Sons of Anarchy – Season 4.
Scrubs will arrive too – so I’ll probably be back soon to bang on about why spending Christmas with JD & co, even if you’ve watched it over and over again, is a very good move.
I will, however, try to avoid using phrases like ‘it’ll have you in stitches…’
Darren Bignell, Senior Communications Manager
Will you get the full set of NYPD blue on there please. That was my favourite show for years.