GAME OF THRONES (SEASON 2)

Creators:
David Benioff
D.B. Weiss

Starring:
Lena Headey
Peter Dinklage
Michelle Fairley
Emilia Clarke and many many many more

Game of Thrones Season 2 is much better when compared to the first one. The main reason is the fact that the writers no longer concentrate on showing every character in each episode. Now I particularly enjoyed Peter Dinklage's performance in the first season but in the second season he is way below his best. As a plotting, cunning dwarf he shines but when the writers require him to embody the role of a vulnerable man the  performance is way below par.

Now one just cannot give the gist of a Game of Thrones episode let alone giving the gist of the season. Far better writing is a highlight of this season. This season I would also like to commend George R.R. Martin who is the author of the books and the writer of the best episode of this season, as his imagination is truly mesmerizing. David Nutter and Alan Taylor also excel as directors and the final episode is simply stunning. Alan Taylor, who has been busy directing TV shows has been handed the reins for the next installment of Thor and he thoroughly deserves it. The final two episodes really stand out, do watch this show, you wont be disappointed.  

Pranit's Rating: 8/10

ARROW (SEASON 1)

Created By:
Andrew Keisberg
Greg Berlanti
Marc Guggenheim

Starring:
Steven Amell
Katie Cassidy
David Ramsey
Susanna Thompson
Paul Blackthorne and others

Arrow is an American action-adventure TV show, which is shot in Canada. It follows the story of Oliver Queen (Steven Amell) who is a playboy billionaire (even if billionaires come in other types, Hollywood is always going to be interested in the ones who are playboys!). In the very beginning Oliver Queen is rescued from an island, where he was shipwrecked for five years. Now the crux of the story revolves around a book Queen receives from his dying father, consisting of names of people to have "wronged" the city. But the far more engaging part of this show is the sub plot, which is a detailed narrative of what all he had to endure on that island.

Now if the show is analysed from the acting perspective, it fails miserably. Steven Amell is a very average actor, but he scores high as an action hero. Katie Cassidy is the most consistent performer in this show and  plays the character of Laurel Lance. Paul Blackthorne plays Detective Quentin Lance, a man hell bent on bringing the vigilante down. David Ramsey plays John Diggle, Queen's "Bodyguard". Susanna Thompson plays Oliver's mother, Moira whose significance increases as the show progresses.

Now the first few episodes were very amateurish. But as the show progressed, so did the writing. Earlier I was just about satisfied with the show but now I find it thoroughly engaging. Give this show a chance, you wont be disappointed.

Pranits Ratings: 7.5/10

MODERN FAMILY (SEASON 3)

Creators:
Steven Levitan
Christopher Lloyd

Starring:
Ed O Neil
Sofia Vergara
Julie Bowen
Ty Burrell
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Eric Stonestreet and others

Well, how do I start reviewing the third season season of essentially one of my favourite TV shows of recent past ( the show is behind Suits but is well ahead of the rest). This season is by far my favourite. Ok I agree that it is no longer as funny as the previous seasons but some of the one liners are simply amazing.

This season like the previous one focuses on the behaviour and the ideals each character stands for. This season had the expected good performances laced with quite a few memorable episodes so it is hard for me pick out an episode and label it the best of the season.

One off the main reasons as to why I preferred this season was because of the addition of a new character Lily. Yes, the same cute baby Lily in the previous seasons, so you make think as to how exactly is she new. Well first of all she has dialogues which add a new layer to the show and makes it even more exciting, because she is a quite a handful, as she has a never ending barrage of senseless tantrums.

Do watch this show, you will not regret it.

Pranit's Rating: 8.5/10

MODERN FAMILY (SEASON 2)

Creators:
Steven Levitan
Christopher Lloyd

Starring:
Ed O Neil
Sofia Vergara
Julie Bowen
Ty Burrell
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Eric Stonestreet and others

The second season of this show is good (I preferred the first one). This season has plenty of jokes and fun but the amount of jokes present in the episodes significantly reduce towards the latter half of the season. Ty Burrell is his usual fantastic self and probably has the best dialogues. The chemistry between Mitch and Cam (Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet respectively) is a significant improvement on the first season.

One of my favourite opening sequence was in the second episode of this season in which Claire (Julie Bowen) asks Phil as to why the number of lids and containers are never the same, to which he replies that maybe heblew his lid when she tried to contain him. This made me reminisce about the times my mother faced the same problem and how she would also get frustrated.

The characters are much better written and the emotions are well captured in this season. This family is a perfect example of how families are never perfect but each person makes up for the deficiencies of the other.

PS: My favourite episode of this season was the thirteenth one. Its a laugh riot.

Pranit's Rating: 8/10

GAME OF THRONES (SEASON 1)

Creators:
David Benioff
D.B. Weiss

Starring:
Lena Headey
Peter Dinklage
Michelle Fairley
Sean Bean and many many many more

Game of Thrones is not bad but labeling it as the best ever seems over than mildly overrating this series.

The top three things about this season:
1. The Characterisation: Even though the characters are adapted from the book, the writers have remained true to the original story-line and thus it has lead to believable characters and dirty politics even though the dialogue writing is not memorable.

2. The Direction: Each episode is directed with panache and charm which makes this show interesting.

3. PETER DINKLAGE: He is truly mesmerising in this show. I am pretty positive that I would not have been able to sit through the show without him.

The unbearable parts about this show:
1. The Writing: Okay this show maybe true to the book but the writers fascination with showing every character in each episode is irritating and unnecessary as some of them don't have anything to contribute to that particular episode.

2. The actors other than Dinklage, Lena Headey and Sean Bean (to some extent): It is a multicast show but the acting of some of the actors is amateurish. I personally don't like Kit Harington (John Snow) and John Bradley (Sam) one bit. The actors who are not amateurish are forgettable.

Well I am not a big fan of medieval fantasy adaptions so my review might be a little biased. This is a good show (I especially enjoyed the twist towards the end of the season!), there is no denying that but there are far better shows available as well. 

Pranit's Rating: 6.5/10

MODERN FAMILY (SEASON 1)

Creators:
Steven Levitan
Christopher Lloyd

Starring:
Ed O Neil
Sofia Vergara
Julie Bowen
Ty Burrell
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Eric Stonestreet and others

Modern Family is a charming show that shows the problems faced by a family. Now one would wonder as to why this age old, tried and tested formula works out here. Well it is not only the exceptional performances of the cast but the sensational characterisation as well.

The main characters include Ed O'Neil playing Jay Pritchett a man in his early sixties married to Gloria Delgado-Pritchett (Sofia Vergara) who is much younger to him. Jay has two kids from a previous marriage Claire(Julie Bowen) and Mitchel(Jesse Tyler Ferguson). Claire is married to Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell) and they have 3 kids namely Luke, Haley and Alex. Mitchel is gay and adopts a Vietnamese baby along with his partner Cameroon (Eric Stonestreet). Gloria has Manny from a previous marriage.

The thing that makes this show an entertainer are the dialogues and its different direction (it is known as mockumentory style where the actors speak into the camera). The narrative is brisk and is filled with truckloads of humour. Even though I would love to mention some of my favourite moments from the first season, I won't do that because I would end up writing down about the whole episodes. Watch this whimsical show about the values of family and accepting them for who they really are.

Pranit's Rating: 8.5/10

ANGER MANAGEMENT (SEASON 1)

Creator:

Bruce Helford

Starring:

Charlie Sheen
Selma Blair
Shawnee Smith
Daniela Bobadilla 
Noureen DeWolf and others

Anger Management is the show Charlie Sheen joined after being booted out of Two and A Half  Men. First things first, I maybe one of the very few people in this planet who preferred this over Two and A Half  Men. The first episode was kind of a shock because after playing Uncle Charlie, in this show he is a smart and well informed psychologist. That takes a little getting used to but once you do, a laugh riot follows.

The first season is short and sweet and the characters are likable. The stand out performer is Daniela Bobadilla who is very good as Charlie Sheen's(who plays Charlie Goodson) daughter Sam, who is suffering from OCD. Selma Blair is decent but one person whose performance didn't impress me was Shawnee Smith as Jennifer Goodson (Charlie Goodson's ex-wife).

The jokes are good though the making is a little monotonous but still the overall effect is there and the show is worth a look. The second season has just started.

Pranit’s Rating: 7/10

TWO AND A HALF MEN

Created by

Chuck Lorre

Lee Aronsohn

Cast

Charlie Sheen

Jon Cryer

Ashton Kutcher

Two and a Half  Men is an American sitcom that deals with the lives of a writer,Charlie(potrayed by Charlie Sheen) and his brother and nephew who comes to stay with him in his Malibu beach house.This show is quite popular mostly for the performance of Charlie Sheen. Recently though,ever since Aston Kutcher has replaced Charlie Sheen, the show has lost some of its popularity.I feel that Charlie Sheen was much better suited for the role of Uncle Charlie.This show was decent before but I would rather avoid it now.

Kunal's Rating: 7/10

Pranit's Rating: 6.5/10

THE BIG BANG THEORY

The Big Bang Theory is one of the most highly rated American sitcoms in the field of comedy.

Created by:
Chuck Lorre
Bill Peady

Cast
Johnny Galecki
Jim Parsons
Kaley Cuoco
Simon Helberg
Kunal Nayyar

From the house of Chuck Lorre productions,The Big Bang Theory has been a major hit ever since it released. It deals about the lives of four scientists, Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Howard and their friend,Penny, who is an aspiring actress and a waitress. Most comedy shows tend to bore you after a few episodes but this particular sitcom never seems to fail us and keeps us wanting for more.Exceptional acting from Jim Parsons( as Sheldon Cooper) is one of the main highlights of the show.Never miss this show for it always seems to bring a smile across your face.

Kunal's Rating: 9/10
Pranit's Rating: 8.5/10

DEXTER

Dexter is an American television show created by James Manos Jr., that presents the life of  a blood splatter analyst Dexter who also happens to be a serial killer.

Cast
Michael C. Hall
Jennifer Carpenter
Desmond Harrington
C.S. Lee
David Zayas

Dexter is probably one of the most popular and highly rated television show across the globe.And all the statistics speaks for itself.The reason why Dexter has been a huge hit is because of its extraordinary plot which is quite unlike anything seen before.The acting of Michael C. Hall and his portrayal of Dexter is very good and has also won him many awards.
Although the show has been criticized to be a little too "bloody",it has no other negative reviews.Each season brings a new main criminal that Dexter has to face while standalone episodes are present throughout the season.The ending of Season 6 presented new problems and consequences for Dexter as sought out to kill other serial killers.What will Dexter do when he has to deal with his mistakes and how will he deal with his problems?All this coming up in Season 7..

Kunal's Rating: 8.5/10
Pranit's Rating:7.5/10
Aarnav's Rating:6/10

PERSON OF INTEREST

Person of Interest is an American television show that is created by Jonathan Nolan that present the lives of a former CIA agent,John Reese and a scientist, Harold Finch.

Cast
Jim Caviezel
Taraji P.Henson
Kevin Chapman
Micheal Emerson

Although "Person of Interest" is not that popular and well-known as others,it definitely is worth your time.The story revolves around the duo of an ex CIA agent and a scientist who set out to prevent crimes from happening before they are committed with the help of a machine made by the government with the help of the same scientist.
From the mind of the creator of The Dark Knight and Inception,this show has good screenplay,commendable acting and awesome plot twists.So if there ever is any time where you've wondered what television show to watch when you're out of your collection,this show can definitely worthy of it.

Kunal's Rating: 8/10
Pranit's Rating: 6/10
Aarnav's Rating:8/10

SHERLOCK

Sherlock is a British television show about the great detective Sherlock Holmes and his ever faithful friend and companion Dr. Watson.This show is presented in a different way then the other versions of Sherlock Homes and is set in the modern day world in a contemporary style.

Created by
Steven Moffat
Mark Gatiss

Cast
Benedict Cumberbatch
Martin Freeman
Mark Gatiss
Rupert Graves
Andrew Scott

As much as we like to believe the idea of Sherlock Homes resting on an armchair in a room filled with smoke from his cigar while Dr. Watson gives him company,this show changes quite much of that.Yes,its true that Sherlock now has the aid of modern day gadgets and takes only nicotine patches,but much of the plot throughout the whole season is exhilarating and the cliffhanger at the end of the season is something you would have never guessed or anticipated.Also the acting of the arch-villian Jim Moriarty(portrayed by Andrew Scott) is quite extraordinary.The worst part is there is only 3 episodes per season annually. This show definitely packs a punch and is something to look out for.

Kunal's Rating: 9/10
Pranit's Rating: 8/10
Aarnav's Rating:9.5/10

CASTLE

Castle is an American televison show revolving around the life of a well-known mystery writer Richard Castle and NYPD detective Kate Beckett as they solve various unusual homicides in New York City.

Created by
Andrew W. Marlowe

Cast
Nathan Fillion
Stana Katic
Susan Sullivan
Molly Quinn
Jon Huertas
Seamus Dever

Although the story plot is quite ordinary and similar to other detective sitcoms,the main reason why "Castle" has been a huge hit is because of good screenplay,commendable acting and sizzling chemistry between the 2 lead actors.Castle's antics and jokes also manage to bring a smile to the viewer's faces,while the confidence of Kate Beckett and her personality is something to admire to.Most of the episodes are standalone stories while the season finales and a few in between deals with the main plot-Beckett's mother's murder.Now that after the finale of season 4,we have seen Castle and Beckett become a couple,how will they tackle the struggles in front of them?And how will they manage to keep their relationship work and still work proffessionally together at the precinct?All the answers will be coming up in Season 5.Don't miss it...

Kunal's Rating: 8/10
Pranit's Rating: 7.5/10
Aarnav's Rating:5/10

WHITE COLLAR

White Collar is an American television show created by Jeff Eastin

Cast
Matt Bomer
Tim DeKay
Willie Garson
Tiffani Thiessen
Marsha Thomasson
Hilarie Burton


White Collar is based on police crime thriller drama which revolves around a con-man artist Neal Kaffrey and FBI agent Peter Burke solving crimes related to bank frauds,money heist, fraudulent bonds,forgery and so on.
 Ever since Matt Bomer has started acting on the sets of White Collar,he has become an icon and cult with lots of followers.Good acting,cliffhanging finales,well written script has helped White Collar on its way to become a good detective show.The character of Mozzie is humorous and entertaining.Even though it is not widely known,it is still very interesting and the partership between Neal and Peter is truly good to watch.


Kunal's Rating: 9/10
Pranit's Rating:7.5/10
Aarnav's Rating:9/10

FRINGE (SEASON 1-5)

Fringe is an American television show created by J.J.Abrams,Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.

Cast
Anna Torv
Joshua Jackson
Lance Reddick
John Noble

The best thing about Fringe is it brings some really new innovative ideas every episode.The whole show basically deals with science fiction,mystery,thriller and horror themes.
The plot revolves around Agent Olivia Dunham portrayed by Anna Torv who works for the FBI "Fringe Division" solving a series of unnatural mysteries and strange happenings.Most of the episodes are standalone stories with the last few cutscenes being related to the main plot.Every episode is worth watching and quite thrilling to watch-in fact,once I started watching the first episode I couldn't stop till I finished all.The season finales are really good with lots of cliffhangers and plot-twists.Well,its definitely a must-watch for all those fans of sci-fi, parallel universes,mutations,time travel and the list goes on..

Kunal's Rating: 9/10
Pranit's Rating: 8.5/10

SUITS

Suits is a television show created by Aaron Korsh starring Gabriel Macht and Patrick J. Adams as Harvey Spector and Mike Ross respectively.

Detailed in its thinking and sensational performances by all the cast has made it my favourite show even though it is just 22 episodes old. The chemistry between the two leads is scintillating and mesmerising.

Don’t miss this one if courtroom drama interests you.

Pranit’s Rating: 9.5/10