HBO is an American television network which deserves some credit.They are basically the last bastion of greatness in American TV.
They showed George Carlin and Bill Hicks specials before both of them went and died.
Virtually every good TV show in the US (including The Wire and The Sopranos) is shown on there.
And one such show is Sex and the City.
Long dismissed by many people as a chick show (focusing too much on the 'City' portion of the show, i.e. shoes and clothes), it's never quite got the credit it truly deserves.
The show is sharp, smart, funny and has some brilliantly written dialogue to boot.
The ups and downs of these four women, three interesting and the main one often incessantly annoying, are surprisingly fascinating.
But the show is worth watching, especially by men, because despite being mostly written and directed by Michael Patrick King, it provides vital insight to womenfolk.
It's also very edgy. It discusses things which most other shows - particularly in America - wouldn't dare discuss.
I'm not sure that on a uni-sanctioned blog I should go into more detail than that.
But their frank discussion of relationships from multiple angles - Miranda's relentless logic, Charlotte's fairy tale dreams, Samantha's libidinous attitude - is truly fascinating.
It also covers the post-relationship blues and on-again/off-again partnerships in a far more convincing way than virtually every other show.
Most of the characters are truly compelling; you can really see where they're coming from and even the less likeable ones - like Carrie. Yeah, I said it - have real motivations that you can understand and sympathise with.
It also features Harry Goldenblatt, for my mind the most likeable, ordinary bloke on television; a genuine role model in some ways.
The movie is a different story, mind. With all the hard edges sanded off and the girl factor upped by a mile, it ties up a lot of necessary plot points and is perfectly watchable. It's also at times genuinely romantic.
But it has nothing on the show, which is brassy, original and realistic. It's also more than wel worth a watch.
Pictures courtesy of Alan Light via www.flickr.com
I think saying it's never got the credit it deserves isn't quite true. The show has won multiple awards right from the very beginning, in particular for its script writing.
ReplyDeleteI may be a little biassed (it being my most favourite TV show of all time) but it should be watched by everyone!
Men, it offers you some great lessons in women but I still don't think men will ever quite get it like women do - because after all men don't quite get women like women do!
It got awards, yes, although many critics never really accepted it as decent. But I meant more among the general public who just considered it to be Shagging And Shoes instead of Sex And The City.
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