As much as I love to watch shows and films that are considered truly artful and thought-provoking, I love just as much to sit down and mindlessly watch what might be considered “bad” television. Of course, the term “bad” is completely subjective, so I should really be saying that some shows are perhaps not of the best quality in terms of content, continuity, and let’s just throw it out there, acting. There’s something incredibly relaxing about not having to focus too much on the details of a show, though, which make these “guilty pleasure” shows so great. Here are five of my absolute favourite shows of this subgenre.
1. Gossip Girl
GG is one of the original, overtly scandalous and experimental shows of CW. Starting in 2007 and ending in 2012, GG is one of my all-time favourites. If the glitzy-glam nature of the show doesn’t attract you, then maybe the fashion, sex, betrayal, luxury, and endless amounts of drama that would never be believable in real life will. And strangely enough, alongside the superficial elements there is an introspective criticism into the social elite of NY, proving just how not perfect it can be to live that kind of lifestyle. The fame of status and wealth brings along much more than meets the eye, and GG never fails to show the consequences. The CW has always been expert at hooking a viewer in, and I can honestly say that GG (particularly the first two seasons) make for gripping, tumultuous, and intensely fascinating television. And yes, a large majority of the show will make absolutely no sense whatsoever and there are a copious amount of plot holes – so my advice is just to go along with it, and enjoy the ride.
2. How to Get Away with Murder
If you want to watch a show that is so outrageous that it will make you shake your damn head, then HTGAWM is the one for you. However, I will say that it’s not trashy television despite its outrageousness, and I’ll tell you why. There’s something about the compelling, legitimate and dynamic nature of Viola Davis (an absolutely incredible actress in everything she stars in), and all the other tragically beautiful cast members, that brings about a seriousness that is not always present with TV dramas. It’s this factor plus the ensuing mix of courtroom drama, straight up drama, legal talk, intrigue, mystery, romance, passion, and plenty of ‘aha!’ moments, that makes it one of the most easily binge-worthy TV shows ever. (Also, of course it is, because Shonda Rhimes is an executive producer!) There is also plenty of representation in this show, which is always a plus. No matter how many times I try to retire from this show (as the constant “Murphy’s Law” nature of the show can cause actual stress within me), every time a new season comes up I can’t resist watching it.
3. One Tree Hill
Ah, the classic 2000s teen soap opera. I know that The O.C. should probably be on this list too (considered to be the rival of OTH), but since I haven’t watched it, alas it did not make the cut of this particular list – however, from what I know of The O.C., it seems that the two shows share similar qualities in making a successful teen drama. I spent years of my youth avidly watching OTH, and I’d watch it again in a heartbeat. It really doesn’t matter how ludicrous a premise you think it is; because when it comes to teen soaps, the more ridiculous the better. Starting out as a basketball rivalry between two wildly different half-brothers (one is poor, one is rich, and both share the same maliciously spirited father), it eventually morphs into a multifaceted entity chronicling the lives of various beloved characters. Oftentimes more serious than comical, OTH can get heavy, so beware of that before jumping in. Another caveat is the is the cast of unfairly gorgeous people – apparently no one below an ethereal state of beauty shows up in the fictional town of Tree Hill, but hey, I’m not complaining. Be prepared for even fiercer love triangles, stronger rivalries, crazier families, and more emotionally damaged teenagers than you’re used to seeing on TV. And to love every second of it.
4. Shadowhunters
Based on “The Mortal Instruments” book series by Cassandra Clare, this television adaptation served to be a much better visual version than the flopped movie version. Even though the show takes multiple artistic liberties of its own, and uses the books as loose guidelines as opposed to following them to a T, this makes it even more compelling and unpredictable for those of us who have read the books. What makes this show so good, especially to fans of the books, is that the casting choices are basically perfect. And even though the show can be incredibly cheesy a majority of the time, it’s this exact cheesiness that embodies the young adult fantasy genre. You have to go in with a grain of salt, and accept some of the more cringey moments before realizing that there are a lot of serious and relatable topics explored in this fantasy world of angels, demons, and every supernatural being under the sun. Unfortunately Season 3 – set to air in 2019 – will be the show’s last, but I have no doubt that it will be a great one.
5. Riverdale
Catching a theme here? That should come as no surprise – The CW practically owns the guilty pleasure genre. Playing on many of our childhood nostalgias by creating a show using characters of the beloved Archie Comics, one cannot help but be pulled in by the concept. However, once you get there, you realize there’s so much more unexpectedness than you’d assume. Set up as a film noir-esque, mixed era mystery series, the Archie Comics world of Riverdale transforms into a much darker version of its illustrated counterpart. Thankfully some of the archaic and sexist gender norms of the comics are abandoned in this modern adaptation, but the love triangles and friendships remain relatively intact. Stylistically, the fashion choices and even inclusion of the iconic Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe hearken back to the bubblegum, diner, vintage cars and soda shop aesthetic that Archie Comics were known for. With a healthy dose of classic soap opera intrigue, the reinvented Riverdale is rampant with murder, mystery, duplicity, sultriness, campiness, and little bit of good ol’ fashioned teenage brooding.
~ Z ~
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
