“The Flash,” “The Walking Dead” and More: The Top 20 Programs of 2014 (Part 2) – Ed Martin

The first part of my list includedamp160amp8220The Tonight Showamp8221 amp8220The Good Wifeamp8221 and othersamp160Here in no particular order are five more outstanding choicesamp8220The Flashamp8221 The CW amp8211 It may strike some folks as odd that I have included a superhero series among my choices for the outstanding shows of 2014 If so they havenamp8217t been watching With shows about superheroes sprouting across the media landscape like crabgrass in the spring even Netflix is getting into the act with four upcoming series based on Marvel heroes and with the annual San Diego ComicCon fertilizing said growth this would seem to be a genre that is going to overextend its welcome in record time But that wonamp8217t happen if the producers of those shows pay as much attention to character development as the producers of amp8220The Flashamp8221 have done during the first half of its freshman season This may not be a perfect program but the grandly entertaining storytelling and the heaping helping of heart and humanity that pulse through every episode make it stand out from the rest While The CWamp8217s amp8220Arrowamp8221 Foxamp8217s amp8220Gothamamp8221 and ABCamp8217s amp8220Marvelamp8217s Agents of SHIELDamp8221 perfectly reflect what comic books are today all darkness and ultraviolence amp8220The Flashamp8221 winningly reminds us of what they used to beamp8220The Walking Deadamp8221 AMC amp8211 Hereamp8217s another series adapted from a comic book one that has from its first season been one of the highest rated programs on all of television This year it also became one of the best A batch of episodes earlier in 2014 that comprised the end of the showamp8217s fourth season focused on individual characters and their further development in a way that reset the series and propelled it to a new level of dramatic greatness And then in October came the first episode of season five an actionpacked and rewarding hour that thrilled the audience and propelled the series through another halfseason of nonstop excitement Melissa McBride has created in Carol Peletier a kickass survivor unlike any strong female character I can recall since Buffy Summers Chandler Riggs as young Carl Grimes is also outstandingamp8220Downton Abbeyamp8221 PBS amp8211 Critics largely abandoned this lavish period drama in its fourth season put off in part by the rape of gentle Anna and its hushed aftermath which was true to the times if unacceptable by todayamp8217s standards But as always there was so much else to this series which continued to engage millions of viewers in a way most shows simply fail to do I donamp8217t think quotDownton Abbeyquot pictured below is getting tired at all if anything I am more impressed than ever by the dexterity of the storytelling and the ability of series creator Julian Fellowes and his team to continue coming up with fresh drama and compelling new characters that keep the Crawley family and its servants in exciting motion Maggie Smith as the everquotable Dowager Countess remains a oneofakind marvel I have just bingewatched most of the upcoming season and already I canamp8217t imagine not including it on my list of the best shows of 2015amp8220Fargoamp8221 FX amp8211 In some ways this notquiteacontinuation of the 1996 movie of the same name was the unlikeliest success story of the year Quirky characters and dark and twisty storytelling along with considerable black humor combined to make this miniseries one of the most engrossing television programs of 2014 The performances by everyone in the cast were extraordinary especially Billy Bob Thornton as an evil outsider who wreaked havoc in the title locale Martin Freeman as a nondescript everyman who fascinatingly transitioned from meek to malevolent Keith Carradine as a former police officer with a grim story in his past now trying to enjoy a quiet retirement and amazing newcomer Allison Tolman as the daughter who is following in his footstepsamp8220The Middleamp8221 ABC amp8211 Televisionamp8217s most underappreciated family comedy was funnier and more insightful this year than ever before as the Heck family dealt with the everincreasing financial pressures parents everywhere must face as their children take interest in and head off to college Meanwhile the Heck house went to pieces when the kitchen sink fell through the floor and mom Frankie lost the dining room furniture Impressively the necessary repairs and replacements werenamp8217t made because this typical American family has no money a plight rarely explored on television these days notable exceptions being CBSamp8217 amp8220Momamp8221 and amp82202 Broke Girlsamp8221 even though itamp8217s a situation to which almost everyone can relate Eden Sher continued to shine as bighearted and befuddled Sue but Charlie McDermott often stole the show as cocky dimwitted jock Axl who isnamp8217t finding college all that easy and is secretly somewhat freaked out by his impending adulthoodTomorrow The list continues amp8230The opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageMediaBizBloggersamp160management or associated bloggers

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“The Flash,” “The Walking Dead” and More: The Top 20 Programs of 2014 (Part 2) – Ed Martin

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Ed Martin

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“The Flash,” “The Walking Dead” and More: The Top 20 Programs of 2014 (Part 2) – Ed Martin

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FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

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