June 5, 2017

Genre Sampler: TV Series

By Shelli Kauffman, Head of Adult Services at BPL

While summer is a great time for outdoor activities, television buffs often go into mourning over the sabbatical their favorite program takes for several months. This is a perfect opportunity to peruse the library's television series collection. Whether you're a fan of The Walking Dead or Downton Abbey, we have something for every fan. Here are some lesser known titles that I still consider worth a good series marathon while you're waiting for the next season of Blue Bloods to start in the fall.

For the Family-Friendly Fan:

When Calls the Heart: Set in a small Canadian coal mining town during the early 1900s, this is a clean view that is still packed with plenty of angst, romance, and drama. The viewer immediately feels invested in the lives of the townspeople who are recovering from a devastating coal mining explosion, killing most of the husbands in town. Lori Loughlin is charming as the matriarch of this little burg, and Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing have great chemistry as the show's love story developes between the local school teacher and the Canadian Mountie assigned to keep the peace.
Check availability by clicking here.

For the Sentimental Fan:

Everwood: When a New York City doctor loses his wife, he moves his two children to a small Colorado town. The viewer quickly gets emotionally attached to this family and their new friends, but you should be aware that mature themes are addressed in this series. Episodes deal with teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and childhood illnesses. There are always lessons to be learned and the characters develop in a touching, thoughtful way. The series was cancelled with enough warning that the writers were able to wrap up the story arcs nicely. Treat Williams leads this cast, but the series was also a springboard for Emily VanCamp and Chris Pratt.
Check availability of Season 1 by clicking here.

For the Book-to-Screen Fan:

Cedar Cove: Fans of Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove bestselling novels will love this Hallmark Channel original series. The plot follows Judge Olivia Lockhart as she compassionately hands out justice to the townspeople, while balancing her newfound love life with Jack Griffith. The scenery of the beautiful coastal Washington setting is worth more than a passing glance in this series that stays true to the themes of the original novels.
Check availability of Season 1 by clicking here.

For the Deep-Thinking, Second-Guessing, Suspense-Loving Fan:

Lie to Me: Dr. Cal Lightman and his team specialize in reading people’s facial expressions to determine who is telling the truth and who is lying in this psychological drama. Tim Roth and Kelli Williams have an electrifying chemistry as the two lead actors, mixing just enough human emotion into a scientific show to make us really care about the characters. I will warn you, after watching a few of these episodes, you might become a little paranoid the next time you raise your left eyebrow or tug on your earlobe. There’s a lot to be learned from this series, that bases its premise on the actual work of Dr. Paul Ekman.
Check availability of Season 1 by clicking here.


For the Socially Conscious, Yet Sappy Fan:

Life Goes On: This was a television milestone in 1989 because the main character, Corky, and the actor who plays him, Chris Burke, has Down Syndrome. As Corky navigates his mainstream school, he makes friends who learn as much from his as they do from their teachers. The series follows the entire Thatcher family, chronicling the parents’ career struggles and the children’s teenage angst, wrapping it up in a heartfelt bow for the viewer who is looking for some feel-good television.
Check availability of Season 1 by clicking here.

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