Fantasy detective, chronotriller for King, German neo-nuar and other shows. The selection will not surprise serial geeks, but everyone else can find at least a couple of unfamiliar projects in it. I invite you to watch a video version or look at the text list.
These TV shows do not beat the records of popularity. One was not enough budget, the others are simply niche, and others are still too new. But they all received high marks from at least one of the sides: spectators or critics, therefore they deserve at least a cursory gaze. Perhaps you missed one of them.
1. Babylon-Berlin (2 seasons | 2017 … | IMDB: 8.4)
A few German series have a global success. "Babylon-Berlin" is one of the vivid exceptions. The eminent Tykver and his colleagues take off the insanely stylish detective in the decorations of Germany from the time of the Weimar Republic.
According to the plot, the police inspector Gereon Rat receives a special task – to find and destroy a porn movie in which an influential official lit up. And an without that delicate matter complicates the post -traumatic syndrome inherited by the hero from the First World War, and the most severe political crisis.
"Babylon-Berlin" is neo-nuar. Here you have a confused criminal plot, and a fatal woman, and a suffering hero who drinks in cigarettes smoked by cigarettes and tracks the killers in dark, rain in the streets. And all this in Berlin of the 1920s-a gloomy metropolis, where the vice and luxury of nightclubs border the cramped grief.
Sometimes a detective flows into a political thriller with a variegated palette ideologies. The Communist Party goes to the streets against the Democrats who barely hold power. Citing the Bolsheviks chase the Trotskyists. And a group of local conspirators prepares a state -breeding to return the emperor to power. And finally, the first outbreaks of brown plague – in the city they notice people in the swastika.
The series shoots the Sky 1 television channel from the books of the German writer Folker Kucher. Behind two seasons, very warmly accepted by critics: in the rating of Rotten Tomatoes, the show received the maximum score. The third season is promised to release back in 2019.
2. Marco Polo (2 seasons | 2014-2016 | IMDB: 8.0)
East Asia, 13th century. The journey of the Venetian Marco Polo breaks in captivity at the Mongolian khan. But the stranger achieves the respect of the ruler and gets a place at court. At the same time, Polo enters the boiler of palace intrigues and hostilities of Mongolia against China.
Netflix did not regret the money for this show, which is noticeable in every detail: from costumes and decorations to large -scale battal scenes. All this, along with picturesque locations, makes Marco Polo one of the most beautiful projects in the history of TV.
Although the series is named after Polo, its hero is just an observer. A boring European fades against the backdrop of bright Asian characters: harsh rulers, killers, soldiers, court rogues and sages. It is their images and actions that attract attention to history.
Asian setting as a whole is the main feature of the series. Ethnic music, martial arts, architecture and other details of entourage exude an old oriental flavor. Medieval Asia rarely appears on the screens, even more so on such a scale.
Probably, it was the setting that played a cruel joke with the project, making the series so niche that he could not recoup the budget. For the Eastern spectators, Asia, fed from the point of view of the European, could seem not authentic enough, and for the western – too pretentious.
As a result of the show, they closed after the second season. But the captured part is quite self -sufficient. If you like spectacular military dramas and you are not frightened by exotic, Marco Polo should definitely watch.
3. 11.22.63 (1 season | 2016 | IMDB: 8.2)
Among the adaptations of Stephen King are many bad, but also many excellent projects. The mini -script "11.22.63 "clearly belongs to the second.
No, these are not horrors, as you could have suggested, but a fantastic thriller. According to the plot, school teacher Jake Epping learns about the temporary portal leading in 1960. Jake decides to take advantage of the chance and goes into the past for three years, so that – no less – prevent Kennedy’s murder.
Thus, he hopes to protect the United States from the war in Vietnam and other political misses. But the mission of the Epping interfere with feelings for the girl and the time itself is trying to stop him.
J. J. Abrams and Stephen King. Cool action and expensive visual effects from the series should not wait. But it has enough tense scenes that will make you worry about key heroes performed by James Franco and Sarah Gadon.
"11.22.63 "is not only an exciting quest with a love line, investigation and shooting, but also a cut of the era. The authors captured the life of ordinary Americans in the sixties: their hopes, anxiety and customs. On the one hand, the Cold War and Racism. On the other hand, elegant cars, jazz, felt hats and, of course, adored president.
Although the source is a rather weighty book, Hulu got a very compact series. Therefore, fans of the original criticized the show for reduction. If you are a fan of the book, be ready for them. All the rest can be safely recommended by tele -adaptation. Eight vigorous episodes with a raid of Kingian mysticism and an unexpected denouement – this is a series that is not a pity to spend a day off.
4. Rowe row (1 season | 2019 … | IMDB: 8,1)
It so happened that most 4crowns-casino.co.uk of the fantasy-world resembles a fabulous Middle Ages. But this serial novelty went the other way. The world "Carnivated Rowe" is similar to Europe of the 19th century with a share of magic, a thick bestiarium of fantastic creatures and a bunch of allusions to the modern era.
Events take place after the war. The Union of Human States, called the Pact, occupied the lands of fairies, fauns and other "nonhumans". Enslaved peoples are forced to escape to the Republic of Burg – a human power, which retained independence from the pact. But the more uninvited guests floods the country, the less they are happy about the people.
Refugees despise and oppress the rights. And in general xenophobia – the leitmotif of the series. Faes have to trade in drugs or themselves, and the faunes survive at the expense of hard work and serving people.
The plot revolves around the capital of the republic – the city of Burga with the features of the Victorian London. The local policeman played by Orlando Bloom is following the trail of a serial killer. Along the way, the hero guesses the secrets of his past and understands the feelings for the fairy, whose image embodies Kara Delevingne.
Meanwhile, Jared Harris in the guise of Chancellor bears the burden of family and political problems. And the mysterious faun is looking for a way to the high society of Burga. Almost all of these lines are intertwined and unexpectedly unravelly in the finale.
Western critics quarreled the series for oversaturation. Indeed, for 8 episodes, too many details of the world and plot lines were added to the "Carnival Row". As a result, the story moves unevenly and the transformations of some heroes may seem crumpled.
But this is unlikely to ruin the overall impression of viewing. Especially excellent actors, an unusual beautiful world and a strong finale with more than compensate for all the shortcomings. The show has already been extended for the second season.
5. Rome (2 seasons | 2005-2007 | IMDB: 8.7)
In the early 2000s, the HBO and BBC channels decided on an experiment, having removed a historical drama with a record budget by the then standards-$ 10 million per series. The market was not ready for this, and the project did not bring the expected money. But even more than 10 years later, Rome looks at the level of modern television blockbuster.
A spectacular guide for the history, culture and vices of Roman civilization – this is exactly how the series turned out to be ahead of his time.
"Rome" begins with the victory of Caesar over the Gauls. His political rivals, frightened by such a success, start a civil war. We are shown as backstage, where those in power are weaved by intrigues and send the poor to death, and events on the front line, which we see the eyes of two legionnaires.
Although Egypt and other corners of the Roman Republic flash on the screen, the main actions are concentrated in the capital. For two seasons, everything happens in it: from pompous parades and fairs to bloody battle and executions.
To recreate ancient Rome, the crew built up an extensive area in Italy. City Forum, Villas, Wotes and temples amaze with the number of details.
But what the city does alive is, of course, people. Crowds of extras, which are teeming with Roman streets, and a brilliant team of actors. Among the latter are Kiaran Hynds, James Puurfoy and Tobayas Menzis, who have since played many good series.
6. High -high man (3 seasons | 2015 … | IMDB: 8,1)
Here is a spy thriller in the wrapper of alternative history, free film adaptation of the novel Philip Dick. The series took from the book only details of the fictional world, characters and some plot moves. The rest is the merit of the screenwriter.
Events began in 1962 in the USA. For 15 years, the country has been divided between Japan and Germany, which won the Second World War and are ready to cling to each other. A handful of American rebels acts against those and others. In the ranks of the latter – the main character of the series Julian Crane.
A fascinating confrontation in the best traditions of the book unfolds on the screen. Although the show demonizes the ideas of imperialism, the plot does not roll to the schematic struggle of good with evil. Each side of the conflict has its conditional bastards and heroes.
Cabinet intrigues, chases, sabotage, shootings and even ominous experiments of the Nazis – all this is an incomplete list of what the viewer can count on. But the show slows down at the beginning and is opened gradually. So do not judge by the first episodes.
Amazon is engaged in production. The company has already released three seasons, the fourth will come out in the fall and will become final.
7. The last kingdom (3 seasons | 2015 … | IMDB: 8.3)
A series of novels "Saxon Chronicles" by Bernard Cornwell tells of the Scandinavian war with the British. Given the success of books and a great interest in the Vikings in pop culture, Cornwell’s work could not be left without a film adaptation. As a result, we have the “Last Kingdom” that can be safely included in the list of the best historical series.
The events of the show occur in the 9th century. In the next raid on the British Islands, the Normans are captured by a local boy. It is taken into a family and educated as a viking. Having matured, the guy becomes an important figure in the war of the northerners against the English king. The main character will have to choose between the Normans with whom he grew up, and the British family natives.
The series is close in spirit to the popular show "Vikings". The Last Kingdom is also not embarrassed by cruelty and raises complex topics of religion, power and war. The authors immerse in the conflict between Christian and pagan cultures, but do not make any saint of the parties. To whom to sympathize – they leave the choice to the viewer.
The Last Kingdom holds the crazy pace of the story: the concentration of events here is extremely high. Perhaps not a single series does without action and unexpected plot turns. At the same time, the speed does not prevent the authors from paying attention to the little things: various rituals, environment details and household scenes create a persistent medieval atmosphere.
The series began as a BBC project, but Netflix later joined in production. Three seasons have already been released and the show was extended to the fourth.
8. Black sails (4 seasons | 2014-2017 | IMDB: 8.2)
In this series, it is easy to find out the prequel to the novel "Treasure Island". Reading classics will see many familiar heroes on the screen. But if the source is designed for adolescents, then “black sails” – the sight is by no means children. The series has enough eroticism, violence and adult moral dilemmas that haunt the characters.
In the center of the plot is the story of Captain Flint. This man was an exemplary officer of the British Empire until politics broke his life. Flint fled to the colony of New Providence and became a living legend among the local pirates. Its goal is to make an island free from states. But on the way of the captain are English officials, local businessmen and other pirates.
In “Black Sails” there is everything that can be expected from a pirate show: from tense dialogs and brutal fights to hunting for treasures and enchanting sea battles. The latter are especially good. Captains shine with tactical skill, and ships fly into chips and burn, as in Hollywood blockbusters. Apparently, it is not for nothing that Michael Bay, a big fan of blowing everything that appears on the screen, is on the show.
But the main trump card of the series is charismatic heroes. Thugs, rogues and other scumbags, in which you fall in love with the first episodes. Insidious screenwriters now and then pushing the public favorites among themselves, forcing to root for all opponents at once. Relief occurs only in the final.
Fortunately, the Starz television channel did not stretch the "black sails". The authors met four saturated seasons and completed the series on a high note.
9. Space (3 seasons | 2015 … | IMDB: 8.4)
A vacuum reigned for a long time in the niche of the cosmersium, which could not fill a single show. But in 2015, everything changed the series "Space".
As usual, the action takes place in the distant future. People colonized Mars and even asteroid belt, but did not learn to live peacefully. Returning for resources, earthlings and colonists are conducting a "Cold War". The situation is heated when humanity reveals a certain intelligent substance that may be a follow of an unknown civilization.
Against these events, the fate of the official from the ground, a policeman from the belt, the Martian soldier and crew members of one of the ships intersect. Each of them will play a role in the global conflict of "space".
Show is shot according to James Corey novels. For the epic scope, the military-political basis and the unpredictable plot, the series has already been nicknamed the “Game of Thrones” in space ”. But even such a capacious definition is not enough to outline the genre framework of the "space". For example, in the series there was a place for elements of a detective and even a horror.
Impressive attention with which the authors approached the elaboration of the world. Take at least the inhabitants of the stations in the asteroid belt: they live in conditions of weak gravity, and therefore grow very thin, high and physically weak.
The first three seasons of the show were not financed by the largest Syfy television channel, so in some places a shortage of budget is striking in the eye. But the series was sold by Amazon, which has all the resources in order to reveal the potential of "space". The fourth season is released in December 2019.
10. Jonathan Strande and Mr. Norrell (1 season | 2015 | IMDB: 8.2)
For ten years, Suzanne Clark wrote the only book. The British spent time for no vain. A mixture of fantasy with a historical novel, stylized under the prose of English classics, grabbed a bunch of prestigious awards, became a superbesseller and the basis for a great series.
Place of action – alternative England in the beginning of the 19th century. The country has long been without magic, which for some reason left these lands. Spells remained only in textbooks on the history and theory of magic. But everything changes the appearance of Jonathan Strende and Mr. Norrell-two sorcerers-practitioners.
The frivolous romantic Strande and the super-hungry Norrell look differently at the future of magic-and after a short friendship become enemies. Meanwhile, the government asks them for help in the war, and the revival of the spell leads to England a dark power.
Jonathan Strend and Mr. Norrell are primarily a conversational drama. Although we are shown the battlefields and the other world, almost all the screen time is occupied by dialogs. If you are waiting for a dynamic story with throwing fire balls, just pass by.
The narrative is in no hurry. And in general, the show clings not by the plot and action, but by the very spirit of the gloomy fairy tale, which envelops the viewer and takes away to the unexplored lands. Gothic aesthetics, British humor, charming heroes and Celtic folklore create real magic on the screen.
It is unlikely that anyone else could film a novel about England better than BBC. The channel did this in the format of a mini-series-quite good and close to the text of the book to impress critics and not disappoint the Clark fans.
