Current Events > What's a good TV series that matches the description ITT?

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Unfamiliar setting

Familiar/relatable subject matter

I've been reading Saga, and I love how the setting, world, and types of characters are unfamiliar things that we can't experience.

But through the epic spacefarring/fantasy journey, the plot is intermingled with familiar themes that most humans can relate to. The main characters are just as occupied with the struggles of raising a baby and finding balances in their personal lives as they are with escaping capture and trying to purge themselves of struggles with the ongoing war. Each page I turn is back and forth between "That's weird/shocking/unusual" and "Wow, that really hits home."

Is there a TV series that itches this scratch? It doesn't have to be all out with a completely unfamiliar setting like Saga. But I would like something about the setting to be something most people won't be familiar with. Like maybe there are superheroes in this world, or the main characters are in rival mafia families or something.

Something like The Wire could even fit for what I'm looking for. Completely realistic setting, but still unfamiliar for most, since most people will never work in law enforcement or be involved in organized crime.

The Twilight Zone

Xethuminra posted...

The Twilight Zone

The 100?

The Boys
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Read Nova by Samuel R Delaney.
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Not sure about the other recommendations, but Twilight Zone is very far from the mark of what I'm describing here.

I've never watched The Sopranos before, and I think it might be what I'm looking for.

Most people can't relate to being a mob boss, but apparently a large part of the plot involves the guy trying to balance his home life with his family?

Twin Peaks

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Avatar is a good one.

Honestly a lot of Trek is unfamiliar setting but the people feel quite real.

Pick some random S3-S5 TNG episodes and give them a shot.

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berlyman101 posted...

Twin Peaks

There is nothing familiar or relatable about twin peaks.

It's like "weird for weird sake" incarnate.

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joe40001 posted...

Avatar is a good one.

Honestly a lot of Trek is unfamiliar setting but the people feel quite real.

Pick some random S3-S5 TNG episodes and give them a shot.

I was honestly considering Star Trek. I've never gotten into it before, but the other topic about ST, conveniently up while I'm reading Saga, is what made me make this topic.

mobilebloechel posted...

Great show but that's like the exact opposite of what he's asking for. Nothing is relatable in that one.

If you say so

Star Trek TNG would hit that. Either TNG, but maybe Voyager more, since they're lost on the other side of the galaxy.

So TNG is just people doing a job dealing with personal shit and other civilizations, while Vogaer is that too, but they're no longer really on the job, rather trying to get home.

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joe40001 posted...

There is nothing familiar or relatable about twin peaks.

It's like "weird for weird sake" incarnate.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


there's plenty of slice-of-life shit in Twin Peaks. it's interspersed with dealing with small town issues, raising a family, jealousy, and going to the local diner.

it does get pretty off the wall, though.

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Mr robot is a great one
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Metal_Bug posted...

I've been reading Saga, and I love how the setting, world, and types of characters are unfamiliar things that we can't experience.

Saga is so fucking good. I cant wait for it to come back. I just want to cry ag...i mean chop onions again.

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Metal_Bug posted...

I was honestly considering Star Trek. I've never gotten into it before, but the other topic about ST, conveniently up while I'm reading Saga, is what made me make this topic.

Yeah, the one downside is that it starts slow.

Many people first encountered it in syndication, and the random episode grabbag kinda helped get people into it. But it gets so damn good once it finds it's footing that it's worth it.

TNG is the series to start with, either in order and just tough it through the slower parts of season 1, or just watch random episodes.

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berlyman101 posted...

there's plenty of slice-of-life shit in Twin Peaks. it's interspersed with dealing with small town issues, raising a family, jealousy, and going to the local diner.

it does get pretty off the wall, though.

OP seems to be asking for things in strange environments where the characters and situations feel relatable.

Twin Peaks is people in relatable environments where the characters and situations are very very very strange.

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Metal_Bug posted...

I've never watched The Sopranos before, and I think it might be what I'm looking for.

Then get on it, it's a great show.

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For those who haven't read Saga, here's a good example of what I'm talking about (best pics I could get of pages that reflect light).

VERY BEGINNING OF THE STORY SPOILERS

Family matters

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DocileOrangeCup posted...

Family matters

Family Matters is completely relatable on all ends. I never found myself struggling to self-insert myself in any situation on that show, even as a white 4-year-old.