Please use specific examples, using characters’ names and enough detail to let me know you have watched a specific episode of a show to answer the questions. So, for this assignment, you’ll watch a total of three TV shows in order to complete all the questions.

1. Watch both a situation comedy (1/2 hour) and a drama (1 hour). Please choose from the show suggestions I give on the syllabus, and choose different shows than you’ve already used for previous assignments. The green (high scores) on Metacritic are a useful list: http://www.metacritic.com/browse/tv/score/metascore/90day/filtered (Links to an external site.) Be sure to tell me the names of the shows (and episodes, if possible). But first, please the following articles (you can refer to the articles in your response, and main insights from the articles may show up in an exam):

Read these short NewYorker articles on the best new TV shows: Emily Nussbaum- The Best TV Shows of 2017 | The New Yorker.pdf

ACTIONS

undefinedhttp://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/great-tv-2014-list-order (Links to an external site.)undefinedthis article on the TV comedy Unbreakableundefinedhttp://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/03/30/candy-girl (Links to an external site.)undefinedrecent TV comediesundefinedhttp://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/11/23/sickness-and-health (Links to an external site.)undefinedThe Americans:undefinedhttp://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-cruel-irony-of-the-americans (Links to an external site.)undefinedBetter Call Saul undefined Breaking Badundefinedhttp://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/04/18/better_call_saul_is_better_than_breaking_bad.html?wpsrc=sh_all_mob_tw_bot (Links to an external site.)undefinedbest TV shows since 2000undefinedhttp://www.businessinsider.com/best-tv-shows-of-2000s-critics-2016-11/#2015-fargo-season-2-16 (Links to an external site.)undefinedhttps://www.salon.com/2017/09/24/the-25-best-tv-shows-of-the-2010s/ (Links to an external site.)undefinedThe Sopranosundefinedhttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/arts/television/best-drama-series.html (Links to an external site.)

Finally, read this article on the Netflix show Russian Doll: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/02/04/the-clever-thrill-ride-of-russian-doll (Links to an external site.) pdf: The Clever Thrill Ride of “Russian Doll” | The New Yorker.pdf

ACTIONS

undefinedVeepundefinedhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/apr/02/hail-to-the-veep-the-best-and-most-brutal-comedy-of-the-century (Links to an external site.)undefined

a. From each program (both the comedy and drama you’ve watched), decide whether it deals more with social, political, religious ideas, or none of the three. Only choose one idea/issue per show. Relate to me why you feel this way and give specific examples from the episodes you watch to support your choice.

b. Choose a character from each of the 2 shows you watched that exemplifies your answer from (a) and talk about what he or she is trying to accomplish (his/her objective) throughout the show. Relate a specific incident that relates the objective to your previous answer.

c. Talk about the obstacles that made it difficult for your character to meet his/her objective or goal.

2. Now, choose an episode of a different show from the previous two you watched. You must be able to watch it at least two times before writing about it. Discuss one of the characters who you think has difficulty fitting in with society. Analyze the following social aspects of this character.

a) Name one thing the character does in this episode that causes him/her some type of social difficulty, whether it is a problem that involves one other person or society in general.

b) In your opinion, does the show itself seem to defend the character’s attitude toward this social difficulty or does it use the character to teach us that the social difficulty portrayed is harmful or undesirable? Use specific examples.