Image Credit: SOAPNetTonight’s season finale of Being Erica exemplifies everything I love about the show: originality, a sense of drama and whimsy, and a solidly interesting, emotionally mature story about a woman. Did you ride here on a unicorn, show?
Much as I love Erica, though, it’s only my second-favorite Canadian series. That top honor goes to Slings and Arrows, easily one of my most beloved shows of all time. Rounding out the top three is Degrassi: The Next Generation, which is a total bubblegum pleasure — or was back in the day. (Miss you, Craig.)
But these are just my faves from our northern neighbor. What about Green Wing, The IT Crowd, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace, Shameless, Torchwood, and Mock the Week? That’s barely the tip of my British-favorites iceberg!
What are your favorite non-U.S. series, PopWatchers?
the mighty boosh! even though me and my friends can quote pretty much every episode word for word it is still funny every time we watch. and vince is beautiful!
My absolute favorite foreign series has to be Skins from the U.K. It’s smart, funny and dramatic, and it is an honest portrayal of teenage life.
Agreed! Skins is awesome. Degrassi is a pretty great guilty pleasure, but it doesn’t compare to Skins (acting wise, for sure).
The first two series, that focused on Tony and his merry band of misfits, were brilliant. I still re-watch them and miss Chris all over again.
I just teared up with your mention of Chris!
Love Skins!
Yes. The first two seasons were perfect. Chriiiiiis………
I absolutely love Coupling, the original UK version of course.
OMG YES! This show is hilarious and is much much more than the British-Friends and more people need to watch it! Everything Jeff says, everything Steve says….things to live by!!
Absolutley agree on Coupling! Definately one of my favorite shows. Whenever I am bored or depressed I just watch an episode on Netflix and laugh until my tummy hurts! Everybody must watch this show!
Yes, everyone should watch Coupling. BBC America isn’t showing it right now, which is irritating.
What a great reouscre this text is.
Slings and Arrows, Torchwood, Being Alive, Doctor Who
Oops – Being Human
Eastenders. We’re 7 or 8 years behind England on my PBS station but it’s my favorite hour of the week.
Ditto on all your choices! Slings and Arrows was without a doubt one of the funniest shows I have ever seen. I also heart Erica and Degrassi – “sigh, sean”. My other fave foreign show “Skins” on BBC America. The teens on that show are hands the most damaged and resilient kids on TV right now. Somehow the show is over the top and real and honest at the same time. I’ll also give a shout out to “Dr. Who” and “Torchwood” – some of the best sci-fi TV ever.
Doctor Who. Hands down.
Definitely Doctor Who. I can’t really watch Torchwood anymore after CoE aired.
why not? i’ve never like torchwood as much as during children of earth
I have an entire rant about CoE, but it basically boils down to how it highlights Gwen’s Mary-Sue-ness.
Doctor Who and Coupling.
I do like Torchwood but Gwen is the reason I could never get behind it one hundred percent. She pretends to be so moral as she’s screwing around behind her boyfriend’s back. Such an irritating character.
A Bit of Fry and Laurie.
Huh. I’ve had my issues with Gwen, but I’ve never liked Gwen as much as I do in CoE.
Absolutely Fabulous!
How could I forget that one???
Coupling on BBC – that show was hilarious. Until they replaced Jeff with pseudo-Jeff.
Doctor Who, Torchwood, Being Human, Survivors, Top Gear, and the UK version of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares (it’s MUCH better than the US version.)
so trueee. ramsay’s kitchen nightmares is so much better than the dumb FOX version. also top gear ftw
Mcleod’s Daughters from Australia was a good series for about its first five seasons.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this Mcleod’s it took me awhile to finish the last few season but I eventually did and they were worth it. This is probably my favorite show of all time not just forgein
I love Rescue Special Ops and Sea Patrol from Australia.
Doctor Who is my favorite show.
Others are Demons, Torchwood, Primeval, Robin Hood and Merlin as well as whatever’s on Masterpiece Mystery including Foyles War, Wallander, Poirot, Miss Marple, and Inspector Lewis.
If they made an American teenage program as honest and funny as “Skins” and “The In-Betweeners” it would be a miracle. Both shows use excellent teenage actors to tell the stories of teenagers and both are spectacular. “90210″ has resorted to direct theft of ideas from “Skins” and it still hasn’t helped that awful show. As far as Canada, I used to love “Edgemont” which had Kristen Kreuk (“Lana” on “Smallville” and Dominic Zomprogna (“Jammer” on “BSG”) as the star-crossed leads. It had the idea of doing a highschool show without any adult characters, adults were only mentioned, and it made it a decent show. It actually had a good cast, many of which have appeared in US shows that film in Vancouver, BC.
Torchwood, Primeval and Top Gear!