I figure a good way to cope with the loss of Terriers would be to share some recommendations that are similar to the show. I'd recommend the book Fletch. Also, the comic book Criminal by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips because they're character-driven crime stories, just like our favorite show.
Homicide:Life on the street. It was the most realistic cop show ever, and is, in my opinion the best crime show ever. It was also one of the first of the modern breed of crime shows that focused on characters and their lives, and got it right. It was on for 7 years, 5 of them being fantastic. the other 2 are also enjoyable. It also crossed over with law and order 3 times and was concluded with a TV movie. It ran from 1992 to 1999 with the TV movie airing in 2000.
Ellery Queen: One season in the 70s, but a fantastic show. I really can't compare it to Terriers, but fans of the show should like it.
there are others but they slip my mind. as for books, the book that Homicide was based on, Homicide: a year on the killing streets, is a must read. The writing style of David Simon, who also wrote The Corner and created Oz, The Wire, and Treme, makes nonfiction journalism feel like a detective novel. Also the maajority of the first 2-2 1/2 seasons of the show are based on the real events described in the book.
"Thanks to Frank here, I know all there is to know about our friend, the tongue"-Beau Felton
yep, the old ellery queen series was great ... wished it would have continued ... loved it when near the end he would 'break the fourth wall' and address the audience and say basically that 'you have all the clues you need to solve the mystery' and then they'd have the final commercial break and come back and reveal the solution ... really good show ... not one of those mysteries that solves the case by suddenly introducing three things that they hadn't shown or mentioned in the entire show ...
take care, cormac
"One star in the sky so I named it Otis Redding" -- John Hiatt
Slings & arrows is a totally off the wall choice. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. besides, it's a great show, and the more people that get to expierience it's greatness, the better. "Thanks to Frank here, I know all there is to know about our friend, the tongue"-Beau Felton
I liked Terriers and all, but the biggest reason I'm glad I watched it is that I, having finished Terriers, came on here, found this thread and then Slings & Arrows. What a great, great show. Season 3 was a slight letdown, but still very much worth watching. So, thanks zaidelc.
I can't believe nobody has mentioned Breaking Bad. Maybe it seems too obvious, but to me if you like this show, then you'll love BB, and the upside is BB is still airing (Season 4 is on it's way).
Yes the subject matter is different, but the character development in this show is great. How you get to know Hank, and Britt, and Maggs, and Gustafson is wonderful. And it's the same way in BB. I've never seen a show develop it's characters better than BB. The other way in which the shows are similar is in it's story telling. Terriers was great at telling a good story and it was nice to see them stick to an overall plot for the entire season while still breaking away for side stories. Plus I love how everything comes together... things that you may have thought were irrelevant have a way of coming back into the story in such a poetic way and it's just very well written. BB is exactly the same way. I would honestly have to say that BB is by far the best show on TV I've ever seen. So check it out. You won't be sorry.
I'm still holding out hope for Terriers to come back, but it'd be an act of congress now. Maybe the Season 1 DVD will sell really well and will make FX rethink canceling it too soon. But I'm keeping my eyes out for the next show done by this same writer as well as producer and director.
Yes! Breaking Bad is worth recommending every time and all the time.
Also: The Wire - coz its the best TV series of all time. What everyones been saying for years is true Veronica Mars - has a lot in common with Terriers Friday Night Lights - because you probably have the wrong idea about it and are missing out big time Sherlock - great casting, sharp writing, simply brilliant.
I'd recommend a show called "Boomtown", only aired for one season and change, but brilliant writing, acting, directing. Complex story with arcs through the season. Not that similar to Terriers but an overlooked gem nonetheless.