One of the plot points revolved around Ted worrying that his new fiancee, Stella, might not like his favorite movie (Star Wars). IO9 has a take on it here.
This struck a chord with me, as I've long contemplated the "pop culture relationship deal breakers." For some folks, it can be politics, sports or religion. (For the record, I've dated liberals, conservatives, jesus freaks, atheists, Gators, Vols, Bugs and even folks who don't think of football season as the High Holy Days). Or in Ted and Stella's case, it was a movie. For others, it can be music.
But my pop culture world revolves around the tube, and I've even kept a list on my CrackBerry, entitled "TV for S/O." (That would be Television for the Significant Other). I understand that not many chicks are going to be geeky enough to know the difference between a Romulan and a Klingon, or be able to explain the alien conspiracy on The X-Files. Hell, I can't even explain the alien conspiracy on The X-Files. Nor, apparently, could Chris Carter. But there are some shows that are just so transcendent and so important that it's critical your long-term significant other develops an appreciation for them. Perhaps they've never had a chance to view them. Or perhaps they've been turned off by a "silly" title (*cough* Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Battlestar Galactica *cough*), without ever watching the show with an open mind. However, if they've been exposed to your favorite shows and still don't feel passionately (or even positively) about them, it would make me wonder if there was something fundamentally wrong with them, and that we wouldn't be compatible in the long run. I've got scores of TV shows on DVD, about 50 season passes on the TiVo, and have seen every single episode of literally hundreds of different series. But here are the TV dealbreakers for me:
- Lost
- Arrested Development
- Buffy
- Angel
- Firefly
- Battlestar Galactica
- Mad Men
- Veronica Mars
- Dexter
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Most of my deal breakers match yours but I would add Seinfeld. I have a significant other who, luckily. loves Seinfeld. We sit down every weekday to catch it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the some of your list (bsg, firefly, buffy, angel). The others I haven’t had the time to actually sit and watch to be able to form my geeky opinion of them. However, I would have to add Farscape and the Stars (stargate sg-1 & atlantis, and star treks) to the list.
ReplyDeletecoolschool, Seinfeld is a good choice, too.
ReplyDeletekinney, I would highly suggest you check out the rest of the shows on my list. If you love the four you mentioned, I think you would definitely appreciate the others. And it's funny that you mention Farscape, as I have all eppys of that show on DVD and I absolutely adore it. It's "on" my list as a "wish," but not a "must," as some folks just can't get past the "muppets" and I'd hate to the hold that against them, despite the stellar writing and acting and production values. But I do love the 'scape.
I'd add a working knowledge of these oldies but goodies to my list of non-negotiables: Twin Peaks & Sports Night. Current shows include Mad Men & Bones.
ReplyDeletegood choices, Jen. I was on board with Twin Peaks from the beginning, but had to be introduced to SportsNight (which I found wonderful).
ReplyDelete