Television is king now. At least, in my house.
Shut up, child.
With very little time to run to a cinema due to another little pair of legs running around the house, I now find any screen-time is spent in my living room. Cinema isn’t dead to me, just out of my reach for this period of my life (although I did find the time to go see ALIEN: ROMULUS at the end of last year and had a blast. Go the movies if you can, it is more fun than watching stuff at home!). So now when I look at any phases or timelines of the releases of the year ahead, my eyes are firmly on the TV announcements.
Maybe because I remember when TV was a lot simpler, low budget and every episode was only 20 minutes long, that I appreciate what we’re being served up now, even more than films. So, I felt the urge to write up my list of my 10 BEST RECENT NERDY TV SHOWS. All the following shows are both new and definitely nerdy. Yes, I could put in shows like Severance, Cobra Kai and Reacher but you will see these shows recommended everywhere. I wanted to pay tribute to the shows that have their roots in true nerdy fandom.
Maybe because I remember when TV was a lot simpler, low budget and every episode was only 20 minutes long, that I appreciate what we’re being served up now, even more than films. So, I felt the urge to write up my list of my 10 BEST RECENT NERDY TV SHOWS. All the following shows are both new and definitely nerdy. Yes, I could put in shows like Severance, Cobra Kai and Reacher but you will see these shows recommended everywhere. I wanted to pay tribute to the shows that have their roots in true nerdy fandom.
10. BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER
Since the new age of comic book movie popularity started, there is one character who, somehow, had a false start. Even though he was prolific in starting a similar mainstream interest in the comic book scene in the late 80’s/early 90’s, BATMAN hasn’t had much luck. And, with the exception of the recent ‘THE BATMAN’ movie, there has seemed to be a tentative reluctancy to commit to the character from Warner Bros. Which is made all the more unusual due to how much they have leaned on the Bat on their comic book shelves.
As such, BATMAN fans have been gasping for any kind of BATMAN content, so when CAPED CRUSADER was announced with BRUCE TIMM taking the helm, it was a take worthy of TWO-FACE himself. On one hand, you had the possibility of new BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (BTAS) with BRUCE TIMM! On the other? You had the cynical side wondering if this was doomed to be a flop. A lazy attempt to recapture lightning in a bottle.
What we got wasn’t that at all. Set in a new BATMAN universe, CAPED CRUSADER immediately tries out new ideas and concepts with both the characters and the stories. The most controversial, but in my opinion the best, is the Penguin being an absolutely heartless woman. It made sense and was an instant home run for me during that opening episode. Throughout the series we get gritty crime, murder mystery, disturbing horrors and, my personal favourite topic for BATMAN to handle, the occult.
Is it perfect? Not quite. There is a part of you that can’t help but compare it to BTAS, but that just isn’t fair as it’s not actively trying to be. It even leaves out some big hitters, choosing to put the work in and write new and interesting stories, rather than rely on old, guaranteed gold. Highly recommended and I cannot wait for the next season.
As such, BATMAN fans have been gasping for any kind of BATMAN content, so when CAPED CRUSADER was announced with BRUCE TIMM taking the helm, it was a take worthy of TWO-FACE himself. On one hand, you had the possibility of new BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (BTAS) with BRUCE TIMM! On the other? You had the cynical side wondering if this was doomed to be a flop. A lazy attempt to recapture lightning in a bottle.
What we got wasn’t that at all. Set in a new BATMAN universe, CAPED CRUSADER immediately tries out new ideas and concepts with both the characters and the stories. The most controversial, but in my opinion the best, is the Penguin being an absolutely heartless woman. It made sense and was an instant home run for me during that opening episode. Throughout the series we get gritty crime, murder mystery, disturbing horrors and, my personal favourite topic for BATMAN to handle, the occult.
Is it perfect? Not quite. There is a part of you that can’t help but compare it to BTAS, but that just isn’t fair as it’s not actively trying to be. It even leaves out some big hitters, choosing to put the work in and write new and interesting stories, rather than rely on old, guaranteed gold. Highly recommended and I cannot wait for the next season.
9. SKELETON CREW
As a STAR WARS fan it is commonly accepted that we hate new STAR WARS content most of the time. I am not one of those fans. I love new STAR WARS. Do I love all of it? No. The new movies and the book of BOBA FETT are especially annoying chapters that were clearly made with bad direction and little care. However, there is far more good than bad in my opinion, and any new announcements I optimistically look forward to. This, however, was not one of them.
I was scared at the trailer for this. It looked goofy, awkward and not very STAR WARS at all. Oh, how wrong I was.
SKELETON CREW reminds me of the first time you watch STRANGER THINGS. All these characters, acted brilliantly by a bunch of talented kids, are immediately likeable and not actually annoying in any way! A hard thing to achieve and was one of the first things that eased me into this show. The cherry on top though is Jude Law as the rogue’s rogue of the galaxy. He reminded me of a darker Jack Sparrow. More focused, less drunk. And let’s not forget the brilliantly named SM-33.
I was scared at the trailer for this. It looked goofy, awkward and not very STAR WARS at all. Oh, how wrong I was.
SKELETON CREW reminds me of the first time you watch STRANGER THINGS. All these characters, acted brilliantly by a bunch of talented kids, are immediately likeable and not actually annoying in any way! A hard thing to achieve and was one of the first things that eased me into this show. The cherry on top though is Jude Law as the rogue’s rogue of the galaxy. He reminded me of a darker Jack Sparrow. More focused, less drunk. And let’s not forget the brilliantly named SM-33.
All these exciting new editions to the STAR WARS universe, on top of the story and memorable moments and quotes (“The Spa”) make this a really fun, one-shot addition to the STAR WARS universe and isn’t talked about enough.
8. BODIES
Holy wibbly wobbly, timey wimey, murder mystery TV show, Batman!
Bodies, based on the DC VERTIGO graphic novel of the same name, is 4 stories all happening at the same time across 4 different times. 1890, 1941, 2023 and 2053. And boy is it addictive. Truly one of those shows that you can only watch the first time once (more on that further down the list) because after you see the whole puzzle, any re-watch will have you looking for the links that you now know are there.
I have always stated that I think DC consistently do TV better. People are quick to bring up the Arrowverse to point out both the highs and the lows, but that isn’t what I am referring to when I talk about DC shows. It’s stuff like this. Sandman, Stargirl, Doom Patrol etc. No larger universe at large. Just a world within which a dark story is taking place.
Back to Bodies, and I think what tips this for me is the brilliant time traveling writing. A hard thing to accomplish. So much so it not only impressed me but our very own Dan Bibby who is VERY fussy on time-travel based stories. Stories that are normally easy to poke holes in, but here we have four! Count them; FOUR! All happening at once and all in harmony with one another. Then throw in Stephen Graham and how is this not in any list of greatest graphic novel television adaptations?
Bodies, based on the DC VERTIGO graphic novel of the same name, is 4 stories all happening at the same time across 4 different times. 1890, 1941, 2023 and 2053. And boy is it addictive. Truly one of those shows that you can only watch the first time once (more on that further down the list) because after you see the whole puzzle, any re-watch will have you looking for the links that you now know are there.
I have always stated that I think DC consistently do TV better. People are quick to bring up the Arrowverse to point out both the highs and the lows, but that isn’t what I am referring to when I talk about DC shows. It’s stuff like this. Sandman, Stargirl, Doom Patrol etc. No larger universe at large. Just a world within which a dark story is taking place.
Back to Bodies, and I think what tips this for me is the brilliant time traveling writing. A hard thing to accomplish. So much so it not only impressed me but our very own Dan Bibby who is VERY fussy on time-travel based stories. Stories that are normally easy to poke holes in, but here we have four! Count them; FOUR! All happening at once and all in harmony with one another. Then throw in Stephen Graham and how is this not in any list of greatest graphic novel television adaptations?
7. X-MEN 97
My relationship with mutants is…strained. I have always thought they were lazily written. Their stories often involve annoying time travel family dramas or even worse; clones *shudders*. The movies mostly suck and their existence seems shovelled in to the Marvel Comic Universe, why is Captain Marvel cool but Rogue is a *checks notes* “mutie freak”?
However, it cannot be denied that as a child I highly enjoyed the X-Men cartoon. This is completely hypocritical of everything I have just said as it was completely loyal to the comics and made it very clear that it was in a Marvel Universe that also had Captain America and Spider-Man etc. So why does it get a pass? I have no clue, man. It just worked. So, if something isn’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
Bringing back as much of the original voice cast as possible and keeping the story canon with what has already been, this could have gone very wrong. You could get people annoyed that you’re stepping on the toes of sacred ground by returning to the original series (which technically wrapped up that universe in a comic that was published after the end of the series). You could also get that ever so positive crew of people who just love criticising everything, so would spin this as “Marvel running out of original ideas”. Both were proven wrong as this series elevated a nearly 30 year old Saturday morning cartoon to such emotional levels that I found myself crying. Absolute genius and I now not only look forward to the next season but what the actual MCU can do with mutants now.
However, it cannot be denied that as a child I highly enjoyed the X-Men cartoon. This is completely hypocritical of everything I have just said as it was completely loyal to the comics and made it very clear that it was in a Marvel Universe that also had Captain America and Spider-Man etc. So why does it get a pass? I have no clue, man. It just worked. So, if something isn’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
Bringing back as much of the original voice cast as possible and keeping the story canon with what has already been, this could have gone very wrong. You could get people annoyed that you’re stepping on the toes of sacred ground by returning to the original series (which technically wrapped up that universe in a comic that was published after the end of the series). You could also get that ever so positive crew of people who just love criticising everything, so would spin this as “Marvel running out of original ideas”. Both were proven wrong as this series elevated a nearly 30 year old Saturday morning cartoon to such emotional levels that I found myself crying. Absolute genius and I now not only look forward to the next season but what the actual MCU can do with mutants now.
6. FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOOD SPIDER-MAN
WOKE! WOKE WOKE WOKE! When this script landed on the studio executive’s lap it should have set off the woke alarm. With many characters being swapped from being white and/or male, I think half the internet held their fingers over their keyboards waiting for this to suck and were ready to blame the representation based design for it, which when you word it that way, obviously makes no sense. Like none. Think about that for a minute. You might learn something.
AAAAANYway…this show seriously kicks ass. Like, maybe too much ass. This is the best and most accurate Peter Parker we have had on screen for years and he’s not the main continuity one? How annoying is that! The attention to detail from the story to his entire motley crew of villains truly shows up every previous onscreen Spider-Man product. Including Tom’s. That’s what I mean by maybe too much ass. This is such a good show that I now don’t think the MCU Spider-Man films hold up to it. And as much as the Talk Nerdy Team would try to spin that it’s because Daredevil is in it (he’s in the MCU Spider-Man films too, so that isn’t a factor. Great though, innit!) it’s so much more that than that. My only hope is that this raised bar influences all future Spider-Man films.
AAAAANYway…this show seriously kicks ass. Like, maybe too much ass. This is the best and most accurate Peter Parker we have had on screen for years and he’s not the main continuity one? How annoying is that! The attention to detail from the story to his entire motley crew of villains truly shows up every previous onscreen Spider-Man product. Including Tom’s. That’s what I mean by maybe too much ass. This is such a good show that I now don’t think the MCU Spider-Man films hold up to it. And as much as the Talk Nerdy Team would try to spin that it’s because Daredevil is in it (he’s in the MCU Spider-Man films too, so that isn’t a factor. Great though, innit!) it’s so much more that than that. My only hope is that this raised bar influences all future Spider-Man films.
5. THE BOYS
If we’re vocal about a few things at TALK NERDY TO ME it’s that we love Star Wars, Daredevil and THE BOYS.
THE BOYS took the world by storm in 2019 by doing something that, honestly, the DCEU should have leant into MANY years ago. That is grounded, gritty and realistic to the Nth degree superhero stories. Where the heroes aren’t likeable, and the protagonists aren’t much better either.
Always one to bring up wrestling whenever I can, pre 1995, the wrestling world was made up of clear good guys and over the top bad guys. Eventually, audiences got sick of that, and in a post-grunge 90’s era, the grey of humanity bled into the wrestling world and was a worldwide success. I can honestly say that’s what happened here too. Sick of slick, shiny, perfect heroes, the entire world changed channel to Amazon to see a more rational superhero world. Where they were greedy, selfish, liars and cheats. And on top of it all we get 2 of the greatest villains ever written in Homelander (who genuinely makes me tense up whenever he is onscreen) and Butcher (who is not really too different from Homelander, just on a separate path).
Incredibly dark, yet incredibly funny, managing to make each season gorier and lewder without actually jumping the shark, it will honestly be a shame when this show ends. If you haven’t already, join the anxiety train that is THE BOYS.
THE BOYS took the world by storm in 2019 by doing something that, honestly, the DCEU should have leant into MANY years ago. That is grounded, gritty and realistic to the Nth degree superhero stories. Where the heroes aren’t likeable, and the protagonists aren’t much better either.
Always one to bring up wrestling whenever I can, pre 1995, the wrestling world was made up of clear good guys and over the top bad guys. Eventually, audiences got sick of that, and in a post-grunge 90’s era, the grey of humanity bled into the wrestling world and was a worldwide success. I can honestly say that’s what happened here too. Sick of slick, shiny, perfect heroes, the entire world changed channel to Amazon to see a more rational superhero world. Where they were greedy, selfish, liars and cheats. And on top of it all we get 2 of the greatest villains ever written in Homelander (who genuinely makes me tense up whenever he is onscreen) and Butcher (who is not really too different from Homelander, just on a separate path).
Incredibly dark, yet incredibly funny, managing to make each season gorier and lewder without actually jumping the shark, it will honestly be a shame when this show ends. If you haven’t already, join the anxiety train that is THE BOYS.
4. INVINCIBLE
Fancy THE BOYS but animated?
I hear a lot of people compare the shows that way but I think that shows a complete misunderstanding of both shows. INVINCIBLE is far more comic booky, in that we have intergalactic wars and time travel and dimensions. We have one shot bad guys, people who get powers from being licked by a radioactive clock and various equally ridiculous scenarios being thrown at our main man Mark. What elevates this show is that the characters react more realistically to these things happening around them.
Whilst THE BOYS is dark but funny, I would argue that INVINCIBLE is just dark with the odd joke or parody of a comic book stereotype thrown in. It also counters that with all the bright colours of a superhero Saturday morning cartoon. The main difference is that you watch this like you would watch Game Of Thrones. A fight is going to start? Now I’m nervous as any character on screen could legitimately die. And unlike THE BOYS, I actually LIKE these characters.
Not many shows can just put all their lore out episode by episode as unfiltered and confidently as this show does. Mars has aliens on it now? Okay. And we just accept that because as weird and wonderful as this world is, what we’re focusing on, as viewers, is the relationships and ethical quandaries our cast of heroes get into. PUT IT IN MY VEINS!!
I hear a lot of people compare the shows that way but I think that shows a complete misunderstanding of both shows. INVINCIBLE is far more comic booky, in that we have intergalactic wars and time travel and dimensions. We have one shot bad guys, people who get powers from being licked by a radioactive clock and various equally ridiculous scenarios being thrown at our main man Mark. What elevates this show is that the characters react more realistically to these things happening around them.
Whilst THE BOYS is dark but funny, I would argue that INVINCIBLE is just dark with the odd joke or parody of a comic book stereotype thrown in. It also counters that with all the bright colours of a superhero Saturday morning cartoon. The main difference is that you watch this like you would watch Game Of Thrones. A fight is going to start? Now I’m nervous as any character on screen could legitimately die. And unlike THE BOYS, I actually LIKE these characters.
Not many shows can just put all their lore out episode by episode as unfiltered and confidently as this show does. Mars has aliens on it now? Okay. And we just accept that because as weird and wonderful as this world is, what we’re focusing on, as viewers, is the relationships and ethical quandaries our cast of heroes get into. PUT IT IN MY VEINS!!
3. WATCHMEN
Remember about what I said about watching a show for the first time once? This show defines that for me.
A show that never needed to exist (and I imagine Alan Moore would have preferred it if it didn’t) and yet somehow, in my opinion, is one of the most important shows in comic book TV history. And not just because it brought awareness to a terrible massacre that happened in the USA.
This show was clearly written and conceived from a truly nerdy place of love for the WATCHMEN graphic novel. It is shot as iconically as the graphic novel is drawn. It’s story as carefully woven as the original too. You don’t have to have read the original book either, although I would say you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t.
What makes this important, in my opinion, is that it didn’t REALLY ride the coat tails of anything prior. More like it rode alongside them. Nor did it afterwards. A standalone piece of work (that’s rare in the states) that is there to simply add a chapter to a book that, whilst it may be one of the most successful books ever sold, isn’t THAT mainstream. Ask your parents to tell you what WATCHMEN is. They won’t have a clue.
No spin offs came from this. No direct tie in to something further down the line. Just a very well written story, adding great characters and detailed lore, to an already A-Class product. A very special piece of TV that I just never thought I would see in my lifetime. I appreciate it so very much.
A show that never needed to exist (and I imagine Alan Moore would have preferred it if it didn’t) and yet somehow, in my opinion, is one of the most important shows in comic book TV history. And not just because it brought awareness to a terrible massacre that happened in the USA.
This show was clearly written and conceived from a truly nerdy place of love for the WATCHMEN graphic novel. It is shot as iconically as the graphic novel is drawn. It’s story as carefully woven as the original too. You don’t have to have read the original book either, although I would say you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t.
What makes this important, in my opinion, is that it didn’t REALLY ride the coat tails of anything prior. More like it rode alongside them. Nor did it afterwards. A standalone piece of work (that’s rare in the states) that is there to simply add a chapter to a book that, whilst it may be one of the most successful books ever sold, isn’t THAT mainstream. Ask your parents to tell you what WATCHMEN is. They won’t have a clue.
No spin offs came from this. No direct tie in to something further down the line. Just a very well written story, adding great characters and detailed lore, to an already A-Class product. A very special piece of TV that I just never thought I would see in my lifetime. I appreciate it so very much.
2 + 1. DAREDEVIL (NETFLIX 2015) + DAREDEVIL BORN AGAIN
Forgive me father but this show is God tier.
It helps that Matt Murdock is one of the best written characters in comic book history from his father’s boxing background story, to his mother’s runaway nun story, all the pieces push him, like fate, into becoming the man without fear. Such a story is hard to tell badly but it’s also difficult to nail it so perfect as the Netflix series of this show did. THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR is one of my favourite runs in a comic that I have ever read, and my memory is foggy now about which I ingested first, the TV show or the comic, but they intertwine so perfectly in my head that I don’t think it matters.
The 2015 show lifts panels and scenes from the comic perfectly, and also sets a very clear tone for itself that all future NETFLIX Marvel shows emulated but never to the degree of perfection as this show. From the perfect casting to the iconic episodes (I literally just have to say “Hallway scene” and you know what I am talking about) this show did what no super hero TV show had done in the 21st century, and set the world on fire. Everybody wanted to talk about it and speculate on what was to come. It was a cultural landmark in the Superhero Renaissance story that we are living in right now.
However, when it got cancelled due to Feige deciding that he didn’t want the shows to be canon anymore and for all DISNEY+ MCU TV shows to be the be all and end all of MCU TV shows, did the flame die out? No. #SaveDaredevil trended worldwide and people actively campaigned for years for it to be brought back. And not in any old manner. Once Feige began moving showing his cards and what was to come, were we Daredevil fans happy? No! He was going to recast a lot of our beloved characters and keep the Netflix shows outside the canon.
Somehow we got DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN, keeping the canon, the characters but most importantly, the high bar of quality. It’s not the same show as the Netflix show. How can it be? The budget is higher. So instead of that deep red cinematography and noir style, we get him flying around New York, bloodier fight scenes and higher stakes. Both Netflix Daredevil and Disney’s BORN AGAIN are, for me, the measuring stick for superhero television.
I know there are people out there who may think that BORN AGAIN doesn’t stand even shoulder to shoulder with the Netflix series, purists who just want to chase the past, knowing how impossible that is. I rather like to celebrate that we got that, and cheer on what we have now and look forward to what is to come. Because nerdy comic book shows aren’t going away, and I imagine I will be able to make another list like this in another few years.
What did I miss out? Let me know [email protected]
It helps that Matt Murdock is one of the best written characters in comic book history from his father’s boxing background story, to his mother’s runaway nun story, all the pieces push him, like fate, into becoming the man without fear. Such a story is hard to tell badly but it’s also difficult to nail it so perfect as the Netflix series of this show did. THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR is one of my favourite runs in a comic that I have ever read, and my memory is foggy now about which I ingested first, the TV show or the comic, but they intertwine so perfectly in my head that I don’t think it matters.
The 2015 show lifts panels and scenes from the comic perfectly, and also sets a very clear tone for itself that all future NETFLIX Marvel shows emulated but never to the degree of perfection as this show. From the perfect casting to the iconic episodes (I literally just have to say “Hallway scene” and you know what I am talking about) this show did what no super hero TV show had done in the 21st century, and set the world on fire. Everybody wanted to talk about it and speculate on what was to come. It was a cultural landmark in the Superhero Renaissance story that we are living in right now.
However, when it got cancelled due to Feige deciding that he didn’t want the shows to be canon anymore and for all DISNEY+ MCU TV shows to be the be all and end all of MCU TV shows, did the flame die out? No. #SaveDaredevil trended worldwide and people actively campaigned for years for it to be brought back. And not in any old manner. Once Feige began moving showing his cards and what was to come, were we Daredevil fans happy? No! He was going to recast a lot of our beloved characters and keep the Netflix shows outside the canon.
Somehow we got DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN, keeping the canon, the characters but most importantly, the high bar of quality. It’s not the same show as the Netflix show. How can it be? The budget is higher. So instead of that deep red cinematography and noir style, we get him flying around New York, bloodier fight scenes and higher stakes. Both Netflix Daredevil and Disney’s BORN AGAIN are, for me, the measuring stick for superhero television.
I know there are people out there who may think that BORN AGAIN doesn’t stand even shoulder to shoulder with the Netflix series, purists who just want to chase the past, knowing how impossible that is. I rather like to celebrate that we got that, and cheer on what we have now and look forward to what is to come. Because nerdy comic book shows aren’t going away, and I imagine I will be able to make another list like this in another few years.
What did I miss out? Let me know [email protected]