1999 was a particularly profitable year for the entertainment world. Movie Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan opened the door to so-called high horror. On the other side, Club David Fincher’s fight snuck through a card full of blockbuster become an object of worship. Such as Green Mile Frank Darabont Mommy Stephen Sommers and, of course, the arrival Matrix the Wachowski sisters to change science fiction from its roots. The series also had its moment of glory.
The nascent series format was a revolution that changed pop culture forever. From opening up the possibility of exploring a new type of story—one that’s deeper, weirder, and better constructed—to a new way to enjoy television. The truth is that 1999 was a milestone that is still of interest today for better understanding the history of audiovisual media and its impact in the future.
We leave you with five of the most iconic TV series that will turn a quarter of a century old in 2024. From the classic that made HBO responsible for transforming series into the most beloved format of the millennium, to the cartoon that made dystopian humor its unmistakable calling card. The selection covers some of the best shows in history, while also clarifying what is now obvious. Television ushered in a new form of storytelling that is still valuable and essential today. The greatest legacy that 1999 left behind.
Soprano
It was the end of the millennium, and the cable network HBO dared to introduce a series that seemed to go against the grain of great genres. On the one side, Soprano He did not hesitate to demonstrate scenes of obvious violence. But, oddly enough, also in a tense family environment. On the other hand, the story was more interested in exploring the characters than the criminal organization. In fact, much of his script was intended to demonstrate the old Sicilian maxim. The mafia is not a criminal group, it is a crime clan.
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But it was Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) a personality who broke all the molds and became a television icon. The mafia leader was a ruthless, cruel and violent man. At the same time, someone who needed therapy to accept the changes in his life. Namely: to be the visible head of New Jersey’s criminal gangs, as well as the father of the family. So, after shooting, hitting the victim, Tony ended the day by carefully analyzing his pains and fears from a distance from the couch.
The series first became a spectator phenomenon, and then a cultural one. Twenty-five years after the premiere, his mark is still long. Not just in the way it focuses on fear, the ambiguity of human behavior and twisted humor. At the same time, for giving a new twist to the gangster stories that have survived since the film’s premiere Godfather Francis Ford Coppola. A legacy worth remembering this year.
West Wing of the White House
Writer Aaron Sorkin used politics, the human perspective on power, and the most sensitive aspects of powerful figures to create an unforgettable show. West Wing of the White House, was more than a drama set in the center of American power. Moreover, it was a careful reflection on our times, the ambitions and pains of culture. Everything from the idea of creating a realistic view of what is happening around the figures working alongside the President of North America.
This may seem like a trivial topic, except that the writer and creator have come up with the perfect scenario to analyze through the nuances of a minefield. Life of the President Josiah Bartlett (Martin Sheen) didn’t just sign executive orders. In the same time, He was a thoughtful leader who participated in the changes and conflicts of a country at the center of ethical and moral dilemmas.
The series may not seem like a marvel of originality today, but in its time it certainly was. A particularly thorough and elegant dive into modern greed and ambition. The result is a premise that still has a lot to explore within itself and it paved the way for several similar ones, never as successful.
Angel
He spin off classical Buffy the Vampire Slayer This is a brilliant story of redemption that includes other perspectives on the idea of the vampire. Without falling into a sugar-coated vision of Stephenie Meyer and the saga. Twilight, the story introduced the idea of an essentially evil being regaining his empathy. In other words, he was capable of feeling guilt and remorse for the horrors he may have committed. A turning point that allowed the series to explore different scenarios and moral approaches.
Angel (David Boreanaz) won his soul in exchange for eternal damnation. And he lost her again when he fell in love with Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), so he will have to live apart from her and find his purpose in the world. What begins as a search for identity ends up being an interesting look at the world through the eyes of a vampire. At the same time, the perception of good and evil through immortality.
The series was a modest success, but became a cult favorite for fans of the universe created by Joss Whedon. A world that turns twenty-five this year.
Roswell
Before the current alien obsession, Roswell explored this theme through teen drama. The result was a public success, although not so much a critical success, that told a complex story. Based on a well-known conspiracy theory surrounding the territory that bears the series’ name, the plot delves into the possibility of a future legacy. It was like this: three alien beings ended up on earth.
They all took on human form and tried to blend in with the people of New Mexico. But what began as an attempt to save lives in the midst of persecution by the US government becomes a tense premise in the face of a disturbing fact. Visitors had to balance their experiences have the appearance of ordinary teenagers with their alien appetites.
Although the series was a success on its premiere and became one of the favorites of the turn of the century, it gradually lost its audience until it was cancelled. However, his legacy is about supernatural beings trying to understand the human race. It remains part of the television science fiction genre.
Futurama
Matt Groening was already well known when this experiment in science fiction and satire became a cult favorite among animation fans. Futurama, in his dark, twisted and cheerful tone, was surprised. Moreover, his group of screenwriters, many of whom are scientists and specialists in various fields of science, They used their dystopian premise to poke fun at a variety of topics.
From death to celebrity, through human pain and love. There was nothing that this piece of plot didn’t make a cruel and brilliant joke about. Canceled twice and now back on Star+is testament to the fact that great spaces never cease to amaze.Moreover, this hilarious journey into the future has become a classic.
Source: Hiper Textual
