Zach's Top 5 Television Thoughts

We are a little over a month out from the 5th anniversary, and because I can use special events to make the creativity go a little bit smoother, this will be a series of blog posts that list my top 5 favorite IPs/destinations/etc that have been featured on ZachsThoughts.

I decided to start this "series" with television shows because they were the first "major" genre that was covered in addition to travel. But with television, I can go back and grab specific moments and pieces, while travel has me going through my pictures and debating my own will.

So, here we go:

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The only "children's" show on the main list, Gravity Falls was revolutionary in its approach on story-driven animation and appealing to not just kids, but audiences of all ages. It's insane to think about the fact that it ended nearly 10 years ago (in 2016, but you wouldn't know when you see The Book of Bill and the still relatively-active fandom in online communities.)

Gravity Falls highlights a pair of twins' adventures in the Pacific Northwest as they combat (and study) the supernatural, when you combine that with the comedic cast and scenarios that they end up in, it's a must-watch for those looking for for a mystery-infused comedy.

Oh, let's not forget that even though it ended, there are still new references and pieces being found in the show to this day. Plus, you can never go wrong with the many interpretations of Alex Hirsch.

READ: Zach's Thoughts on Gravity Falls here.
Gravity Falls is streaming on Disney+.

Moving into a more mature segment of Disney's octopus-style empire is the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Agatha All Along, which was designed more so to portray a story for a side character that it turned out that fans loved.

However, the show on its own is amazing in its own right. Katherine Hahn (who portrays Agatha Harkness) leads a group of great witches actresses and actors in making a story unique and entertaining at the same time.

I am not a Marvel nerd, so for me to put a MCU property in the top 5 is impressive, and I'm looking forward to seeing where Hahn and her new protege, played by Joe Locke, end up going next in the insane world that superheroes and witches reside in.

READ: Zach's Thoughts on Agatha All Along here.
Agatha All Along is streaming on Disney+.

A newcomer in the grand scheme of the archives, The Big Bang Theory serves in a special place of my heart for childhood nostalgia. Each episode was amusing in its own right, but combine them together, and you have yourself an entertaining series.

The major thing that I enjoy about the show is that there aren't any big stakes. You're just going along for the ride with the cast, which stars the phenomenal Jim Parsons as Dr. Sheldon Cooper, as he battles with… stunted issues with his roommate and neighbor, alongside their genius, but also quirky, researcher friends from the California Institute of Technology.

Every time I watch the show, there is no underlying tension or concern, you just hope that the characters will all work out in the end, and for today's convoluted media age, that's all I can ask for at times.

READ: Let The Big Bang Be here.
The Big Bang Theory is streaming on HBO Max.

Considered to be the king of early-2010s sitcoms, The Office was the first show that I binge-watched during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and was one of the first posts that I put on ZachsThoughts. The team at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company know how to make an impact, both in their own world, but also on the screen.

All of the characters had their own (relatively) endearing character arcs, and the relationships that bloomed were sweet to see. Plus, their unassuming yet humorous antics made it worthwhile to continue pushing onwards, even after Steve Carell's Michael Scott left the show in its seventh season.

But overall, the show was a wonderful entry point in the television scene for the blog, and one of my preferred shows when I can't figure out what else to watch.

READ: Zach's Thoughts on The Office here.
The Office is streaming on NBC Peacock.

Before I announce my No. 1 Favorite Television Show, it only feels right to include shows that were nearly there, yet worth it in my opinion to have a shout-out:

Breaking Bad

This show was my first array into darker dramas and introduced me to parts of culture that I didn't really think of. Plus, the acting and dialogue are so top-notch that I would be remiss not to mention it at all.

The Bear

Another drama (yet allegedly a Comedy but that doesn't make sense), this show goes into restaurant culture and allows us to get into the lives of those in the service industry to a point that it is commendable and worth watching, if you can get past all the cursing.

Phineas & Ferb

Another Disney Channel classic, Phineas & Ferb spawned dozens, if not hundreds, of memes and cultural references that make much of Gen-Z tear up at the thought (think: the aglet.) Plus, it's zany characters and funny script make it worth a watch for everyone, even if you may not be the target demographic.

Finally, for Number 1….

Some people consider this to be the spirtual successor to Gravity Falls, while others debate if this is just another edgy comedy for teen boys. However, Rick & Morty has one thing people forget, a somewhat mysterious yet stringed-along together story that will make you want to root for the Smith Family. Yes, that includes Jerry.

While many people will argue that the "earlier seasons are better" and that the later seasons are a mockery of what used to be, I argue that there are still goodmine episodes throughout all of the seasons, it just takes an absurdly long time to produce.

Of course we cannot forget the fourth-wall meta humor that is ever-so-present, alongside the references to things in our world. It's the small moments like these that make the show just that much funnier, and ultimately what gave it the 1st-Place title in my books.

READ: Zach's Thoughts on Rick & Morty here.
Rick & Morty is streaming on HBO Max.

So as you can see, my television viewing habits are decent, and I'm looking forward to whatver new seasons or shows come out in the future.

Want to read more of my television thoughts? Click here!

One may argue that this post is a "sequel" to a 2020 post I wrote titled "Zach's Top 5 Television Shows". However, I argue that it's different because it's 5 years later and featuring a more impressive repitorire of shows to curate from. So it's fair game.

This is the first anniversary post, a few more will follow up until August 8. I look forward to sharing them as their times come.

Thanks for reading. See you next week!