Five great US imports to watch on your HDTV
So, you’ve got a shiny new plasma, LCD or LED TV sitting in your living room – but are you making the most of it? Remember that your HDTV needs a high definition source in order to display a high definition picture. It’s not going to make standard definition television look any better than your previous TV did, so you need to ensure that you’ve got something that will really show off what your new set can do.
Blu-ray players are perfect for this very purpose, and while you can still pay a pretty penny for a fully tricked out player, you can also pick up a no-frills machine that will still give great picture quality for next to nothing these days. But which Blu-ray discs to pick up? Well, along with your favourite films, there are a number of superb TV shows originating from the United States that have had a UK Blu-ray release – perfect for showing off your new television.Here are five such examples:
Band of Brothers
This ten-part miniseries charts the experiences of a group of soldiers during World War II, from basic training through to the end of the conflict, taking in a number of iconic standoffs along the way. The characters in the show are all based on real life members of the military unit known as Easy Company, and each episode also features documentary-style interviews with the men who really went through what you are watching unfold on screen. An emotional tour de force from start to finish, Band of Brothers combines stunning visuals with incredibly strong performances from an extended cast of actors at the top of their game.
Battlestar Galactica
Whether you’re already a sci-fi fan or not, this modern-day update of the 1970s cult classic is utterly essential viewing. Set in a distant star system, the show covers the aftermath of an attack that wipes out the vast majority of the human population – and the planets that they inhabited. The titular Battlestar Galactica is a military spaceship that survives the attack and heads up the survivors’ fleet search for refuge on a fabled planet known as ‘Earth’. Packed with jaw-dropping space battles, Battlestar will give your new TV a solid visual workout.
Dexter
Get past the ludicrous premise – a forensics specialist for the Miami Police Department spends his spare time hunting and killing criminals who have escaped conviction – and you’ll find a hugely entertaining show here. Despite the dark undertones underpinning the show there are plenty of light and genuinely comedic moments to bring balance. And with the show’s Blu-ray release viewers can now enjoy the eye-catching shots of Miami in striking visual detail.
The Walking Dead
Based on a series of popular graphic novels, The Walking Dead centres on Rick Grimes, a small-time police officer who is shot in the line of duty and enters a coma. When he wakes up he’s horrified to find the hospital deserted save for a band of flesh-hungry zombies. More of the undead await him on the streets, so with his home town a ghost town, Rick sets off in search of survivors and, most importantly, his missing wife and son. A thrilling ride from start to finish, The Walking Dead boasts incredible make-up effects that you’ll only get the full impact from in high definition.
Mad Men
It may sound like something of a dry subject, but this outstanding drama set in a fictional 1960s advertising agency is one that’s worth sticking with. Sure, it’s the very definition of a slow burner, but central character Don Draper is one of television’s most charismatic creations, bringing real presence to the screen. Watch a few episodes and you’ll be hooked; and with wonderfully dressed period sets and environments given new life in high definition, the Blu-ray version is the one to go for.
