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Lucky

Series · Prime Video · 2006

Psych

A friendship and a skill. The lie is the premise, and the show thinks the lie is charming.

Shawn Spencer can see, because his father made him see. That is a good origin. He then sells the seeing as a supernatural gift, and the show never stops finding that funny. The friendship with Gus is loyal and funny enough to be the reason people stayed. Stay for that if you stay, and notice that the laugh requires a public lie.

The eight

  1. Industry

    6/10

    Observation is real work. His father drilled it.

  2. Household

    4/10

    A father, a partner, a borrowed office family.

  3. Piety

    2/10

    The fake gift is the joke on people who believe.

  4. Courage

    4/10

    He takes the case. He also needs the costume to take it.

  5. Republic

    4/10

    The police department is a sitcom set that still catches killers.

  6. Temperance

    5/10

    Light. The body count is scenery.

  7. Truth

    3/10

    The central gag is a fraud the city thanks him for.

  8. Stewardship

    4/10

    A long friendship is the thing that actually lasts.

Live historicallyIf you have a real skill, use it under your own name.

Series · Prime Video · 2010

Sherlock

The deductions are the pleasure. The later series fall in love with his exception.

The early cases are a delight because Watson is decent and the crime is a problem with pieces. Then the show becomes a story about how extraordinary Sherlock is, which is the part to decline. Watch the first series. Let Watson be the reason, not the fan at the genius's elbow.

The eight

  1. Industry

    6/10

    Observation as a trained art. The early cases are puzzles with rules.

  2. Household

    3/10

    Watson is the household he borrows. He does not build one.

  3. Piety

    2/10

    Other minds are data.

  4. Courage

    5/10

    He goes toward the danger. So does Watson, which matters more.

  5. Republic

    3/10

    Scotland Yard is a feed for his gift.

  6. Temperance

    4/10

    The early austerity gives way to spectacle.

  7. Truth

    6/10

    The best episodes play fair with the clues.

  8. Stewardship

    3/10

    A genius who forms no one and needs the world to stay bewildered.

Live historicallyAdmire a clear deduction. Do not admire the contempt that came with it.

Annie