Quote (Tribeca @ Mar 15 2016 03:57am)
I've considered Dr Who, but isn't that a ton of seasons and a revolving cast each generation of the show? Like a soap opera almost? Afraid it is too deep an investment, which is almost the opposite of what I am looking for. Could be completely wrong, as I don't know too much about it.
yes and no, it aired from 1963 - 1995 then started back up in 2000
it's an episodical, there is just 1 main character Dr. Who and though the show follows his timeline you don't really need to. each story is stand alone anywhere from 3 - 6, 30 minute episodes. And each season has 10-20 stories until you get to 2000 then the format completely changes, it's now in line with other high budget modern dramas 15ish 45 minute episodes per season per year.
idk man check out Dr. Who - An Unearthly Child, it's the first episode that aired back in 1963, it may not be for you, it's black and white, there are no computer graphics, and by today's standards the sets and costumes are cheap and obvious. but if you can get passed that you will see the painstaking work that went into making it with limited materials and how well the production staff worked with what they had. And it's interesting to watch the evolution of television as a medium across 50 years with the show as a baseline, to my knowledge it's the longest airing tv drama, and i know without a doubt it's the longest airing science fiction show. You can skip around and not feel like you "have to go back," and you will have to because alot of the only existing copies of episodes were lost in the 70s during the london fires (the audio tracks are still around i've listened to them while doing homework not bad).
in short, the show is the most popular product the bbc has worldwide and it's been going on since 1963. for good reason. it's deep and meaningful, and i believe it's probably the most important fiction tv show to date.