The Dude’s High 5s: Top 5 High 5s

So here we are, at the end.  We made it.  I mean, I did all the hard work and you totally just stood there and made snide remarks.  However, I am willing to put the discrepancy over the division of labor aside.  You see, this was as much my journey as it was yours.  What good are my words on the screen if there is no one to read them?  What good are my thoughts and opinions if I don’t get to discuss them with intelligent people?  The answer is that they are nothing.  Just as the gladiators of old fought for the cheers of the mob of Rome, so too do we write for adulation of the invisible specters of the internet.  I want to thank you all for taking this trip with me.  I wouldn’t have made it without you.  So without further ado I present for the approval of the midnight society, my final scheduled High 5 … My top 5 top 5s.

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5. March 7^th, 2012: Top 5 TV series that Ended Too Early

 

1. Firefly
2. Jericho
3. Drive
4. Rubicon
5. The Invisible Man

You never forget your first.  This was my first High 5 that I presented roughly a year ago.  I planned this one to be first because I wanted to use Firefly as a way of jump starting the comments.  It worked.  The discussion we had was great, it included suggestions that I hadn’t thought of, and even shows I had never heard of.  I also wanted to use a softball like this one to get used to conversing with the community of OL.  I can get defensive about my choices and I didn’t want to come off like a know-it-all douche (despite the fact that I am one … a little).

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4. June 27^th, 2012: Top 5 Last Meals

1. Cazones
2. Blue Ribbon Duo Platter of Pulled Chicken and Pulled Pork
3. Wings
4. Chicken Parm
5. Cheeseburgers

I loved this list because it came out of nowhere.  I had a totally different topic I wanted to post about, and then at last minute I switched it around.  I wish I could remember what it was I replaced this one with.  Anyway, the comments were abuzz with people’s favorite foods and suggestions of places to obtain them.

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3. April 18^th, 2012: Top 5 Most Important Comic Adaptations [Movies]

1. Batman Begins/Dark Knight
2. Spider-Man (2001)
3. V for Vendetta
4. Superman (1978)
5. Iron Man

I have a special place in my heart for this high 5 because I took a beating in the comments.  This was my first public lambastion … lambasting?  Anyway, you people let me have it.  I stood by my picks, and even today stick by this list.

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2. September 5^th and 12^th, 2012:  Top 5 TV Cops and Criminals

Cops

1. Lenny Brisco (Law & Order)
2. Raylan Givens (Justified)
3. Hank Schrader (Breaking Bad)
4. Lester Freeman (The Wire)
5. John Luther (Luther)

I love cop shows.  The whole justice system is one of my favorite settings to tell a story.   The problem is, it’s easy to do so.  That’s why there are dozens of CSIs, NCIS, SVU, FRT, HYWFCVUSD:LVE and so on.  So when a really good police drama shows up, it’s worth taking notice of.  What’s the best way to find the good ones?  Find the ones with great characters and move on from there.

Criminals

1. Jessie and Walt (Breaking Bad)
2. Omar Little (The Wire)
3. Dexter Morgan (Dexter)
4. Boyd Crowder (Justified)
5. Stringer Bell (The Wire)

I liked the duality of these two lists, that’s why I cheated and chose both of them.  The criminals are the more important element of the crime drama.  It’s also where the writers have the freedom to let their minds wander.  Heroes have to be the good guys.  They have to have rules.  There are certain things as a creator that you cannot have your hero do and still be a hero (That’s what the anti-heroes are for.)  However, you can craft whatever psychopath you want and let them run wild if they are the bad guy.  After all, no one is supposed to root for them.

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1. July 18^th, 2012: Top 5 Favorite Books

1. Atlas Shrugged – Ayn Rand
2. Mistborn: The final Empire – Brandon Sanderson
3. Storm Front: Book 1 of the Dresden Files – Jim Butcher
4. The Eye of the World – Robert Jordan
5. Battle Royale – Koushun Takami

I love to read.  I know most of you do as well.  Few topics can ignite my passion like describing a favorite book to someone.  We all love when people we like and respect share our interests.  For example, since this High 5 was posted, I have hooked Caff Power on the Dresden Files.  If I can get him to read Mistborn the transformation will be complete.

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This is where I normally ask for suggestions, and you are free to post which of my High 5s you liked most, but asking for that would feel pretty self-serving.  So I’ll leave the comments up to you folks.  You can even suggest a topic you’d have like to see me do a High 5 on … I may just reply with a brief one.

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