Manly shows for manly men who are manly.

[Nox]

I had noticed an uptick in shows that show a more interesting, bare side to being a man. Which is lovely. So I'm opening this thread for everyone else to talk about such shows or share their own. I bring two to the table:

Detectorists (TV Series 2014–2022) - IMDb

Acorn TV UK | Detectorists | Official Trailer - YouTube

It's two mates, one played by Mackenzie Crook (who is also the writer and creator of the show. You probably know him from the Pirate of the Caribbean series.) and Toby Jones, best known for being great in everything. And they have a hobby where they use metal detectors in English countryside in search of valuables. The series explores their friendship, aimlessness and expectations of being a man, and finding peace in little things. Wonderful series. Comedy.

Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing (TV Series 2018– ) - IMDb

BBC Two: Mortimer & Whitehouse, Gone Fishing - YouTube

This one's a documentary. Again, two mates. Well known comic legends. One had a severe operation (tripple bypass) so the other invited him fishing, to heal and unwind. They spend most of the time reminiscing, failing to fish, discussing some intimate and uncomfortable questions about being a man/husband/father. But mostly having a laugh. One of the more impressive and unexpected boons of the series is the absolutely incredible cinematography of lush countryside. I think this is the first "nature" documentary I've seen that did proper justice to drone innovation.

 

[Gordon_4]

Okay, I can play this game.

The Sandbaggers:

Cold War era espionage show about the likely actual work a day job of an SIS operative. Main character is Neil Burnside, Director of Operations (D-OPS, get used to acronyms cos the show loves them) of SIS and boss of its two operatives, the titular Sandbaggers. A show that managed the interesting feat of making the CIA come across as reasonable and balanced.

The Professionals:

Best description for this is Starsky and Hutch but British and with MI5’s remit. Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw play Bodie and Doyle, ex-SAS hardman and lothario and ex-Copper and nominal spiritualist respectively as they car chase, shoot and shag their way across Britain to defeat terrorists (of many flavours), organised crime, espionage and assassinations all to a baller soundtrack in sweet 70s cars.

The Sweeney:

Before he was Oxford’s smuggest detective and arsehole, John Thaw played Jack Reagan, Detective Inspector of the (real life) Armed Robbery Team or Flying Squad (the title is rhyming slang, Sweeney Todd = Flying Squad), one of the Metropolitan Police’s most infamous units. Jack and offsider George are justified bastards in the hard crims need hard cops model with many episodes involving murder and armed blags that devolve into brawls using chains, pipes, bats, knives and basically anything to hand.

Phoenix:

Australian police show based in Melbourne involving the fictional Major Crimes division of the Victoria police (with all the Royal Commission baggage they had in life). Two series of 13 episodes with each series devoted to solving a single crime: a bombing (based on a real event) in the first and a series of violent aggravated burglaries (wholly fictional) in the second. Reputed to be one of most true to life of the era (the 90s with coppers who came up from the 60s through 80s) in terms of dialogue, setting and policing technique.

 

[BrawlMan]

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[Worgen]

Are you manly enough for the magic of FRIENDSHIP!!!!

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Fishing with John (1991)


John Lurie goes fishing around the world with friends (Jim Jarmusch, Tom Waits, Matt Dillon, Willem Dafoe, Dennis Hopper). Nothing much happens. Great stuff.

 

[BrawlMan]

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[Absent]

Nothing much happens.

Some fish would disagree.

 

[XsjadoBlayde]

YKS.

Your Kickstarter Sucks.

3rd season has peak earworm theme tune.

 

[Drathnoxis]

Cromartie High School fits the bill. Even the few women that appear in it are extremely manly.

 

[Chimpzy]

Hokuto no Ken/Fist of the North Star

A show about Kenshiro, a buff man in a post-apocalyptic wasteland who is capable and willing to commit horendous violence, who cries manly tears when he sees the senseless suffering of the innocent, because underneath the stoic exterior is a sensitive and kind soul who despises injustice. The origin of the manly tears trope

Speaking of kind souls, Fred Rogers and Bob Ross. They tried their damnedest to make the world a little better place, which is the manliest of endeavors.

 

[Absent]

So. Real men.




Police Squad is actually cool, but I appreciate the, uh, intents in Sledge Hammer and Touch of Cloth.

 

[mirbrownbread]

The first season of Berserk (I admit I haven't watched the new one(s)), both Gutz's and Griffith's arcs are supremely developed and crescendo in logical, relatable, but also epic manners. Definitely one of the most memorable rivalries I've ever seen on TV, and a perfect fit for the underlying darkness of Gutz's journey.

 

[Dwarvenhobble]

Axe men.

Men, chainsaw and heavy industrial tech.

Out in nature fighting whatever it can throw at them.