Leeds recommends: Best box sets

With the nights drawing in, it's time to spend more evenings in front of a good box set. We asked readers to recommend their favourite TV series.

Jason Bleanch. The Sopranos.

Pat McKay. Breaking Bad.

Andy Kinsey. The Wire. Great script, cracking dialogue, and gritty storylines.

Anna Lowry. Mad Men. It’s a visual treat, with great costumes and set dressing, but it’s really sharp and funny too. American drama at its best.

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Michael Dale. Deadwood, which is a dark western. Loads of swearing but exciting plotlines.

Tim Swain. The West Wing, if 
you have any interest in politics. 
The characters are really well-drawn and the writing is so 
sharp.

Jessica Smith. If you want comedy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is great. It’s a spoof police show with Andy Samberg, who is one of the best US comedians.

Simon Leyow. Homeland. Although some people were disappointed with the ending, it’s got to be a classic. So much tension.

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Lachlan Mortimer. Fortitude. Murder mystery set in the Arctic Circle, in one of the coldest towns on earth. Amazing cinematography and haunting soundtrack, and 
you get a great sense of the isolation of a place like that. Good cast too.

Alicia Hewitt. Narcos on 
Netflix, which is about the drugs lord Pablo Escobar. Really entertaining.

Sophie Mizen. I’m a big fan of Girls. It’s as realistic as you’ll get from a show set in New York, the characters are relatable and the script is really funny.

Raj Abdul. Luther, purely 
because of Idris Elba. Great cop show.

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Samantha Dowes. Parks and Recreation is worth a watch. Amy Poehler is great in the lead role and the show is really funny.

Toby Arthur. Game of Thrones of course! It has everything. You can’t possibly get bored of watching it.

Andrea Marshall. It’s a marathon, but Lost. It does go on and on but it’s such a good series, the characters are interesting 
and the storylines keep you guessing.

Tom Monaghan. If you like Scandi-noir, then The Bridge, The Killing and Borgen. Top acting in all of them, intriguing plots and really good atmosphere.

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Sam Denys. If you like historical drama, Wolf Hall is a good shout. Gripping plots and very good acting. The background is very gloomy though!

Katie Cafferty. Pretty Little Liars for some light relief. Some of the storylines are barely credible but the sets and outfits are lovely and the dialogue is sharp.

Pete Huston. Band of Brothers is probably the best war box set. It’s a fantastic drama – gory and upsetting in parts but very well-made. Good soundtrack too.

Daniel West. 24 is a classic. Jack Bauer is a great character and there’s always so much suspense. Never gets old.

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Harriet Golding. Orange is the New Black! So funny but deals with a lot of serious themes too.

Sarah Ellison. For some teenage nostalgia, all seasons of The OC. Good soundtrack and excellent script by teen show standards. Jason Bleanch. The Sopranos.

Pat McKay. Breaking Bad.

Andy Kinsey. The Wire. Great script, cracking dialogue, and gritty storylines.

Anna Lowry. Mad Men. It’s a visual treat, with great costumes and set dressing, but it’s really sharp and funny too. American drama at its best.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Michael Dale. Deadwood, which is a dark western. Loads of swearing but exciting plotlines.

Tim Swain. The West Wing, if 
you have any interest in politics. 
The characters are really well-drawn and the writing is so 
sharp.

Jessica Smith. If you want comedy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is great. It’s a spoof police show with Andy Samberg, who is one of the best US comedians.

Simon Leyow. Homeland. Although some people were disappointed with the ending, it’s got to be a classic. So much tension.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lachlan Mortimer. Fortitude. Murder mystery set in the Arctic Circle, in one of the coldest towns on earth. Amazing cinematography and haunting soundtrack, and 
you get a great sense of the isolation of a place like that. Good cast too.

Alicia Hewitt. Narcos on 
Netflix, which is about the drugs lord Pablo Escobar. Really entertaining.

Sophie Mizen. I’m a big fan of Girls. It’s as realistic as you’ll get from a show set in New York, the characters are relatable and the script is really funny.

Raj Abdul. Luther, purely 
because of Idris Elba. Great cop show.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Samantha Dowes. Parks and Recreation is worth a watch. Amy Poehler is great in the lead role and the show is really funny.

Toby Arthur. Game of Thrones of course! It has everything. You can’t possibly get bored of watching it.

Andrea Marshall. It’s a marathon, but Lost. It does go on and on but it’s such a good series, the characters are interesting 
and the storylines keep you guessing.

Tom Monaghan. If you like Scandi-noir, then The Bridge, The Killing and Borgen. Top acting in all of them, intriguing plots and really good atmosphere.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sam Denys. If you like historical drama, Wolf Hall is a good shout. Gripping plots and very good acting. The background is very gloomy though!

Katie Cafferty. Pretty Little Liars for some light relief. Some of the storylines are barely credible but the sets and outfits are lovely and the dialogue is sharp.

Pete Huston. Band of Brothers is probably the best war box set. It’s a fantastic drama – gory and upsetting in parts but very well-made. Good soundtrack too.

Daniel West. 24 is a classic. Jack Bauer is a great character and there’s always so much suspense. Never gets old.

Hide Ad
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Harriet Golding. Orange is the New Black! So funny but deals with a lot of serious themes too.

Sarah Ellison. For some teenage nostalgia, all seasons of The OC. Good soundtrack and excellent script by teen show standards.

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