On Television

For me television is a guilty pleasure. Every time I tune in, I know that there are a hundred more productive things I could be doing—and yet I watch. I feel my brain melting—and yet I watch. I know the characters are imaginary and it doesn’t matter what happens to them—and yet I watch.

Why, then? I think television presents an escape. Whether diving into a dark world of crazy criminals and psychopathic detectives or a comforting family household where every sentence is a joke, television is not like “real life”—you could even say it’s better. Watching TV allows us to jump in and vicariously experience the tensions and joys of life, all in neat half-hour or hour-long chunks.

My favorite show currently running is the BBC’s “Sherlock.” I read the short stories as a child, and I appreciate the way they have been adapted to modern culture. What really sets this series apart is the intelligence put into each episode, which makes every other “cop show” look stupid.