The 10 most realistic political TV shows
Thanks to the political academics at Australia’s University of Melbourne, we now have a definitive list of the 10 most realistic shows that would satisfy any political nerd.
Surprisingly, the number one show wasn’t critically-acclaimed The West Wing, but Danish political drama Borgen, which wrapped in 2013.
Professors agreed Borgen showed the realistic wrangling of policy debate, as well as the personal consequences of a life in politics.
“[It] does a fantastic job of portraying the links between politics, media and business, the conflicts and compromises these entail, and the consequences for the public and personal lives of the politicians,” said Dr Nicholas Geard from the Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
The award-winning drama follows the first female prime minister of Denmark, who becomes leader against all odds.
Associate Professor Sven Feldmann, from the Melbourne Business School, was also full of praise for the series.
“Like The West Wing, [Borgen] shows us how politics should be: primarily a vigorous debate about policy, not intrigue and back stabbing.”
Amongst the top 10 were Sarah Ferguson’s gripping The Killing Season in eighth place, which was pipped at the post by the back-stabbing mafia drama The Sopranos (at number six).
House of Cards finished second, which was surprisingly hailed by one professor as realistic viewing.
“Much as we would love our politics to be like The West Wing, it’s probably much more like House of Cards and the politics of power,” said Lillian Kline, coordinator of Pathways to Politics Programme for Women.
- Occupied
- Homeland
- The Killing Season
- The Thick of It
- The Sopranos
- Scandal
- The Hollowmen
- The West Wing
- House of Cards
- Borgen
Written by Ebony Bowden. First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.
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