Living in an age with so much consumable media in form of tv shows, its easy for some shows to slip through the cracks. Some shows are watched and then never discussed again. However, there are some shows that have stood out. There are even shows that are life altering. In the early years of middle school and high school, I watched 4 shows that changed my life. They made me think harder, gave me a sort of "calling," and made me thirst for more out of a universe. Here are 4 shows that have changed my life:
1. Avatar the Last Airbender
Avatar is a show that every has at least heard about in the millennial generation. I even recall some of peers saying that their parents even willingly watched Avatar with them. It is probably one of the most intelligent and meaningful shows... despite it being in the "children's" genre. And perhaps this is why I finished the show in awe, overwhelmed, and craving for more.
Looking back at the show, there are so many worldly and cultural concepts such as genocide, war, politics, political movements, etc. And yes, THIS IS A KIDS SHOW. Never before was I so emotionally connected to a show. I never felt more connected to world history than I did watching this show.
2. Teen Titans
Teen Titans is another show that's very close to my heart. Unlike other superhero shows, this one had both happy, light moments and the darkest moments of the characters' life. As rising adults, this show is relate-able, even now in college. Each of the 5 characters had depth. They both have dark sides and light sides. For another show that's categorized as a "kids show," this show made me cry just as many times as it made me laugh.
This show changed my life because I watched it at that time in middle school where I was discovering who I am and who I'm going to be. Raven, one of the 5 main characters, inspired me in both negative and positive ways. She's very quiet and introverted, and I started to do the same. I even went into a tad of scene phase. However, she was also a studious, powerful woman. Which are the things I aspired to be.
3. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist is probably one of the best animes ever made. This show is both funny and extremely tear jerking. This show also has one of the most philosophical story of any animated show ever. The characters from this show are all unique and don't have stereotypical lives. If anything all of these characters have rather depressing lives, but still have hope anyways that everything will work out. This show, over all, teaches about hope and dreaming for a better tomorrow. The last couple episodes, at least in my mind, stick out whenever themes about God are discussed.
4. Hetalia
Hetalia is a show about personified, stereotyped nations of world set within various places in history. Sounds like a deep, intriguing concept, right? However, this show from a cosmetic perspective is loud, stupid, and zany. The show mostly made me laugh, helped me learn about an historical event, and even made me cry a handful of times. But it was the concept that really captured my interest. Imagining nations as living beings could be both hilarious and heart breaking at the same time. Imagine Germany saving and coming to Italy's aid during WWII after the failed campaign in Africa. Imagine England raising America, and then America "breaking" away from their parent during the American Revolution. All of a sudden, history had a different concept: it was emotional. Now I could take almost any event in history and retell the story from the country's perspective. As a history buff, that was pretty special.
