Good Writing: What is it, who's got it?
 

It is no surprise that some shows and some movies excels on visuals, quirkness, sometimes just a badass actor on screen can make a crappy script work, sometimes it's MEANT to be cheesy as all hell and it works (sometimes it doesn't)

So, aside from "cool factors", badassary and the such... what shows, what movies, what animations do you guys enjoy because of the actual writing? Plot, Dialog, Progression, Background, twists, "pokes" at the viewer or of critical comment, what shows do you enjoy on that note?

I for one, could mention Supernatural. As i think the plot and dialog and how everything works together is like a swiss clock. It's beautiful and enjoyable without me having to appeal to the cheese factor or turn my brain off. You can enjoy it, and then, you can enjoy it some more when you pay more attention to it.

Other good TV example would be one of my favorite TV shows of all time, The West Wing. The writing is complex and at the same time engaging. I can't really remember another TV show that kept me coming simply because of the writing (maybe someone can pitch in a suggestion? ) From off the wall comedy, to their takes on Debate and even their takes on Political stunts The cast helps a major deal here, but is the writing that keeps it all together, and grey's anatomy can suck on it.

So, TV and Movies, what you people got?

Whatsisface, Nolan.

Lost. It got a lot of flak in the beginning for seemingly going nowhere, and posing too many questions with not enough answers. It's quite rewarding to have made it through all of that to season 5 where, not only are they giving answers, but things from the previous season are actually being tied into the grand scheme. It's really enough to make me believe that all of this was decided from the start, rather than just pulled from their ass. That and the dialog between characters is usually pretty interesting.

Nolan's direction tends to be stronger than his writing.

Synk's right about Firefly although I actually think the dialogue is less so a strength than the characterization and storytelling.

I'd have to say that my personal favorite TV writer right now would have to be Bryan Fuller. From Wonderfalls, to Dead Like Me, to Pushing Daisies, to the episodes of Heroes he's written, I always enjoy what he does.

He does deserve some credit for Memento though, which was really a brilliant work of writing.

I really admire Brad Bird (Incredibles, Ratatouille, and The Iron Giant) as a writer. Especially when you listen to him speaking, commentaries or interviews, you can just tell that he has an incredible understanding of good storytelling. The dialogue in his movies doesn't necessarily stand out to an exceptional degree (although occasionally it does), but all the aspects of his movies come together extraordinarily well.

Bryan Fuller. Completely rescued the third season of Heroes from the destructive forces of Loeb.

Burn Notice

I don't know what it is about the show that intrigues me, but the fact that they are almost always underarmed, undermanned, and pull out miracles left and right by playing on the bad guy's fears is really intriguing to me.