If You Like This, Try That: Popular TV Show Edition

Most TV shows wrapped up their regular season over a month ago, which I'm sure has given you plenty of time to catch up with everything you've missed. But now what? There are still quite a few weeks of summer left, and now you might be wondering what to binge-watch next. If you enjoy any of the popular TV shows right now, here are a few suggestions of what to try next!

If you like The Walking Dead, try Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin)

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The Walking Dead is known for its depiction of humanity on the brink of extinction, of monsters attacking and eating humans, and of the deep truths about humans. Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) is also known for many of these same aspects. Both shows follow a ragtag group that is determined to survive and find a way to save their people. Just replace creepy zombies with giant man-eating titans, trap the entire population of the known world behind a wall, and add extra-awesome fighting gear and swords, and ta-da! you've transformed The Walking Dead into Attack on Titan (sort of). If you like The Walking Dead and you're looking for something new and different, try Attack on Titan.

If you like Supernatural, try Grimm

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What could be better than hunting demons and monsters with two brothers? Hunting fairytale monsters with your best friend. Grimm is about Detective Nick Burkhardt who has the ability to "see" monsters that influenced fairytales in the real world. Thus he uses this gift to help him solve crimes. Grimm features a lot of stories about kidnappings and murders, strange circumstances, and lots and lots of bloody violence. In many ways, it reminds me of Supernatural because of the kick-ass characters, the plethora of monsters and lore, and gritty depictions. If you love Supernatural and you want something similar with a different twist (fairytales), Grimm is the show for you.

If you like Stranger Things, try Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

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I'll confess that I haven't actually watched Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency yet, but I was informed that the show has similarities to Stranger Things. You know, the weird circumstances, lights flickering, trying to figure out what in the world is happening. Dirk Gently's has that supernatural, science-fiction flair that keeps you guessing and provides a little terror to your experience, much like Stranger Things. It, however, is more comedic than serious, unlike Stranger Things, but it's definitely possible you'll like both!

If you like The Office, try Parks and Recreation

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This one is a no-brainer. If you're a fan of The Office, you should watch Parks and Recreation (and vice versa). Both shows are comedy, both shows feature a fantastic cast of characters, and both shows take place in a typical working class environment. One focuses more heavily on business while the other focuses on government, but both provide a lot of laughs, quotable moments, and the sense of finding a TV family. Seriously though, why haven't they done a cross-over movie yet?

If you like Game of Thrones, try Vikings

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I haven't actually watched Game of Thrones or Vikings, so take this recommendation with that in mind. But everything I've seen on the Internet has stated that if you like Game of Thrones, you'll enjoy Vikings. Both feature bloody battles, kick-ass female characters, and a plethora of drama and tension to keep you intrigued. If you're a fan of any of these aspects, watch Vikings (and then come back and let me know if this suggestion is accurate).

What other recommendations would you give for these popular TV shows?

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The Office: Myers-Briggs Personality Types (Part Two)

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Since bringing you part one of this special series several months ago, I have felt the need for a part two, centering on supporting and minor characters from The Office. Let's explore these crazy characters and their antics and find out why they do the things they do!

Angela Martin -- ISTJ "The Logistician"

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While I would certainly say that Angela is a rather caricatured and exaggerated version of an ISTJ, I would say that she's an ISTJ nonetheless. She is perhaps an oversimplification of the type.

ISTJs are often known as rule-followers, with an extremely strong sense of personal integrity and accountability. However, this accountability can lead to her being disliked around the office. She may sometimes speak her mind too freely and say unkind and hurtful things. She's not a terribly tactful person, but she performs well at her job and gets things done well and accurately. 

Creed Bratton -- INTP "The Logician"

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Creed is certainly not a typical INTP. (He's perhaps what an INTP is like after years of doing drugs. That dude's brain is gone.) His logic is strange to the world around him, and yet his brain makes perfect sense to him. What regular person would ever sprout mung beans on a paper towel in his desk drawer for nutrition? (The smell, man. The smell.) Or who would admit to the camera that "I just really like stealing things"? Only Creed. Only Creed. 

Creed is certainly a daydreamer (he can't even remember what his job title at Dunder-Mifflin is), and yet his unemotional logic and self-assurance are what convince me that he's not a Feeling type. He doesn't often interact with his co-workers, because of his Introversion. And his utterly strange, disorganized mess of a self is a clear mark of an iNtuitive Perceiver. (I'm one myself.) Creed might just win the medal for the strangest character on the show, which is a feat unto itself. 

Kelly Kapoor -- ESFP "The Entertainer"

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Upon really digging into these characters, I found another ESFP among the bunch besides Michael Scott: Kelly Kapoor. Getting stuck back in the annex doesn't give her enough time to get all of the attention Michael does, but she makes it count when she can. Her personality can fill up the whole office. She's incredibly extroverted and quite impulsive. 

Like most ESFPs, Kelly is a very emotional person. She also loves the spotlight and attention. One thing people might not recognize, though, is that Kelly is incredible with people. She works in customer service and no one in the office could do the job quite like she can. She knows exactly what to say to disgruntled customers and that is a true gift.

Andy Bernard -- ENFP "The Campaigner" or ESFP "The Entertainer"

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For Andy, it was a nearly impossible decision to make in regards to his personality. If anything, I might say he's borderline between a Sensor and an iNtuitive. With someone of his caliber of personality, it's a tough decision to make. On the one hand, he makes some very split-second decisions that tend to border on the N side, but he also has a perspective on life that is very sense-oriented, not always intuitive. 

However, these types are often difficult to distinguish between, so let's talk about things we know for sure. Andy is a crazy extrovert, joining the ranks of Michael Scott and Kelly Kapoor. He loves to entertain (often reaching Michael's ranks in that department) and to be the center of attention. Although he may seem very easygoing, on the inside he's very sensitive, and perhaps easily duped. While he may not always be liked, he has a generous heart.

Holly Flax -- INTP "The Logician"

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Holly has always been one of my favorite characters on this gem of a television show. Though she seems a lot like Michael at first, she's actually quite different from him (even though they're just both total goofballs). She enjoys having her own space and time, and her Thinking side helps her make unbiased decisions concerning her HR job. She's not swayed by her feelings the way Michael is. 

But she also has the crazy spontaneity of most iNtuitive Perceivers. She tends to go with the flow and laugh at herself and others, just as Michael does. They're almost together, and it's not difficult to see why. 

Who from The Office are you most similar to?

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The Office: Myers-Briggs Personality Types (Part One)

Since I started rewatching The Office this past weekend, I've come to realize how brilliant and groundbreaking the characterization of each character is in this one-of-a-kind TV show. As a curious person, that quickly leads to me examining their personalities. Not only is it a lot of fun, but it also helps me to relate more easily to the characters and to understand their motivation behind their strange and confusing actions. After some thought, I've decided to bring some of these analyses to you today.

Michael Scott -- ESFP "The Entertainer"

Michael is certainly an "entertainer." He has a natural love for being in the spotlight (which, in his case, may get him into trouble more often than not), but he also has a genuine love for the people around him. He loves excitement and mischief and trying new things. He takes great pleasure in the aesthetic things in life; he loves good food and drinks and clothes.

Michael, as a person, may come off strong on a first meeting. But he's an extremely loyal person once you get to know him. He would take a bullet for any of his friends, and he would do anything to try to please them.

Dwight Schrute -- ESTJ "The Executive"

Dwight Schrute is a strange man. He also may come off strong on a first meeting, but his reasons for that are fundamentally different than Michael's reasons. He seems authoritative and unwavering in his internal sense of justice, and that can leave an impression of harshness. ESTJs are guided by their stubborn value systems; in some ways, that may make Dwight give an aura of coldness, but this is because this is how he truly sees society to work. There is a definite right and wrong on every issue in his mind. 

ESTJs are often very good employees, which is a quality that serves Dwight well through his years at Dunder-Mifflin. In 2006, he's the company's top Salesperson. He's more than dedicated to his job; he practically worships it. This is how he strives to keep order in his life and in Scranton.

Pam Beesly -- ISFP "The Adventurer"

Pam is a true ISFP. Her gentleness and artistry really shines through in her life, especially in later seasons of the show. In the beginning, she's not willing to open up to the camera, but we see her joy for life come through, especially when she starts dating Jim later on the show. 

Pam aspires to find meaning in life. During the first couple of seasons, she's held back by fear instead of following her dreams like she really wants to do. But what she really wants to do, instead of being a receptionist, is to draw and to use her artistic skills to bring joy into the world. 

Jim Halpert -- ENTP "The Debater"

Out of all the characters, Jim was the most difficult to figure out. In some ways, he's like a chameleon. He's able to fit in to nearly any social situation with his wit and sharp qualities. That being said, I was only sure of two dimensions of his personality: Intuitive and Perceiving. However, I finally settled on ENTP. First, Jim loves to debate and see what he can learn from a given situation. A devil's advocate, in some sense. 

His constant pranking is also an indication of the ENTP's constant quest for mental stimulation and knowledge. Work is certainly not fulfilling for him, and thus he uses the energy he has left in making complicated pranks come to fruition around the office. He's certainly an idea-maker, and those ideas are an integral part of The Office.

Do you share a type with a character on The Office? Who is your favorite?

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The Story of Jim and Pam: Jam

Spoilers. What else?

Pam's an ISFP. Jim is pretty difficult to pin down, but I'm thinking ENTP, ENFP or INFP. One the one hand, he's always thinking up some way to prank Dwight, which is a pretty ENTP thing. But on the other, he tends to make his decisions on a rather emotional level, which suggests ENFP or INFP. And he also seems pretty introverted at times (especially in later seasons), preferring not to make too good of friends in the office and keep work pretty professional.

I love Jim and Pam. Here's five reasons why their relationship is so special. (And why I ship them so much.)

1. They share a sense of humor.

Whenever Jim plays one of his notorious pranks on Dwight, Pam is going to be laughing along and helping. This is something they’ve done together even before they were dating and is one of the biggest reasons why they work so well together.

2. They have great chemistry.

From the moment that I first saw those two talking together in the Pilot episode, I knew that there was something there. I shipped these two so hard and whenever there was a milestone in their relationship, I was so happy.

3. They work though the hard stuff.

Whenever they’ve gone through a rough spot in their relationship (I’m looking at you, season 9.), they’ve always managed to work through it. When Pam went to art school, when Jim was trying to run a company, work as a paper salesman and be a dad and husband all at the same time, it was hard on their relationship. But they got through it with a lot of hard work and effort.

This is one of the main reasons that I love Jim and Pam, because they realize that love is hard work and it’s never easy. They won’t give up on this easily.

4. They’re best friends.

If I’m being honest, there is nothing better than a couple that is best friends with each other. When Jim tells Pam that he’s in love with her (And she’s still engaged to Roy.), she calls her mom and calls Jim her best friend.

5. Sometimes they do crazy stuff.

They got married on a Maid of the Mist boat on Niagara Falls. (I’ve actually been on that boat, so major fangirl moment.) Right in the middle of the spray, they called the boat captain down to perform the ceremony. It’s crazy, sure, but if you want to do something memorable, why get married with a bunch of people around?

When Pam was going to art school, they couldn’t see each other as often as they would like to. Jim asks her to meet halfway at a gas station. It’s pouring rain, but he proposes right there. It’s such a beautiful moment.

Have you watched The Office? If so, what do you think of Jim and Pam?

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