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A lot of reality shows these days really ham-up the acting and I find that to be pretty unwatchable. This one doesn't do that and subsequently shows a surprisingly deep insight into the workers of this small UK hotel.

The first season is only 8 episodes long but delivers a lot of real drama in that time.

The star of the show would be the general manager who is actually quite skilled at running the hotel. Most of the episodes revolve around his interactions with the staff and customers. Each episode also focuses on two different families that are staying at the hotel.

The most surprising thing for me was the footage they managed to get. There's a few cameras in every room (include customer rooms) which give us an excellent view of the action. In some scenes there is an issue or an argument and we're able to see the whole event unfold, even as it moves around the hotel.

Similar shows would be: Kitchen Nightmares (UK version), Grand Designs, Sylvania Waters (an old Aussie show) and basically any documentary who's main goal is to document rather than create fake drama.

It's not every day you find a show as original and authentic as 'Boss'. It really delivers in the realism department and challenges you with unexpected twists and turns. It's too much to follow at times but it just adds to the richness.

What I like most is the attention to detail without the boring melodrama. Many parts are skipped over in favor of the important parts. It really allows you to get into the heads of the characters without bogging you down with irrelevant drama. It's quite similar to 'The Wire' for all of those reasons.

I was a bit puzzled at the low IMDb rating it received and just assumed it was a too complex for casual viewers. But after looking at the voting breakdown I realized a large group of people were giving it 1/10 with the rest up at 9 or 10. I'm guessing some people don't like Kelsey Grammar's political views.

Note this series is rated R and contains swearing and fairly graphic sex scenes. But it is done very tastefully in my opinion and just gives the show extra depth.

This series documents the various training systems used by the United States military. Each hour-length episode focuses on a particular branch of the armed forces.

The production quality is high with concise narration. It manages to show the gritty details and hardships that come from such a high stress training environment without becoming boring.

I think the show is best suited to those with an interest in how things work. It probably caters mainly to a male audience.

If you like this show you may also like:

• Man vs Wild

• Full Metal Jacket