In all workplaces, there is a hierarchy.
There are those who, for instance, by dint of happenstance, have athletic figures, and stride proudly through the halls of commerce cock-a-hoop at their muscular physiques.
There are others who, by some quirk of personality, have wormed their way into a position of power, and stride the halls puffed with importance.
Then there are those whose ceaseless hard work and relentless, weekly achievement have lifted them to the top of their game.
None of these are worth a jot.
The true measure of a man or woman in a workplace is surely none other than their ability, with an understated yet modest grace, to prove they have the taste and refinement to appreciate and understand the very finest television.
God knows, there are few of us.
Quietly, near work stations, and nowhere near water coolers, we intelligently chat about the very best shows, which, unsurprisingly, few others appreciate.
It is worth remembering those shows, if only to implore the muddy-brained hordes to understand that the best discussions - and the best television - must involve sex, comedy, pain and death.
At the upper levels of excellence this year has been The Affair, which involves a terrific amount of fabulous sex, excellent story-telling devices, including unreliable and conflicting narratives from the two leads, and ominous leaps into the future.
It stars Dominic West and Ruth Wilson, and the good people just love it.
The universal popularity of Game of Thrones does not take away from its excellence.
It should, but it doesn't.
Game of Thrones has nudity in spades, horrifying graphic violence to die for, and story lines that, while terrifically silly, keep one thoroughly hooked.
Historical medicine, primitive surgery and addictive drugs have given us some of our best moments.
British documentary maker Michael Mosley has done some great work, including his show Pain, Pus and Poison, which followed the development of anaesthesia, which made being cut by sharp knives and having your innards rearranged massively less unpleasant.
The Steven Soderbergh-directed The Knick dramatised medicine and drug-addicted doctors circa 1900, and is well worth catching up on through modern watching techniques, including DVD-buying, and downloading.
Try those methods to watch the whole back catalogue of Frasier, which is also being replayed on the Jones channel, and for God's sake find season four of Arrested Development, and any season of Friday Night Dinner, if you want a laugh.
Finally, to be patriotic, give your aunt a DVD of the locally made Brokenwood Mysteries.
It was quite good.
- Charles Loughrey
