(PCM) It’s no secret that scripted television has been developing a stronger and stronger base of these past few years. And why wouldn’t it? One thing that TV series have always had on their side is the sheer ability to grow up right alongside us, the viewers.
Sure, movies are great. They transport us to another place when we get to sit there for two hours and take a step back from the real world, but TV… TV you get to come back to every week. You get to run through the usual emotions of meeting someone for the first time and how that relationship changes over the course of time (and seasons).
But the characters aren’t the only things we get attached too. A brilliant series can also make the setting of the show as integral a piece of the series as the lead actor. What’s even more impressive is when that setting isn’t one that exists in the real world. Okay, maybe Sex and the City makes people want to go and check out Manhattan for themselves, but if a TV show can create that same sentiment for a place that doesn’t even exist – well, that’s a true accomplishment.
Whether you want to live there, run away from there or just stop by for a visit, a town that evokes a strong feeling for any viewer is a town worthy of being on the map. (If only, right?)
Towns We’d Want to Live In
Springfield – The Simpsons
Talk about growing up alongside a series! As if the name itself doesn’t give you the feeling of familiarity (most people probably live close to an actual Springfield), after 23 seasons who doesn’t already feel like a member of the town? Hear anyone complaining? I don’t think so.
Everwood, Colorado – Everwood
Ah, small town charm. There is no remarkable magic about it or expanse of strange stores, but there is a soft serenity to it that combined with the seemingly constant snow and plentiful presence of doctors makes it somewhere we imagine we’d have a hard time leaving.
Townsville, USA – The Powerpuff Girls
No town is void of all crimes, but when it comes to criminals, there’s no denying we’d all probably rather have to deal with MoJo JoJo. Besides, with the Powerpuff Girls constantly on the go, we think there’s hardly a safer place to be.
Angel Grove, California – Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
Similar to Townsville, Angel Grove may have an abundance of Putty, but where better to be than a town that the Rangers will go above and beyond to protect? And, okay, we think it’d be cool to see Rita in person… and maybe take a karate class or two from Tommy and Jason while hitting up the Juice Bar and Youth Center.
Halloweentown – Halloweentown
Okay, this one is pretty simple. It’s Halloweentown… where it’s Halloween all the time! There might be some danger and a few scarier creatures, but to be in Halloweentown, you have to be a witch, so we imagine we could all hold our own if we had to. And no one would be afraid to be themselves.
Stars Hollow, Connecticut – Gilmore Girls
There are countless lists of “the best places to live in America,” but if Stars Hollow were real, it would top them all. Between Luke’s Diner, the Dragonfly Inn, Miss Patty’s Dance School, Kim’s Antiques, Gypsy’s Garage, Doose’s Market and Stars Hollow Video, they’ve got about every store you could ever imagine. Besides who doesn’t want to know Kirk, the man who can do just about anything, and live in a town with a rich albeit bizarre history? Can we all just move into the set at least?
Towns We’d Run Away From
Sunnydale, California – Buffy the Vampire Slayer
As if vampires weren’t bad enough, Sunnydale also happens to be the home of a Hellmouth. Um, yeah, do we even need to continue explaining why we would never want to move in next door to Buffy and the Scooby gang (no matter how much we may love and adore them)?
Harper’s Island, Washington – Harper’s Island
One serial killer is enough on a tiny town like Harper’s Island located far away from just about everything. Throw in another one and we’re not exactly liking our odds. It may seem like the perfect place to hold a wedding, but how can you have a happily ever after if you can’t even survive the big day?
Mystic Falls, Virginia – The Vampire Diaries
From newborns to originals, vampires are everywhere you turn in Mystic Falls – and you would never even know. Then there’s also werewolves… and witches… and hybrids… and an exceedingly attractive grouping of people that in and of itself would be incredibly hard to live near.
Wolf Lake, Washington – Wolf Lake
When the prerequisite of a town is that you have to be a werewolf? Yeah, sorry, we won’t be changing our zip code quite so fast. The few humans that do live there aren’t just at a disadvantage in super strength and speed, they are also surrounded by some increasingly terrifying woods. No good will come of that even if Lou Diamond Phillips is there to help.
Fairview, Eagle State – Desperate Housewives
While so far our reasoning for running away from towns has been based in the terrifying and the supernatural, Fairview makes the cut for drama alone. We all know just how much can happen on Wisteria Lane… and that’s just one street in the town! Do we even want to know what sort of chaos is going on in the houses behind them?
Jericho, Kansas – Jericho
Maybe if this were after December 21, 2012, we would feel a little bit differently. But even with Skeet Ulrich as our protector, we would never willingly submit ourselves to this post-apocalyptic town where it seems it could implode at any moment from the drama and danger combined.
Towns We’d Just Want to Visit
Dillon, Texas – Friday Night Lights
There’s no denying that the energy in Dillon is a key factor in why we’d like to visit and go to a football game or two, but after a while, we think we may get a little tired of the non-stop football atmosphere.
Neptune, California – Veronica Mars
Maybe we just want to get some coffee from Java the Hut (I mean, look at the name alone!), but Neptune seems like nice, sunny place to make a pit stop through. The 09ers, PCH gang and never-ending line of criminal activity may keep us from staying too long, though.
Eureka, Oregon – Eureka
A town full of geniuses that essentially create all technological breakthroughs would undeniably make for an interesting visit, but with all of the misuses and accidents that occur… well, yeah, driving through may be nice.
Storybrooke, Maine – Once Upon a Time
Everyone loves Disney World, so who wouldn’t want to see some of their favorite storybook characters come to life in another way? But that whole cursed town thing would probably keep us moving through after a quick stop to say hello.
Univille, South Dakota – Warehouse 13
On the surface, there is nothing altogether that special about Univille, but if you’re in the know, there could hardly be a more mysterious and exciting town than the home of the Warehouse. We’d clearly need to stay a weekend at Leena’s bed and breakfast. Maybe have our aura read.
Twin Peaks, Washington – Twin Peaks
As we said earlier, no town is entirely void of crime so we won’t hold the whole Laura Palmer murder thing against them. But the same reason we’d want to stop by is the same reason we probably wouldn’t want to stay too long: the quirky characters. Well, and the coffee and pie. We hear it’s something else.
Did you favorite fictional town make our list? Where else would you love to live? Or visit? Or run away from? There are plenty of other options. Take a look at some of our other favorite fictional places below!
Bikini Bottom from SpongeBob Squarepants
Capeside, Massachusetts from Dawson’s Creek
Collinsport, Maine from Dark Shadows
Glen Oak, California from 7th Heaven
Haven, Maine from Haven
Hooterville from Green Acres
Mayberry, North Carolina from The Andy Griffith Show
New New York, New York from Futurama
Orbit City from The Jetsons
Pawnee, Indiana from Parks and Recreation
Rosewood, Pennsylvania from Pretty Little Liars
Salem from Days of Our Lives
Smallville, Kansas from Smallville
South Park, Colorado from South Park
Tree Hill, North Carolina from One Tree Hill
