- And so ends 2020 ... one of the craziest, bleakest, most sure-to-be-infamous years in most of our lifetimes. I won't spend too much time here ranting about the state-of-the-world-at-large during this hellscape of a calendar year. But I will say that, certainly, if there was something to be thankful for this year it was *content.* TV, movies, videogames, books, comics, podcasts - all of these things helped to keep us sane while stuck indoors and separated from our friends and family. Sometimes 2020 felt like a year in which us pop-culture obsessives had some sort of weird leg-up on everyone else - after all, if you live for watching, reading, playing, and listening ... for storytelling ... then at the least, 2020 had a slight silver lining. Finally, to quote the Twilight Zone, there was time enough at last to binge, watch, play, and read, well ... everything? Okay, I take that back. That might be a stretch. Because even as productions slowed down and big blockbuster movies saw delay after delay, there was still a seemingly neverending stream of things to watch. And again, one more little silver lining of this crazy year: it forced us, as media consumers, to think outside the box and try things beyond just the superhero movie du jour. It led us to collectively binge something as out-there as Netflix's Tiger King (remember that?) or find comfort in warm-hearted comedies like Schitt's Creek.
Honestly though, 2020 was a pretty excellent year for great television. The TV industry is in a transitional phase, to say the least - too many streaming services, too many good shows canceled too early (GLOW! The Society!) due in part to COVID-influenced delays, and broadcast and cable TV struggling to compete with streamers. But amidst the chaos, there is, thankfully, so much great content to be found. My Best Of list this year features everything from shows like The Mandalorian (which realized the longtime geek dream of a Star Wars live-action TV show that was every bit as epic as the movies) to hard-to-categorize gems like Dispatches From Elsewhere. Some of this great content was lost in the streaming-wars shuffle, and I wonder if some of these shows - in a world where series are dropped and then forgotten a week later - will ever find the audience or appreciation they deserve. I think that's why some streamers are going back to the tried-and-true, one-episode-per-week cadence - especially now, it was much-needed, in my view, to have a new weekly episode of The Mandalorian to look forward to. Or Better Call Saul. Or What We Do in the Shadows. You also kind of have to wonder if the TV industry is just going in a self-destructive loop. Ten years ago, younger people became cord-cutters or "cord-nevers," turned off by bloated cable packages that carried a prohibitively high monthly subscription fee. Cheaper Netflix subscriptions were a great alternative. Now though? To get Netflix, Amazon, HBO Max, Disney Plus, Hulu, and more? Now you're back to the same price range that turned people away from cable. One now has to be smart and savvy with how they program their TV time and manage their subscriptions. It's a far cry from the old days of simply flipping through channels hoping to stumble upon something good.
My yearly reminder: I am but one man, and can watch only so much. Even in this strange year, there was way more than I could possibly keep up with! In 2021 I hope to finally dive into Ted Lasso, catch up on Season 2 of Doom Patrol, and finally check out The Undoing - among other things. And by the way, a shout-out to The Witcher - a really fun late-2019 show that I caught up with earlier this year (can't wait for S2).
So without further ado, here are my top TV shows of 2020. I have always loved great television - but this year? - this year I could not be more thankful for the great series that entertained us, moved us, inspired us, and transported us away from the world outside our walls. We got to check in with old friends (welcome back, Jean-Luc Picard), meet new ones (Jackie Daytona - the best comedic alter-ego since Duke Silver), and said goodbye to a few as well (farewell, Rose family!). We even got some great new memes (hello, Michael Jordan laughing at his iPad). 2020, man. What a year.
DANNY'S TOP TV SHOWS OF 2020:
1. BETTER CALL SAUL
- As Breaking Bad was in years' past, so too is Better Call Saul now the clear gold standard for great TV. Season 5 was not only excellent, but was arguably the series' best season yet, with episodes and individual moments that were up there with BB's best. How Rhea Seehorn was not Emmy-nominated for her role as Saul's partner-in-crime Kim Wexler, I cannot fathom. Hers was the best acting on TV this year, no question. As the season progressed, the question of Kim's ultimate fate became even more urgent - even as the show's intensity kept ratcheting up to vintage levels of Breaking Bad-esque awesomeness. The writing on Saul is the best in the biz - razor-sharp, unpredictable, and never failing to keep you on the edge of your seat. No other TV drama produced as many "holy $#&@!" moments in 2020 as Better Call Saul.
2. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS
- With its hilarious and brilliant second season, What We Do In the Shadows crowned itself TV's new king of comedy. This unlikely gem had a strong Season 1, but as often happens with great TV sitcoms, the show just 100% clicked in S2 as the cast got better, the jokes became sharper, and episode after episode delivered in a way that reminded me of the best seasons of The Office and Parks & Rec. From the introduction of Jackie Daytona to Guillermo finding his true potential as a slayer of vampires, this undead comedy had real bite in 2020.
3. RAISED BY WOLVES
- Coming out of the gate with one of the most jaw-dropping pilots I've ever seen, HBO Max's Raised By Wolves was an absolutely fantastic burst of dark, weird, 80's-style, heavy-metal sci-fi that evoked producer/director Ridley Scott's classic films. This saga of two androids tasked with re-starting human civilization on a new planet was full of crazy moments, eye-popping visuals, and mind-bending science fiction ideas. It featured some incredible lead performances from Amanda Collin as the android Mother and Abubakar Salim as her companion, Father. If you grew up enraptured by movies like Alien and Blade Runner (as I did), this series was sci-fi geek nirvana.
4. THE LAST DANCE
- One of the most compelling docuseries - or documentaries, for that matter - I've ever seen, The Last Dance brought me right back to the halycon days of the 90's when NBA basketball stars like Michael Jordan were like real-life superheroes. The series brilliantly took us through Jordan's NBA career year-by-year - and gave us an inside look at the notoriously guarded superstar that was incredibly insightful and compelling.
5. DISPATCHES FROM ELSEWHERE
- Jason Segal's strange, surreal, and quirky AMC series was also incredibly heartfelt, moving, and joyful. In the early days of pandemic-induced lockdown, this show - about shared connections and shared humanity - was was one the pop-culture things that really helped me to process and get through the craziness. Full of fascinating characters (shout-out to Eve Lindley's incredible turn as Simone and the great Sally Field as Janice), a mind-bending narrative about an alternate-reality game, and a fourth-wall-breaking finale that was unlike anything I've ever seen before ... this was an absolute gem of 2020 that more people need to watch!
6. SCHITT'S CREEK
- The ultimate pandemic comfort-food sitcom, Schitt's Creek was a show that really kept me going in lockdown. Like many, I binged through the entire series in 2020 - watching in amazement as the show evolved from very-solid sitcom in Season 1 to, by Season 6, a near-perfect blend of spot-on jokes, iconic performances, and huge amounts of heart. The amazing cast deserved all of the Emmy love they got this year. Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara (and of course the great Chris Elliott), living legends that they are, were of course fantastic here - but the show also established Dan Levy and Annie Murphy (among other standouts) as some of the best and funniest actors on TV. They helped make the show into, truly, one of the all-time great sitcoms.
7. STARGIRL
- During a dark year, Stargirl was a shining light of classic superhero idealism - filled with the bright colors, sense of legacy, and spirit of optimism that made me a DC Comics diehard when I was growing up. Stargirl was a DC Comics nerd's dream - full of deep-cut comic book references and a true respect and reverence for the comics that inspired it. At the same time, the show was incredibly accessible - full of best-in-class action sequences, some spot-on casting (Luke Wilson for the win as Pat Dugan), and genuinely emotional moments anchored around 2020's best TV father-daughter duo in the form of Pat Dugan and Courtney Whitmore. Stargirl was not just great TV - it was the best superhero story on our screens in 2020.
8. THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA
- A potent mix of prestige and pulp, this HBO adaptation of Phillip Roth's classic novel was nothing if not riveting. In an age when hate, bigotry, and antisemitism were sadly on the rise, the story of a Nazi plot to overtake a pre-WWII America was especially resonant and harrowing. To that end, each new chapter of this series had me increasingly on the edge of my seat, as the dangers posed to the central Levin family went from merely hypothetical to immediate. At a time when so many in 2020's America were in denial about the racism and bigotry espoused by our heartless President, The Plot Against America was a stark reminder of a dark potential reality that we, as Americans, must never let come to pass.
9. DEVS
- This gripping, mesmerizing FX-on-Hulu science fiction series looked at the sinister side of Big Tech and gave us a twisty conspiracy-theory thriller as well. From Alex Garland, who over the last decade or so has established himself as a master of gritty, conceptually-ambitious sci-fi, the series took us down a rabbit hole of what happens when a morally-compromised tech guru pushes boundaries in a way that they probably shouldn't be pushed. As said tech guru, Forest, Nick Offerman was a surprisingly menacing villain. And Sonoya Mizuno made for a fascinatingly off-kilter hero in Lily Chan. If you like smart sci-fi and haven't seen Devs, then what are you waiting for? - add it to the binge-list.
10. THE MANDALORIAN
- In a year without blockbuster movies, The Mandalorian gave us brand-new Star Wars adventures every Friday night in late 2020 - and man, was it awesome. Season 2 in my view improved on the already-very-good S1, delivering more epic episodes, more big-screen-worthy action, and even more cool Star Wars universe moments guaranteed to make any fan jump out of their seat with excitement. Not only that, but the season really brought to a head some of the major character arcs that began in S1 - deepening the bond between Mando and Baby Yoda/Grogu, and giving the titular character some affecting moments of personal growth. While even more Star Wars TV is planned for 2021 and beyond, give The Mandalorian credit: it defied the odds and not only delivered great TV, but actually revitalized the Star Wars franchise for a new era.
The Next Best:
11. BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
- Arguably the best overall TV comedy of the last decade, B99 had another strong season this year. The show is now just a comedy machine, with its MVP being the should've-won-several-Emmys-by-now Andre Braugher as Captain Holt. Really though, has any other comedy in recent memory had such a strong and funny cast top-to-bottom? It makes following these characters through weddings, promotions, break-ups, and births fun consistently fun and funny.
12. NORMAL PEOPLE
- This British import launched in the US on Hulu, and was an instant cult-favorite here in the States. Why? Because it went very deep into the ups and downs of an on-again, off-again romantic relationship over the course of several years - detailing the ups and downs of leads Connell and Marianne with a can't-stop-watching mix of pointed authenticity and soapy melodrama. The biggest emotional rollercoaster of 2020 TV.
13. HARLEY QUINN
- A perfect mix of Batman: The Animated Series and Rick & Morty, the animated Harley Quinn series (of the late great DC Universe streaming service, and now on HBO Max) was pure awesome from start to finish. The show is perhaps not what you expect - it's a serialized series that is heavy on inappropriate and over-the-top humor ... but also, surprisingly, on heart. The central relationship between Harley and Ivy is done so, so well - I dare say this is the definitive take.
14. THE BOYS
- Amazon's comic book adaptation stepped up its game in Season 2, delivering sharper storytelling and even more pointed social satire, and making some very interesting deviations from the source material. But yeah, if you come for the shocking "I can't believe they went there" moments, you'll more than likely stay for the super-sweet relationship between Hughie and Annie (aka Starlight) - which really shone brightly in Season 2.
15. BIG MOUTH
- It was a late-in-the-year treat to get a brand new season of Big Mouth - the reliably hilarious and always boundary-pushing animated Netflix comedy. Season 4 opened with an instant-classic sojourn to summer camp - and while later episodes didn't pack quite the same punch, I was impressed with how the show handled brewing controversies (i.e. the voice-acting of Missy) with a deftly funny and clever hand. Big Mouth remains one of the best TV comedies we've got.
16. CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
- Larry David's now-legendary schtick made a very-much-welcome return in 2020. Many of us understandably became just a bit more easily-agitated and curmudgeonly in quarantine, and so Larry's longstanding grievances with the world seemed to hit a sweet spot this year (even as the real Larry David impressed upon us the joys of staying at home and interacting with as few people as possible). Seriously though, this season of Curb felt like a return to form - with several new classic episodes and lots of instantly buzzworthy moments. I'd say it was pretty ... pretty good.
17. RICK & MORTY
- We only got five new episodes of Rick & Morty in 2020, but man, a good percentage of them were just instant classics. When this show is on its game, there's nothing else like it - the show somehow has this ability to, in under half an hour, craft these mini sci-fi epics (the "Vat of Acid" episode, anyone?) that are as hilarious as they are mind-bending. I hope there's a lot more Rick & Morty to come in 2021.
18. WESTWORLD
- A lot of people seemed down on Westworld S3 and its transition from cerebral puzzle-box sci-fi to action-packed cyberpunk thriller - but for me, I was happily able to go with the flow and accept the show's evolution into full-on pulpy action epic. I mean, in S3 we got to see the ultimate showdown between Delores and Maive play out in uber-dramatic, gravitas-infused fashion. We got to see Aaron Paul join the cast as a fascinating new character with a mysterious past. We got to see high-octane neo-noir car chases through futuristic nighttime cityscapes involving lifelike (and incredibly badass) androids. I mean, what more does one need?
19. PICARD
- Okay, I fully recognize that Picard S1 had some flaws - in particular, the disappointing and rushed finale that led the season to end with more fizzle than sizzle. But that aside, the series largely delivered what it needed to: an exciting, heartwarming, and reassuring return for one of the greatest TV characters of all time, Star Trek: The Next Generation's legendary Jean-Luc Picard. Seeing Patrick Stewart return to his most iconic role, seeing the slow build-up to him regaining his confidence and his drive ... I mean, there were few better or more spine-tingling moments on TV this year than when Captain by-god Picard is, finally, once again aboard a starship, ready to "engage!"
DANNY'S TOP TV SHOWS OF 2020:
1. BETTER CALL SAUL
- As Breaking Bad was in years' past, so too is Better Call Saul now the clear gold standard for great TV. Season 5 was not only excellent, but was arguably the series' best season yet, with episodes and individual moments that were up there with BB's best. How Rhea Seehorn was not Emmy-nominated for her role as Saul's partner-in-crime Kim Wexler, I cannot fathom. Hers was the best acting on TV this year, no question. As the season progressed, the question of Kim's ultimate fate became even more urgent - even as the show's intensity kept ratcheting up to vintage levels of Breaking Bad-esque awesomeness. The writing on Saul is the best in the biz - razor-sharp, unpredictable, and never failing to keep you on the edge of your seat. No other TV drama produced as many "holy $#&@!" moments in 2020 as Better Call Saul.
2. WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS
- With its hilarious and brilliant second season, What We Do In the Shadows crowned itself TV's new king of comedy. This unlikely gem had a strong Season 1, but as often happens with great TV sitcoms, the show just 100% clicked in S2 as the cast got better, the jokes became sharper, and episode after episode delivered in a way that reminded me of the best seasons of The Office and Parks & Rec. From the introduction of Jackie Daytona to Guillermo finding his true potential as a slayer of vampires, this undead comedy had real bite in 2020.
3. RAISED BY WOLVES
- Coming out of the gate with one of the most jaw-dropping pilots I've ever seen, HBO Max's Raised By Wolves was an absolutely fantastic burst of dark, weird, 80's-style, heavy-metal sci-fi that evoked producer/director Ridley Scott's classic films. This saga of two androids tasked with re-starting human civilization on a new planet was full of crazy moments, eye-popping visuals, and mind-bending science fiction ideas. It featured some incredible lead performances from Amanda Collin as the android Mother and Abubakar Salim as her companion, Father. If you grew up enraptured by movies like Alien and Blade Runner (as I did), this series was sci-fi geek nirvana.
4. THE LAST DANCE
- One of the most compelling docuseries - or documentaries, for that matter - I've ever seen, The Last Dance brought me right back to the halycon days of the 90's when NBA basketball stars like Michael Jordan were like real-life superheroes. The series brilliantly took us through Jordan's NBA career year-by-year - and gave us an inside look at the notoriously guarded superstar that was incredibly insightful and compelling.
5. DISPATCHES FROM ELSEWHERE
- Jason Segal's strange, surreal, and quirky AMC series was also incredibly heartfelt, moving, and joyful. In the early days of pandemic-induced lockdown, this show - about shared connections and shared humanity - was was one the pop-culture things that really helped me to process and get through the craziness. Full of fascinating characters (shout-out to Eve Lindley's incredible turn as Simone and the great Sally Field as Janice), a mind-bending narrative about an alternate-reality game, and a fourth-wall-breaking finale that was unlike anything I've ever seen before ... this was an absolute gem of 2020 that more people need to watch!
6. SCHITT'S CREEK
- The ultimate pandemic comfort-food sitcom, Schitt's Creek was a show that really kept me going in lockdown. Like many, I binged through the entire series in 2020 - watching in amazement as the show evolved from very-solid sitcom in Season 1 to, by Season 6, a near-perfect blend of spot-on jokes, iconic performances, and huge amounts of heart. The amazing cast deserved all of the Emmy love they got this year. Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara (and of course the great Chris Elliott), living legends that they are, were of course fantastic here - but the show also established Dan Levy and Annie Murphy (among other standouts) as some of the best and funniest actors on TV. They helped make the show into, truly, one of the all-time great sitcoms.
7. STARGIRL
- During a dark year, Stargirl was a shining light of classic superhero idealism - filled with the bright colors, sense of legacy, and spirit of optimism that made me a DC Comics diehard when I was growing up. Stargirl was a DC Comics nerd's dream - full of deep-cut comic book references and a true respect and reverence for the comics that inspired it. At the same time, the show was incredibly accessible - full of best-in-class action sequences, some spot-on casting (Luke Wilson for the win as Pat Dugan), and genuinely emotional moments anchored around 2020's best TV father-daughter duo in the form of Pat Dugan and Courtney Whitmore. Stargirl was not just great TV - it was the best superhero story on our screens in 2020.
8. THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA
- A potent mix of prestige and pulp, this HBO adaptation of Phillip Roth's classic novel was nothing if not riveting. In an age when hate, bigotry, and antisemitism were sadly on the rise, the story of a Nazi plot to overtake a pre-WWII America was especially resonant and harrowing. To that end, each new chapter of this series had me increasingly on the edge of my seat, as the dangers posed to the central Levin family went from merely hypothetical to immediate. At a time when so many in 2020's America were in denial about the racism and bigotry espoused by our heartless President, The Plot Against America was a stark reminder of a dark potential reality that we, as Americans, must never let come to pass.
9. DEVS
- This gripping, mesmerizing FX-on-Hulu science fiction series looked at the sinister side of Big Tech and gave us a twisty conspiracy-theory thriller as well. From Alex Garland, who over the last decade or so has established himself as a master of gritty, conceptually-ambitious sci-fi, the series took us down a rabbit hole of what happens when a morally-compromised tech guru pushes boundaries in a way that they probably shouldn't be pushed. As said tech guru, Forest, Nick Offerman was a surprisingly menacing villain. And Sonoya Mizuno made for a fascinatingly off-kilter hero in Lily Chan. If you like smart sci-fi and haven't seen Devs, then what are you waiting for? - add it to the binge-list.
10. THE MANDALORIAN
- In a year without blockbuster movies, The Mandalorian gave us brand-new Star Wars adventures every Friday night in late 2020 - and man, was it awesome. Season 2 in my view improved on the already-very-good S1, delivering more epic episodes, more big-screen-worthy action, and even more cool Star Wars universe moments guaranteed to make any fan jump out of their seat with excitement. Not only that, but the season really brought to a head some of the major character arcs that began in S1 - deepening the bond between Mando and Baby Yoda/Grogu, and giving the titular character some affecting moments of personal growth. While even more Star Wars TV is planned for 2021 and beyond, give The Mandalorian credit: it defied the odds and not only delivered great TV, but actually revitalized the Star Wars franchise for a new era.
The Next Best:
11. BROOKLYN NINE-NINE
- Arguably the best overall TV comedy of the last decade, B99 had another strong season this year. The show is now just a comedy machine, with its MVP being the should've-won-several-Emmys-by-now Andre Braugher as Captain Holt. Really though, has any other comedy in recent memory had such a strong and funny cast top-to-bottom? It makes following these characters through weddings, promotions, break-ups, and births fun consistently fun and funny.
12. NORMAL PEOPLE
- This British import launched in the US on Hulu, and was an instant cult-favorite here in the States. Why? Because it went very deep into the ups and downs of an on-again, off-again romantic relationship over the course of several years - detailing the ups and downs of leads Connell and Marianne with a can't-stop-watching mix of pointed authenticity and soapy melodrama. The biggest emotional rollercoaster of 2020 TV.
13. HARLEY QUINN
- A perfect mix of Batman: The Animated Series and Rick & Morty, the animated Harley Quinn series (of the late great DC Universe streaming service, and now on HBO Max) was pure awesome from start to finish. The show is perhaps not what you expect - it's a serialized series that is heavy on inappropriate and over-the-top humor ... but also, surprisingly, on heart. The central relationship between Harley and Ivy is done so, so well - I dare say this is the definitive take.
14. THE BOYS
- Amazon's comic book adaptation stepped up its game in Season 2, delivering sharper storytelling and even more pointed social satire, and making some very interesting deviations from the source material. But yeah, if you come for the shocking "I can't believe they went there" moments, you'll more than likely stay for the super-sweet relationship between Hughie and Annie (aka Starlight) - which really shone brightly in Season 2.
15. BIG MOUTH
- It was a late-in-the-year treat to get a brand new season of Big Mouth - the reliably hilarious and always boundary-pushing animated Netflix comedy. Season 4 opened with an instant-classic sojourn to summer camp - and while later episodes didn't pack quite the same punch, I was impressed with how the show handled brewing controversies (i.e. the voice-acting of Missy) with a deftly funny and clever hand. Big Mouth remains one of the best TV comedies we've got.
16. CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
- Larry David's now-legendary schtick made a very-much-welcome return in 2020. Many of us understandably became just a bit more easily-agitated and curmudgeonly in quarantine, and so Larry's longstanding grievances with the world seemed to hit a sweet spot this year (even as the real Larry David impressed upon us the joys of staying at home and interacting with as few people as possible). Seriously though, this season of Curb felt like a return to form - with several new classic episodes and lots of instantly buzzworthy moments. I'd say it was pretty ... pretty good.
17. RICK & MORTY
- We only got five new episodes of Rick & Morty in 2020, but man, a good percentage of them were just instant classics. When this show is on its game, there's nothing else like it - the show somehow has this ability to, in under half an hour, craft these mini sci-fi epics (the "Vat of Acid" episode, anyone?) that are as hilarious as they are mind-bending. I hope there's a lot more Rick & Morty to come in 2021.
18. WESTWORLD
- A lot of people seemed down on Westworld S3 and its transition from cerebral puzzle-box sci-fi to action-packed cyberpunk thriller - but for me, I was happily able to go with the flow and accept the show's evolution into full-on pulpy action epic. I mean, in S3 we got to see the ultimate showdown between Delores and Maive play out in uber-dramatic, gravitas-infused fashion. We got to see Aaron Paul join the cast as a fascinating new character with a mysterious past. We got to see high-octane neo-noir car chases through futuristic nighttime cityscapes involving lifelike (and incredibly badass) androids. I mean, what more does one need?
19. PICARD
- Okay, I fully recognize that Picard S1 had some flaws - in particular, the disappointing and rushed finale that led the season to end with more fizzle than sizzle. But that aside, the series largely delivered what it needed to: an exciting, heartwarming, and reassuring return for one of the greatest TV characters of all time, Star Trek: The Next Generation's legendary Jean-Luc Picard. Seeing Patrick Stewart return to his most iconic role, seeing the slow build-up to him regaining his confidence and his drive ... I mean, there were few better or more spine-tingling moments on TV this year than when Captain by-god Picard is, finally, once again aboard a starship, ready to "engage!"
20. THE GOOD PLACE
- One of the greatest comedies of the modern era had its final season early in 2020 - a pre-pandemic TV event that now feels like it happened about 1,000 years ago. But I'd be remiss if I didn't say a fond farewell to one of my favorites - a series whose pilot I first saw several years ago at the LA Screenings and instantly knew was going to be something special. Now, the final season was lighter on big laughs, heavier on high-concept and emotionally-charged character drama. And I'll admit, I missed the quippier, quotable earlier seasons as we headed towards the big finale. That said, the ambition and cleverness and thoughtfulness of this series cannot be understated. The final episode was sad, joyful, and unforgettable.
21. THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR
- If I had to sum up this follow-up to the superlative Haunting of Hill House, well, I'd have to say that it was, you guessed it: "perfectly splendid." Seriously though, I thoroughly enjoyed the latest from horror-maestro Mike Flanagan. It was more straightforward and less twisty than Hill House, but there were some great flashbacks and reveals and, oh man, that one episode that gave us the origin of "she would wake, she would walk, she would sleep" ghost at the center of all the horror was a stone-cold classic. Can't wait to see more from Flanagan.
22. LOCKE & KEY
- The Netflix adaptation of Joe Hill's seminal comic book series was really, really good. While it gave the story a bit more of a YA bent, it still managed to capture the series' unique blend of fantasy, horror, and adventure in a way that was just a lot of fun. The show's casting was great, and some of the visuals were pretty spectacular too. In a year with no new season of Stranger Things, this was the uber-watchable horror-adventure streaming series we needed.
23. BETTER THINGS
- I'm always a little torn about Pamela Adlon's semi-autobiographical TV series. To me, every season has moments of sheer brilliance - but the show can also just be ... a lot. Adlon's character is always so stressed, so harried, that it can be an exhausting watch at times. But I still find the show worthwhile, because Adlon always has interesting things to say about life, love, family, and friendships. And because she does what she wants with this show, it's never formulaic - you never quite know what you're going to get with each new episode.
24. LOVECRAFT COUNTRY
- Lovecraft Country was such a cool show. It positively swung for the fences, giving us a much-needed sci-fi/fantasy/horror epic that not only featured monsters, magic, and mystery - but that also had a lot to say about race, the African-American experience, and the systemic injustices in recent American history. The show was ambitious as hell, and occasionally it misfired - with an overarching narrative that occasionally became too convoluted and tangled. But when it did work, man did it work. It earned its spot as arguably the most buzzworthy new series of 2020.
TIE: 25. HIS DARK MATERIALS
- Okay, I'm going to have to cheat a bit here and do a three-way tie for my final spots on the list. I wanted to include His Dark Materials, because in Season 2 the show keeps getting better and better - and is finally starting to have real narrative momentum and stakes. While the series could be up and down in S1, Season 2 has often felt downright epic - providing a genuinely enthralling fantasy saga the likes of which we've rarely seen on TV.
TIE: 25. THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
- I also wanted to be sure to shout-out the much-improved second season of Umbrella Academy. Netflix's quirky comic book adaptation really found its groove in S2, with a more consistently engaging and thrilling narrative, more evenly-distributed and effective character arcs, and even more thrilling action than we got in S1. I'm now genuinely excited to see where S3 takes us.
TIE: 25. THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT
21. THE HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR
- If I had to sum up this follow-up to the superlative Haunting of Hill House, well, I'd have to say that it was, you guessed it: "perfectly splendid." Seriously though, I thoroughly enjoyed the latest from horror-maestro Mike Flanagan. It was more straightforward and less twisty than Hill House, but there were some great flashbacks and reveals and, oh man, that one episode that gave us the origin of "she would wake, she would walk, she would sleep" ghost at the center of all the horror was a stone-cold classic. Can't wait to see more from Flanagan.
22. LOCKE & KEY
- The Netflix adaptation of Joe Hill's seminal comic book series was really, really good. While it gave the story a bit more of a YA bent, it still managed to capture the series' unique blend of fantasy, horror, and adventure in a way that was just a lot of fun. The show's casting was great, and some of the visuals were pretty spectacular too. In a year with no new season of Stranger Things, this was the uber-watchable horror-adventure streaming series we needed.
23. BETTER THINGS
- I'm always a little torn about Pamela Adlon's semi-autobiographical TV series. To me, every season has moments of sheer brilliance - but the show can also just be ... a lot. Adlon's character is always so stressed, so harried, that it can be an exhausting watch at times. But I still find the show worthwhile, because Adlon always has interesting things to say about life, love, family, and friendships. And because she does what she wants with this show, it's never formulaic - you never quite know what you're going to get with each new episode.
24. LOVECRAFT COUNTRY
- Lovecraft Country was such a cool show. It positively swung for the fences, giving us a much-needed sci-fi/fantasy/horror epic that not only featured monsters, magic, and mystery - but that also had a lot to say about race, the African-American experience, and the systemic injustices in recent American history. The show was ambitious as hell, and occasionally it misfired - with an overarching narrative that occasionally became too convoluted and tangled. But when it did work, man did it work. It earned its spot as arguably the most buzzworthy new series of 2020.
TIE: 25. HIS DARK MATERIALS
- Okay, I'm going to have to cheat a bit here and do a three-way tie for my final spots on the list. I wanted to include His Dark Materials, because in Season 2 the show keeps getting better and better - and is finally starting to have real narrative momentum and stakes. While the series could be up and down in S1, Season 2 has often felt downright epic - providing a genuinely enthralling fantasy saga the likes of which we've rarely seen on TV.
TIE: 25. THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY
- I also wanted to be sure to shout-out the much-improved second season of Umbrella Academy. Netflix's quirky comic book adaptation really found its groove in S2, with a more consistently engaging and thrilling narrative, more evenly-distributed and effective character arcs, and even more thrilling action than we got in S1. I'm now genuinely excited to see where S3 takes us.
TIE: 25. THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT
- And finally, the Netflix sensation that everyone was talking about this winter. The Queen's Gambit started out amazingly, with one hell of a first episode - and then settled into a slightly more formulaic rhythm as it went on. Even so, the miniseries was highly enjoyable - and featured a superstar-making turn from the always-great Anya Taylor-Joy in the lead role. Pure pop entertainment that was made to be binged.
TIE: 25. PENNY DREADFUL: CITY OF ANGELS
- The original Penny Dreadful is one of my all-time favorite TV series - a captivating horror-drama that gave us iconic new takes on classic Victorian horror characters. This pseudo-sequel was a vastly different beast - an LA noir story set in the 1930's - but it dealt with some similar themes of juxtaposing supernatural and real-life horrors. Credit to Natalie Dormand, who, as a demonic entity and the series' big bad, played several varying roles as her character inhabited different personas. While not quite as strong as the original Penny Dreadful, this one was still a whole lot of fun.
Just Missed the Cut:
Just Missed the Cut:
- Fargo
- The Vow
- Perry Mason
- Tiger King
- Your Honor
- How To With John Wilson
- Perry Mason
- Tiger King
- Your Honor
- How To With John Wilson
- The Goldbergs
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
The Best TV Heroes of 2020:
1.) Stargirl / Courtney Whitmore - Stargirl
2.) Din Djarin (aka The Mandalorian) - The Mandalorian
3.) Jean-Luc Picard - Picard
4.) Starlight - The Boys
5.) Letitia "Leti" Lewis - Lovecraft Country
The Best TV Villains of 2020:
1.) Homelander - The Boys
2.) Moff Gideon - The Mandalorian
3.) Marisa Coulter - His Dark Materials
4.) The Icicle - Stargirl
5.) Forest - Devs
The Best TV Anti-Heroes of 2020:
1.) Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy - Harley Quinn
2.) Mother - Raised By Wolves
3.) Maeve - Westworld
4.) King Shark - Harley Quinn
5.) Saul Goodman and Kim Wexler - Better Call Saul
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
The Best TV Heroes of 2020:
1.) Stargirl / Courtney Whitmore - Stargirl
2.) Din Djarin (aka The Mandalorian) - The Mandalorian
3.) Jean-Luc Picard - Picard
4.) Starlight - The Boys
5.) Letitia "Leti" Lewis - Lovecraft Country
The Best TV Villains of 2020:
1.) Homelander - The Boys
2.) Moff Gideon - The Mandalorian
3.) Marisa Coulter - His Dark Materials
4.) The Icicle - Stargirl
5.) Forest - Devs
The Best TV Anti-Heroes of 2020:
1.) Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy - Harley Quinn
2.) Mother - Raised By Wolves
3.) Maeve - Westworld
4.) King Shark - Harley Quinn
5.) Saul Goodman and Kim Wexler - Better Call Saul
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