My Year in Television (2020)

Welcome to my sixth annual TV Shows of the Year list. More and more consumers have opted to cut the cord on their cable providers, with new players HBO MAX and Disney+ at the forefront of the streaming revolution. There are shows on this list that you can find on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, HBO MAX, and the upcoming streaming service, Paramount+. Below you will get: My Top 25, honorable mentions, fail of the year, and my watch list. Here we go:

25) Devs (Hulu) - A limited series from Sci-Fi writer/director Alex Garland (Annihilation/Ex Machina). This has a really intriguing premise with great dialogue and dazzling visuals. Actor Sonoya Mizuno was quite polarizing as the lead character, due to her emotionless affectation. Apparently she was instructed by Garland to act in that manner. The performance was incredibly distracting and there’s nothing in the narrative or the character itself that warrants the decision.

24) Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) - If you need a heartwarming, feel-good show to watch in these trying times, look no further than this drama starring Jason Sudeikis. Sudeikis plays a Division II college football coach who gets hired to coach a Premiere League soccer team. While the show doesn’t quite nail the sports elements, it absolutely excels from a humanist perspective.

23) The Boys Season 2 (Amazon Prime) - This superhero action series continues to be a dark, yet satisfying look at the greed of big corporations. This is basically the television show version of the film Hancock, except it’s actually pretty good.

22) Search Party Season 3 (HBO MAX) - It’s strange to be writing a review for season 3 when I just recently watched the fourth and final season. Search Party is filled with dark humor and surprisingly inquisitive drama. The courtroom saga that takes up a lot of the third season is quite fun, even if it feels a bit like a diversion from the rest of the show.

21) The Crown Season 4 (Netflix) - This series about the British royal family is one of the most consistent shows on television. Each season charts a 15 to 20 year time period using fact-based stories to act as the backdrop for rich character drama. The newest season of the show begins the Princess Diana arc.

20) Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 7 (NBC) - What a crazy ride this show has had in the last few years, from getting cancelled by Fox, to being picked up by NBC because of the enormous internet campaign, to now hearing the news that the eighth season will be the last. Season 7 was arguably the funniest season yet, and the episode titled “Pimemento” had me in stitches.

19) The Good Place Season 4 (NBC) - While this might be the weakest season, it still managed to subvert expectations and wrap things up in bittersweet yet gratifying terms. The finale, “Whenever You’re Ready”, is right up there with some of the best episodes in the entire show. I will most certainly be adding this to my re-watch list.

18) Tiger King (Netflix) - One of the best and most memorable binge-watching experiences I had in 2020. This true story is ridiculously entertaining. The “tail” is so wild and the characters so eccentric that the experience is reminiscent of a fever dream.

17) Primal Season 1 Volume 2 (Adult Swim) - Genndy Tartakovsky continued season 1 of his caveman-dinosaur team-up show with episodes 6-10 airing in 2020. Having watched the entirety of Samurai Jack this past year, it’s safe to say that Tartakovsky is a master in visual storytelling. There is hardly any dialogue in Primal, and yet so much is conveyed through the soundtrack, animation, and narrative.

16) Steven Universe Future (Cartoon Network) - This is slightly cheating because the last season of the Steven Universe series technically started airing in December of 2019. But considering most of the season was broadcast during 2020, and that I watched all five seasons and the movie that preceded it, I had to include it here. Future features Steven as a teenager, and has some of the best depictions of the struggles of puberty that I’ve ever seen on screen.

15) The Last Dance (ESPN) - As a huge basketball fan, this ten part documentary series was right up my alley. The best compliment I can give the show is that plenty of non-sports fans have raved about it. Each episode focuses on a different player, coach, or executive, and with personalities like Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman, the drama and intrigue off the court is just as exhilarating as what happens between the lines.

14) Insecure Season 4 (HBO) - Creator and star Issa Rae announced that season 5 will be the last in this young adult focused drama. The characters in the show are largely flawed, trying to juggle work, friendships, and romantic relationships all at once. The cinematography and soundtrack are always on point.

13) Pen 15 Season 2 (Hulu) - This seven episode slate was right on par with the brilliance of the first season. Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle, who are both in their 30’s, play seventh graders and have to act like they’re 13 while working alongside actual children. Episode 5, titled “Sleepover,” is a terrific episode that examines the effect of jealousy, hazing, and peer pressure on young girls.

12) Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 10 (HBO) - After a three year hiatus, the Larry David comedy series came back rejuvenated and funnier than ever. As the series has gone along, the writing has improved in terms of creating season long arcs, as opposed to every episode feeling disconnected. The long bit involving a “revenge” coffee shop is delightful and has a satisfying payoff.

11) Bojack Horseman Season 6 Part 2 (Netflix) - The final chapter of the Bojack story is a fitting tribute and bittersweet conclusion to the long running series. If you haven’t watched the show, I highly recommend it. Don’t go in thinking it’s a comedy series, it’s more a serious drama that just so happens to be animated. Also, it’s not until season 3 that the show really hits its stride, so don’t be dismayed if you aren’t loving it right off the bat.

10) Dave (Hulu) - Dave Burd, also known as the rapper Lil Dicky, created and stars in this comedy based partially on his own life story. The show has plenty of hilarious moments, and also has a couple of great rap segments at the beginning and end of the first season. It also tackles some more serious subjects with sensitivity and respect, including the portrayal of Dave’s hype man GaTa, who deals with bipolar disorder.

9) Ramy Season 2 (Hulu) - A Master of None sort of vibe pervades this wonderful series from Ramy Youssef. Based on the American Muslim experience, the show is at its best during its various episodes focusing on the supporting characters. Youssef also stars in the series, and the titular character undergoes quite the surprising arc.

8) The Good Lord Bird (Showtime) - Ethan Hawke ramps up the camp to insane levels with his take on John Brown, an abolitionist often credited with igniting the American Civil War. The perspective of the show is from a young black boy, nicknamed Onion, who is mistaken for a girl and behaves/dresses as such in fear of retribution. He narrates the various adventures with Brown and his gang, wondering all the while if the excess violence is necessary and if these white people are truly as dedicated to the cause of ending slavery as they claim.

7) What We Do in the Shadows Season 2 (FX) - This series continues to be an absolute delight and one of the funniest shows currently on television. In the newest season, they make great use out of the side character Guillermo, who has been a loyal familiar (servant) to a vampire for many years. He stumbles upon a vampire hunting group, and quickly realizes he has some natural gifts that he struggles to process.

6) The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix) - Anya Taylor-Joy shines as a young chess prodigy that struggles with various addictions. The limited series, based in the 60’s, has outstanding costume and set design, and reignited my love for chess. The show prioritizes the human drama and stakes over the game’s more granular techniques and strategies.

5) Sunderland Till I Die Season 2 (Netflix) - If you enjoy sports documentaries, or simply documentary series in general, I can’t think of a show that better executes the formula. The show follows a soccer club in England and it’s recent struggles with relegation, financing, and staff turnover. You meet and get attached to everyone at the club, including lifelong fans, dedicated employees, players, and ownership.

4) Kidding Season 2 (Showtime) - The second episode, labeled “Up, Down and Everything in Between,” is nothing short of sensational television. Unlike the original season, which was a bit of a roller coaster ride in terms of quality, the final season of Kidding is incredibly consistent. While it’s disappointing that the show was cancelled, I will forever cherish that it got made at all.

3) How to With John Wilson (HBO) - This seven part series is a beautiful portrait of New York City and its many eccentric inhabitants. The show uses b-roll, voice-over, and interview footage to produce a very funny, sweet, and unique experience. Despite each episode covering a rather mundane central topic (like scaffolding), the tangents are wild and unpredictable.

2) I May Destroy You (HBO/BBC) - Michaela Coel’s tragic showcase of sexual assault and the various complexities of consent. Coel stars, co-directs, writes, and produces the series. It’s a stunning piece of work and despite the material being difficult to consume at times, it manages to be insightful, funny, and compelling all at once.

1) Better Call Saul Season 5 (AMC) - The penultimate season of this prequel series continues the trajectory of Jimmy McGill towards Saul Goodman, the character we came to know on Breaking Bad. Despite knowing the end point, the journey has been incredibly exciting to watch unfold. The new villain introduced at the end of season 4 (Lalo Salamanca), gets to spread his wings in the latest season and provides a menacing obstacle for the protagonists to navigate.

Honorable Mentions:

Gordon Ramsey Uncharted Season 2 (National Geographic) - This combines all of the pleasures of cooking and traveling shows into one delectable package. Ramsey’s narration over his various escapades is top notch, and the food on screen will leave you salivating.

Fargo Season 4 (FX) - While this is certainly not on the level of either of the first two seasons, there was plenty to enjoy in the newest season of Noah Hawley’s TV adaptation of the Coen Brothers film. The star studded cast includes Chris Rock, Jason Schwartzman, Jessie Buckley, and Timothy Olyphant.

The Flight Attendant (HBO MAX) - Kaley Cuoco shines in this very bingeable murder mystery series. For a show that relies so heavily on letting the audience inside the main characters headspace, I wish they would have opted for inner monologue.

The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix) - The second season in “The Haunting” anthology series was not nearly as frightening as Hill House. Despite that, it still features terrific performances and chilling scenery.

Truth Seekers (Amazon Prime) - I will watch any project Simon Pegg and Nick Frost work on, and if you haven’t watched their trilogy of films with Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End) - - REMEDY THAT IMMEDIATELY! This show had the occasional funny moment and a fun Sci-Fi premise.

Dead to Me Season 2 (Netflix) - Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate continue to do stellar work in this melodramatic series. I wish they didn’t bring James Marsden back with the whole “twin brother” gimmick.

Patriot Act with Hassan Minaj Volume 6 (Netflix) - I was so disappointed to see this series get cancelled. Minaj does terrific work tackling interesting subjects and we simply don’t have enough deep investigative news shows that also aim to entertain.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Season 7 (HBO) - I’ve watched every episode of the show and will continue to do so now that season 8 just recently premiered. Season 7 required spending half the runtime covering the shenanigans in the White House. Watching it still managed to be a cathartic routine at the start of each week.

The Chef Show Season 2 Volume 1 (Netflix) - Despite John Favreau being the star and initial appeal, I now watch primarily for Roy Choi, who has become more and more comfortable on camera and always has a new recipe to unveil.

The Great British Bake-off Series 11 (Netflix) - This provides the perfect viewing experience during a pandemic. The show’s co-hosts, Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas, provide a ton of laughs and the friendly competition displayed by the contestants is really heartwarming.

Queer Eye Season 5 (Netflix) - The newest season takes the Fab Five to Pennsylvania. There’s not much to say about this show that I haven’t already stated in previous lists, but the show continues to entertain despite the formula being well trodden.

Middleditch and Schwartz (Netflix) - Long-form improv is a new and emerging trend in comedy and there aren’t two funnier people in the world right now than Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz. Considering there’s only three episodes, you can knock this out in a single evening.

McMillions (HBO) - A wild true story about the McDonald’s Monopoly game scam and the ensuing investigation into the perpetrators. The creators took an egalitarian approach to its various characters, which did a disservice to the show given certain interviewees were far more entertaining than others.

High Maintenance Season 4 (HBO) - If you’ve followed these lists in the past you know how much I adore this series. Season 4 provided more of the same insights into random New Yorkers lives. This actually works as a fun companion piece to How to With John Wilson.

Unsolved Mysteries Volumes 1 & 2 (Netflix) - While yes, there is an inherent issue with a series focused on unsolved cases, given there won’t be a satisfying conclusion. But the show, as its predecessor did, succeeds in making the journey more interesting than the destination.

Fail of the Year:

Run (HBO) - I was excited about this program given my admiration for the two leads (Merritt Weaver and Domhnall Gleeson), but boy was it a slog. Neither character was particularly likable, and the narrative/messaging didn’t go anywhere worthwhile. The only redeeming element was Phoebe Waller-Bridges’ brief appearance.

Watchlist:

The Great (Hulu)

The Undoing (HBO)

Brockmire (IFC)

Upload (Amazon)

Mrs. America (Hulu)

Lovecraft Country (HBO)

High Fidelity (Hulu)

Homecoming (Amazon)

Normal People (Hulu)

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (HBO)

Little America (Apple TV+)

Ozark (Netflix)