Top Ten Comedies of 2020

I was planning on posting this yesterday, but then yesterday happened.  For those reading this when it was posted, I need no further explanation.  The people who stumble onto this at a later date though, well it's January 6, 2021 and I'm just going to hope you can figure it out from there.

Not that today hasn't had its share of excitements, but I've been much less glued to the news so I'm finally free to sit down and write my top ten comedies of 2020.  It's a weird list.  Feels a bit weaker than most years except at the top, which is probably about as strong as any year.  But I can't help but feel I usually can't come up with better shows on the backend, not that I don't like those shows.

Moving onto the top ten

#10 Archer - Season 11 (FXX)

Archer has not been particularly close to my top ten in some years, which goes to show what an improvement season 11 was over previous years.  It's also partially why I feel the backend of this list is weak.  Archer's 11th season aired 8 episodes, and not all of them were a hit.  Enough of them were to distinguish the show from what will end up being honorable mentions though.  Archer both returned to the basics of what the show was - instead of having a completely new setting - while having a different dynamic than in the past.  Good merge of knowing what works, but keeping things different enough to not feel like you're watching the same thing over and over.  Makes sense for a show losing its main creator for the first time ever.

#9 Mythic Quest: A Raven's Banquet - Season 1 (AppleTV)

Another show that really seems like it'd be on honorable mention most years.  I mention that because this show took a few episodes before things really clicked.  They have an episode entirely unconnected from the rest of the season, focusing on two characters who are only seen in that episode.  It's a wonderful episode.  Weirdly, what came after seemed like a much better show than what came before.  Eventually the show provides a reason for why this episode exists, although it doesn't need one it's so good.  But it ends up making the season storylines of the present day characters work better when it does provide that reason.

#8 DAVE - Season 1 (FXX)

I won't lie.  I didn't want to like this show.  I'm not a fan of Lil Dicky.  But then Alan Sepinwall kept raving about the show so I felt like I had to give it a shot.  So here it is.  I would have bet a lot of money that DAVE would not make my top ten list before I watched an episode to be honest.  But I guess there's the lesson: never assume.  There's a particular episode focusing on a certain character's mental disorder - I believe the person who plays him also has that mental disorder - and I don't really want to say anymore because part of the power is that you don't really expect it.

#7 Ramy - Season 2 (Hulu)

Ramy season 2 is a bit weird to describe.  The main character, Ramy, is pretty unlikable in it.  I like the overall journey that he goes through, but it's not always fun to watch.  If that were all the show was, it wouldn't be here.  But the series decides to give the supporting characters their own episodes - mom, dad, sister, and uncle all have episodes solely focused on them - and all of those episodes are better than the episodes focusing on the season-long storyline.  Which is weird to say, because Mahershala Ali is in Ramy's storyline as Ramy's new sheikh.  But the solo episodes are just better.

#6 Never Have I Ever - Season 1 (Netflix)

I have confined myself to a top ten, but I must note it is at this stage that I see a huge jump.  Never Have I Ever would make my lists most years I suspect.  And it might even be as high as #6 most years.  Possibly higher.  If I followed the spirit of a top ten list by focusing on the elite shows, I would only have a top 6 this year.  A large reason why it's here is because of Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi, the main character of the show.  The name of the show appears to just be here to provide a way to give episode titles and not actually for anything in the show itself.  Like for instance, one of the episode titles is "... gotten drunk with the popular kids."  Get it?  Yeah it's kind of stupid name for a show, but it's great nonetheless.

#5 The Great - Season 1 (Hulu)

Typically, I tended to put half hour shows on this list and hour long shows on the drama side.  But between this show and I May Destroy You, I had to change it up a bit.  Both are listed as comedy-dramas, but the half hour show is barely presented as comedic while The Great is almost all comedic.  It's a satirical series focused on Catherine the Great, who came to Russia as an outsider.  The first season is about her journey from being an almost perfect wife who is so disillusioned by how awful her husband is that she begins plotting to overthrow him.  Kind of a spoiler, but you know in history she really did overthrow her husband in a coup.

The performances are why it's here.  Elle Fanning stars as Catherine, who is probably nothing like the real Catherine, but Fanning is charming as someone who is constantly upbeat and cheery despite what she's doing.  But the real accomplishment and why this series is better than it has any right to be is because of Nicholas Hoult, as Peter III, who is so gloriously awful that he is entertaining to watch.  And despite him being awful, he somehow finds the humanity in the character and there are moments where you care about him.  It's a tough feat to pull off but he did it.

#4 What We Do in the Shadows - Season 2 (FX)

I had never seen the movie and I missed the first season.  Right around the time season 2 was happening, all I could hear about was how great this show was.  So I watched it from the beginning.  My expectations were perhaps too high because season 1 did not meet them.  Whether it was because my expectations had been sufficiently lowered or what, but season 2 blew me away.  I genuinely think it was a much better season, but I'll confess it might just be some weird quirk of how I perceived the show instead of that.  Not that comedies need this, but it became much less standalone in season two at the least.

Hate to repeat myself here, but this show entirely works because of the performances as well.  It's an open competition as to who's the best here.  It's a master class in how to get laughs from delivery alone.  Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou and Kayvan Novak all have moments where I think they're the funniest, but then one of the other will say something else.  And then there's Mark Proksch, who will deliver a line in the most deadpan way.

#3 The Good Place - Season 4 (NBC)

I totally forgot The Good Place ended in 2020.  Feels like a long, long time ago.  If you're not aware of my rules for a top ten list, I only look at episodes that aired in the year of the list.  So when I say season 4 above, what I really mean is the last four episodes of Season 4.  Because the finale was an hour long, it's really five episodes.  That's pretty much the only reason The Good Place isn't higher.  Even making the top 3 with just five episodes is a difficult feat.

Most of why it's here is the finale.  Not that the other three episodes weren't top notch, but if that's all I had to work with, it would find a way to the back of this list.  A lot of the episodes leading up to the finale were plot-related, to get to the finale.  As such, they tended to have a rushed feeling and weren't necessarily as funny as the show could be.  But the finale was one of the greatest finales of all time so it's #3.

#2 Bojack Horseman - Season 6 (Netflix)

Another show I forgot aired a season in 2020.  Much like The Good Place, only a part of season 6 is being factored into this top ten.  In this case, six episodes aired in 2019, and the last eight episodes aired in 2020.  I'm not sure why the show was released like that, but because it was it finds itself here.  While I didn't have the first half of the sixth season that high in my top ten last year - episode count was a factor - the second half was an improvement.

Again, I really like how this show ended.  In Bojack's case, it's not specifically the finale that brings it this high.  It's the culmination of where all the characters end up.  It's in the outstanding penultimate episode.  There are a lot of ways this show could have fucked it up, but they delivered on the ending.

#1 Ted Lasso - Season 1 (AppleTV)

This was an easy decision.  If anything, Ted Lasso being ten episodes made this way easier than it otherwise would have been.  The Good Place with ten episodes against Ted Lasso is a tough competition.  But I give props to length of season in my placement.  And Ted Lasso was just such a breath of fresh air.  I heard about Ted Lasso A LOT before I ever watched the show.  I mentioned above that me hearing the praises of What We Do in the Shadows may have harmed how I saw the first season.  No such issues here.

When I said I was tired of comedies making their main character unlikable, I had Ted Lasso in the back of my mind.  Because Ted Lasso is very likable.  Just about every character is.  You root for everybody.  And it's funny.  And it's heartwarming.  It's just such a feel good show.  That's the only way to describe it.  Anyone can watch this.  I recommended it to my sister - we do not have the same taste in TV shows - she watched it in two days and loved it.  I'd be surprised if anyone didn't love this show who watched it.

Honorable Mentions

Avenue 5 - A show that never felt as funny as it should have been with the names involved.  That said, the last few episodes were its strongest, so I'm hoping season two can find its way on my top ten next year (or in 2022).

Better Things - A show I feel like I should like more than I do, and I think the awfulness of the kids might have something to do with that.

Big Mouth - Big Mouth is 11th on my list.  It was close to making my top ten.  I do hope I can go back to loving this show like I loved the second season.

Bob's Burgers - I always have to give props to Bob's Burgers for still being as good as it is, as far in its run as it is.  That said, I do think this may have been the first year where I felt like it was declining.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine - B99's greatest offense is simply the wear and tear of having been on for seven seasons.

High Fidelity - I never watched the movie back in 2000, although I know I need to.  A show that probably deserved one season because of its limited premise.

Insecure - Ultimately the show tried something knew by creating a feud between its two friends and I don't think it was entirely successful because it was always obvious they would make up.

Search Party - Another strong contender for the top 10, Search Party is a satirical show that keeps reinventing itself.  The third season skewers celebrity trials.

Sex Education - A show I still like very much that has TWO annoying pairings when the alternatives look like better options.  Worse, the show doesn't necessarily seem to think they're choosing the wrong pairing.

Top Ten Dramas of 2020

 I have a process for how I make my top ten lists, and one of the first things I usually do is look at the past year's list.  After all, great shows normally have more than one good season.  I look at the placement of the shows, see if they had a similarly great year this year, and that helps me begin to formulate my list.

Slight issue: none of my top 10 dramas in 2019 aired a season in 2020.  Not a one of them.  Three of them were limited series, another three ended their run in 2019, two of them got cancelled, and the other two shows took 2020 off, possibly pandemic-related.  

While I'm getting used to at least half of the shows disappearing from the roster, I think all of them disappearing is a first for me.  There is one show that took 2019 off that has made an appearance every year of its existence and another show that would have made my 2019 list had I watched it in 2019.  But aside from that, I really couldn't have foreseen no new season of Succession or that On Becoming a God in Central Florida would be cancelled.

On to the list.

#10 - The Boys - Season 2 (Amazon Prime)

This has been such a long year that I didn't even realize I watched season one and season two of The Boys this year.  The Boys' first season would probably have made my list, but I didn't get to it in time.  I like the second season a little less than the first - I think it starts off a bit slow and the ending wasn't totally satisfying, but in between it was probably as good as the first season. 

#9 - Doom Patrol - Season 2 (HBOMax)

I had a better reason for not watching Doom Patrol in 2019: I didn't have a DC Universe subscription.  Once HBOMax bought it as an original series, I binged all 29 episodes.  Similar story to The Boys actually.  I thought the second season was weaker - the loss of Alan Tudyk was really felt - but this is still a superhero show unlike any other that primarily focuses on the broken down characters and trying to do at least one extremely silly thing per episode (there's a reason for this I swear, but ghosts fuck in one episode).

#8 - The Queen's Gambit - Limited Series (Netflix)

It's this low, because the story it tells does not really support it being seven episodes.  Which is not to say that the show's "extra" episode(s) are bad or anything, but you can definitely feel the story being stretched beyond what it probably should by the penultimate episode.  Things could have been condensed is what I'm saying.  There's not a whole lot I could say about this, seeing as everyone reading this has watched it since it's the most watched Netflix drama ever.

#7 - Perry Mason - Season 1 (HBO)

I don't think Perry Mason would have made my list had it not come up with a great ending.  It's got a central, driving mystery that moves the plot along for its first season, culminating in a trial to wrap things up.  So a lot of the quality of the show is relying on the ending to deliver the promise of the first seven episodes.  And as convoluted and confusing as the mystery could be, I think the show ultimately delivered on that promise.

#6 Mrs. America - Limited Series (FX on Hulu)

I both enjoyed this as entertainment and as sort of a history lesson.  And by history lesson, I mean I would look up to see what was accurate, not that I took what happened on the show as face value.  For the purposes of this list, the entertainment part is the important part.  You get to see the important players in the fight for the Equal Rights Amendment, with Phyllis Schafly played by Cate Blanchett as the primary villain who fights against it.  The rest of the cast, which includes Margo Martindale, Rose Byrne, Sarah Paulson, and Uzo Aduba, tend take their turn in the spotlight, but the show never deviates from Schafly, who according to this show at least helped the ERA fail to be ratified.

Also, the theme song is "A Fifth of Beethoven" and I listened to that for like two straight months thanks to this show.

#5 The Plot Against America - Limited Series (HBO)

You only need to hear one name to convince you to watch this: David Simon.  Also his writing partner Ed Burns, but there's an actor named Ed Burns and that may confuse you.  Also half of the six episodes are directed by Thomas Schlamme, who directed quite a lot of The West Wing episodes and some of the better episodes of The Americans. Yes, I have made it my duty to insert The Americans into anything I can with the slimmest of justifications.

The Plot Against America is firmly alternate history, but an alternate history that is frighteningly easy to imagine.  The context in which this is being released certainly helps, although the book was actually written in 2004, so good job Phillip Roth.  Essentially the question this series posed is: what if Charles Lindbergh was able to actually make political ground with his anti-Semitic views?  The series somewhat mirrors current day although I cannot stress enough that it's based on a book that was written well before now.  It's just apparently not hard to predict America getting pushed into fascism.

#4 I May Destroy You - Limited Series (HBO/BBC One)

I avoided watching this show, because I largely expected it to not be a very fun watch.  The show did not hide what it was about so I knew I was watching a show about a woman trying to deal with getting raped.  It's about more than that though.  The show deals with various types of sexual assault, about consent, and about different types of victims.  The show is listed - when you google it - as a comedy-drama.  I don't think that's accurate.  I think this is just a drama - with some comedic elements.  The comedy aspect may just indicate the tone is not quite as heavy as you'd expect, but to be honest, it's not particularly funny.

It had the potential to be higher because it has supporting characters that it sort of ignores.  The main character, played by Michaela Coel, has a clear arc.  It's about as well done as you can get.  Her friends have the makings of an arc, but get dropped or don't get enough screen time in the end to really be satisfying.  It feels like she could have spent a little bit more time on them to complete their stories.

#3 My Brilliant Friend - Season 2 (HBO)

Every year when I make these lists, I have trouble remembering shows that aired early in the year except for broad outlines.  Now this was true before 2020.  2020 has felt like 10 years.  My Brilliant Friend's last episode was March 16th, which was either right when everything shut down or immediately before it.  I'm saying this to say that I remember feeling the same way about season 2 as I did about season 1, but I cannot specifically tell you details of the second season without looking at an episode synopsis.

Seeing as My Brilliant Friend season 1 was listed as #3 back in 2018, this feels like a good placement.  It's about two smart girls who end up taking diverging paths, because of their home life back in 1950s and 1960s Italy.  One of them is (probably) smarter than the other, but had less supportive parents and had to stop going to school.  The other didn't exactly have supportive parents in the modern day context, but they allowed her to keep going to school which qualifies as supportive then.  They both end up envious of the other, because they want what they do not have.  I need to rewatch this before the third season, whenever that happens.

#2 Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist - Season 1 (NBC)

Do I... do I like musicals?  First Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, now this.  Weirdly, I don't have a particular affinity for movie musicals, but I can't for the life of me think of a musical-like moment done in a TV show I was watching that I didn't like.  If I had to guess, movie relies on songs to flesh out its characters, TV shows typically involve musical numbers after the characters are already fleshed out.  Essentially, movies end up relying way too much on the quality of the song for me, while the quality of the song is less important in TV as long as the emotion is there.  I rarely get invested enough in the characters in musicals during movies to really care about what's happening.

The musical element isn't why it's here.  Well it's partially why it's here.  But the premise of the show is that Zoey has a dad who has a condition that leaves him unable to interact with his family - he just stares straight ahead all day.  It's a real condition based on the creator's real life father.  Zoey, through a medical mishap that is no way realistic, begins to hear characters spontaneously sign pop songs to hear to express what they're really feeling.  It's not a spoiler to say that the dad eventually sings to her.  I can guarantee you will cry watching this show.  That or you have no soul.

#1 Better Call Saul - Season 5 (FX)

Back in 2018, I wrote: "Better Call Saul, to date, has the misfortune of airing at the same time as one of my favorite shows of all-time.  Said favorite show - which you should be able to guess if you have read any of these lists - ended in 2018, so Better Call Saul will have the chance to be #1 next year.  I can only hope it achieves that lofty goal."

Well, it didn't have a season in 2019, but as soon as it finally aired its fifth season, it accomplished the task of replacing The Americans.  Back in my Top 50 shows of the 2010s - hate to keep referencing my own work here - I said it has a chance to better than Breaking Bad.  I wrote that before the fifth season.  And since I wasn't all that satisfied with Breaking Bad's ending, a truly fantastic ending to Better Call Saul may very possibly surpass its predecessor as the better show.  For now, it's a better show than anything else airing.

Honorable Mentions

Fargo - The show is suffering from hitting some of the same beats that it has.  I still enjoy the show and I definitely feel weird not including it in my top 10, but this may just be a case of having too high of expectations.

The Mandalorian  - This show, to quote Ryan Theriot, is what it is.  It's good for what it is.  And if season 2 didn't fiddle around for its first few episodes, I may have even ranked it.

Lovecraft Country - It is completely bizarre to me that with modern TV comes a new type of show - a show that has an episode or two that can stand with the best of TV and the rest is... a mess.  Off the top of my head, Master of None's second season, Handmaid's Tale's first season, and The Leftovers first season all had this.

Good Lord Bird - A show I wanted to include in the top ten purely for being a show about John Brown, but the show's less about him, and more about a character in his orbit.  

Marvel's Agents of Shield - Another show I wanted to include, it being its last season and its last season being a step up from what came before.  In fact, its last season reminded me of

DC's Legends of Tomorrow - This is one of those shows where its quality doesn't necessarily occur to you when watching it - you just go with the flow.  It's a top 10 entertaining show of the year ever year since its first season.

The Crown - This is the same show it's been since it started, with some standout episodes and a nagging feeling that it could be better.

Stargirl - I was very surprised this show was as good as it was, and part of that is thanks to a strong selection of villains.

Homecoming - A departure from the Julia Roberts first season, the second season tells a story of a woman (played by Janelle Monae) who wakes up having no idea where she is or who she is and the rest of the season is her discovering that.  Not a great ending to the season though.

2019's Top Ten Comedies

On Monday, I posted my Top 10 Dramas of the year.  Today I will be focusing on the top ten comedies.  And I'll again post my Top 50 shows of the decade, posted in early December.  Don't have much time, so I'll quickly get to the post and repost my introductory disclaimer if you're upset about the picks.

A couple of important points to make before I get to the list.  There are about 500 shows out there, and I may not have seen your show.  I am pretty selective with what shows I watch, even though I watch a lot, and I hate to say it, but me happening to read one bad review at the wrong time could put me off that show forever.  So I'm sorry if your show didn't make the list, but if its any consolation, this is a stacked year for comedy, to the point where a couple of no brainer shows at the beginning of this process did not end up making the final list.

#10 Silicon Valley - Season S6 (HBO)

Apologies to the honorable mention shows, which could have easily made their way on this list.  Ultimately, the tiebreaker is that Silicon Valley has never made my top ten and it should make it at least once.  And this was the final season, a season that I think was very good and an improvement over the last few seasons.  With a shortened episode count, they had less "filler" episodes than usual, which has always been my main issue with the show.

#9 The Tick - Season 2 (Amazon Prime)

Another show whose final season just aired, though The Tick's wasn't exactly by choice.  Hard to feel too bad though - the creator was the original comic book creator of The Tick, which then got turned into an animated series for three years, and then a very short run on Fox back in early 2001, and he got a third try at it.  I've seen all three versions - not read the comic book - and this one is by far the attempting to be the closest to reality and I obviously recommend it.


#8 Sex Education - Season 1 (Netflix)

I'm going to forgo trying to describe this series and sell you on its premise and simply tell you that Gillian Anderson plays a sex therapist, too sharing mom and I think that should pretty much sell you on watching the show, shouldn't it?  Also features someone who looks suspiciously like Margot Robbie's little sister.  Anyway, good show.

#7 Bojack Horseman - Season 6 (Netflix)

Yeah Netflix is running the comedy game right now.  As part one of a two part season, it's getting kind of shortchanged for a list such as this - less episodes and less cohesiveness than watching the season as a whole I imagine.  But I like the direction that the show seems to be taking so far, and will be watching the final eight episodes of the show when it comes out.

#6 You're the Worst - Season 5 (FX)

Yet another show whose final season aired in 2019 - if Sex Education's second season hadn't already been made, I'd think it was cancelled based off this - this was yet again a strong final season.  Television hasn't exactly been known for good final seasons, but that trend seems to be changing?  This wouldn't be here if I didn't like how it ended, so feel free to binge this show knowing it ends well.

#5 Tuca & Bertie - Season 1 (Netflix)

If there's one complaint I'll make about this show is that the first and second episodes aren't exactly the best.  The show becomes something great and I'll even give credit that the first two episodes lull you into thinking this show is something it's not - it's from writers of Bojack Horseman for a reason is all I'll say - but I can kind of see why it didn't get viewership numbers to get renewed.

#4 Russian Doll - Season 1 (Netflix)

A Groundhog Day style story told in eight installments, it actually benefits from being an episodic story rather than either in a movie or a one-off of a genre show.  I have no idea how they're going to do a season two to be perfectly honest, but I'm not going to write off any show with an obvious one season premise after American Vandal pulled a great season two out of their ass.

#3 Fleabag - Season 2 (BBC)

Well, you've probably heard all about this show at this point.  I think this is an improvement over the first season - which I won't make you look but made my #9 comedy of 2016 - but the whole and very short-lived show is worth watching.  The season focuses on Pheobe Waller-Bridge's flirtation with "hot priest" (played by Andrew Scott) and of course her relationship with her family.  And would you believe it, this show's final season was this year too!

#2 Barry - Season 2 (HBO)

I cannot give enough praise to a specific, standout episode during this season called "ronny/lilly."  I've truly never seen an episode like this and it's a treat.  It's written, directed, and starring Bill Hader, and I'm not even worried I'm overselling this it's that good.  What I am worried is that I'm giving short shaft to the rest of the season, which perhaps didn't reach the heights of that episode, but just about no other show did either so can't fault it for that.

#1 The Good Place - Season 4 (NBC)

Yeah another final season here, although there are a few more episodes left until the season is over.  I'm a little surprised this is my first #1 posting for The Good Place, but it surprisingly is.  Anyway, it's one of my favorite comedies ever, even if it wouldn't be on my funniest.  I only partially watch it for the laughs, the other part is some good ole existential thinking and philosophical debates.  I can't believe this show works as well as it does.

Honorable Mentions

GLOW - The drop from #2 to honorable mention is probably over exaggerating the drop off, but this was a genuinely uneven season and I'm less sure the writers know what they want to do after they blew up the status quo at the end of season two.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Black-ish - Two shows keeping the network sitcom alive deep into their runs.  I like B99 more, but I had basically the same thing to say about both.

Archer - In what could be a final season - but looks like Adam Reed's final season at the least - it would have fit in well with this list.

Bob's Burgers - Remaining as consistent of a show as it's ever been, this show is comfort food in the best way.

It's Always Sunny - I would have liked this to make my list, seeing as it's one of my favorite comedies ever, but couldn't find a way to squeeze it in even though it had a good season.

Rick & Morty - I'm as shocked as you this isn't on my list, but I'm only working with five episodes, two of which were not very good, so not particularly hard to leave off the list.

Better Things - This show is not really made for me, so it's probably not a surprise it's off my list, but I just can't find a way to include it in a top ten.

Veep - While comedy isn't as strong as the drama field, there seem to be a million comedies I would have been cool putting at the back end of my list.  Yet another final season that I ultimately couldn't squeeze onto the list.

Catastrophe - I like Catastrophe, but it is a six episode a season show with the urgency of a 24 episode a season show, so it's easy to forget about.

Documentary Now! - Only one more show, it's actually ridiculous how many shows I want to at least mention here.

Dear White People - I watched a few shows with incredibly strong second seasons with a third season that isn't as good, and this is another one of those shows.

2019's Top Ten Dramas

A few weeks ago, I posted my Top 50 shows of the decade, and I expected my top ten list of the year to follow soon after, but it turns out that Christmas and New Years falling in the middle of the week is extremely inconvenient for posting purposes.  It did not hurt that I was able to finish watching certain shows by waiting either.

A couple of important points to make before I get to the list.  There are about 500 shows out there, and I may not have seen your show.  I am pretty selective with what shows I watch, even though I watch a lot, and I hate to say it, but me happening to read one bad review at the wrong time could put me off that show forever.  So I'm sorry if your show didn't make the list, but if its any consolation, this is a stacked year for drama, to the point where a couple of no brainer shows at the beginning of this process did not end up making the final list.

#10 Stranger Things - Season 3 (Netflix)

If one were to attempt an objective top ten list, I don't think Stranger Things would have made my top ten.  But that's also not possible.  I ultimately included it over other shows - shows that are going to be in the honorable mention - because I tend to watch those other shows with significantly less investment than I do when I watch Stranger Things.  I'm not even necessarily criticizing those other shows, I just approach and watch those shows differently than I do Stranger Things.  Stranger Things is a more fun viewing experience for me.

#9 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - Season 4 (CW)

I grade shows based purely by the episodes aired in this year, which makes it a bit confusing when dealing with network shows that air from fall to spring.  Crazy Ex only aired eight episodes in 2019 so I'm only grading the show by those eight episodes.  I'm not sure my ranking would change really - the show finished very strong with most of these episodes being great, but it did at least make it easier to keep it at the bottom of the list with fewer episodes.

#8 Lodge 49 - Season 2 (AMC)

Unfortunately, season 2 was its last season, unless the show gets picked up by another network, which is rather unlikely.  But this is a relaxed, confident show that provides laughs, mystery, and great acting.  The show is not in any hurry with its plot, but the plot provided is good anyway.  And Paul Giamatti makes a great recurring player in this season as well.  So if I can't convince you it's good, hopefully you like Paul Giamatti enough to watch the show.

#7 On Becoming a God in Central Florida - Season 1 (Showtime)

Watch this show.  Please.  The acting as a whole is really good, but Kirsten Dunst steals the show as the lead.  People who've taken the time to read this have probably seen her in Fargo already, but she remains underrated for now.  If you're wondering about the premise - because it leaves a lot to the imagination - it's primarily about a pyramid scheme in the 90s that suckers in people and well it ends up impacting Dunsts' character in an interesting way.

#6 Succession - Season 2 (HBO)

This list really is ridiculous for me.  With the exception of Stranger Things, I would have hoped to get the rest of this list in the top 5.  I'm being serious.  I think this list would be more to my expectations if I excluded miniseries/limited series, but I don't make a top 10 miniseries or limited series list.  I don't even watch five of those a year, and have gone years where I've watched none at all.  I recommend my entire list to anybody and I don't think I could say that about most years.

#5 Chernobyl - Limited Series (HBO)

The only thing this show has against it for a list like this is it's only five episodes.  If I had a complaint, and it's as minor as it gets, the episodes kind of blend together into a whole.  Which I imagine is the point of a miniseries, but a later entry makes much more defined episodes to great effect in my opinion.

#4 Jane the Virgin - Season 5 (CW)

One of the most consistent shows I've ever watched.  It made my top ten every single year I've made top tens, which I think coincide with the beginning of the show.  Unlike Crazy Ex, it benefits from having its entire season this year, as the premiere episode didn't air until March.  One of the rare shows where if you're not "in" by the pilot, the show probably isn't for you and if you are, again ridiculously consistent show, especially given the juggling of tones.

#3 Mr. Robot - Season 4 (FX)

Honest truth - I would never have guessed Mr. Robot would have made this list before the last season aired.  None of the first three seasons did - though the first season certainly deserved to, it just got lost in the shuffle - and I didn't see any reason to think my opinion of the show would change.  But this last season is maybe the best season of all, with a strong ending.

#2 Watchmen - Season 1 (HBO)

Oh man I bet you're really curious about #1, and.. you've already scrolled down.  You're no fun.  Watchmen was nearly perfect in this season and if I had a complaint, the ending was a little too neat.  It didn't seem like the type of show that would have such an ending, though I understand why it did.  It also made me instantly aware that this show was never planned for more than one season and that made me sad.

#1 When They See Us - Miniseries (Netflix)

For the first five years of my rankings, I have listed The Americans as my #1 show.  I unfortunately cannot include The Americans for another year as that show has ended.  And seeing as When They See Us is a miniseries, next year's #1 will be different again.  As for comments about this show, wow.  If you think you know the story about the *exonerated five* you aren't getting the full picture until you watch this series.  The first episode is one of the most frustrating and infuriating episodes of television I've ever watched.  The last episode had me crying like a baby.  Seriously, do yourself a favor and watch this show.  But it's not an easy watch.  It's a necessary one.  But not easy.

Honorable Mentions
Legion (FX) - I did think the third season was a massive improvement over the second, but the weirdness of this show keeps me from truly connecting to the characters.  It didn't help that the original main character is completely detached from reality.

The Deuce (HBO) - Another case where, for whatever reason, I never really got fully invested in this show.  It could have been the time-hopping, but I don't know.  Some truly excellent episodes, but not a great final episode.

Orange is the New Black (Netflix) - Here's a show that I originally wanted in my top ten, along with the above two, but it became clear very quickly that I just had no room for it.  Good ending, certainly better than I expected given Weeds.

Marvelous Ms. Maisel (Amazon Prime) - Again, it was basically a competition for the 10th spot for these shows along with Stranger Things and I just like Stranger Things more.  Because the top 9 weren't going to leave my list.

Arrow (CW) - Most years my honorable mentions were never intended to make my top ten, and I never did come particularly close to adding Arrow, but I do wish I could have somehow found a spot for it.

Mindhunter (Netflix) - Pretty disappointing second season, so I hope the third season can course correct and just forget about the son being a future serial killer.

Counterpart (Starz) - I like the second season more than the first and this season had truly one of my favorite episodes of the year, but only so much room here.

Mandalorian (Disney+) - This is a fun show, but I don't know that I'd like it great.  Short amount of episodes, about half of which were essentially standalone, so it didn't have a great case to make this list, but worthy of mentioning.  This is pretty much my typical honorable mention, a show I want to highlight but I never intend to make a top ten.

Top 50 Shows of the 2010s

With 2020 approaching, many websites primarily writing about movie and television are doing their end of the decade list, so I thought - why not join in?  I've certainly seen enough to make such a list.  While I glanced at a few - mostly to make sure I wasn't forgetting any shows - I have tried to make this list with as little outside information as possible.  And there are a few shows listed in most lists that I simply haven't seen or haven't seen enough of to include unfortunately - Halt and Catch Fire, Treme, Persons of Interest, The Good Wife, Legend of Korra, Fringe - those are at least the big ones.  There is a good chance that - when I would get to those shows - at least one or more would be a part of this list.  But there's always going to be blind spots for a list with one person.

I'm going to follow Alan Sepinwall's model on this one on what shows to include.  For shows that premiered before 2010, it must have over half of its episodes air in this decade and that it must not have aired over two seasons.  The big omission by this rule is Mad Men, which aired 3 seasons in the 2000s, and It's Always Sunny, which has actually had 97 of its 148 episodes this decade.  Which is a blessing frankly.  I have no idea how to judge Mad Men as a show if I'm forced to remove the first three seasons, which when included with the fourth, I think are its best.  It's certainly on this list, but where is a mystery, especially since I haven't watched the show since the finale.

That's another thing - I am not a heavy rewatcher of shows.  Its why I'm able to watch so many shows, because I watch it once and then move on to another show.  So some of this list will include shows that I haven't seen in over five years, and thus, I'm mostly trusting my memory of how I felt about the show.  Again I have one very specific example in mind that I will rewatch at some point, because I don't remember the show all that well, just that I loved it.  This is going to be a long list, so I'll just get on with it.

#50 - Drunk History

Drunk History has suffered in my annual top ten lists, just because it's basically the same thing season after season.  But for a list like this, that doesn't matter.  It's a simple concept - drunk people trying to tell history accurately - and done well.  As a person who has entertained the idea of becoming a history teacher and as a drunk person, this show is right up my alley.

#49 - Arrow

The first Arrowverse show is also its best.  Legends of Tomorrow was strongly considered and frankly I have preferred that show to Arrow for most of its run, but no Arrowverse show has matched the heights of Arrow - back half of season 1, all of season 2, season 5, and this latest season.  It would not have made the list if not for its last season and I'm worried I'm letting recency bias affect this too much, but I think it deserves a spot.

#48 Key & Peele

I watched my first episode after it went off the air - although obviously I had seem some of the individual sketches - and was at first underwhelmed.  The thing about sketch comedies shows - even highly acclaimed ones - is that not every sketch is a hit.  But this has enough classic sketches that can go face to face with any classic sketch comedy show and the pure consistency of this show to produce at least mildly funny laughs is nearly unparalleled in sketch comedy shows.

#47 New Girl

I'm not much of a binger - I try not to watch two episodes of the same show in one day believe it or not - but I was put off by the ads for this show and didn't watch it immediately, but I watched the first two seasons on Netflix in like 2 weeks.  And I was a fan for good.  This just has a very good comedic cast that could make even mediocre writing funny.  And I'm not suggesting this had mediocre writing (although later in its run, they kind of did, but that's most comedies that air as long as this one did)

#46 Marvel's Agents of Shield

Two superhero (or superhero-adjacent) shows already?  I believe this is the last one.  Whether you consider that a good thing or bad thing, well I'm just letting you know this really isn't indicative of most of my list.  Partially due to trying to time the show with a Marvel movie, this show started really slow, so much so that I stopped watching.  But I picked it back up and it got better and better.  It still has one more season to go, but the show doesn't pick up steam until the last batch of episodes in season 1. (If you're considering starting this, just start at Bill Paxton's first episode.  You may or may not be a little lost, but the first fifteen episodes are extremely skippable)

#45 Silicon Valley

Pending on how I end up finishing my 2019 top ten list - which I haven't started - this show never made my top 10 comedies of the year and yet I have it here.  Part of that is that I didn't have a list in 2014 honestly (I think it would have made it), but it was pretty consistently in the 11th-15th range if I extended my list past ten shows.  I probably gave it an honorable mention every year for instance.  Anyway good show with a very good cast.

#44 Black Mirror

I hesitate to put this on my list because it doesn't have that many episodes and it doesn't really have that many truly great episodes either.  It's not like it has a 100% success rate with its episodes, especially the Netflix seasons.  But I don't know it would feel weird to not include this show (which also never made my list and I'm not even sure its best seasons that were before I started this would either cause they were three episodes).  And even if the episode is not quite as good as I'd like, it at least is vastly different than anything else on television.

#43 The Leftovers

Holy shit Gabe this is low, right?  I liked the show more with each successive season, but there are three seasons and I liked two episodes - TWO - of the first season.  And the Guilty Remnant was a huge drag on the show in my opinion.  So yeah it's not going to rank all that highly for me - especially in comparison to other critics - and I'm definitely going to one day give it another shot, but hey I still have it at 43, so clearly I like it a lot.

#42 Catastrophe

One of the truly annoying things about making a list like this is just how different certain shows are in length.  This has four seasons with six episodes a season.  That's as much as one season of a network comedy.  How the hell do I judge these shows in comparison to one another?  Well, fair or not, what I usually do, is I give credit to the longer show if it uses the extra episodes to still make good episodes.  Which is mostly why Catastrophe is this low.  Because there just aren't that many episodes.  (I do have shows with less episodes higher, so it's not the only reason admittedly)

#41 Terriers

Ladies and gentleman, this is the show I was referring to above.  I probably haven't seen this show in 8 years - it was on Netflix whenever I watched it, but it wasn't long after it aired.  And I did love the show.  But I remember very little about why I loved it.  So admittedly, this could be higher - or lower - and I wouldn't argue with you, but I feel like 41 is a pretty good hedge bet especially since this only had 13 episodes.  I will one day rewatch this show.

#40 Master of None

The second season was unfortunately very hit or miss, which is why it isn't higher, even though the hits were among the best episodes on television.  The first season was much more consistent, but again I'm just not working with very many episodes, so I can't place it much higher than this.

#39 Succession

The timing here is fantastic for Succession to make my list.  The most recent episode I watched - and I haven't watched all of the second season yet - was my favorite of the series.  I know people wanted this to be labeled a comedy, but it wasn't until my most recent episode that it completely clicked as a comedy for me.  And I realize that's a little insane if you watch the show, but it wasn't really laugh out loud funny for me.

#38 Russian Doll

If End of the Fucking World is any indication, it's a blessing that the second season hasn't aired yet.  End of the Fucking World, clearly a one season show if there ever was one, would have made this list if they didn't have season two.  But they did.  Russian Doll is also clearly a one season show that will be making a season two - and I'm part of the problem since I'm going to watch it - but boy did I like the first season.  I hate to sound like a broken record here, but it's only eight episodes and that's why it's not higher.

#37 Bob's Burgers

Bob's Burgers does not have the lack of episodes problems - it has 181 episodes made in this decade.  And I think maybe 10 of them are weak episodes.  It probably doesn't reach the heights of most of the shows on this list, but it is startlingly consistent.  Nearly every episode is at least good and definitely entertaining.

#36 Game of Thrones

Everyone talks about how bad the final season was, but it barely came as a shock to me because it wasn't all that good the season before.  Nonetheless, it still has what I'd call the "book years."  I'm not going to overreact to the last season and not include it on this list, but I'm also not going to pretend that I included this show on my top 10 every year before its last season.  (Granted, no top ten lists before 2015, which is removing its first four seasons).  This should probably be higher, but it's also a show that was pretty heavily reliant on nailing its ending and boy did it not do that.

#35 Louie

Oh boy did I not want to include this show!  And apparently a lot of sites felt the same way.  Including this show is a minefield I'm not interesting in stepping in, but I'm also interested in, you know, presenting an accurate list so I kind of had to include this.  It would feel dishonest not to, which is why I'm not going to pretend this wasn't one of the most highly acclaimed shows of its time (including by me).  Now that I've properly pissed off half the people reading this, I'll piss off the other half: it's fine if Louis CK goes away from pop culture and is never heard from again.  (He has admittedly made this incredibly easy if his recent standup is any indication of where he plans to go from here)

#34 Mr. Robot

I hate that I'm writing this list before the conclusion of this show.  This is at 36 with the assumption that it's going to nail its ending, because it has sure nailed the final season.  This is a show that lost me with its second season and with a third that I thought was fine, but nothing special.  But I was a Mr. Robot fanboy for its first and the show grabbed me back with a gripping final season.  If Sam Esmail fucks up the ending, it's lower than this and maybe not even in the top 50.

#33 Documentary Now!

What a difficult line the writers (and directors) have to straddle to make this entertaining television.  They have to craft 21 minute effective parodies of well-known documentaries and put enough of a twist on them to still make it entertaining on its own.  And they manage it every time.  And like Drunk History, bonus points for a comedy making me interested in classic documentaries which I think is cool as shit.

#32 Lodge 49

This is not a show I would oversell to someone who is interested in watching it personally.  It is an extremely low key type of show that is pretty uninterested in plot.  That's the type of show, that if oversold, can make people wonder what the big deal is.  That would have happened to me had I not "discovered" it on my own.  But I recommend this show and be prepared for how laid back it is.  Unfortunately it was cancelled which on the bright side means a low investment in time to watch the whole thing.

#31 American Vandal

Remember above when I mentioned that Russian Doll is probably benefiting from not yet having its second season air?  Well it could pull an American Vandal, which did have a weaker second season, but not by much.  What a delightfully unusual show this one is.  It's a show that makes you sound like a crazy person when you make the case for it in person: believe me I've tried.

#30 Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

I'm very glad this show exists.  While I don't exactly think this show had many weak points, the main character could be... tough to watch at times, which is why I can't place it higher than this.  But still this is a show with many, many original numbers (most of them inspired by something else) that are endlessly re-listenable.  Search for some Crazy Ex songs on Youtube, and if you enjoy them, this show might be for you.  (Here are two of my favorites: 1 and 2)

#29 You're the Worst

This show was a little too committed to the awfulness of its characters to place higher than this (sometimes it became hard to watch), but it told its story in the time it wanted and had a good final season, which is better than you could say about a lot of shows honestly.

#28 Watchmen

To be perfectly honest, this show is better than some shows above it - but it is working with a very small sample of episodes, and if it continues its momentum, will be high on the 2020 lists.  I've also only currently seen four of the episodes, but am pretty sure I'm not going to regret this ranking.  Including shows that clearly are going to go for more seasons but literally just started is weird when making an end of the decade list.

#27 GLOW

This is mostly here on the strength of its second season, probably one of the best seasons of television of this decade.  That's to take nothing away from its first - which needed to get to the wrestling part to find its groove - or its third - which is a little too scattershot, but still has its high points.  Still a pretty great show.

#26 Party Down

All shows are unrealistic, but I now know how lawyers feel about the accuracy of lawyer shows and doctors feel about doctor shows.  Cause wow.  This show is about Hollywood caterers and while I obviously live in St. Louis, this show does not seem all that realistic.  Nonetheless, this has one of the greatest comedy casts ever and takes advantage of that.

#25 Boardwalk Empire

The curse of being the show compared to The Sopranos.  I didn't see this show on many end of decade lists, so I was very surprised to find out that the entire show did in fact air this decade.  A highly underrated show, again this show had the misfortune of being directly compared to The Sopranos due to Terrance Winter, and while it is no Sopranos, it still is worth a place on this list.

#24 Broad City 

This is one of those shows were initially, the perception of this show of people whose TV tastes I trust was at odds with my perception.  Not to say I ever disliked this show, but they always seemed to grade it a little higher than I thought.  But the show seemed to only get better with each season, an opinion I'm not sure is shared by many, and didn't overstay its welcome.  In fact, I believe its last season will land on my top 10 this year, which again - aside from cancellations - doesn't happen that much.

#23 Jane the Virgin

Ah, a show with a title that is instantly off-putting - and to a certain extent the premise is too.  This sounds like a show you can write off - but you can't.  Sometimes, I warn that shows get off to slow starts and eventually find their way - that's the norm actually - but this show came out of the gate instantly great and in fact made my top 10 shows of the year every year since its inception.

#22 Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Talk about unlikely good shows - go back to the Roast of James Franco and lots of people make fun of Andy Samberg for this - which hadn't aired yet - becoming cancelled or bad soon.  And I didn't really blame them for thinking it to be honest.  Instead season seven is going to air in 2020 after a cancellation and subsequent pickup by NBC.  This has the consistency of a Bob's Burgers with better high points.

#21 Stranger Things

Part of me wonders if this should be higher, but then I remember that the solo Eleven story exists, which is easily the worst thing this show ever did.  A huge gamble and I admire the ambition, but man did that episode fall flat and halt that season's momentum.  Anyway, aside from that, the rest of the show is great.

#20 Barry

A hitman turned actor is a great premise that I can also see failing spectacularly.  But Bill Hader has long been a great actor in need of a vehicle for a starring role and Barry finally provides it.  And ronny/lilly is one of my favorite episodes of anything for a long time and completely unlike anything I've ever seen.

#19 Hannibal

I'm a little worried about recency bias for most of my list, but not this one, which I haven't seen in four years since it last aired.  But I remember loving this weird, well acted show that has been unlike anything I've ever seen.

#18 Review

It's here where I'll again knock a show for very few episodes, because this show is a masterpiece.  It's only three seasons with the third being only 3 episodes, and it's not immediately clear it's a masterpiece when you first watch it.  So I'm aware I'm probably raising expectations too high.  But hilarious and dark show.

#17 Better Call Saul

The spinoff of Breaking Bad ultimately has a chance to pass that show in quality, depending on how it ends.  But for now, it'll have to "settle" merely for being the 17th best show on my list.  It is a way better than show than it has any right to be.  Yes, the character of Saul Goodman always looked ripe for his own show, but it never seemed like it would be this good of one.

#16 Fleabag

It is a testament to how good this show is that I have it this high with just 12 episodes.  I cannot stress enough that the amount of episodes and the success rate of that amount is heavily factored into where shows ranked.  It just does not seem fair to rank a show with 50 good episodes below a show 20.  But as I said, this only has 12!

#15 Gravity Falls

As a show that was on Disney XD, which I'm not convinced is a real channel, I did not watch this when it first aired, but well after, on Hulu.  It's only two seasons and 40 episodes, but it has a central mystery behind the comedy that is compelling in its own right.  This is a classic mystery show that constantly teases and foreshadows and actually delivers on that promise, unlike... just about every other mystery show there is.

#14 Nathan for You

This is one of those shows that, I'm sure if you watched the first episode - maybe even the first season - you'd be truly mystified at this ranking.  And I don't necessarily blame you.  It's best episode by far is its movie length last episode - another thing that would mystify based off just watching the first episode.  But stick with the show and you'll find it more than just funny and entertaining.

#13 Justified

I truly do want this to be higher, but I can't really go any higher than this, since for most of its run, it never really vaulted into one of the best shows on television.  The exception is the Margo Martindale season 2, and Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins constantly kept things entertaining, but what sealed its place on this list was its strong final season as well.  Modern Western that I wholeheartedly recommend.

#12 Community 

The sheer consistency of this show for its first three seasons is nearly unmatched by any other comedy on this list - and the first 9 or so episodes of the first season are not included in this list since they aired in 2009.  But that barely harms the show since it didn't really hit its groove until the 2010s hit.  Unfortunately, there's the dreadful season 4 and season 6, but I hardly feel compelled to hold that against them.  Dan Harmon was fired, a lot of the behind the scenes people left with him and the show's momentum was killed.  They did recover to make a good season 5 at least.

#11 Bojack Horseman

I have not completed the most recent season, but I don't have to - the show's first five seasons speak for themselves.  I'm knocking it ever so slightly for keeping its characters in stasis - and they are far from the first show to do so - but it tends to tilt towards misery porn at times with watching its main character constantly screw his own life over.  It's still 11 so obviously I don't have a huge issue with that, but it's a small complaint.

#10 Veep

Even in its down years, the cast and the colorful language kept this entertaining.  And obviously, the show became nearly prescient with what's happened after it aired, making its parody of politics reality.  I will say - it doesn't hurt the show much - but in its middle years, the show's commitment to not reveal Selena's party hurt it a bit - in my opinion anyway.

#9 Rick & Morty 

If only I could put this on this list without the backdrop of its annoying fandom that surrounds it.  I think I got into Rick & Morty before I let the fandom impact my opinion of the show, but I pretty much don't blame people who don't watch it at this point.  Nonetheless, they are missing out as this is a very inventive, funny comedy.

#8 Rectify 

I am struggling to write passages for every show - I'm not sure why I did that - but especially so for shows like Rectify.  Rectify apparently last aired an episode in December of 2016, and while that was three years ago, it feels like five.  So my memory of this show is of a quiet, very well-acted, very well-written drama that I need to rewatch as soon as I can.

#7 Parks and Recreation

With the 2009 episodes cut off, you lose.... virtually nothing.  You lose Hunting Trip, which is a classic, but otherwise you get a very different show in the first six episodes and a show still finding its footing in the beginning of season 2.  And I wholeheartedly recommend you start watching at season 2, but it's not quite at its peak yet.  Rob Lowe and Adam Scott enter the picture in the back half of season 2 and then the show becomes a classic.

#6 Fargo

If only it weren't for season 3, which is definitely better than I remember it, but which was coming off the tails of one of the best seasons of television I've ever watched in season 2.  The show is this high almost entirely on the back of season 2, even though season 1 is quite good in its own right.  And like I said, season 3 isn't bad, it's just mostly unpleasant to watch, which I realize sounds like a different way of saying it was bad, but you'd understand if you watch the show.

#5 Atlanta

How good is this show?  Well it's ratings appear to be shit, though I do not know the context for FX shows, and it got renewed for a third season after the second season and a fourth season in August of 2019 very randomly.  It still hasn't aired the third season.  Between Donald Glover's music and movie career and Laketh Stanfield being in every movie lately, I feel like we're going to get season 4 in 2025.

#4 The Pacific

This is technically a miniseries and I obviously have no other miniseries on this list, even though I'm sure I could have included more.  Alias Grace comes to mind.  I strangely haven't seen Show Me a Hero, but that's a David Simon show so I'm sure that has an argument.  But I just had to include this show, which doesn't even seem like it aired this decade, but it did.  It is a much more difficult watch than Band of Brothers, but no less remarkable.  In fact, it's told in a more - ambitious? - way and with less audience hand-holding.

#3 Breaking Bad

I'm not the biggest fan of the final season, but seasons 3 and 4 are the most thrilling, fly by the seat of your pants television I have ever seen and probably will ever see.  This is sort of a "watch it one time" type of show and if you watch it more than once, watch it with someone else with fresh eyes.  I'm still afraid I'm putting it too high - not that many would argue - just because, as I said, not the biggest fan of season 5.  But even then, season 5 has Ozymandias so you know what, it belongs.

#2 The Good Place

It is entirely possible that this show will fuck up the ending, but that actually doesn't matter at all on this list.  I mean a show as geared up towards an ending as Good Place will retroactively make the rest of the show worse if they do it badly enough, but I don't think that's going to happen.  Truly one of my favorite shows of all time.

#1 The Americans

I mean come on.  If you guys ever ever read my TV stuff - literally ever - this is the least surprising #1 pick ever.  It was my #1 show every single year I made a top 10 list.  I'm going to have to make my first top ten list without The Americans in a couple weeks.  And I don't know what's replacing it.  So that'll be fun.  So watch The Americans I say enthusiastically and demandingly.

Honorable Mentions
Legends of Tomorrow - A truly entertaining show I recommend to anyone.  It probably should have made its way on my list.

Archer - Unfortunately, this show was great for about two years, and one of the better years was in 2009 so pretty easy omission here.

The Crown - It's a bit too boring, but it's very well made and has great acting.

The Knick - The Steven Soderbergh produced show benefits heavily from what I thought was a great ending in its two season run.

Black-ish - In terms of sitcoms with serious highs, this had a real shot, but there's a whole lot of episodes of this show that are skippable.

Wilfred - This show never had a real shot at this list, but I do want to give a shoutout to this weird ass show that I liked a lot!

This is Us - Yeah yeah this show is actually good and it's kind of annoying, but it does try to manipulate emotions too much.

Shameless - At this point, I think the not good seasons outweigh the good ones, and that's why it's not on here, but it had a good run for a while there.

Santa Clarita Diet - Dark comedy featuring Olyphant and Drew Barrymore that I can't recommend enough if you like dark comedy.

Orphan Black - Again, never a real shot, but watching Tatiana Maslany play 20 different characters is worth the price of admission.

Banshee - Very kickass show

Chernobyl - I forgot to mention this show when mentioning miniseries that probably could have made it.

On Becoming a God in Central Florida - I felt weird putting too many one season shows on this list unfortunately otherwise it did have a shot.

2018 Top Ten Dramas

If you need an introduction to my top ten lists, here is comedy first.  I feel like a top ten list is fairly self-explanatory though and by no means is it necessary to read that first.

Drama seemingly had a weak year for the second year in a row.  I think it's weak only relative to my expectations and that in the past, I've had shows that I had watched for a few years that I sort of expected to make my list that did, such as Mad Men, Justified and Fargo.  The sort of show that I instantly know will make my list when I start this project.  Few of those shows were present in 2018 for me, which made compiling a top ten list feel weaker.  But honestly, I think this is just a misconception that I have for whatever reason.  Looking at my past years' lists, it's not like all ten shows would wipe out this year's shows.

The list is much different this year.  Alias Grace, The Leftovers, FEUD, Stranger Things, and Fargo did not air anything in 2018 and all made my list last year.  I chose not to watch Handmaid's Tale, which made my list, because the reviews for season two pretty much aligned with my fears about the season after watching the first, which I even said last year in my top ten post.  I watch a lot of shows so I have to be stingy when it comes to choosing what to watch.  And onto the list!

#10 DC's Legends of Tomorrow (CW)
Model Episode: "Here I Go Again"

Oh how far this show has come.  Never in a million years would I have dreamed this show would ever have a chance to make a top ten list back when this first aired.  I probably would find it hard to imagine the show even being better than the other CW superhero shows.  But it unquestionably the best of the bunch now.

Legends of Tomorrow is an absolutely ridiculous show and it sure knows it.  They have the "Why not?" approach to storytelling, to take something absurd and just put it in the episode because it'll be fun.  And it is!  The show has weathered cast changes throughout this process, but as long as Caity Lotz is still the center of the show, it can probably suffer a few more changes.  I picked "Here I Go Again" because I love Groundhog Day episodes.

#9 Haunting of Hill House
Model Episode: "The Bent-Neck Lady"

This show had a terrible ending and could have been higher if not for that.  But at the same time, that tells you about the first nine episodes, that I still have it on the top ten even with a bad ending.  I do not like horror stories.  I do not understand the want to watch something that will deliberately scare you.  However, I will watch horror movies if they are trying to accomplish something other than "scare the shit out of you."  My favorite horror movies are the meta ones, which should tell you something.

Haunting of Hill House justifies its horror gene in other ways than just trying to scare you, which makes its scares more effective.  The episode above is something that is going to stick with me, not necessarily because I was so freaked out by episode - though I was - but because just the idea of what happens in that episode is tragedy at its finest.  It also features child actors who look remarkably like the adult actors so the time shifting narrative is not nearly as jarring as it otherwise might be.

#8 Jane the Virgin (CW)
Model Episode: Chapter 77

Jane the Virgin, a telenovela that can change tones and genres every week, somehow has managed to remain consistent enough through its first four seasons to land on my top ten list every year I've written one.  Honestly, when I included on my list in its first season, I fully expected that to be the only year.  I sometimes will gives shows extra credit when they are new and original and do something different over an established show that might be a similar quality.  Nonetheless, Jane the Virgin has consistently been on the back half of this list.

There's really only so much I can say about this show at this point that I haven't already said three times.  I will say, if you see this show on this list and wonder if you'd like it, the show was pretty much good from the beginning.  If you don't like it right away, you probably never will.  So give it a few episodes, see what you think, and whatever you think is roughly how you'll respond to the show for the rest of its run.

#7 Homecoming (Amazon)
Model Episode: "Protocol"

If you had one complaint about Homecoming, it's that it peaks a little early.  There are ten episodes and it peaks a couple episodes before the last episode.  It's mainly a mystery show and the show does deliver on the questions it presents, but it ends up climaxing a couple episodes before its actual ending.  Homecoming started as a podcast - it was a fictional story told in podcast form.

Amazon or the television people at Amazon knew what type of show they had on their hands and went all-out on the casting and directing.  Sam Esmail, of Mr. Robot, directs every episode.  If you enjoy Mr. Robot and how it is filmed, you'll probably enjoy this.  There are Hitchock homages and while the show can sometimes be slow, Esmail leaves plenty of breadcrumbs for people who are into that.  Julia Roberts, Bobby Cannavale, Shea Whigman - even minor roles are played by Jeremy Allen Shrier of Shameless and Dermot Mulroney.  Stephan James, who I'd never seen in anything before, was nominated for a Golden Globe and it was well deserved.

#6 The Marvelous Ms. Maisel
Model Episode: "Vote for Kennedy, Vote for Kennedy"

I have not seen Gilmore Girls, the previous series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, but I know all about some of the complaints against the otherwise good series.  She has a blind spot to certain characters.  Her dialogue can be a bit too whimsy.  It's an otherwise beloved show and I think I know why based off my feelings towards The Marvelous Ms. Maisel.  Yes, she has a blind spot to a character (Joel) who should be nowhere near as prominent as he is and yes, the dialogue gets too whimsy.  But I also know why people put up with that when the show is this good.

It's a decision made for the betterment of the show, but the stand-up comedy element of this is.. pretty unrealistic.  I don't consider myself an expert on standup comedy history, but I'm fairly certain her jokes are about 20-30 years ahead of her time.  In 1959, standup comedians would have the same 10-15 minute set for multiple years and Midge ends up having a different set every episode.  Which again, is fine.  It's not like we want to hear her say the same thing every episode.  I also tend to think this show portrays standup comedy as much easier than it actually is because Midge very frequently goes on stage and just talks about what she did earlier that day without any sort of preparation for how she would deliver it.  And with the exception of a unplanned wedding set, the audience pretty much always loves her.  I think a little more struggle sprinkled in would go a long way with me personally.  Not the "someone is blackballing" her struggle, but the actual making people laugh part.

#5 The Deuce (HBO)
Model Episode: "We're All Beasts"

I left The Deuce off my list last year and for one main reason: it is somehow forgettably excellent.  The show is well done, there's no question about it.  David Simon and I assume everyone who followed him to make The Deuce are all so good at their jobs that this show tends to fall under my radar.  The Deuce is a perfect example of why it's very hard to make these lists.  It's somehow easy for me to forget about the show and what makes it great just a few months later.

Nonetheless, I made sure to put it on my list this year.  I remember specifically when I watched the second season that I noted to myself to put it on the list in case the same apparent amnesia fell over me when compiling the 2018 list.  It isn't higher because the same exact thing happened to me this year.  It is just not a show that sticks with me for very long and I have no idea why.  Though fair or not, the next two shows on my list were all watched in the past month, so I'm lying if I pretend that doesn't make a difference.  Which is unfortunate.  The Deuce might still be here if I had watched in the past month though, so it's no guarantee.

#4 Lodge 49 (AMC)
Model Episode: "Full Fathom Five"

Lodge 49 has an almost impossibly appealing tone.  I say it's impossible, because when I describe the tone, it probably doesn't sound that appealing.  Its tone is basically what I imagine SoCal personified to be, laidback and not in a rush to get anywhere.  The show has a mystery throughout the first season that is to be clear, interesting, but the show's tone makes it almost seem beside the point.  It's the journey that matters, not the destination.

See how much of an idiot I sound trying to sell that tone as a good thing?  But it unquestionably is, as two characters who lost their father - as in his body has not been found in a year and is suspected dead lost.  Never finding the body never gave them a sense of closure and that defines where the characters are at the beginning of the season.  They are lost, looking for direction, not sure where to go with their lives or what it can deliver.  Until Dud - yes Dud - finds Lodge 49.

#3 My Brilliant Friend (HBO)
Model Episode: "L'isola (The Island)"

My Brilliant Friend is an Italian-American production about two friends, told from the perspective of one of the friends.  Both are brilliant and very good at school, but end up taking different paths because of their home life.  Neither are rich, but one has a more supportive family.  Thus, My Brilliant Friend follows these two young girls from adolescent to their teenage years, reflecting on female friendship in 1950s Italy.

As you can imagine, this would hardly seem to be something that would appeal to me, a white mid-20s American male.  But it is very well told, in eight installments, and it passes through time so much, that it never feels boring.  The first episode is when the two girls are in 1st grade, the second in 4th, and then they skip to the teenage years.  The casting is impeccable, but between the foreign language and the pure amount of characters, it can sometimes be hard to follow who is who at certain points.  Because all the kids are played by different actors at two different ages.  But if you are able to watch foreign language films, I'd recommend this show.

#2 Better Call Saul (AMC)
Model Episode: "Winner"

Boy do I need to rewatch the entirety of this show before next season.  I sincerely hope I have time to do that.  In the past, Better Call Saul aired at the beginning of the year and by the time December rolled around, I had different shows more clear in my mind, which made it hard to include on a top ten list.  This year, the last episode aired in October, so it's a little clearer, but I still want to watch the entire show again.  I have watched every season right after it aired, but never rewatched any episodes.

Better Call Saul, to date, has the misfortune of airing at the same time as one of my favorite shows of all-time.  Said favorite show - which you should be able to guess if you have read any of these lists - ended in 2018, so Better Call Saul will have the chance to be #1 next year.  I can only hope it achieves that lofty goal.

#1 The Americans (FX)
Model Episode: "START"

Thus The Americans, one of the greatest series to ever grace television, ends.  If I'm being honest, I probably shouldn't have put The Americans #1 last year.  It was clear they were setting up for the endgame, and while I enjoyed the season, it was mostly a set up season.  However, because I did, The Americans has been my #1 show for four straight years.  Even with said acknowledgement, The Americans WAS my favorite show all four years too so I can hardly say I made a mistake.

The Americans, as a series who is among the greats, had a very big hurdle to climb.  They needed a good ending.  A bad ending can destroy a series.  Just look at Dexter.  I'm happy to report The Americans has a great ending.  An ending appropriate to the type of show The Americans was.  I will recommend this show to anybody who listens, but I'm just happy that people who ignored me did not lead to it being prematurely cancelled.  Thank you FX.

Honorable Mentions

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - I still enjoy the show, but I feel like needing at least two original songs for every episode has caused a slight decline.  It was close to making this list however.

Legion - I hope that Noah Hawley goes back to making Fargo, because this show is just a little too weird and out-there for me.  I will still watch a season three if it airs.

Sharp Objects - I wanted to include this but I really didn't like the ending very much.

Castle Rock - Showed potential, but was kind of all over the place, quality-wise.  Hopeful a season two, if there is one, has more consistency

Maniac - Given the names behind it, I really expected this show to be better than it was.  Very weird show though.

This is Us - This show really is better than it has any right to be in my opinion.

2018 Top Ten Comedies

When I started making top ten lists, I split up the top ten between dramas and comedies for essentially two reasons.  The first is that I find it impossible to directly compare a comedy and a drama in terms of quality.  They have such different goals.  Plus, I tended to favor the dramas.  In other words, I knew I'd probably end up with 8 dramas and 2 comedies or some lopsided amount of dramas.  Secondly, there were really that many shows I thought deserving of a top ten.  I didn't want to ignore 8 comedies or even the 3-4 dramas I wanted on a top ten.  I thought they should all be recognized.  (If you're wondering why I didn't do a top twenty, same fear: I felt like I might have 15 dramas and 5 comedies)

This might have gone differently if I had started top ten lists this year.  I could very easily have made a top ten combining dramas and comedies - though with extremely difficulty still in comparing the two.  I don't know what's different, but I used to be able to roughly guess what a top ten show looked like.  I'd label the shows I was certain were a top ten show and then see how many top ten shows I had and I usually ended up with 15 for both genres.  Then I'd struggle to cut it down to 10.  This year, I did the same and... ended up with like 5 shows.  Not sure if my standards are greater, or if TV just hit a boom a couple years ago.

With that said, I ultimately decided to stick with this format, because surprise surprise comedy ended up with over 10 comedies that I thought deserving of a spot once I went past my initial impressions.  Dramas?  Well that's for tomorrow.

#10 - Bob's Burgers (Fox)
Sample episode: "Taking of Funtime One Two Three"

I will present to you a hypothetical on why Bob's Burgers is on this list.  I value peak over consistency.  A B show with A episodes and C episodes would stand a better chance at making this list than a B show with all B episodes.  Neither are likely to make my top ten list and rarely do television shows present me with that specific problem, but I made an exception for this rule with Bob's Burgers.

That's not to say they don't have any A episodes.  The episode above is one such example.  It just has about the same amount of A episodes as most comedies considered for this list, and they did it with less episodes.  But its weakness is also its strength.  In 2018, Bob's Burgers aired 24 episodes and there was maybe one or two weak episodes.  Bob's Burgers is remarkably consistent.  It's always a good show, sometimes a great one.  This is pretty much the definitive family show for me.  All the characters are nice, the family is extremely supportive of each other, and the closest thing the show has to a wet blanket is H. Jon Benjamin sighing and commenting on how stupid everything is, which is GREAT.

#9 Corporate (Comedy Central)
Sample episode: "Casual Friday"

"It's another day at heartless, multinational corporate hellhole Hampton DeVille where junior executives-in-training Matt and Jake are at the beck and call of tyrannical CEO Christian DeVille and his top deputies, brown-nosers John and Kate."

Given the channel it's on and its viewership numbers, most people probably haven't heard of this show.  I didn't think I could provide an adequate description and I think whoever wrote that in Wikipedia did as fine a job as I would.  Corporate is not for everyone.  It's a very dark show and I mean that literally.  It's like all black, grey, and blue.  The episode above is "Casual Friday" and the place goes into chaos because one character actually dresses casual for it.  It's that type of show.  The highlight is easily Lance Reddick, who plays the CEO.  Watch him in this Funny or Die skit, which predated the show by a few years, and if you enjoy that, you'll enjoy him in this show.  It's basically the same performance.

#8 Bojack Horseman (Netflix)
Sample episode: "Showstopper"

Bojack is a victim of its own success.  I don't mean the character, though it applies there too.  I mean that I know what Bojack at its best and I think the most recent season was not Bojack at its best.  I'm not sure if any of the episodes from this season would make my own personal top ten Bojack episodes.

But it's still Bojack Horseman.  My above paragraph is only necessary because Bojack finished 4th last year.  It finished 5th the year before.  The fundamental nature of Bojack Horseman the show is such that I imagine it will have a difficult time for the next few seasons without just repeating itself.  Bojack must always be struggling, must always do something self-destructive.  It's a pretty clear pattern at this point.  While I still love the show, I'm not sure it will ever get back in the top five because of this.  Happy to be proven wrong though. 

Cool note: Bojack Horseman's 4th selection in my 4th year of doing this makes this the only comedy that has been on my list every time.  Two other shows were on my list for three straight years.  Broad City took the year off.  The other show is in my honorable mentions.

#7 Barry (HBO)
Model episode: "Loud, Fast and Keep Going"

It feels like Barry deserves to be higher, but unfortunately two things kept it at a very reasonable 7.  The first reason is that it took legitimately three episodes to set up the premise.  The premise is that a hit man wants to stop being a hit man and turns to an acting class.  To not get into too many details, but they basically need a reason for him to stay in the same city so that he can attend the same acting class in order to make the premise work.  Thus, it took about three episodes in order to get the characters where the show wanted them in order to make the comedy they wanted.

The second reason is that the show is only eight episodes.  This was probably not an option, but I think it would have worked better if they essentially had an hour and a half pilot episode.  Because the third episode still felt like part of the pilot.  Nonetheless, the show's last three episodes are all great.  If you didn't know Bill Hader was a hell of an actor by now, where the fuck have you been?  He's perhaps giving the best performance of his career and Henry Winkler is just delightful in this.

#6 American Vandal (Netflix)
Model Episode: "The Dump"

American Vandal should have been a global phenomenon.  It's just way too hard of a show to sell.  It's impossible to tell people to watch the show without sounding like an idiot.  Season one was such a perfect, impossibly good season that it was foolish to even make a second season.  I mean where could they possibly go from there?

While I wouldn't say American Vandal's second season is as good as the first, I think it's about as good as it could possibly be.  I don't know that there was a way to improve on this season, because it's got a self-limiting premise.  The first season's tagline was "Who drew the dicks?"  The second season's is "Who is the Turd Buglar?"  This show's greatest strength is that they actually care about the mystery.  Well, that and that they nail the mockumentary format.

#5 Big Mouth (Netflix)
Model Episode: "Dark Side of the Boob"

I watched Big Mouth's first season earlier this year, and thus have no idea if it would have placed on my top ten last year.  Just decided to write it off too soon.  It happens.  Once I watched the first season this year, I made sure I wasn't going to forget to watch the second season in time.  John Mulaney and Nick Kroll have a good comedic relationship, in case you haven't watched Oh, Hello or any of their openings for the Spirit Awards.  Big Mouth is no exception.

Big Mouth is a show that I think would be good to show to kids going through puberty.  It's too dirty to be shown in schools, but it's freely available on Netflix, so I'm sure kids going through puberty are watching the show.  Some people are probably freaked out about that, but the show clearly strives for comedy AND to be educational on these topics.  The highlights of this show are still the Hormone Monster, played by Nick Kroll, and the Hormone Monstress, played by Maya Rudolph.  Watch this show for Rudolph if for no other reason.

#4 Dear White People
Model Episode: Chapter VIII

Congratulations to DeRon Horton, who appeared in both American Vandal's second season and Dear White People.  I liked Dear White People's first season, but it was very clunky in a lot of parts.  It reached a high most shows do not, hitting its stride in the middle of the season, but the rest did not live up to a particular incident that colors the whole season.

The second season has one of my favorite episodes of 2018, if not my favorite, when it has two characters in a room for pretty much the entire episode.  They have a 25-30 conversation and it's great television.  The show was just much stronger in this season.  The show has always dealt with complex issues, but it was just better written in this season.

#3 The Good Place
Model Episode: Janet(s)

The Good Place did not have an appreciably better third season than the first two seasons.  I placed the first season 6th and the 2nd season 7th in the past two years.  The first season is a consequence of the show only airing about 9 episodes in 2016 and the ending of the first season, which I had not reached, kind of changed the game.  Last year, The Good Place was in a ridiculously stacked year, full of shows that have ended or didn't air an episode in 2018.

No such issues this year.  The Good Place is still constantly changing as a show and I can't explain why without spoiling it.  But you should definitely be watching this show.  I won't say anymore for fear of accidental spoilers.

#2 GLOW
Model Episode: Mother of All Matches

Unlike The Good Place, which I felt had a similar quality to its last few seasons (if not arguably weaker in fact), GLOW was a huge improvement over the first season in my opinion.  I'm not saying it was bad.  Indeed, it was only left off my list last year entirely because 2017 comedy was incredibly stacked (Nathan for You, Review, Rick & Morty, Broad City, Master of None - literally none of these shows aired a single episode in 2018 for various reasons).

In "Mother of All Matches," GLOW truly makes one of the hardest episodes of television to watch, but in the best way possible.  Starting with that episode, GLOW pretty much nailed the rest of the season's episodes too.  They had about seven straight great episodes in a row, with maybe one exception.

#1 Atlanta
Model Episode: "Teddy Perkins"

Atlanta is a show that changes what type of show it is from week to week.  It can shift easily from being a horror film (Teddy Perkins), a coming-of-age period piece (FUBU), a road trip buddy comedy gone wrong (North of the Border), or a tale between a couple (Helen).  You don't know what you're getting when you start an episode of Atlanta.

That makes it sound like a show that is wildly unpredictable and in some ways it is, but the show still has Earn being a manager for Paper Boi, with Van as the sort of love interest, and of course Darius being Darius.  It's not that confusing of a show to follow despite the fact that the tone constantly changes.  That's why this is #1.  Because it has achieved the difficult task of being unpredictable but not with that pratfalls usually associated with an unpredictable show.

Honorable Mention

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - The was the other show that was on my list for three years running.  Ultimately, the show had two outright bad episodes out of 10 and I couldn't really say that about any shows on this list.  The finale was excellent.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine - I wanted to include this, I did, but I had to give the nod to Bob's Burgers over B99.  I'm unfortunately holding it against the show that they had less episodes and I felt a few more "duds," which is kind of unfair because I still enjoy watching a dud episode of B99.

Insecure - Insecure has taken a weird approach to storytelling since it has just eight episodes.  Just too many pointless detours in plot that end up not mattering at all.  Good finale kept it in the honorable mentions.

Casual - I'll give a shout out to Casual, which kept me entertained as a solid, but unspectacular show for four seasons.

Archer - Archer is changing its setting and tone for each new season and that's admirable, but I think it's well past its prime.  I do give it credit for being different at least.

Blackish - Very solid, very consistent network comedy that only suffers because it's hard for a network comedy to make a list such as this.

Alright, that is my top ten for comedy.  I am hoping I can write my top ten drama tomorrow, though I am definitely not guaranteeing it will get done.  So if you're here tomorrow and it's not up, well this is your warning of that possibility.