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.
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