This was another thrilling season of GOT with the breathtaking Battle of the Bastards, explosions, dragons, shocking deaths and some of the series’ biggest villains coming to appropriately barbaric ends. The show boasts an enormous, incredibly talented cast, stunning locations, gorgeous cinematography and characters and storylines rich in detail and scope. There is nothing else like it on television.
HBO’s newest sci-fi thriller may prove a worthy successor to GOT. Highly imaginative, thought-provoking and visually compelling, the show dives deep into issues of morality, philosophy and the definition of consciousness. With layers of meaning built into every plot point and plenty of mysteries to unravel, Westworld is both highly entertaining and a challenging puzzle for those viewers longing for the engagement of shows like Lost and True Detective (season 1).
NBC’s new hit drama is an appealing, heartwarming exploration of one family’s journey told through several decades. The show focuses on the trials and tribulations of family life, the challenges of being a parent and difficulties of just being a grown up. There is a high possibility of schmaltz here, but the show manages to stay grounded and tackle some compelling subjects. Kate’s obsession with weight loss and feelings of inadequacy and Randall’s confusion and isolation growing up an African-American kid in a white family are portrayed with sensitivity and intelligence. This is Us offers plenty of hanky, warm fuzzy moments but also delivers an astute, intricate portrait of a modern family.
Created by and starring Donald Glover (Community), Atlanta is a smart, funny slice of life look at one man’s attempt to follow his passion, put a little more money in his wallet and do right by his family. The characters and situations in Atlanta feel incredibly realistic. Combine that authenticity with sharp satire and an insightful sense of humor and what develops is a truly refreshing viewpoint for television. Glover’s adroit storytelling cleverly dissects serious problems like police brutality, transphobia and racial differences, while skewering hypocrisy and finding the absurdity at the heart of most of society’s conflicts.
Better Things centers on Sam Fox, played by Pamela Adlon, a fortysomething divorced actress raising three daughters in Los Angeles. Created and written by Adlon and Louis C.K., the show’s tone is razor-sharp and a bit naughty. Adlon’s harried mom is utterly relatable and her struggles with an aging parent, annoying progeny, lack of a social life and a demanding career, provide both the humor and the bittersweet drama of the show.Adlon is a divorced mother of three and a successful actress (Californication, Louie, and King of the Hill) and she has created a unique vision of one woman’s journey, warts and all, through the insanity of contemporary life.
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
The biggest surprise of 2016, this soapy true crime drama provided some of the most riveting and purely entertaining television of the year. With exceptional performances and superior writing, the show detailed the collision of societal inequalities and oversized personalities that created this circus of a trial. Sarah Paulson (Marcia Clark), Sterling K. Brown (Christopher Darden) and Courtney B. Vance (Johnnie Cochran) all delivered Emmy award winning performances and managed to humanize their famous counterparts.
The second season of American Crime centers on a male scholarship student who accuses some wealthy members of a private high school basketball team of sexual assault and harassment. The show delves into issues of classism, racism and homophobia, and doesn’t shy away from asking some deeply disturbing questions. Felicity Huffman, Timothy Hutton, Regina King and Lili Taylor lead the stellar cast. As the plot builds towards an inevitable tragic conclusion, viewers may find themselves in the uncomfortable position of witnessing a school shooting from a chilling perspective. This is gutsy, unforgettable television.
This was the show everyone was talking about this year. Watching it felt like taking a nostalgia trip through the 1980’s, featuring all the hilariously horrible haircuts, clothes and home décor. Many of the scenes were reminiscent of some great films from the 80’s like E.T., The Goonies, and Poltergeist. All of which wouldn’t have been nearly as fun if the Speilbergian story of a group of boys thrown into a supernatural adventure to save their friend hadn’t captured the hearts and imagination of the audience.
Transparent is the closest thing to a fine art film on television. The members of the Pfefferman family, each struggling to find their sexual and/or religious identity, are each on their own unique journeys towards self-knowledge and acceptance. Judith Light gives a standout performance this year that culminates in a mesmerizing cabaret number that reveals the very soul of her character. The series is touching, funny, and incredibly sincere in its portrayal of characters longing for a sense of belonging and love.
Orange is the New Black (Netflix)
Season 4 of this award-winning series gets a little darker tackling problems of overcrowding, mental illness and racial tensions in the prison. There are some especially heartbreaking storylines this year that feature subtle and powerful performances by Samira Wiley (Poussey Washington), Lori Petty (Lolly Whitehill) and Michael Harney (Sam Healy). The show still boasts more complex, and varied female roles than a dozen primetime shows put together.
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