It’s that time of the year where I recap my favorite TV series of the past 12 months! Truth be told, 2019 was an OK only year in terms of television shows to watch. I must say that this year, there was a lot of shows I really enjoyed watching but was infatuated with very few of them. Also, I am pretty convinced I missed out on a few gems since I cannot afford to subscribe to all streaming services…
Anyways, the shows below are my top tens, the ones I enjoyed watching the most this year and they really did stand out amongst all those very average programs out there. In a separate post, I’ll be discussing my favorite episodes of the year.
Dark
This German science-fiction series is fascinating and visually beautiful. Taking place in the fictional town of Winden, Dark weaves an interesting intrigue about child abductions, dark hidden secrets, time-travel conspiracies, spanning generations and different time-lines. Two seasons are currently available, with a third one on the way. A bit slow at the beginning, but once the pace picks up a bit, it’s hard to stop watching!
Stranger Things
I must admit that I really hated Stranger Things’ second season, and was really not interested in watching the third season. Thank goodness that it was released in July, when there is literally nothing else to watch! Otherwise, I definitely would not have given it a chance, despite how much I loved the first season. The third season has managed to give a more defined role to secondary characters, as well as write a better story line. Fun, touching, funny, gripping, the third season of Stranger Things made me fall in love with the series all over again.
Russian Doll
I’ve often mentioned that I’m usually very weary of Groundhog Day types of stories. It’s been done so many times before that it’s hard to imagine how anyone could make it original again. Russian Doll did make it interesting. The story is about Nadia, who dies the night of her birthday party only to wake up at her birthday party again. Every times she dies, she wakes up at the party again, and must find how to fix this weird time loop. Funny , witty and weird at the same time, Russian Doll was actually fun to watch!
Silicon Valley
The series recently ended with a perfect finale, encapsulating everything that made the show great, closing all story-lines and staying true to the mood of the sitcom as well as its characters. This is an absolutely amazing TV series that must be watched from beginning to end to be truly appreciated. Watching Pied Piper evolve throughout the past 6 seasons has been a blast.
Good Omens
Good Omens is a fantastic show about the unlikely friendship between an angel and a demon who must join forces to prevent the apocalypse from happening. It was a joy to watch David Tennant and Michael Sheen, two brilliant and charismatic actors, interact. Though the series felt a bit long at times and some plot lines a tad unnecessary, it’s a great adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s book by the same title and its wry humor really makes the show fun to watch.
The Movies
This docuseries by CNN and co-produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman is a must watch for any cinephiles out there. Expertly made, this series showcases cinema’s history, decade by decade, with testimonies from film critics and directors alike. Like its series about the history of television, music and social history, The Movies is absolutely brilliant.
Chernobyl
On to something less fun but no less great. Chernobyl has been dubbed one of the best horror series ever and I would say that’s accurate. Acclaimed for the depth of their research and the quality of the reenactments of the events, Chernobyl was a very difficult series to watch but also a fascinating one as well. Every episode is like a punch in the gut, but it’s so well done and acted that we cannot look away. Like The Handmaid’s Tale, it is an important show to watch so we do not forget what happened and hopefully, we’ll prevent such catastrophic events from happening again.
Schitt’s Creek
I cannot believe I waited so long before giving Schitt’s Creek chance! I must admit that I usually have a certain prejudice about Canadian shows which would explain my initial disdain against Schitt’s Creek despite its stellar cast. It’s also the vulgarity (or lack of subtlety) of the title that was a major turn off for me. But, after having seen only one episode, the first one, I binged watched the rest of the series in no time and cannot wait for the sixth and final season to begin, this January! Superbly played and written, Schitt’s Creek, a riches-to-rags show about the Rose family who lost everything except for Schitt’s Creek, a small town they bought ironically a few years back, has taken a special place as one of my all time favorite sitcoms. Hilarious, sometimes sweet and endearing and other times utterly mean, this show guarantees a good time.
Succession
Succession has been a guilty pleasure of mine. It was at first a show I like to hate-watch (season 1) but with the second season, it became an epic series with which I am totally obsessed. None of the characters have a moral compass. Blood is not thicker than water, and these characters, who already have all the money, all the riches in the world, are ready to stab anyone’s back, step over anyone who stands in their way and perform the most despicable acts, and for what exactly? Be the head of the family’s multinational conglomerate or be daddy’s favorite? Even they are not even sure but watching these underprivileged individuals crash and burn as they try to fight each other is just so much fun to watch! Is it soapy at times? Yes. But the series is so well written, the dialogues are so smart and witty and the actors so expertly portray despicable human beings that Succession truly is a pleasure to watch.
Fleabag
Fleabag, especially the second season, is my absolute favorite show of the year. Brilliantly entertaining and funny, Fleabag is refreshing. With Schitt’s Creek, it is one of the very few comedies this year that have managed to make me laugh. Hilarious, sometimes heart-breaking and other times just cringe-worthy, the second season of Fleabag has been perfect. Too bad there won’t be anymore seasons of this absolutely brilliant comedy!
Runner-ups
Other great shows of 2019 include the following:
The End of the f***ing World : though very good, the second second could not match the first one. The story line felt very heavy at times but the two amazing main actors have managed to carry the series.
Afterlife : Ricky Gervais was absolutely brilliant in this show about a grieving husband not caring anymore about life and everything that comes with it. He created, produced and directed this dark comedy and deserves all the credit in the world. Though extremely sad and touching at times and hilarious at others, this show is considerably uneven. I lost interest at times and had to force myself to continue watching, which I did not regret.
Rick and Morty : the cult favorite returned for a much-awaited fourth season in 2019 and though not as strong as the previous seasons, the show was extremely entertaining to watch! Still just as smart and rife with cultural references, Rick and Morty remains a must to watch!
Punk : this docuseries co-produced by John Varvatos and Iggy Pop is a fascinating dive into the world of punk music, its history and evolution. The only reason why it’s not in my top ten list is because I’m not that big a fan of the genre, so it did not reach me as much as it would have if I were a fan, but I found it nonetheless very interesting.
Street Food : for food lovers, this series by Netflix will make you drool and want to travel the world. It tends to dwell a bit too much on human interest and melodrama, but all the meals look amazing and mouth-watering!
That’s all for 2019! I cannot wait for what 2020 has in store for us to watch!