Here we are! We’ve reached the top! These are my top ten shows of 2015. In this final batch are 6 dramas and 4 comedies:
The Top 220 TV Shows: 10-1
10) "Please Like Me" Pivot
Last Year: 18
Please Like Me is a comedy from Australia about a guy and his friends and family trying to get through life. They aspire to have as few complications in their lives as they can but somehow they all get caught up in each others business. And all in the best way for us, the viewer because they can be funny situations, sad situations and heartfelt ones. We start this third season with Josh and Arnold pretty solid in their new relationship, Tom is looking for love, Josh’s parents are struggling to keep their happiness, and Claire is as free as ever. We see each of them go through ups and downs this year. The show is always great but there was something about this season that pulled me in. Episodes we consistent and Josh has really found a winning formula. The new characters thrown in this season helped to drive the story and I really liked them. I was skeptical about one of the storylines involving Josh’s dad and wife, but it worked in the long run and made you root for them even more. I haven’t heard anything about a fourth season, but the way they left some things, they need to bring it back to wrap it all up. I want more episodes and I don’t care how they get to me. I need them lol.
9) "The 100" CW
Last Year: 14
This show keeps finding ways to exceed all my expectations. After killing off major characters boldly like it was no big deal, the show continued to deliver shocks this year. This year, we only got the back half of season 2 of the show, with season 3 starting in a few weeks. Like I said, there were big bold storytelling choices that put it in its own league. People made big choices, took risky trips, and put the fate of an entire group of humans on the line. Clarke grew even more as a leader and really has become such a badass all around. Lexa, the leader of her people, worked with Clarke when it was beneficial to her. Octavia had to learn where she fits in this new world because of the company she keeps. The adults had to learn quickly that their age and experience means nothing in the world they now live in on the ground. The world keeps growing too. We learn of other places and groups of people. I can’t wait to see where they take the show now. Even after all this time, the big shockers in the season 2 finale will for sure lead to some great stories to come in season 3.
8) "The Americans" FX
Last Year: 13
This is one of the greatest most underrated shows on TV. The lack of love from the Emmys baffles me. The show has so much tension, great acting, and incredible storylines. This year, we saw Elizabeth and Phillip have to deal with someone slowly looking into their backstory and getting close to the truth. They are in fact spies for Russia and are operating on US soil. The government, and their next door neighbor keeps getting closer to catching them. One of the greatest scenes of the show happens this year involving an older woman and Elizabeth alone in a warehouse. There is so much power and emotion packed into those scenes. I was amazed and enthralled the entire time. A thread from season 1 was even remembered and had big repercussions. The detail, the emotion everything about this show is perfect. With everything on the line and people getting closer to the truth, they’re going to have to be even sneakier and prepare for even more intense missions. EMMY VOTERS TAKE NOTICE ALREADY.
7) "Veep" HBO
Last Year: 5
Veep is one of those shows you know will deliver no matter what. Every week the humor is top notch, the jokes on point and the acting is stellar. At the end of last season, Selina learned that in addition to deciding she was running for president, she in fact would be sworn into the office of President due to POTUS stepping down. The Veep would now be president. Though, this could be one of the shortest presidencies on record if she loses her run. Along the campaign, she would stop off at many places, she would see her support from the beginning leave her or get fired, and she would get into crazy predicaments. Finding her running mate was tricky and hilarious too. She ended up picking Hugh Laurie, who I didn’t even know was joining the show. He brought even more subtle awkward humor that the show thrives on. I love everything about this show. They just announced the premiere date and I can’t wait to see the final outcome of who becomes president. The way they left that hanging had me laughing to much.
6) "Game of Thrones" HBO
Last Year: 3
Game of Thrones returned for another year of great stories picking up where we left all of our favorite characters. Arya trained for her life’s goal to get revenge on those who have wronged her and her family. Cersei paid the price for some of the things she’s done in her past. Sansa learned to survive in a very very bad situation. And Jon Snow… well, I’m sure everyone knows about that by now haha. Everyone else had lots of big storylines too. We saw many more character bite the dust, some return from the past, and met a lot of new characters who will no doubt have a big role to play in the future. More nudity, gore and shocks filled the season. A lot of the storylines caught up to the books so what we will see in the future might be something entirely new for everyone. The shows acting was stellar, as per usual, and Peter Dinklage deserved his Emmy win for sure. They just announced the premiere date, and it can’t get here soon enough.
5) "Mr. Robot" USA
Mr. Robot is a show that can’t really be described in a few words. The story starts with a young hacker who uses drugs, and trusts no one. He stumbles into a group of other hackers who change the world with their actions. He is soon pulled into the world of big business, conspiracy and deception. Along the way, we see that our narrator isn’t necessarily the most reliable one. Gaps start appearing in stories, things become hectic, and then we have some big big big reveals about things we were thought to have already discovered. The evolution and growth of the characters is amazing. You can see where choices they make at times lead to some changes in their self and shape the future. I was drawn in instantly. I was so impressed with the pilot and it got only more impressive as time went on. Rami Malek delivered one of the best performances of the year. His range of emotions and expressions were top notch. Christian Slater was amazing in the mysterious role he played. One of the standout characters was Tyrell his control and lack of control were so compelling. The impulsive choices he made were only the tip of the iceberg. Ahhh I can’t wait to see where the story goes next season. The summer can’t get here soon enough.
4) "Broad City" Comedy Central
Last Year: 16
Broad City is a comedy about two friends living in the city and the crazy things these girls get caught up in. This year delivered even more than the first season. The show is part wrong, part hilarious and part everything right. Abbi and Ilana are two of the funniest characters on TV. Some of the strongest standout episodes are when Abbi gets her wisdom teeth out and takes a trip to Whole Foods, the one when Ilana searches the city for a handbag, and the one where the girls meet Kelly Ripa. I died laughing at those episodes and the rest of the season. There were even more great guest stars that popped up throughout the season. Just the other day, the show was renewed for 2 more seasons, before the third season even aired. That's a lot of confidence in this show and its future. I cannot wait for more new episodes, the crazy stories, and even more great bonding moments between the girls. I will be watching as long as there are episodes.
3) "Rectify" SundanceTV
Last Year: 9
Rectify is one of the most subtle yet strongest shows on the air today. The show follows Daniel Holden, a man convicted of killing a girl when he was a young boy, who gets out after evidence reveals he might not be the killed and the conviction is thrown out. The town has to adapt to him rejoining the town, the family has to get used to having him on the outside, and even more people get pulled into the story. The real killer is still out there, and this season they make a solid case against someone and it may be the thing that saves Daniel who still blames himself, so we are taught to believe. While he wears his heart and emotions on his sleeve, we still don’t know everything he is thinking and the absolute truth. This year, we saw him deal with being forced to leave town due to him taking a plea bargain that he should have never taken. We also follow his sister Amantha who is his strongest advocate and can’t understand why he would want to throw his newly found life away if he is innocent as she truly believes. We also continue the story of Tawney and Ted who are going through a lot of issues in their marriage ever since Daniel gets out of jail. There is so much going on in these 6 episodes yet it honestly wasn’t enough. I could watch these characters and follow this story forever. Unfortunately today it was announced that the upcoming fourth season would be its last. This year it did seem that the show was heading into its final act, but I wish it could have been a longer final act. I will surely miss this show.
2) "You’re The Worst" FXX
Last Year: 10
You’re The Worst is a show about 4 friends who are truly terrible people, and don’t apologize for who they are. This year, the show evolved even more in its second season. At first, I didn’t know what to expect from the direction they were heading in and was skeptical. But they truly delivered such a heartfelt, funny and strong season I was in awe. Lindsay had to grow up in this new world after the collapse of her marriage. Edgar had to grow up and learn to live for himself and not always at the beck and call of Jimmy. His new relationship was perfect, well developed in a short period of time, and I felt so happy for him after all the crap he went through in his past. the main storyline involved Jimmy and Gretchen dealing with the fact that none of them were really expecting to be in such a deep relationship because of how terrible humans they really are. At first we see Gretchen start to become distant, but it becomes an even bigger issue than it first seemed. Jimmy didn’t deal with it in the best way, but once he came around and realized what was really going on with Gretchen, everything was perfect again. If you watched Grey’s Anatomy, you remember the terrible character Leah. She popped up, well not that character, but the actress, and threw a wrench into everything when her and Jimmy get closer. I hated and loved her at the same time. I also loved getting to see more from the secondary characters like Vernon and Sam and Becca. One of the best episodes was when Gretchen started stalking her neighbors who she thought were essentially what Jimmy and her could have in the future. As the episode goes on, you see her deal with the fact that maybe everything can’t be perfect. It's such a good show. I could watch it over and over again and probably see more than I saw the first time around. The show was renewed for a third season even though the ratings were pretty rough and I was so glad. Bring on more great stories.
AND THE NUMBER 1 TV SHOW IS…
1) "Banshee" Cinemax
Last Year: 17
I already know most of you have no idea what this show is. You NEED to watch this show. It’s tense, hard hitting, sexy and fun. At its core, the show is about a guy who gets out of jail in search of a woman from his past. When he arrives in Banshee, he witnesses the murder of the new Sheriff who just arrived in town. Seeing an opportunity to start over, he assumes the identity of Lucas Hood. At the end of the second season, we see the end of the storyline involving a few characters who kick the bucket. From there Season 3 starts and **** spirals out of control everywhere. One of the great things about the show is that there are many forces all at odds with each other in the town. You have the townspeople, the police, you have the Native Americans, you have a group of white supremacists, you have the Amish, and then you have a crime boss. They all are constantly at each others throats. In this season, we start off with the group of cops hunting down someone who wrongs the department and are out for revenge. There is no room for mercy. From there, we have one of the strongest most badass female characters on the show in one of the coolest fights the show has seen. You have a renegade Native American who wants to take everything back from the white man who literally launches an all out assault. It is one of the most tense scenes and we lose my favorite character in the aftermath. You have the daughter acting out as she is a teen and learning from her father the right way to do bad and get away with breaking the law. You have an episode filmed entirely on GoPro type cameras where a group of characters attempt a robbery on a military base. There is just so much going on and so many great scenes I wish I could mention them all and spoil everything but you really need to watch. I could go on and on discussing all of the great things this show delivered this year. Words truly can’t highlight how great this third season was. I was focused and fully immersed each and every episode and craved the next. The show was renewed for a fourth and final season that was originally set to air in January. It was then announced that the premiere has been pushed to April and it killed me knowing that the show was so close and now I have to wait a bit longer. I can’t wait to see how they wrap up all of these great storylines and I’m certain it will deliver everything I wanted and more. This show will go out with a bang for sure.
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We did it! I hope you found some new shows to check out and love as much as I did. Up next will be 10 shows I meant to watch but didn't get around to.
