I've been a dedicated fan of The Walking Dead since day 1, and I am equally obsessed with the comics and the video games as well. Yet.. this show has always left me wanting more. It's not really something I can explain because it IS very good, otherwise it wouldn't be my #5 pick. The opener of this season was an example of everything good about The Walking Dead: tense, action packed, violence that makes you cringe, tearful, joyful, etc. An episode like the Daryl + Carol episode remains one of my favorite of the series. Yet I still feel as if they could do more, especially with many of the characters. First off: so many characters are incredibly underused, especially this season. Some are just not needed honestly. Also, sometimes it can be TOO slow paced. I'm all for character development, but some dialogue in some scenes feels like it goes on foreveeeerrr. Ok I guess that's all I have to say on the negative side. Still a great show and I will continue to watch for as long as it runs.
4. True Detective
With a star studded cast and a gripping story, True Detective hit gold, critically and commercially. Although I do feel it is just a tad overrated, I still love it. I thought it was genius to have the cops in present day talking about their case and how the flashbacks took up almost all of the show, and then have them solve the case in present day! Woody Harrelson played a piece of **** and he was great. Matthew Mcconaughey was the obvious highlight, obviously. I'm really going to miss this storyline and set of actors, but next season will probably be just as awesome.
3. Homeland
Homeland lost me a bit Season 3. It just felt like the show lost it's jaw-dropping-omg-wtf-this-show-is-unbelievable factor that it had Season 1 and Season 2. However, it has more than redeemed itself for season 4. While it may have started slightly slow, the 1-2-3-4 punch of the last few episodes have reminded me why it's one of the best shows on television, and why it's probably the only one that can make my heart beat fast and make me yell at the tv for a character not to do something... It brought back memories of the first 2 seasons, and it really is incredible that a show this many years into its run can still do that to me.
2. The Americans
First of all, I looooooove Keri Russell. Anyway, I was a big fan of Season 1 of The Americans: a solid spy thriller involving too russian spies who live in America. Season 2 continued in the same route, yet somehow improved it vastly. With really great acting, character development, (the kids! thank god they weren't done wrong like most kids in tv can be) and script. Overall, just one of the most well made shows on television at the moment.
And my favorite tv show of 2014...
DRUM ROLL!
1. Fargo
WOOOW this show really blew me away. No other show this year left me aching to see the next episode as much as this one did. The characters were what made the show for me. Bill Bob Thorton's Malvo was the character of the year, and the most calculating, cunning, evil, cold, villain I've seen in years. Martin Freeman's Lester was the most pathetic, piece of **** excuse for a human being, and he played it spot on. Actually, every character in this tv show was played perfectly, including: Molly, the policewoman way too smart for the people around her, Colin Hanks as the cop who somehow escapes numerous encounters with Malvo unscathed, Bob Odendirk as the absolutely clueless police chief (he had some really, really great moments! I only knew him before for his comedy bits so he was a surprise) Another surprise casting were the comedy duo Key and Peele, which worked just as well. All in all, the absolute best show of the year, with the finale episode being my favorite episode of tv this year. If you were to watch anything on this list, please let it be this I beg of you.