#17 - Getting On
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It's sad that HBO's 'Getting On' didn't click with audiences and flew completely over everyone's radars. Despite that HBO once again proved that, at times, they will still choose ambitiousness and creativity before anything else and even if the show's ratings didn't allow it the channel decided to finance one more season of this and I'm forever grateful (although also mad they couldn't do this for the superior '
Enlightened' -- check it out!).
Not only was 'Getting On' a beautiful, very melancholic small comedy about the different lives in a hospital's elder-care ward - patients, doctors, nurses - that had some of the most charming, personal moments of the year but it's also just simply funny. Laurie Metcalf's dry delivery, Niecy Nash's timing and Alex Borstein's charisma wonderfully play hand in hand and created one of the most sharply constructed comedies of our time.
HBO has a few hidden diamonds that are amongst the best of tv period, yet only very few people have discovered and down the line 'Getting On' is going to become one of these. In another world, it would have been one of the most loved shows there are.
If you're ever in need of one of tv's most underrated and underappreciated gems 'Getting On' with not even 30 half-hour episodes will be a fast but most importantly an emotional and joyful watch for you which will leave you with a bittersweet (though amazing) finale as you can't help but feel that you (and I) have in the end become part of that ward ourselves.
Best Episodes: "Am I Still Me?"; "Please Partake of a Memorial Orange"; "Reduced to Eating Boiled Magazines and Book Paste"
2014 - #12
#16 - Catastrophe
Although, like the rest of the US, I have only seen 'Catastrophe's first six episodes it's already a serious contender for being the downright funniest show of the year. This British import focuses on a couple made up of an American guy and a British woman who after a one-night-stand conceive a baby.
Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney are superb in their roles and are able to build something that feels natural as both of their typically selfish and egocentric characters try to work out each other's flaws to make life worth living. Along the way, though sped up by 1,000, they are able to find a much-needed life anchor in the other one but at the same time are confronted with the struggles that come once you commit to a serious relationship too drastically.
This comedy managed to underline all of its themes in a bright and hilarious manner while also giving scenes enough room to breathe so its dramatic tone wouldn't go under.
I should be ranking 'Catastrophe' much higher on this list since it really was an almost perfectly calibrated and executed show but this year has just been way too strong and particularly the comedy genre provided too many personal favorites of mine for me to do so.
Be sure to keep 'Catastrophe' on your radar, however, because it's on track to becoming one of the most universally praised shows of the year all thanks to its marvelous British humour and lightness.
Oh, and it also has the best vagina jokes ever!
Best Episodes: All of them
The show has an excellent atmosphere. The 19th century (or was it the 18th?) + all that magic, a British culture and etc. is a win. But I thought that the show was lacking something. Idk, I didn't rate any of episodes for more than 8/10 even tho I really wanted to. Last two episodes were huge letdowns for me. The episode about Arabella was the best 
