11. Better Call Saul
After a strong, if somewhat uneven, debut season, Better Call Saul returned to firmly establish itself as a worthy counterpart to its revered father series. The new batch of episodes were more confident at making the show stand on its own (with just some references to Breaking Bad) and refining the cognitive tone and pace. It made the dull process of being a public defender as interesting as being a drug kingpin's lawyer because we get to see what it "means" to break bad rather than it already being done. It's a fascinating character study, and the season develops Kim into more well-rounded character to act as the moral presence in the study. Rhea Seehorn does a fine job with the new weight and works nicely with Bob Odenkirk to give us some wonderful scenes together. "Rebecca" is when Seehorn takes centre stage though and that episode is arguably the best of the show so far; I loved the strong female presence.
Chuck and Mike are two more characters who eventually get their own star turn during the season and Michael McKean and Jonathan Banks respectively own their roles too. The former does a terrific job as the upright and vindictive brother, whereas the former who we know from Breaking Bad is further on his conflicted adventure. Knowing how it ends for him (and the main character) is heartbreaking but all the more captivating to see how it happened to a point and what collateral damage was done. Moreover, the other aspect I loved about the season was the enhanced direction. The directors of Breaking Bad were able to define the style over many episodes so this shows gets them at their best and it's brilliant. A.V. Club did a
wonderful series examining the cinematic techniques used on the show to give it that distinct look and to deliver crucial narrative and characteristic information.
10. Queen Sugar
“
Chronicles the lives of the estranged Bordelon siblings in Louisiana.” – Created by Ava DuVernay and based on the novel of the same name by Natalie Baszile, Queen Sugar is a series with a rich portrayal of Southern Blackness and family through the process of mourning and reconciliation. It airs on Oprah Winfrey's OWN channel and premiered to strong reception and viewership.
I was personally drawn by the quiet contemplation and somberness of the trailer (Nova–a proclaimed spiritualist–is my favourite character), but the show embraced explosive melodramatic scenes and social commentary on systematic oppression, issues surrounding migrant workers, among many other things. It could have easily been “too much” of everything but DuVernay found the right balance by ensuring everything was carefully maintained and no scene rushed; it made it all more beautiful and gives you time to process each scene.
Nearly every character is layered with nuance and the show has some that I believe are rarely portrayed on TV for African-Americans: a single loving Black father, working-class folks, and the varying relationships within a Black family. The cast (most notably Rutina Wesley, Kofi Siriboe, Tina Lifford) give consistently fine performances to make it work. Hopefully, the next season is still as brilliant since DuVernay has left as showrunner but I’m not too worried. The wonderful cast and chosen locations (of the exquisite Deep South) feel realized enough so they can succeed with any showrunner.
9. Game of Thrones
Was working outside of the novels the best thing to happen to Game of Thrones? It's arguable. Following the weakest season of the show, Game of Thrones came back strong with an effort that ushered the show, one which is nearing its end, into a new era. Readers and non-readers are now on the same page and it made watching the show all the more exciting.
The season was the most faced-past in terms of character development but it was never overwhelming and I believe it was all necessary since the episodes are numbered now. And two arcs following on from S5 (King's Landing and Arya at Braavos) still took too long to play out, and despite both having very satisfying endings, it was a glaring misstep that took me out when they were on screen. My favourite developments for the season came with Sansa and Cersei. Both characters emerged as calculating forces after seasons of tragedy and humiliation. It edged on "fan-service" which a few people have been critiquing the show for but I argue the characters were always heading in that direction–and that too has generated some (unfair) criticism. We had two major scenes many people predicted were going to happen but it didn't stop them from being so good.
"Book of the Stranger", "The Door", "Battle of the Bastards" and "The Winds of Winter" were the four excellent episodes of the season with the latter two being the obvious standouts. Everything good that needs to be said has been said about them both. The season is sitting nicely behind #4 and #3 as the third best.
8. Search Party
*I'm thinking this show should be higher. Lists<<<
“
A dark comedy about four self-absorbed twenty-somethings who become entangled in an ominous mystery when a former college acquaintance suddenly disappears.” – The biggest surprise of 2016 for me! I wasn't familiar with TBS, or the people involved except for the wonderful Alia Shawkat from "Arrested Development", but it turned out to have the most satisfying binge-watch of the year. Netflix and Amazon lost! Search Party is a ten episode series that recalls "Twin Peaks" in terms of having various styles under precise control. The form of comedy used is deadpan satire to address insecurity and narcissism that plague our generation, for example, it ridicules "performative allyship" and self-serving acts of kindness (a character delivers
water bottles to a starving place in Uganda and brags about it on Instagram).
And then the thriller elements of the show make it so addictive. Search Party's structure is carefully thought out with clues every episode and a few red herrings here and there. A secret new-age cult becomes involved in the story at one point but the show never loses its focus or become confusing and it's great for the viewers. It reminds us of the strength of great linear storytelling for times when the likes of "Westworld" and "Mr. Robot" are taking over. The characters more or less come from your usual indie films so they feel familiar but still fun and engaging enough, and the cast work their own to make them as fully realized as possible. I loved Alia Shawkat and John Early's performances in particular.
Some people have criticized the finale for transforming into an entirely different story but I believe the show did it so smartly. It remains in line with the major theme of the show just in a vastly different tone to highlight dark comedy. It was the perfect ending to a perfect season. Yeah, I can't think of any glaring flaws to mention. It does benefit from the sources it pulls from but to put them all into a precise and satisfying show is commendable. Emily Nussbaum for The New Yorker says the show basically invented a new genre "
the noir sitcom"! I don't know how I feel about it returning for a second season because it ended so well, and the finale did change the entire story, but I won't be surprised if the creators find a way to make it work and I will be checking it out for sure.
The short film was pretty great, though sometimes the talking parts were a little too long for my taste. 
But the visuals >>>>>>>>>>>>
Replies - TV Shows
No and IMILY definitely deserve the spots they are at