Best TV of 2018: My top 14 — so far
There has been a lot of excellent television airing between January and June on all platforms. So much so, I haven’t gotten to all of the…
There has been a lot of excellent television airing between January and June on all platforms. So much so, I haven’t gotten to all of the shows I would like to at least check out, let alone those with which I need to catch up (no surprise). Streaming took a big hit since what TV time I had, I devoted to keeping up with my DVR. Below are the shows/films/events that stood out from the pack during the first half of 2018.
14) The Split (SundanceTV)
This female-fronted drama about a family of lawyers — including two out of three sisters and their mother — which focuses on their lives in and out of the courtroom is one of the best relationship dramas to hit screens this year. Smart, sexy and relevant, writer-creator Abi Morgan gives us characters to root for despite their flaws.
13) Back (SundanceTV)
The latest series from David Mitchell and Robert Webb is a hilarious dark comedy about a man (Webb) returning to his childhood foster home for the funeral of his foster dad. He then decides to stick around, outshining the man’s biological son (Mitchell), who thinks the golden boy is a con artist and goes to great lengths to prove it. One of the great contemporary double acts, Mitchell and Webb bounce off each other effortlessly while having a blast with their costars.
12) 12 Monkeys (Syfy)
It’s been a long, hard road for James, Cassie and company. The final season of this exceptional sci-fi drama is no exception as the crew fight for the survival of mankind. Tightly plotted with compelling performances from a peerless cast led by Aaron Stanford and Amanda Schull, this has been a jewel in Syfy’s crown for the past four years. Its starkness is contrasted by an offbeat humor, personified to perfection by Emily Hampshire’s Jennifer Goines and Todd Stashwick’s Deacon. Together, the two were the perfect yang to Stanford and Schull’s yin. I will miss you all. It’s been a hell of a ride.
11) Humans (AMC)
This never has been a series to shy away from rights issues, taking what’s happening in our world and transferring it to the show’s near-future reality. Series three delves deeper into race relations by pitting humans against synths in a battle for supremacy. Not everyone wants a war, however. The show succeeds because it’s more than just a sci-fi drama; it’s also a human drama. You care about these characters and the journeys they are on to discover who they truly are — regardless if they are man or machine … or something in between.
10) Patrick Melrose (Showtime)
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the psychologically scarred title character who dives into drugs, alcohol and sarcasm in order to numb the damage done to him by his parents (played by the always welcome Hugo Weaving and Jennifer Jason Leigh) during his childhood — privileged though it may have been, it wasn’t a bed of roses. Based on the novels by Edward St. Aubyn, this caustic, dynamic tale rises and falls on the strength of Cumberbatch’s performance. He carries the drama magnificently, giving a gentle reminder why he’s one of the best actors working today.
9) The Magicians (Syfy)
Season three ended on one hell of a twist, but the journey to that moment was everything fans of this fantastic fantasy series have come to expect. Standout episodes “A Life in the Day” and “Six Short Stories About Magic” prove the drama is one of the most original and inventive shows currently airing. The cast continues to impress and the group musical moment in “All That Josh” is one for the (magic) books.
8) Man in an Orange Shirt (PBS)
Novelist Patrick Gale wrote the screenplay for this film that looks at love stories in two different time periods: Michael and Thomas, soldiers who meet during World War II, and Adam and Steve, who cross paths in contemporary London. Both couples compete with obstacles both internal and external. A strong cast led by Oliver Jackson-Cohen, James McArdle, Julian Morris, David Gyasi, Joanna Vanderham and Vanessa Redgrave bring this beautifully written story to life. Your heart will ache when it’s over, but you’ll want to revisit this tale more than once.
7) The Chi (Showtime)
Creator Lena Waithe takes us to the southside of Chicago, where an inciting incident links several residents and the aftermath of the tragedy unfolds in affecting and unexpected ways. This drama wears its heart on its sleeve while protecting it at all costs. The characters are diverse and relatable; filming on location adds an extra layer of authenticity; and when the episode is over, you’ll want to see what comes next. Weaving between suspense, family issues, relationships and more, life in “The Chi” is engaging and will keep you on your toes.
6) Legion (FX)
Season two took a darker, more divisive, turn as David became obsessed with bringing down Amahl Farouk at the expense of (his relationships with) everyone and everything else. Noah Hawley’s take on a corner of the Marvel universe is still the best comic book adaptation on television. Visually mindblowing with kaleidoscopic storytelling that unfolds like a flower in bloom, few shows are as fascinating to watch.
5) Brooklyn Nine-Nine (FOX)
When the squad returns in 2019, it will be on a new network thanks to FOX’s decision to dump the show after five seasons. However, the comedy is coming off one of its strongest years, which culminated in the eagerly anticipated wedding of Jake and Amy. Knowing this criminally underrated series has a home in the new year is one of the bright spots in the face of an underwhelming fall slate.
4) Killing Eve (BBC America)
To be honest, this genius series from Phoebe Waller-Bridge is one of my favorite new series of the year (along with number two on this list). Based on the Luke Jennings novels, “Killing Eve” is a suspenseful spy vs. assassin tale with a deep, dark comedy vein that heightens the action onscreen without dissipating it. Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer are at odds with each other while becoming ever more obsessed with each other. Binge it. Binge it now. You’re welcome.
3) Atlanta (FX)
The series returned after a long-ish hiatus to hit new highs in its storytelling as it continues to think outside the box. Each episode in season two is a short film that allows you to get to know the characters better. Anyone tuning in expecting a storyline-driven show should adjust those expectations. People, not plot, are the focus here, which is intoxicating in an age where some shows lose sight of the main reason we come back every week (looking at you, “The Flash”). Donald Glover and his team have an unique take on the art of comedy. Creative talent with a fresh voice such as theirs always should have a home on the small screen.
2) The Terror (AMC)
“The Walking Dead” franchise may make the most noise, but its not the network’s best as evidence by this list, as well as others by more influential critics. This adaptation of the Dan Simmons non-fiction book is based on the true story of what happened when warships HMS Terror and HMS Erebus went in search of the Northwest Passage in 1848. A sterling cast led by Jared Harris, Tobias Menzies and Ciarán Hinds brings to life the ships’ crew, while tightly-plotted character-driven scripts, stunning cinematography and an indelible score by Marcus Fjellström all work in tandem to craft a tense, fascinating series that is second-to-none in the horror genre.
1) The Americans (FX)
It would have taken a lot for this superlative spy drama to not stick the landing for its final year. To no one’s surprise, the series ended not only with one of its best seasons, but also with one of the most satisfying finales ever to grace the small screen. It may never get the Emmy love it deserves (how many truly great series do any more?), but the series has the undying love of its fans who know what a superb series this has been from the very beginning. Do svidaniya, Mail Robot. You are one of a kind.
Best of the rest:
Call the Midwife (PBS); iZombie (The CW); Jane the Virgin (The CW); Jesus Christ Superstar Live! (NBC); Little Women (PBS); Supergirl (The CW); and Timeless (NBC)
Joanne Thornborough is pop culture junkie with a particular love for film, TV and the printed word. Find her at @cinelitchick on Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram.