- Mad Men: Wrapping up its seven-season run, Mad Men made its case for the Mount Rushmore of TV. It earned a spot on my personal Mount Rushmore.
- The Knick: Another show vying for a spot on my Mount Rushmore of TV, The Knick stars Clive Owen as the head surgeon of a New York City hospital. The twist? The show is set in the year 1900. It’s your standard medical drama with the addition of opium dens, the racial and sexual politics of the early 20th century, and some gnarly medical procedures. The show, only 20 episodes long (all shot and directed by Steven Soderbergh, might I add), is a slow burn. But it sure does pay off. Don’t just take my word for it, it was also President Obama’s favorite show of 2015.
- Mr. Robot: Creator Sam Esmail originally devised Mr. Robot as a movie. Season one tells such a complete narrative that it isn’t entirely necessary to watch beyond that.
- Game of Thrones: Season five fell short of the remarkable highs of seasons three and four, but Game of Thrones remains one of the best shows on television. Adapting George R.R. Martin’s “unadaptable” work is an incredible achievement.
- Daredevil: Three years later, Daredevil season one remains one of, if not the best season of a superhero TV show ever. At the very least, it’s tough to question it as the best thing ever made by Marvel Television.
- Rick and Morty: There are three types of people in this world – those who have not seen Rick and Morty, those who have seen Rick and Morty and are evangelical about it, and those who have seen Rick and Morty and are embarrassed to associate with the second group. I fall squarely in the last group of the three. While it’s hard to compliment the show without sounding like a stale meme, the show is very worthy of praise.
- You’re the Worst: Few shows (and fewer comedies) are willing to dive into mental health issues. Fewer yet do so as deftly as You’re the Worst.
- Veep: If you’re unfamiliar with Veep, it’s like The Office, only instead of a Scranton-based paper company, it’s the second highest office in the land.
- Louie: Tough to include this one given the creator’s problematic nature, but the quality of the show makes it tough to exclude.
- Mike Tyson Mysteries: An animated Scooby-Doo-style mystery team parody led by the (also problematic) former heavyweight champion of the world. Need I say more?
A Mixed Review 