10.) Narcos (Season 4 - NETFLIX)
Narcos had to change scenery. They picked a good story to cover, an important one, the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel, a pact and drive that modernized the drug trade and set it on the course it still exists in. That said, it was just not as exciting this time. The last few episodes redeemed Narcos quite a bit, as the fiery end of the reign of Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, adn the murder of Kiki Camarena, was worth waiting for, but the lead up to that was a tough slog at times. The stuff Narcos does well, it still does really well, such as the incredibly colorful cinametography, and directing violence. Diego Luna and Michael Pena were both excellent, as were in reality all the actors (apart from Boyd Holbrook, acting has never been an issue), but Narcos would do well to embrace the violence and dirt of it all - which hopefully they will do in its 5th season which goes into a more contentious time in the history of Mexico's cartels.
9.) Killing Eve (BBC America)
Killing Eve was the one show this year that I watched purely because so many people whom I trust said it was so good. Now, that happens with a lot of shows, but for some reason, I decided to check out Killing Eve, and was hooked almost instantly. The story is small, which is rare for TV these days, but so well scripted and acted out, especially by the two leads in Sandra Oh as Eve and Jodie Cormer as the addicting Villanelle (to be fair, name was a bit on the nose). It was such a great twist to the normal 'cop becomes obsessed with the killer'. The action scenes were directed well, the pacing was great. There will be a second season, which should be great as well, coming off the great cliffhanger of Eve stabbing Villanelle and her fleeing. I hope the story doesn't try to go too large, or too long. There is probably another 8-10 graet episodes in this story, a smaller, more fun view of the mindset of a killer.
8.) Pose (Season 1 - FX)
I didn't watch Pose when it was airing, instead watching it a few months afterwards, around the time The Deuce was airing live. It was an interseting juxtaposition. The Deuce highlighting the rise of the heterosexual sex trade, with Pose taking a far more dark view of what was going on in the homosexual and transexual communities. Being a Ryan Murhpy show, the grandeur was absolutely there. Every scene of a 'ball' (where drag queens and transexuals and gays all get together in resplendent abundance) was immediately gripping. The personal storylines themselves were all so well placed, be it the AIDS fear, the general sense of isolation and loneliness. It shone a spotlight on such a small, but definitely important, part of New York's history. Few shows are as educational, in that sense, as Pose was. I can't wait for its return.
7.) It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season 13 - FXX)
In reality, this year probably shouldn't be this high, but then again the last few years of IASIP I should have ranked higher than I did. This is still a spectacular show that when you adjust it for the fact it is in its 13th season, is almost a miracle. To have any ideas 13 years in, especially when the braintrust is the same three guys, and it being a live action show, is incredible. To have episodes that can perfectly, humorously, poke fun and shine a light on the lunacy of the bathroom debate, and the realness of the #MeToo movement, is incredible. Then of course, there is that last scene, the culmination of Mac's coming out, with an incredibly dramatic, haunting dance feature. I left that last scene not entirely knowing what I watched (there are incredible cut-by-cut breakdowns of the interpretive dance online that were great to read), but enthralled, and excited, both for teh 14th Season (the last one that is guaranteed at this point), and proud to have been a fan of this show, watching live since Season 5. It's Always Sunny is a HOF-level show at this point, if by compilation more than peak.
6.) American Vandal (Season 2 - NETFLIX)
I don't know if I awaited a show's return more than American Vandal this year. Season 1 was such a ridiculous surprise, a brilliant mockumentary that perfected that medium. To be honest, Season 2 was nowhere near as funny. But it was smarter, it was sharper, and by the end of it, I was just as impressed. Season 2 peeled back the drama on the show, in lieu of comedy, and showcased a brilliant, cutting look at modern social media culture, homosexuality, escapism, and loneliness. It was beautiful, if a bit slow. The one issue I had with the season was Sam and Peter played less of a role than in the first season - which made sense since the first season chronicled their own school, with a nice mix of high-school drama touched in. Here it was them truly being directors and documentarians, looking at a new school and new kids. The kids that were at the new school weren't as fun, with one notable exception. Everything that DeMarcus Tillman did was pure genius. I hope Melvin Gregg as a long, rewarding career. He was amazing.
Narcos had to change scenery. They picked a good story to cover, an important one, the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel, a pact and drive that modernized the drug trade and set it on the course it still exists in. That said, it was just not as exciting this time. The last few episodes redeemed Narcos quite a bit, as the fiery end of the reign of Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, adn the murder of Kiki Camarena, was worth waiting for, but the lead up to that was a tough slog at times. The stuff Narcos does well, it still does really well, such as the incredibly colorful cinametography, and directing violence. Diego Luna and Michael Pena were both excellent, as were in reality all the actors (apart from Boyd Holbrook, acting has never been an issue), but Narcos would do well to embrace the violence and dirt of it all - which hopefully they will do in its 5th season which goes into a more contentious time in the history of Mexico's cartels.
9.) Killing Eve (BBC America)
Killing Eve was the one show this year that I watched purely because so many people whom I trust said it was so good. Now, that happens with a lot of shows, but for some reason, I decided to check out Killing Eve, and was hooked almost instantly. The story is small, which is rare for TV these days, but so well scripted and acted out, especially by the two leads in Sandra Oh as Eve and Jodie Cormer as the addicting Villanelle (to be fair, name was a bit on the nose). It was such a great twist to the normal 'cop becomes obsessed with the killer'. The action scenes were directed well, the pacing was great. There will be a second season, which should be great as well, coming off the great cliffhanger of Eve stabbing Villanelle and her fleeing. I hope the story doesn't try to go too large, or too long. There is probably another 8-10 graet episodes in this story, a smaller, more fun view of the mindset of a killer.
8.) Pose (Season 1 - FX)
I didn't watch Pose when it was airing, instead watching it a few months afterwards, around the time The Deuce was airing live. It was an interseting juxtaposition. The Deuce highlighting the rise of the heterosexual sex trade, with Pose taking a far more dark view of what was going on in the homosexual and transexual communities. Being a Ryan Murhpy show, the grandeur was absolutely there. Every scene of a 'ball' (where drag queens and transexuals and gays all get together in resplendent abundance) was immediately gripping. The personal storylines themselves were all so well placed, be it the AIDS fear, the general sense of isolation and loneliness. It shone a spotlight on such a small, but definitely important, part of New York's history. Few shows are as educational, in that sense, as Pose was. I can't wait for its return.
7.) It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Season 13 - FXX)
In reality, this year probably shouldn't be this high, but then again the last few years of IASIP I should have ranked higher than I did. This is still a spectacular show that when you adjust it for the fact it is in its 13th season, is almost a miracle. To have any ideas 13 years in, especially when the braintrust is the same three guys, and it being a live action show, is incredible. To have episodes that can perfectly, humorously, poke fun and shine a light on the lunacy of the bathroom debate, and the realness of the #MeToo movement, is incredible. Then of course, there is that last scene, the culmination of Mac's coming out, with an incredibly dramatic, haunting dance feature. I left that last scene not entirely knowing what I watched (there are incredible cut-by-cut breakdowns of the interpretive dance online that were great to read), but enthralled, and excited, both for teh 14th Season (the last one that is guaranteed at this point), and proud to have been a fan of this show, watching live since Season 5. It's Always Sunny is a HOF-level show at this point, if by compilation more than peak.
6.) American Vandal (Season 2 - NETFLIX)
I don't know if I awaited a show's return more than American Vandal this year. Season 1 was such a ridiculous surprise, a brilliant mockumentary that perfected that medium. To be honest, Season 2 was nowhere near as funny. But it was smarter, it was sharper, and by the end of it, I was just as impressed. Season 2 peeled back the drama on the show, in lieu of comedy, and showcased a brilliant, cutting look at modern social media culture, homosexuality, escapism, and loneliness. It was beautiful, if a bit slow. The one issue I had with the season was Sam and Peter played less of a role than in the first season - which made sense since the first season chronicled their own school, with a nice mix of high-school drama touched in. Here it was them truly being directors and documentarians, looking at a new school and new kids. The kids that were at the new school weren't as fun, with one notable exception. Everything that DeMarcus Tillman did was pure genius. I hope Melvin Gregg as a long, rewarding career. He was amazing.
