10.) Schitt's Creek, S6 (NETFLIX)
I remember watching a few episodes of Schitt's Creek Season 1 years ago and found it fairly routine at the time. Then after all the plaudits it got this year, and having a lot more time on my hands, I picked it up and binged it over the course of a couple months. While the show was great for years, it was something special in its final season, centered around David's wedding. For a show that never really focused on significant plot (not a criticism), it deftly focused on a lot of plot here - the expanding of Rosebud Motel and with it turning Stevie into a businesswoman was well done. Alex's emotional end with Ted was far more emotional than I ever would have guessed given where they came from. And of course the wedding, and ultimately David's decision to stay in the town, was just a beautiful way for it to end. The show remained funny through all of this - the interplay between basically every combination of characters was so finely tuned by this point - but I was stunned how well this show, which strayed so often into the absurd (again, in no way a criticism), was able to bring it all together.
9.) The Queen's Gambit
The last scripted NETFLIX show that seemed to have this type of sudden buzz was arguably Stranger Things, though I easily could be missing something in between. Anyway, The Queen's Gambit got a whole lot of hype and way more often than not it fully, fully delivered on that. Ana Taylor-Joy was brilliant as Beth, more believable as a 15-year old than you would think, and certainly amazing as an adult Beth. The chess world was littered well with great characters from her competing rivals, Townes the reporter, and even the Soviets who played large roles in teh series end. At its heart, it was a coming-of-age story mixed with one trying to analyze the complex minds of prodigies and geniuses. The story got far more introspective than you would think given its light and fun tone throughout. My only real quibble is the story gave a bit of a short shrift to child Beth's life in the orphanage aside from her relationship with Mr. Sheibel, but even then the series and story came to full life when she gets adopted and lives her fullest life. Just a great series and one that while I'm sure NETFLIX will not be able to avoid bringing it back, its life as a mini-series was fairly close to perfect.
8.) Better Call Saul, S5 (AMC)
In some ways, the latest season of Better Call Saul finally ripped the band-aid off and brought the two halves of the show - the "Saul" half and the "Mike" half - together, especially with their escapade in the desert. In other ways, the more interesting parts of the season was things happening outside of our central two 'leads'. Seeing Kim repeatedly be unable to detach herself from Saul, from a life spiraling towards insanity, was a surprising turn but such a brilliant one - especially with her outcome being the largest question mark on how this ties into the Breaking Bad story. Then everything with Lalo was just so much fun - including his escape from the Cartel bosses home towards the end of the season, realizing Nacho (and his friends in USA) had set him up, leads to a fantastic potential scenario in the series end game. I've always been a little down on the show compared to general consensus since I found it has slightly less heart and emotional pull as Breaking Bad - while still retaining all technical brilliance - but this season came closest, and definitely sets up a great end game. The acting, directing, photography is all still close to peerless, with Vince Gilligan showing again and again he is a technical master of the medium. What they were able to show this season was from an emotional, captivating perspective, he can still throw it 100 as well.
7.) Babylon Berlin, S3 (NETFLIX)
This was my #2 show in 2018, and while a drop of five spots can be put up to real areas I think this season was slightly worse, it also shows just how good the cocktail of acting, directing, writing and plot is that in what was certainly a bridge season (there will be a S4), as it largely sets up a Season 4 that will dive even more head on to the rise of the Nationalist movement as a truly open political force with the backdrop of the Great Depression. The central plot of the season, figuring out the string of murders of starlets, was interesting and kept the show focused, but shows like these are always more interesting on some of their side plots. The co-winners for me this season were everything involving Edgar as an underwold boss, and then Nyssen's activities trying to convince anyone to buy into his scheme that the world economy was a house of cards. The show was able to also turn the page easily from losing Benda as a central figure, replacing him admirably by Wendt as a bigger, more politically powerful big bad - again someone who should have a central role in the series next installment. The show was more overly plot driven, and focused on pushing forward this time around, but the few moments the show took a step back to enjoy the amazing setting it finds itself in (Weimer-era Germany is a fascinating place) are still every bit as fun as before - even if there was no Mokta Efti equivalent of a setting. Still, this is an incredibly well made show that I'm glad gets enough publicity outside of the US to keep on making it.
6.) Bojack Horseman, S6.2 (NETFLIX)
Unsurprisingly, the final season of Bojack Horseman leaned almost fully into the drama side of this dramedy (a word that sullies Bojack, but explains its makeup well). Not that it wasn't funny - the general conceit of the show coupled with the creators desperate attention to detail in creating their world means there's a baseline of comedy that will never leave. The show did well in its final season givng each character and each story arc a conclusion that just made sense - all across the board, be it Todd finally growing up and confronting his parents, Diane's emotional journey and growth, Princess Carolyn's finding peace, and Bojack finally re-accepting that he has a negative impact on people's lives. Yes, it all seems a bit depressing, but ultimately the show's throughline is how tough and troubled the world is even for people you think have it all. Admittedly, this is a bit of a legacy pick to have it this high up. Bojack Horseman ended its run at the perfect time, still at its apex, and I think it still retains its spot as the best fully-streaming original series. It went from being the funniest show on TV (probably Season 3-4), to one of the most emotional and interesting (S5-6), without ever losing its charm, focus and identity. What a run.
