[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There are a lot of television shows. But rather than there being hundreds of channels and nothing to watch, there are hundreds of channels with dozens of programming and too much good television to choose from. It’s a good problem to have. More than a few people have dubbed this the “golden age of television.” I tend to agree. In the past, I’ve done a “Top 5 TV Shows,” but with the increasing amount of good television, I’ve had to expand that to a “Top 10.” Even then, I’m forced to leave out shows that I’d like to recognize. But I digress. You’re here to see what shows made the cut. In fact, I don’t even know if you’re reading this or if you have already skimmed through it. I suppose it doesn’t matter.
So without further adieu, here are my Top 10 TV Shows of 2015.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”406″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow”][vc_column_text]
10. Ash vs. Evil Dead (Starz). This isn’t the kind of show you’ll hear mentioned at the Emmys or the Golden Globes. But is it a whole lot of ghoulish fun? You betcha. Picking up 30 years after the traumatic events of Sam Raimi’s original Evil Dead trilogy, Bruce Campbell is back and more of a wiseacre than ever as Ash Campbell, the franchise’s iconic protagonist — a smart-mouthed department store clerk who is short a few dozen brain cells but lethal with a shotgun and chainsaw. The Deadites that terrorized Ash in the original trilogy have returned in full force — brought forth by his own carelessness, no less — and set their sights on spreading their evil across the land, forcing Ash back into action with help from a pair of capable new sidekicks. Steer clear if you’re cursed with a weak stomach, as Ash vs. Evil Dead cranks up the cartoonish gore that has become a staple of the horror franchise. Put simply, each half hour of this show is a blast, in large part due to the charismatic performance of Bruce Campbell and a creative team that understands how the franchise developed such a devoted following.
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9. Hannibal (NBC). Perhaps sensing that the show was not long for this world, creator and showrunner Bryan Fuller made the decision to adapt both Thomas Harris’ novels Hannibal and Red Dragon for Season 3, devoting the first half of the season to the former and the second to the latter. The result is a season that does not quite cohere as well as it should, but offers two distinctive halves, each with their own unique merits. Joe Anderson and Richard Armitage as Mason Verger and Francis Dolarhyde (a.k.a the Red Dragon), respectively, are among the series’ most memorable guest stars, both elevating Season 3 with sensational performances in their roles. But the relationship between Will Graham and Dr. Hannibal Lecter, which serves as the through line between the two halves of the season, is the backbone of the series and the crux of Season 3, and Fuller and crew are at their best when exploring the depths of this twisted friendship. It is a shame that Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen never received the proper awards recognition that their incredible performances deserved.
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8. Review (Comedy Central). This is one of the most brilliant shows on the television. Yet I can almost guarantee that you’ve never heard of it. For those of you who are unaware, Review is a mockumentary-style comedy that revolves around Forrest MacNeil, the overzealous host of a show where his viewers nominate different aspects of life for him to experience and review. Forrest is unwavering in his commitment to the show, even as he is forced to divorce his wife, seduce a school teacher, start a cult, and even kill a person — all in the interest of maintaining the show’s integrity. His closest friends and family are unaware that his actions are in service of the show, making his self-destructive behavior all the more disturbing from their point of view. The show’s brilliance is in twisting the knife further with each review, to the point where even a seemingly innocuous rowboat excursion turns into a nightmarish situation for Forrest. Andy Daly is outstanding in the lead role, and his endearing performance is what keeps Review from being an excruciating and uncomfortable exercise in personal anguish.
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7. You’re The Worst (FXX). This is a show that I had no intentions of ever watching, until a number of television critics refused to shut up about it. And they were right not to, as You’re The Worst is an exceptional comedy about two terrible people — out-of-work author Jimmy Shive-Overly and cynical public relations exec Gretchen Cutler — who want no part of a traditional romantic relationship… until their efforts prove futile and a traditional romantic relationship blossoms out of their mutual feelings for each other. In addition to being hilarious, You’re The Worst is also an evocative depiction of the modern dating world, managing to navigate the emotional ups and downs of a contemporary relationship without becoming predictable or overly sentimental. Aya Cash is the unquestionable MVP of Season 2, with the success of a heartbreaking — and all too believable — storyline about Gretchen’s struggle with depression resting on the shoulders of her performance. And she was more than up to the challenge, helping You’re The Worst take a significant creative leap after a promising debut season.
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6. Veep (HBO). There is no better political satire on television than Veep. Four seasons in and the writing has never been sharper. Julia Louis-Drefus also continues to put Seinfeld‘s Elaine Benes in the rearview mirror with her performance as Selina Meyer, the self-serving vice president who now finds herself promoted to the Oval Office after the resignation of her commander-in-chief. The standout episode of the season is “Testimony,” a brilliant half hour of television in which Selina and members of her staff are forced to testify before a congressional committee. That episode also serves to highlight the outstanding ensemble cast that Veep boasts, complete with this season’s welcome addition of Hugh Laurie as Tom James, Selina’s popular and charismatic running mate as she seeks to win the upcoming election and hold her newly minted position as head of state. Season 4 of Veep also benefits from a desire to shake up the status quo, with Reid Scott’s conniving Dan Egan and Anna Chlumsky’s unstable Amy Brookheimer both assuming new roles within the show’s political landscape.
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5. Better Call Saul (AMC). Breaking Bad was one of the greatest television shows of all time. But I was not clamoring for a dubious spinoff revolving around the origin of that show’s comic relief — sleazeball lawyer Saul Goodman (a.k.a. Jimmy McGill) — even if Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan and his brilliant team of writers were bringing this show to life. But it didn’t take long for me to realize that Better Call Saul was the show I never knew I wanted. Bob Odenkirk handles the transition from supporting actor to leading man with surprising aplomb, delivering an impressive performance that earned him a well-deserved Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Better Call Saul‘s first season covers Jimmy’s futile attempts to become a successful and respected lawyer, prior to his lucrative career as Saul Goodman. The show takes a few episodes before it figures out what it wants to be, but suffers no shortage of memorable characters, in particular Michael McKean as Jimmy’s critical brother Charles “Chuck” McGill and Jonathan Banks reprising his Breaking Bad role as the surly Mike Ehrmantraut.
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4. Daredevil (Netflix). I loved Ben Affleck’s Daredevil when I was a kid. Once I got older? Not so much. But my affinity for the character never faded. So when Marvel announced that a new Daredevil television series was coming to Netflix, I was more than a little excited. The good news is that the television series is far superior to the movie. More interested in grounding the material in the real world than emulating the comic book, Daredevil succeeds where its predecessor failed because of its increased emphasis on developing its characters and ensuring that its antagonist is as compelling as its protagonist. Vincent D’Onofrio has received near universal acclaim for his magnificent performance as the villainous Wilson Fisk, but Charlie Cox is the unsung performer in the title role. Cox is pitch perfect casting as Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer who moonlights as a vigilante stalking the dark alleys of Hell’s Kitchen. Daredevil is also a welcome change of pace from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not shying away from the brutal violence that has been a part of the comic book from the beginning.
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3. Justified (FX). Raylan Givens is a character that I know I’ll miss, and a lot of that is a credit to the effortless charisma of Timothy Olyphant and the swagger of his performance — he was born to be Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. But Olyphant is one piece of what made Justified one of the best shows on television for the past six years. Elmore Leonard’s source material, the exceptional supporting cast, and the show’s brilliant writers were a match made in Heaven. With the exception of the lackluster penultimate season, Justified has also been one of the most consistent shows on television in terms of quality. The final season served as the perfect conclusion to the series, bringing to a head the tense conflict between Raylan and Boyd Crowder. Caught in the middle is Ava Crowder, the conflicted wild card who has been pulled back and forth between Raylan and Boyd over the course of the show. Their love triangle — and especially the performances of Olyphant, Walton Goggins, and Joelle Carter — has been the backbone of the series, and the well-crafted final season is a reflection of that.
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2. Fargo (FX). Re-imagining the classic Coen Brothers film as an anthology television series sounded like, for all intents and purposes, a terrible idea. Season 1 of FX’s Fargo dispelled that notion, producing a critically-acclaimed season of television that rivaled the original film, even winning the Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries. Season 2 upped the ante with a more ambitious storyline and an ever stronger cast, including Patrick Wilson, Kirsten Dunst, Ted Danson, Jesse Plemmons, and Jean Smart. As a prequel of sorts to the first season, the latest chapter of Fargo takes place in the late 70’s and weaves together several different characters and storylines to craft a compelling Midwest crime drama that blends Fargo with Miller’s Crossing and The Man Who Wasn’t There. Creator and showrunner Noah Hawley and his team of writers have outdone themselves here and set a bar that will be difficult for them to clear in the future, utilizing all of the classic Coen Brothers elements and operating within their wheelhouse without ever feeling like a cheap reproduction. Oh, and did I mention the UFO?
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1. The Leftovers (HBO). No other show on television compares to The Leftovers. The first season was outstanding, but the second season saw the series take a creative leap that ushered The Leftovers into the conversation for inclusion on the list of the greatest television shows of all time. This is the real deal. Taking place in the years following an unexplained event in which two percent of the world’s population vanished from the face of the Earth, The Leftovers covered all of the material from Tom Perrotta’s original book in the first season, allowing Perrotta and showrunner Damon Lindelof to make dramatic changes in their sophomore season. The result? One of the most fascinating and engrossing character dramas on television. Like Hannibal, The Leftovers will be snubbed come awards season, but the entire cast delivers career-best performances. Couple that with the heavy existential themes that the series grapples with and you have the recipe for a thought-provoking drama with a lot more on its mind than sheer entertainment value. Do not let these Leftovers go to waste — pun fully intended.
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Just A Bit Outside (in alphabetical order): The Americans, Bloodline, The Flash, Game of Thrones, Jessica Jones, The Man In The High Castle, Man Seeking Woman, Master of None, and Silicon Valley
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