Written by: Kevin Berge
2017 has not been a great year to live in the United States of America, but the reason for that has nothing to do with entertainment. This has been a solid year of television with many surprise returns to form for shows that have lasted several seasons already with a few impressive new arrivals particularly from Netflix.
From the penultimate season of Game of Thrones to new series emerging such as The Punisher and GLOW, it has been a year of shifting tides as the old shows near their home stretch and are hopefully replaced by new equally affecting shows for a long time to come.
These are my top 10 TV shows of 2017, based entirely upon how much I enjoyed the shows. I cannot promise I have seen everything on TV this year, but I have put in the time enough to be happy with my entire list.
From the penultimate season of Game of Thrones to new series emerging such as The Punisher and GLOW, it has been a year of shifting tides as the old shows near their home stretch and are hopefully replaced by new equally affecting shows for a long time to come.
These are my top 10 TV shows of 2017, based entirely upon how much I enjoyed the shows. I cannot promise I have seen everything on TV this year, but I have put in the time enough to be happy with my entire list.
If we have nothing else from 2017, we have the constant reminder how cool the past was. (Image Courtesy of: horror.land)
2017 Lists: Movies | Acting Performances | WWE Matches (on Sunday)
*Note: I will avoid any direct spoilers in these different series, focusing primarily on the themes and my feeling about the seasons. You can read any of the descriptions without spoilers with the linked reviews going more in-depth.
TV shows on my radar but not included because I have not seen them: Big Little Lies, Legion, Twins Peaks, Mindhunter, The Handmaid's Tale, The Deuce, The Americans, Outlander, Dear White People, American Vandal, This Is Us, Riverdale, Rick & Morty.
*Note: I will avoid any direct spoilers in these different series, focusing primarily on the themes and my feeling about the seasons. You can read any of the descriptions without spoilers with the linked reviews going more in-depth.
TV shows on my radar but not included because I have not seen them: Big Little Lies, Legion, Twins Peaks, Mindhunter, The Handmaid's Tale, The Deuce, The Americans, Outlander, Dear White People, American Vandal, This Is Us, Riverdale, Rick & Morty.
Honorable Mentions
My Hero Academia Season 2 (Review): I am never up to date on anime, so it is rare one would make my end-of-the-year list. My Hero Academia though pulled me in enough to actually wait to see each episode as it aired, and the second season is the show's coming-out party with a fantastic tournament arc and quality thematic focus.
House of Cards Season 5 (Review): If you can forgive the issues in the middle season of this series and unfortunate immorality of Kevin Spacey that deservedly has removed him from the final season, there is real fun to be had in watching House of Cards with its fifth season full political satire with over-the-top drama and interesting moves.
House of Cards Season 5 (Review): If you can forgive the issues in the middle season of this series and unfortunate immorality of Kevin Spacey that deservedly has removed him from the final season, there is real fun to be had in watching House of Cards with its fifth season full political satire with over-the-top drama and interesting moves.
10. Stranger Things Season 2
My Review of the Season
Stranger Things was an absolute knockout on arrival in its first season, and the second season escaped the primary issue I had with the first season: its derivative nature. The second season still had heavy homage throughout, but it was a more complete and unique story that drew on the experiences of the likable cast.
This series felt primarily focused on resolving the consequences of its debut season. It had some new characters, but the drive was to resolve what came before. This made it an engaging ride especially as the stakes were higher than ever with the real belief that certain kids could be killed off here.
While I appreciated the more original tone of this season, it did have some issues, primarily keeping a clear driving focus. The best characters were left with nothing to do while others were overused in unnecessary stories. Still, this is a rare TV series that is perfectly bingeable multiple times over with my outlook improving on second watch.
Stranger Things was an absolute knockout on arrival in its first season, and the second season escaped the primary issue I had with the first season: its derivative nature. The second season still had heavy homage throughout, but it was a more complete and unique story that drew on the experiences of the likable cast.
This series felt primarily focused on resolving the consequences of its debut season. It had some new characters, but the drive was to resolve what came before. This made it an engaging ride especially as the stakes were higher than ever with the real belief that certain kids could be killed off here.
While I appreciated the more original tone of this season, it did have some issues, primarily keeping a clear driving focus. The best characters were left with nothing to do while others were overused in unnecessary stories. Still, this is a rare TV series that is perfectly bingeable multiple times over with my outlook improving on second watch.
9. Legends of Tomorrow Season 2
My Review of the Season
The CW's DC television shows have become wildly oversaturated at this point, and I will likely have to back out on watching some of them. The one show I will absolutely be sticking with is Legends of Tomorrow which has fully embraced the campy fun that its fellow shows seem to be scared to linger on.
While the second season was not a clear home run, it was proof of just how much potential the show has with fun chaos abound and likable characters that grow through their experiences. It could be stupid and ridiculous at times, but there was a real heart there as well in the way these characters interacted with one another.
The CW's DC television shows have become wildly oversaturated at this point, and I will likely have to back out on watching some of them. The one show I will absolutely be sticking with is Legends of Tomorrow which has fully embraced the campy fun that its fellow shows seem to be scared to linger on.
While the second season was not a clear home run, it was proof of just how much potential the show has with fun chaos abound and likable characters that grow through their experiences. It could be stupid and ridiculous at times, but there was a real heart there as well in the way these characters interacted with one another.
I also appreciate the constant post-apocalypses to remind everyone what is coming. (Image Courtesy of: denofgeek.com)
8. The 100 Season 4
My Review of the Season
I feel like I am the only one watching The 100 because, if everyone else was as well, they'd all be talking about it. After a rough opening season, it has taken off and become a science fiction tale that dives into questions of how far leaders must go to ensure the survival of their people.
The fourth season was dark and foreboding, driven by some brutal stretches where these characters were asked to weigh life against life. The action was intense with some fantastic moments. The themes at play were ever-present, and the consequences of each decision were consistently felt.
While this season could have been a bit more subtle in its execution, it was the deepest and most thematically-rich the series has ever been. I can only hope that the fifth season is as satisfying as the past few have been especially if it is the last season of the show.
I feel like I am the only one watching The 100 because, if everyone else was as well, they'd all be talking about it. After a rough opening season, it has taken off and become a science fiction tale that dives into questions of how far leaders must go to ensure the survival of their people.
The fourth season was dark and foreboding, driven by some brutal stretches where these characters were asked to weigh life against life. The action was intense with some fantastic moments. The themes at play were ever-present, and the consequences of each decision were consistently felt.
While this season could have been a bit more subtle in its execution, it was the deepest and most thematically-rich the series has ever been. I can only hope that the fifth season is as satisfying as the past few have been especially if it is the last season of the show.
7. Fargo Season 3
Review of the Season Coming in January
I picked up Fargo late in the year, finally checking out a series that had long been on my watch list. I had high expectations, and, while I don't know that it is a series that is entirely my cup of tea, it lived up to those hopes. It is an absurd, unapologetic show with drama to spare and black comedy that is never forced.
Season 3 was the weakest season to date but not by too much. It has an assured flair and an incredible cast, but it is woefully short on heart which has helped make up for the darkness and grossness of past seasons. Still, I cannot say I did not enjoy watching every second.
Ewan McGregor (in two roles), Carrie Coon, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and David Thewlis were all stellar, and it was hard to look away as they worked off one another in a clever bid for power and justice even if it was hard to watch at some points. There is nothing on TV like Fargo, and its third season had a lock on its messages and symbolism.
I picked up Fargo late in the year, finally checking out a series that had long been on my watch list. I had high expectations, and, while I don't know that it is a series that is entirely my cup of tea, it lived up to those hopes. It is an absurd, unapologetic show with drama to spare and black comedy that is never forced.
Season 3 was the weakest season to date but not by too much. It has an assured flair and an incredible cast, but it is woefully short on heart which has helped make up for the darkness and grossness of past seasons. Still, I cannot say I did not enjoy watching every second.
Ewan McGregor (in two roles), Carrie Coon, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and David Thewlis were all stellar, and it was hard to look away as they worked off one another in a clever bid for power and justice even if it was hard to watch at some points. There is nothing on TV like Fargo, and its third season had a lock on its messages and symbolism.
If this doesn't encapsulate the experience of living through 2017, what does? (Image Courtesy of: amc.com)
6. Better Call Saul Season 3
My Review of the Season
It took me a long time to get to Better Call Saul, but it made the ride all the more worth it. Breaking Bad may be the greatest TV series ever made, but Better Call Saul is not slinking away from its shadow. This is a slow and methodical series that is intensely driven by its central protagonist.
Each season has been better than the last as more elements of Saul Goodman sneak into the story, and the progression is wholly earned. This is not even mentioning how this season further embraced enhancing the stories of Mike Ermenantraut and future incredible BB villain Gus Fring.
The acting was stellar. The direction was stellar. The writing was stellar. Nothing was lesser to the whole in this show, and I cannot get enough of watching the descent of these characters. How do Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould continue to make such consistently excellent TV?
It took me a long time to get to Better Call Saul, but it made the ride all the more worth it. Breaking Bad may be the greatest TV series ever made, but Better Call Saul is not slinking away from its shadow. This is a slow and methodical series that is intensely driven by its central protagonist.
Each season has been better than the last as more elements of Saul Goodman sneak into the story, and the progression is wholly earned. This is not even mentioning how this season further embraced enhancing the stories of Mike Ermenantraut and future incredible BB villain Gus Fring.
The acting was stellar. The direction was stellar. The writing was stellar. Nothing was lesser to the whole in this show, and I cannot get enough of watching the descent of these characters. How do Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould continue to make such consistently excellent TV?
5. Mr. Robot Season 3
My Review of the Season
Season 3 finally helped me realize just how much I love Mr. Robot as a series. From its creativity to the unique and cinematic feel and an overarching story that keeps the characters interesting, this is a show that has grown better with time as Sam Esmail seems to be learning on the job.
This was always a show sold as thriller based around hacking, but its core is more directly a realistic dystopia, focusing on the ways that greed, passion, vigilantism, revenge, and dreams all come together to warp society in the hands of those with power.
The third season brought the series to the brink of its dystopian vision before pulling back to express a few hints of genuine optimism. With intense storytelling, emotional acting, and a complete lack of fear, Mr. Robot's third season captured the heart of this show's vision.
Season 3 finally helped me realize just how much I love Mr. Robot as a series. From its creativity to the unique and cinematic feel and an overarching story that keeps the characters interesting, this is a show that has grown better with time as Sam Esmail seems to be learning on the job.
This was always a show sold as thriller based around hacking, but its core is more directly a realistic dystopia, focusing on the ways that greed, passion, vigilantism, revenge, and dreams all come together to warp society in the hands of those with power.
The third season brought the series to the brink of its dystopian vision before pulling back to express a few hints of genuine optimism. With intense storytelling, emotional acting, and a complete lack of fear, Mr. Robot's third season captured the heart of this show's vision.
As long as we survive long enough to make it there, I do hope by 2020 we get a Karen Page show. She can't keep carrying these superheroes without some reward. (Image Courtesy of: ibtimes.com)
4. The Punisher Season 1
My Review of the Season
The Punisher could have easily been a mess, not just because of the recent failures in the otherwise excellent Marvel-Netflix franchise but also because this was a story ripe for exploitative violence. Past incarnations of the Marvel hero have made him a stoic killing machine or a generic action-movie hero.
The first season of The Punisher, while still violent in a sometimes hard-to-watch fashion, was a human tale about who Frank Castle was and who he has become. His kill-first vigilantism was on full display through other lenses as the series focused on veteran trauma, family loss, and the importance of community.
Instead of just becoming bloody action violence, it was a contemplative tale that took a little while to get going but paid it off in spades thereafter thanks in part to another stellar performance from Jon Bernthal. Plus the action in this series was above and beyond most any other show on television.
The Punisher could have easily been a mess, not just because of the recent failures in the otherwise excellent Marvel-Netflix franchise but also because this was a story ripe for exploitative violence. Past incarnations of the Marvel hero have made him a stoic killing machine or a generic action-movie hero.
The first season of The Punisher, while still violent in a sometimes hard-to-watch fashion, was a human tale about who Frank Castle was and who he has become. His kill-first vigilantism was on full display through other lenses as the series focused on veteran trauma, family loss, and the importance of community.
Instead of just becoming bloody action violence, it was a contemplative tale that took a little while to get going but paid it off in spades thereafter thanks in part to another stellar performance from Jon Bernthal. Plus the action in this series was above and beyond most any other show on television.
3. The Leftovers Season 3
My Review of the Series
It may sound pretentious which is not wholly an unfair descriptor of The Leftovers as a whole, but the series' third and final season was more poem and painting than television show. Its elegant cinematography and thematic story construction finish a story about how different people handle loss.
This is a tough series to recommend because it is so deeply unpleasant at times because of the powerful depression that dominates the run time. Even the tinges of black humor are not enough to balance out the experience. It is harrowing and intense in a way no other TV show is.
To experience The Leftovers is to go through pain and fragmented joy, to experience faith as folly and as a saving grace. Every episode was powerful and needed time to be reflected upon. It is a masterful display of elegant cinematography and thematic storytelling that may not be perfect but is impossible not to appreciate.
Not to write too long about the one show, but "Book of Nora" is the best series finale I have ever seen and may be the best hour of entertainment I have experienced this year.
It may sound pretentious which is not wholly an unfair descriptor of The Leftovers as a whole, but the series' third and final season was more poem and painting than television show. Its elegant cinematography and thematic story construction finish a story about how different people handle loss.
This is a tough series to recommend because it is so deeply unpleasant at times because of the powerful depression that dominates the run time. Even the tinges of black humor are not enough to balance out the experience. It is harrowing and intense in a way no other TV show is.
To experience The Leftovers is to go through pain and fragmented joy, to experience faith as folly and as a saving grace. Every episode was powerful and needed time to be reflected upon. It is a masterful display of elegant cinematography and thematic storytelling that may not be perfect but is impossible not to appreciate.
Not to write too long about the one show, but "Book of Nora" is the best series finale I have ever seen and may be the best hour of entertainment I have experienced this year.
Shame on you, Marvel, for not thinking these characters should be in the Avengers. (Image Courtesy of: screenrant.com)
2. GLOW Season 1
My Review of the Season
I have never needed my love of wrestling justified, but it was nice to have a series come out that did just that. The first season of GLOW was bingeable gold, enthralling from start to finish, and it truly sold what makes professional wrestling special, the community driven by the desire to tell stories.
I rarely have the time or energy to binge a full series in one sitting, and I had not planned to do so when I began GLOW. 5 hours later, I was already at the finale. The series' engaging spirit and realistic joy made it difficult to stop watching.
I don't know how long the legs of this series will stretch. The first season was such a perfect simple tale of women coming together for a common goal they never knew they had, and it is possible the series going forward will never have that simple cohesion. I will be watching regardless, hoping to experience more of the magic.
I have never needed my love of wrestling justified, but it was nice to have a series come out that did just that. The first season of GLOW was bingeable gold, enthralling from start to finish, and it truly sold what makes professional wrestling special, the community driven by the desire to tell stories.
I rarely have the time or energy to binge a full series in one sitting, and I had not planned to do so when I began GLOW. 5 hours later, I was already at the finale. The series' engaging spirit and realistic joy made it difficult to stop watching.
I don't know how long the legs of this series will stretch. The first season was such a perfect simple tale of women coming together for a common goal they never knew they had, and it is possible the series going forward will never have that simple cohesion. I will be watching regardless, hoping to experience more of the magic.
1. Agents of SHIELD Season 4
My Review of the Season
I have loved Agents of SHIELD since it began even if it took a while to get off the ground, but season 3 had me more or less convinced the series had already reached its peak. Then came season 4 which didn't just blow away everything that came before but completely revitalized the show.
The creativity of the storytelling, the three-act structure, and the introduction of new concepts that transformed the way the series worked made AoS a science fiction series that had grown out of its Marvel trappings while still remembering the love it had for its deep cast.
Ghost Rider's inclusion was cool, but the LMD storyline made this season special. Honestly, the second and third parts of this series were basically perfect from episode to episode, and they made me excited to see what the show could do now that it felt free to explore the crazier sci-fi roots of the Marvel universe.
I have loved Agents of SHIELD since it began even if it took a while to get off the ground, but season 3 had me more or less convinced the series had already reached its peak. Then came season 4 which didn't just blow away everything that came before but completely revitalized the show.
The creativity of the storytelling, the three-act structure, and the introduction of new concepts that transformed the way the series worked made AoS a science fiction series that had grown out of its Marvel trappings while still remembering the love it had for its deep cast.
Ghost Rider's inclusion was cool, but the LMD storyline made this season special. Honestly, the second and third parts of this series were basically perfect from episode to episode, and they made me excited to see what the show could do now that it felt free to explore the crazier sci-fi roots of the Marvel universe.
