Best of 2017, Top TV Shows


We've reached the end of 2017, and I'm listing my favorite things for the year. This post has my top 15 TV Series. I know what you're thinking, it should be 10. But there was a ton of shows this year, and I didn't want to limit myself. So there's 15 in ascending order. And, I think, a surprise at the end. For the first time in years, "Game of Thrones" has been de-throned as my favorite show. Of course, it's still on the list, so I haven't completely turned.

15. The Crown, Season 2, Netflix — This second season was released in December, and it wasn't quite as strong at the first season. But it was still very compelling. Claire Foy is great, and it is hard for me to imagine what this series will be like with a new cast in season three.

14. Brockmire, Season 1, IFC — At this point in time I don't get surprised by much any more, but this simple comedy about a disgraced TV announcer who hits rock bottom and falls down a couple more rungs was comedy gold thanks to Hank Azaria and Amanda Peet. It was weird, wild, and totally inappropriate. But it also made my Spring a lot more amusing.

13. The Handmaid's Tale, Season 1, Hulu — This is mostly a list of shows I loved, and I didn't love this. But this cautionary tale felt especially relevant in 2017, and the performances, particularly from Elisabeth Moss, were fantastic. This wasn't an easy watch, but it was a well-done show.

12. 13 Reasons Why, Season 1, Netflix — This wasn't for everyone, and it was another tough watch. But it was a beautifully told story, and the performances from Dylan Minnette and Katherine Langford were incredible. This shouldn't have a season two, but apparently is. I don't know where it can go, but I appreciated the emotional heft of the storytelling in these 13 hours.

11. Legion, Season 1, FX — What Noah Hawley did in adapting this Marvel property was incredible and unexpected. I loved the performances from Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza and the rest of this talented cast. This was one of the most interesting shows of the year.

10. Bosch, Season 3, Amazon Prime — This wasn't the best season of "Bosch," but even a lesser season of "Bosch" is one of the best things on TV. I love Titus Welliver in this role and I love this show.

9. Godless, Season 1, Netflix — This limited series from Scott Frank is a pitch perfect Western. I'm not sure it will come back for any more episodes, and I am sure it doesn't need any more, but this one was seven great episodes. Scoot McNairy, Merrit Wever, Jeff Daniels, Jack O'Connell, and Michelle Dockery were great. I loved the closing episode, too.

8. GLOW, Season 1, Netflix — This was the show of summer. Alison Brie and Marc Maron were great in this 1980s-set tale of ladies, wrestling, and making dreams come true. I can't wait for season two.

7. The Good Place, Seasons 1-2, NBC — This is one of the few network shows on this list, and it is unlike anything on TV. This series had an incredible game-changing season one finale in the winter and came back in the fall with a season two that has been weird, wild, and unexpected. This is one of the funniest shows on TV.

6. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Season 1, Amazon Prime — What an incredible debut. Amy Sherman Palladino ("The Gilmore Girls") did a great job bringing this series and these characters to life in a funny and riveting way. Rachel Brosnahan is incredible in the lead role, too. This was one of the best surprises of fall 2017.

5. Stranger Things 2, Netflix — The first season of "Stranger Things" was one of my favorites of last year, and I loved season two as well. It was different, yet familiar. And it had some incredibly poignant moments. I understand why others weren't as in love, but I thought it was great.

4. Halt and Catch Fire, Season 4, AMC — AMC has one great show, and it's not "The Walking Dead." "Halt and Catch Fire" has been great for four years, but this final season found new emotional levels. It felt like time, but I will miss the show.

3. Mindhunter, Season 1, Netflix — This docudrama traces the origin of criminal profiling in the 1970s for the FBI and went to some weird and interesting places. In an incredibly strong year for Netflix, this was their best series thanks to great creative work from David Fincher and a great starring performance from Jonathan Groff.

2. Game of Thrones, Season 7, HBO — So it's not at the top, but it didn't fall far. The penultimate season of "Game of Thrones" was slow at times, but it had some incredible episodes, great performances, and put a lot of pieces in place. It's going to be a long 2018 waiting for this show to come back.

1. The Leftovers, Season 3, HBO — I remember the first season of this show, and it's never something I thought would top my list. Season two was incredible, but oh season three. It was eight episodes that were incredible, creative, emotional, and thought-provoking. I love to be emotionally engaged and moved, and nothing on the small screen did that like "The Leftovers." I cried during every episode, and nearly every minute of the beautiful and breath-taking finale. This, to me, was the best of 2017.

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