Check out the previous year-end reviews.
The best pilot goes to Dark (2017). It immediately hooked me, granted it's also a show I've seen more recently.
The Top 14 of 2017:
The Fall (2013-)
Season 1 - 5 episodes (2013)
Season 2 - 6 episodes (2014)
Created by:Allan Cubitt
Starring: Gillian Anderson, Jamie Dornan, John Lynch
Rated: TV-MA
Plot
DSI Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) chases serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan).
In season two, Spector's personal life is in disarray as Gibson closes in.
Verdict
This is an amazing season that defies convention to create a subtle yet terrifying serial killer. The best way to catch a psychopath is to use a sociopath. DSI Gibson is clinical and cold, unable to relate to people, where Spector has a family and is employed as a grief counselor.
The mystery isn't who the killer is. This identifies the killer in the first scene. We don't look for clues to determine who, but to determine how he fits into society. This guy looks completely normal, and yet he's not right, causing you to wonder who you know could be a twisted psychopath. That person could be blending in and you don't even realize.
Season 2 feels like the second half of the story season one began. This season is the noose closing around Spector's neck. Season one was slow methodical and chilling, establishing the characters of Spector and Gibson. This season is the chase. It's a different tone, but just as engrossing as season one.
Rectify (2013-2016)
Season 4 - 8 Episodes (2016)
Created by: Ray McKinnon
Starring: Aden Young, J.D. Evermore, Abigail Spencer, Sean Bridgers
Rating: TV-14
Plot:
Daniel Holden re-enters the world after serving nineteen years on death row.
Season four has Daniel in Tennessee. He's got a job and a place to stay, but he doesn't quite have a grasp on life yet. It's clear this is the final season as the show funnels the story lines to a conclusion.
Verdict
My season 4 review is much like season 3 (read my review). This is a character drama centered on Daniel Holden. This season skews too far in putting a bow on all the story arcs, but it's still doing what this show always has. It focuses on the characters. We share in their struggles and joys, no matter how small or large they may be.
Daniel is away from his family, by court order, and trying to forge a new life. This season sees him learning how to interact socially. Season three was more of a murder mystery than the previous two seasons, and this season brings the focus back to how Daniel deals with life after being locked up for so long.
By the end of the season everyone's lives are turned upside down to varying degrees with all of the arcs ending nice and neat.
Big Little Lies (2017)
Mini-series - 7 episodes
Created by: David E. Kelley
Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallée
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Alexander Skarsgård, Adam Scott, Zoë Kravitz, Laura Dern
Rated: TV-MA
Plot
The apparently perfect lives of first grade mothers are anything but, culminating in them becoming suspects in a homicide investigation.
The homicide investigation is secondary to the entanglements of their personal lives as they unfold.
Verdict
From the first episode this is a riveting drama. While I thought solving the homicide would be the driving force, it's a minor plot point. The question becomes who did it and who is the victim. Those answers aren't revealed until the final episode, but by the second episode, I didn't care about the murder. I just wanted to see more of these characters. They are well-written and the acting is solid. Reese Witherspoon will get some nominations.
The drama is the facade that is their lives, tension building in each situation. With each passing episode, the number of suspects that could be either the killer or victim increases.
This is an excellent series with deftly developed characters, slick editing, and a finale that reveals all.
13 Reasons Why (2017-)
Season 1 - 13 episodes (2017)
Directed by: Tom McCarthy
Starring: Dylan Minnette, Katherine Langford, Brandon Flynn, Christian Navarro
Rated: TV-MA
Plot:
This drama is based on the 2007 young adult novel. Clay (Dylan Minnette) finds a box on his doorstep addressed to him two weeks after his classmate Hannah ended her life. Inside he discovers seven tapes outlining the thirteen people that are reasons why Hannah did it
Verdict:
This is a well-crafted show that uses expert editing to drift between present and past as Clay slowly uncovers the multitude of reasons that led to Hannah's death. This is a great example of why books should become a limited series instead of a movie, they need more time to unfold.
The writing captures the awkwardness and pitfalls of high school, with ever changing alliances and hookups. It's engrossing as we learn more each episode while being teased about what's to come.
Half way through, I had no idea how this would end, but it details how even the most self assured people face challenges and torments. High school is cruel and self preservation is prevalent. Nearly any of the characters in this show will sacrifice a friend to save themselves.
Suicide does happen, and it's only by talking about the issue that it can be changed. This show doesn't glorify it and never once implies it's a viable option. This is more than entertainment, using that medium to discuss a difficult subject.
The show is tragic and haunting, leaving me more more empathetic to everyone around me.
Master of None (2015-)
Season 2 -10 episodes (2017)
Starring: Aziz Ansari, Eric Wareheim, Lena Waithe, Noël Wells, Eric Wareheim, Kelvin Yu, Alessandra Mastronardi
Rating: TV-MA
Plot
Aziz Ansari stars in this comedy as Dev, juggling acting and dating in New York.
In season 2 he returns from Italy, lands a reality show hosting job, and is stuck in the friend zone.
Verdict
This is one of Netflix's best comedies. It's endearing and heartwarming, but also really funny. This season is creative and takes risks. While most episodes are half an hour, episode nine is a full hour. The first episode is in black and white, and another doesn't even focus on Dev.
Episodes have a lot of heart and feel real. There are many great episodes this season, and this show manages to really capture the family dynamic. This show is on another level artistically, yet always retains the comedy.
The production values are more like film, and it's clear the creators are fans of film, adding similar nuances and directly referencing Italian films. This is an absolute great season.
Detectorists (2014-)
Season 1 - 6 episodes (2014)
Season 2 - 7 episodes (2015)
Watch Detectorists on Netflix
Created by: Mackenzie Crook
Starring: Mackenzie Crook, Toby Jones, Pearce Quigley
Rated: TV-MA
Plot
Two eccentric metal detectorists spend their days plodding along open fields hoping to disturb the tedium by unearthing the fortune of a lifetime.
Verdict
This is a fantastic show. Don't let the premise of 'two guys metal detecting' dissuade you. That description is a disservice. This follows the drama in the lives of two best friends Lance and Andy. Life can be serious and silly. As detectorists they're hunting for meaning and vindication, something we all seek. They are strong characters, flawed and fixated, that never feel anything less than real, and that's the charm of this show.
Rick and Morty (2013-)
Season 1 - 11 episodes (2013)
Season 2 - 10 episodes (2015)
Created by: Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon
Starring: Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke
Rated: TV-MA
Plot
An animated series that follows the exploits of drunk, careless, super scientist Rick and his dimwitted, anxious grandson Morty as they traverse multiple universes.
Verdict
This show is simply amazing. It's bonkers in the best possible way. Each episode embraces ridiculous plot lines that are twisted and witty. Rarely do I have so much fun watching a plot unfold, wondering what will happen next.
It manages to be dark, clever, comedic, and heartfelt in twenty minutes at a time. It does it well too, skewering almost everything while taking silly ideas farther than you thought possible.
Rick and Morty are perfect foils, and the characters are fully realized with sharp dialog. You'll have to watch this twice to catch it all, but you won't mind.
Gravity Falls (2012-2016)
Season 1 - 20 episodes (2012-2013)
Season 2 - 20 episodes (2014-2016)
Created by: Alex Hirsch
Starring: Jason Ritter, Alex Hirsch, Kristen Schaal, Linda Cardellini, John DiMaggio
Rated: TV-Y7
Plot
Fraternal twins, Dipper and Mabel Pine spend their summer with their Great Uncle Stan who runs a tourist trap called The Mystery Shack in Gravity Falls, Oregon. The twins soon discover the mysterious town is home to many secrets.
Verdict
It's a fun for the whole family type show, though the target is definitely pre-teens. While it doesn't attempt double duty by appealing to adults simultaneously as much as it could, it's still a wonderful show.
It's fun to watch with children, or for an adult wanting an easy watch. It subtly builds mystery and mythology that culminates in the final episode of the first season. While many episodes focus on Dipper and Mabel's crushes, it's an insanely charming show. The sibling bond between Dipper and Mabel is always apparent as they frequently sacrifice for each other. The theme song is just amazing, and the animation has an impressive attention to detail.
The second season kicks the mythology into high gear with big revelations about Gravity Falls. It feels like they were trying to finish the mythology and answer all the questions before the end. Knowing that this is only two seasons is disappointing. I want more! It's a fun adventure from a great show. The three part finale in season 2 is fantastic, rivaling many live action shows.
Narcos (2015-)
Season 3 - 10 episodes (2017)
Created by: Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Andrea Londo, Matt Whelan, Sebastian Eslava, Michael Stahl-David
Rating: TV-MA
Plot
The first two seasons were a dramatization of Pablo Esocbar's rise to power and wealth as the DEA and agent Murphy attempted to stop him. Season two left us with the question of what happens to the cartel now? The answer, a new empire fills the void, the Cali Cartel moves in.
Verdict
I liked season three a lot, and it might be my favorite season. It basically functions as a reboot, with many new characters, providing multiple viewpoints on the drug war. Characters want to maintain power, escape the power, or capture the power. This leads to a lot of double dealing and tension.
We never really got to know Escobar, not like the characters this season, and this is still for a large part based on fact. The stock footage reminds us of that when we see the show recreated Miguel's clothes when he was apprehended. While a lot of the drama is manufactured, this is a television show. It needs that drama. Using the large story as a framework is the perfect way to do this.
The first two seasons were Escobar versus Murphy. Expanding the cast this season helps weave an engaging story. This was a great show before, and by going deeper and wider into the cartel, it just gets better.
Dark (2017-)
Season 1 - 10 episodes (2017)
Directed by: Jeremy Rush
Starring: Frank Grillo, Garret Dillahunt
Rated: TV-MA
Plot
In this German language series, a family mystery saga with a supernatural twist unfolds, taking the story back to 1986. Two missing children connect four families as they search for the kids in the present day.The question isn't who kidnapped the children, but when. The years 2019, 1986, and 1953 are somehow linked.
Verdict
This is interpersonal drama, time travel, and mystery all thrown together. It's got parts of Back to the Future, Lost, and Primer. While it makes you work for it due to the sheer number of characters and a lot of quick scenes you need to remember, the experience is rewarding. The first episode throws a lot at you. It's bewildering and it should be. I went from skeptical it could answer all the questions and provide a satisfying conclusion to no longer caring. The ride is worth it. This is an experience that's bewildering and fascinating. Are we constrained to fate or is free will an illusion?
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