10) Mandalorian (Disney+)
The Mandolorian is my favorite Star Wars related piece of media. For die hards, this is probably sacrilege, but I’ve just never been all that fanatical when it comes to the franchise. My favorite movie outside of the original three is the one Rian Johnson directed, which I believe is the one that a lot of diehards hate. I can’t remember the name of it because there are so many films and the orders are so wild that my feeble brain just can’t keep up.
I have never had that problem with The Mandolorian. I know that some fans have taken small issue with a few details over the show’s two seasons but I find it to be a strong stand alone for those who are not dialed in to every detail from the entire thirty-year legacy. Mando is a likeable hero and “Baby Yoda” is brilliant as a mysterious sidekick. Rosario Dawson shows up in season two as do a few other bounty hunters and heros you may recognize. Season three will happen but as of now we don’t know exactly what the season will feature. – Rusty Odom
9) Flight Attendant (HBO Max)
Kaley Cuoco gets the lead gig in this comedic thriller about a mesmerizing flight attendant with a terribly unhealthy drinking problem. This show is very well cast and Cuoco’s character (Cassie) is a great focal point for its whimsical and dangerous universe. Michiel Huisman shines as Alex Sokolov as does Zosia Mamet as Cassie’s lawyer and friend Annie and Rosie Perez makes a nice comeback with her role as lead flight attendant for Cassie’s crew. The show has a few small hiccups here and there which only kept it from being higher on this list.
It was one of the first shows to premiere on HBOMax and if others are going to be this entertaining, the streaming service could one day take the crown in the streaming war. – RO
8) Fargo (FX)
It’s become inevitable that each season of Noah Hawley’s, Coen Brothers-based series, Fargo, is going to end up on our year-end list. Season 4 features another list of bigger names, including Chris Rock and Jason Schwartzmann, but it’s the supporting characters that really drive this season’s tale of war in Kansas City. Mobsters, outlaws, sheriffs and serial killers are intricately intertwined, creating a complicated story that thrives off intensity and anticipated confrontation. It’s full of drama, action and comedy, yet truly succeeds with the individual, dialogue-driven interactions of each character pairing. In true Coen Brothers style, the long, tense build to violence and resolution is filled with twists and turns, fables and anecdotes, nods to previous films and so much more that makes Fargo the only show of its kind. -MM
7) I May Destroy You (HBO)
This stunning and powerful semi-fictional story of sexual trauma, written, co-directed and starring Michaela Coel, is the most underrated show of 2020. In “I May Destroy You,” Coel brings a ferocious intensity to her writing, and her chaotic, yet captivating charisma allows her creation to thrive on screen. Coel has created a groundbreaking model for the exploration of trauma on screen that doesn’t lecture or exploit, shame or patronize. For this dark subject, she often makes it fun and enlightening, allowing it to heal as much as it hurts, and shifting sporadically between the two with a rare intensity. IMDY is a gripping, fearless and gorgeous masterpiece. -MM
6) I Know This Much is True (HBO)
Mark Ruffalo’s best career performance comes in the HBO miniseries adaptation of Wally Lamb’s 1998 novel of the same name. Ruffalo plays identical twins, Dominick and Thomas Birdsey, the former who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. The series follows the brothers as they struggle with both personal and shared trauma, the weight of family responsibility and navigating the challenges that never end. We get a glimpse into the imperfect reality of our mental health system, capable of restoring life or causing lasting damage. Ruffalo delivers an Emmy-worthy performance, bringing a dedicated emotion to both characters that is incredibly compelling and emotionally gripping. It’s Dominick where he truly shines, as the anger, sorrow and anxiety pours through the screen. With a strong supporting cast (Rosie O’Donnell, Juliette Lewis), a great soundtrack and incredible story, HBO delivers one of the best shows of the year once again. -MM
5) Top Boy (Netflix)
I admit, I was late to the party on the British crime drama “Top Boy” on Netflix. The first season dropped back in 2019. Originally created and released for UK’s Channel 4, the series drew interest from people like Drake which in turn caused Netflix to order a new season and eventually release it on their platform. The series, three seasons in to date, centers around the drug game in Summerhouse ghetto and specifically the rivalry of one-time mates Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Sully (Kane Robinson) who have returned to Summerhouse from Jamaica and prison respectively. The pair vie for supremacy atop of the tumultuous world of drug dealing. The soundtrack is composed by Brian Eno and features a great mix of British grime as Kane Robinson (Sully) is a hip-hop artist in real life. – JF
4) Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver may be the most important show on television. The amount and complexity of crucial information that is necessary for an informed society has become too overwhelming, even for those who constantly try to keep up. Oliver’s ability to clearly deliver complex and thorough information is unparalleled, jam-packing critical facts, insights and creative humor on immediate and impactful issues into 30 minutes each week. With the chaotic year we just had, Oliver was a refreshing voice, a familiar friend that is just as stressed as you, to have a laugh with and help you feel less alone in the absurdity. With a HBO budget he’s allowed to run rampant with, Oliver has created a social movement much larger than a single TV show. He is a disruptor, an extremely ambitious and exuberant one, with the ability to raise money for great causes, solicit reactions from world leaders and corporations, and create action amongst his fanbase. With five consecutive Emmy wins for Outstanding Variety Talk Series, John Oliver and his incredible writers have created a powerful tool for explaining complex issues, holding people accountable and finding some laughs in the process. -MM
3) Better Call Saul (AMC)
As the Breaking Bad spinoff approaches the runway, viewers are left with a lot of questions. There are so many loose ends to tie up, in fact, that the showrunners will have to spin some serious gold in order to have a landing in the same realm as its predecessor. Jimmy McGill has gone full Saul and he appears to be bringing girlfriend Kim Wexler down with him. Mike is as menacing as ever and tensions are boiling over in the drug war. Will Walter White and Jesse show up in the final season? What’s up with Cinnabon Gene? We can’t wait to see how this ends up. – RO
2) Ozark (Netflix)
While the Netflix phenomena may have lost some of its appeal in season three, make no mistake it was still as gripping as ever. Husband and wife duo Marty and Wendy (played by Jason Bateman and Laura Linney) find themselves even more ensconced in the world of money laundering for a cartel. Wendy seems to relish the role and takes on more responsibility as the ever shrewd and calculating political operative. Marty, on the other hand seems to take a step back dealing with his conscience throughout season three. Some of the believability that made the first two seasons must-watch-TV disappear in season three due to some of the choices the Byrde family makes. But the performance of Wendy’s brother Ben (Tom Pelphrey) more than makes up for any of those shortcomings. Netflix recently announced that they are going forward with a forth and final season of Ozark. Season four reportedly started filming in November and will consist of its longest season yet at fourteen episodes. The network has tentatively said they will be split in half with the first seven released in ’21 followed by the remaining 7 in ’22. – JF
1) Dave (FX)
It was the biggest surprise of the year. Well, maybe it was just the biggest surprise in television. Yep, Lil Dicky played the lead for BLANK’s television show of the year.
Before getting a few recommendations from people who I respect, I didn’t give watching Dave much of a thought. I just didn’t see how it could be any good. But I wasn’t too far in to the first episode before I discovered that there’s a lot more to Lil Dicky than the “Save that money” video that made him famous. Dave is irreverent and unbearably funny at times and just as poignant at others. The show tackles some serious issues that I’ve never seen covered on the small screen and the final episode of the season shows off all the talents of all the cast members. – RO
