Television occupies an unusual spot in my ol’ critical thinking brain. On the one hand, there is a lot of junk on television. Like, a lot of junk. Turn on any of the major networks on any given night, and chances are you’re going to land on junk. Terrible, terrible junk. On the other hand, there are a few television programs, a small slither, unfortunately, that are great. There are shows that I watched this year that are better than anything I saw in a movie theater — shows that I became so hooked on, so addicted to, that it felt like a fever dream. There are other shows, I’m sure, that are great but which I didn’t get a chance to see. There are only so many minutes in the day, so few precious minutes to permanently damage your eyesight staring at a screen.
“Top of the Lake” (Sundance Channel)
Before this even came out I was excited about it. Jane Campion is an underappreciated filmmaker, and to get the chance to see her take on a crime story over this much time? I was all in. Thankfully, the show, when it finally arrived in the U.S. after playing film festivals around the world, didn’t disappoint. I watched the entire thing in one day, barely getting up to eat. I can’t say I was this gripped by anything else this year, which is why this is at the top of this list.
“Breaking Bad” (AMC) / “Enlightened” (HBO)
Now, I know that having “Breaking Bad” second on this list, and including it with an HBO show that was cancelled after its second season, is like committing a felony. Both of these shows ended this year, both were brilliant, and both moved me in ways I didn’t think possible. It was hard to say goodbye, but they will always be remembered.
“Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (Fox)
Maybe I’m a little too hard on network television. It can’t all stink, right? This show is the perfect example. Now that “The Office” and “30 Rock” are off the air, and “Parks and Recreation” is sadly falling into a slump, this is the only show around that is funny. Granted, it’s not perfect. There are things that don’t work. But it actually has jokes, some things on the show really work, and the network seems ready to give it a chance. I’m going to keep watching it, which is more than I can say for a critical darling like “Homeland.”
“House of Cards” (Netflix)
This is still the best Netflix original series to date. I don’t care what people say about “Orange is the New Black” or “Arrested Development.” Those shows are full of fluff. “House of Cards” was lurid, provocative, funny, visually dynamic, scary, and compulsively watchable. You can’t ask for more.
“Mad Men” (AMC)
This is a show you can count on. What else can you say about “Mad Men” that hasn’t been said a million times? It always delivers. It’s always great and surprising. The end of this season, with Don at a (final?) crossroads, means that the show is going to take another turn. I’m excited for it all and sad it will end soon. Maybe it will even make the top of this list next year.
