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So, here’s the list of the ten shows I feel represent the best of US television (it isn’t ranked, it’s organised alphabetically):
As I said in my review of the end of the series, workplace comedies aren’t always very original. This one, though, was sheer brilliance. Every year comes with its premature cancellations and Better Off Ted is the one from 2010 that I’m most disappointed about - not only because it was a hilarious and inspired sitcom but because there was nothing about it that wouldn’t appeal to a wide audience and it went surprisingly unwatched.
In my mind, Community is the current stand-out comedy on TV. The format that it has created for itself means that it has the potential to essentially do whatever it wants, from an episode that follows the exact plot of a mafia movie (‘Contemporary American Poultry’) to one that, through a campus-wide paintball game, includes every single action movie cliché you can possibly imagine (‘Modern Warfare’).
The most memorable aspect of the fourth season of Dexter will always be the terrific casting of John Lithgow as the season’s “big bad” (Arthur Mitchell, aka The Trinity Killer) and the events of the game-changing finale (‘The Getaway’). It was, however, an exceptional season for the show for so many other reasons (Jennifer Carpenter has been fantastic) too and it produced arguably the most tense and exciting action of the entire series so far.
With ‘Peter,’ the 16th episode of its second season, Fringe made the transition from being just a very good show to being unmissable and captivating television. From that episode onwards, there hasn’t been a single disappointment and the third season premiere (‘Olivia’) showed us the shape of things to come whilst proving just how underrated Anna Torv’s acting ability is. Often, Fringe is the most ambitious series on television; it's always the most spectacular.
Love it or loathe it, Glee has emerged as a breakout hit, an eccentric and quirky portrayal of high school life. Sue Sylvester’s biting critique, Brittany’s absurd one-liners and Rachel’s ruthless ambition represent the best individual character moments, but really the strength here lies in the cast’s ensemble efforts - not just musically, but their endorsement of rooting for the underdog and collectively promoting ideas of tolerance.
Legal dramas can often feel bland, but The Good Wife excels in its balanced storytelling – tackling family struggles, corrupt politics, relationship complexities and authentic contemporary cases, it makes for a rich and dynamic television experience where every gesture and twitch holds some meaning. An honest reflection of modern-day America, it is made all the more outstanding by superb cast performances, particularly from its female stars.
Every single one of the 13 episodes in Justified’s first season is impressive, and you just don’t get that kind of consistency from most other shows. The beautiful pilot episode (‘Fire In The Hole’) set up what could’ve been a fairly simple procedural, but it then developed into the most wonderfully paced serialised storytelling. Justified has great story (focussed on US Marshals working in Kentucky) and great characters (Timothy Olyphant’s Raylan Givens and Walton Goggins’ Boyd Crowder are my favourites). It is easily amongst the most well-executed dramas of 2010.
The sixth season of Lost was a perfect send-off to a series that I have loved for the past six years. The writers took some big risks, the actors performed at their very best (particularly Matthew Fox and Terry O’Quinn) and the show was able to produce some of its most iconic and memorable moments. The series finale may have divided viewers but for me it exceeded expectations and was the most fitting end to one of the most influential and unique shows on television.
Season 3 may have taken a while to get going, but when it did, it was glorious, particularly the absolutely perfect finale. The real triumph, though, was the rise and fall of Don Draper in season 4, which allowed for some of the storylines that have been bubbling through the first four seasons to come to a head in a most spectacular way. Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss, take a bow.
Quite simply, Modern Family is a charming and enjoyable comedy that’s guaranteed to make you laugh every time you watch it. There’s both innovation and tradition at work in every episode as it uses familiar plots in its own way. Furthermore, the ensemble cast have a level of chemistry that is rare in television comedy, especially amongst the great child actors. It’s probably the most reliably amusing sitcom of the moment... Modern Family is always entertaining.
- Honourable mentions:
- Chuck: Towards the end of season 3, Chuck made a number of good decisions, finally putting Chuck and Sarah together has changed the show’s dynamic for the better.
- Cougar Town: A comedy that has quickly outgrown it’s groan-inducing premise, Cougar Town has become consistently funny and heart-warming.
- Nikita: One of my favourite new shows of the year. Nikita is a well-balanced mix of dark drama and entertaining spy-based adventures.
- Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Very close to making my top 10 were it not for its awful first few episodes. The second half of the season was supremely impressive.
- The Walking Dead: After a superb pilot, this zombie drama nailed it’s tone and tense atmosphere. It’s a shame the season felt a little incomplete.
Anything I’ve missed? Sound off in the comments below.
The Pacific? Granted it didn't get going till the fourth episode, but still notable.
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