Year In Review - Best TV Shows of 2017
Best TV Shows of 2017
2017 was a pretty shit year for most of us. Donald 'Oompa-Loompa' Trump still reigns over America (unfortunately). The Oscars were turned into a farce when an envelope mix-up resulted in the wrong film being announced for Best Picture. But worst of all, violence and unrest spread across the world affecting innocent lives. I'm not often one to get political within these posts but this year, more than any other, the world of entertainment (both film and TV) served as a way for members of the public to escape the constant threats across the world that we seem to be waking up to every morning. And thankfully, film and TV responded by giving us some of the best shows and films we've ever seen. So, in my annual 'Year In Review' I'll be covering the best of the best and the worst of the worst too.
Kicking things off is the world of television. 2017 was certainly an interesting year for TV. We had many shows return such as David Lynch's Twin Peaks and we also had many shows bow out for a final time (Bones, Orphan Black, Teen Wolf). There were also numerous landmarks that occurred for television over the course of the year. Jodie Whittaker was cast as the thirteenth incarnation of The Doctor in Doctor Who marking the first time a female will take on this prestigious role. Love Island swept through the nation like a bout of the plague and Saturday Night Live hit another fantastic stride as their satire on Trump continues. However, as 2017 is now behind us and we look forward to what 2018 has to offer, it seems appropriate to honour what television presented us with last year with my personal top ten shows of 2017. Now, the rules to qualify for this list are simple:
- The show must have had the final episode air during 2017.
- Standalone made for TV movies do not count. Episodic television shows only.
- Serial dramas do not count. Nor do sitcoms. Shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Modern Family or The Big Bang Theory all had great seasons this year but all blur into one format.
Also, just as a disclaimer, this is my own personal list. Some shows might appear here that you disagree with. You also might think that there are shows missing from the list that deserve to feature. I try and watch as much TV as possible but some shows do slip through my radar. Acclaimed shows such as Big Little Lies, The Handmaid's Tale and Legion were such examples. I also have a fair few notable honourable mentions that just missed the cut but are fantastic shows nonetheless. Rick and Morty returned with another corker of a season and American Horror Story had their best season since Murder House, with Cult. So, with all of the formalities out of the way, let's begin this illustrious countdown with...
10. Taboo: Season 1 (BBC One/FX)
9. Star Wars Rebels: Season 3 (Disney XD)
Just as luck would have it, the second season of Rebels also appeared in this exact spot last year. Rebels has gone from strength to strength over the course of its run and the third season had reached its highest point yet. Stakes were heightened and the inclusion of the psychologically dominant Grand Admiral Thrawn made for one of my favourite Star Wars villains. Packed with moments that will become instantly classic among the Star Wars universe (the Obi-Wan and Maul duel), the most appealing aspect of the series continues to be the comradery between the crew of the Ghost. Ezra, Kanan, Hera, Chopper, Zep and Sabine (who gets a great arc) are all as well written and realised as ever. I eagerly anticipate how Dave Filoni will wrap this up as the final season concludes this year.
8. American Gods: Season 1 (Amazon Video/Starz)
Twin Peaks wasn't the only series that seems like it was injecting acid into your bloodstream that premiered this year. Based on the best-selling novels by Neil Gaiman in which gods walk the Earth, this was a show that consistently took my breath away with each and every episode. Bryan Fuller has got his stylistic stamp all over the show right down to the fantastic title sequence. Ian McShane, Ricky Whittle and Emily Browning all do an incredible job in their respective roles but the star of the show was Pablo Schreiber as Mad Sweeney, a leprechaun. This opening season worked so well because it didn't try and complete the character arcs and instead left them wide open as if it was the first chapter of an epic story. It's weird. It's wacky. But above all else, it's brilliant television.
7. Arrow: Season 5 (Sky1/The CW)
Seasons 1 and 2 of Arrow are some of my favourite superhero themed seasons of television. They were dark, gritty and stayed within the realms of comic book possibilities. Unfortunately for seasons 3 and 4, they got carried away with themselves and started implementing supernatural and magical elements into the show that really began to bog the whole thing down. Thankfully, Arrow came back in full force this year with a kick-ass fifth season. The focus was placed back on street level crime and we got one of the best Arrowverse villains in the form of Prometheus with a haunting performance by Josh Segarra. Stephen Amell also gives his best depiction of Oliver Queen to date. Arrow is well and truly back in business.
Check out my review of Arrow: Season 5.
6. Stranger Things 2 (Netflix)
What can I say that hasn't been said about this show already? Stranger Things is a show that was made to be binged over and over. I completed the second season in the space of two days and soon after finishing, felt like my life had lost all meaning. It's the definition of captivating and engrossing entertainment. The development of these beloved characters has gone above and beyond. Relationships you didn't think could work (who doesn't love Steve and Dustin hanging together) make the show addicting to watch. At first, this show seemed like a great homage to the classic adventure films of the 80s and Stephen King novels but now Stranger Things works amazingly in its own right. If the second season was anything to base on, The Duffer Brothers are set to blow our minds for the next installments.
5. Agents Of SHIELD: Season 4 (E4/ABC)
If you were to tell me, four years ago, that Agents Of SHIELD would feature in my top ten TV shows of the year, I would have likely spat my drink over your face and kicked back laughing hysterically. However, the fourth season of AoS blindsided me and anyone who was watching it. The first correct move of theirs was introducing Ghost Rider into the MCU. Instead of Johnny Blaze (who has still been confirmed to exist within the universe), Robbie Reyes took on the mantle of the Spirit of Vengeance and this is the best incarnation we've seen thanks to Gabriel Luna at the helm. The cast still work great together with Mack and Fitz as exceptional favourites. The show also works on a three arc structure with one story dedicated to Ghost Rider, one focused on a fleet of clones infiltrating SHIELD and the final arc surrounding a Matrix-type system that poses the question of what if HYDRA ran the world. Each arc increased the drama and tension and caused for some of the most exciting TV moments in 2017. Without a doubt, this is Agents Of SHIELD's best season yet and seems hard to top.
Check out my review of Agents Of SHIELD: Season 4.
4. Sherlock: Season 4 (BBC One/PBS)
I'll admit, I completely forgot that Sherlock aired this year. Three episodes at the beginning of January feels like a lifetime ago but my, what episodes they were. Benedict Cumberbatch owns the role of Sherlock Holmes and for future interpretations, people are likely to look to him as the bar to beat but I don't think enough people give Martin Freeman credit for a very emotional take on Dr. Watson. This season allowed for both actors to thrive but what truly shined was Moffat and Gatiss' ability to tell three individual yet gripping stories that feel like standalone films in their own right. The first episode made for a great reintroduction to the world. The second episode was a typical Sherlock stroke of genius and the third episode might just be my favourite episode of any show in 2017. Season 4 blew me away which I wasn't sure Sherlock could do anymore seeing as it had consistently done so for every previous season before. If this is the end of Sherlock, then I'm ecstatic that it went out on such a high.
Check out my review of Sherlock: Season 4.
3. Game Of Thrones: Season 7 (Sky Atlantic/HBO)
And you thought this was going to be number 1? Shocker, huh? Third place for the seventh season of what is arguably one of the greatest television shows of all time, might seem like a disservice but this is still a remarkable achievement in my books. This is what event television is and I've never seen such a sensation like it. All of the episodes are of an unbelievable cinematic quality with my jaw dropping so much I no longer think it's attached. There was the 'convenient' use of the Westeros Teleporter (as I like to refer to it) to help characters get from A to B in as little time as possible but that wasn't too much of a bother. Sequences such as the Loot Train battle where Daenerys Targaryen and her trusty dragon and army of Dothraki finally go toe to toe against the Lannister army was a sight to behold due to the unfolding chaos, violence and carnage so much so that it nearly outshone The Battle of the Bastards from the previous season. There was also Westeros' version of the Suicide Squad as Jon, Jorah, Gendry, The Hound, Tormund and a host of others do battle against the White Walkers in their attempt to capture one and present to Cersei to create a ceasefire whilst they deal with a more immediate and dangerous threat. The ensuing episodes were something of beauty in regards to technological achievements and some of the best writing Game Of Thrones has ever seen. Oh, and to top it all off Littlefinger finally met a sticky end and Jon and Dany had sex which I'm still struggling to tolerate because of the incest reveal.
Check out my review of Game Of Thrones: Season 7.
2. Broadchurch: Season 3 (ITV/BBC America)
For my international readers, you may not have heard of this series before but I implore you, after reading this post, please begin watching Broadchurch and do not stop until you've finished. I promise you that it will not disappoint. Broadchurch has always been spectacular. The first season brought the entire nation to a standstill as we all waited with baited breath to see who had murdered Danny Latimer and the second season was a much more personal affair as it balanced the story between a past case of DI Alec Hardy's (David Tennant) and the trial of Joe Miller. But, it was the third season that debuted earlier in the year that cemented Broadchurch as one of the most emotionally evoking shows I've ever seen. With career best performances by the ever stupendous David Tennant and the criminally underrated Olivia Colman, the third season of Broadchurch was by no means an easy watch. Thankfully, the tricky subject matter of rape and sexual assault was deftly handled and made for some of the most reflective forms of television I've seen for the past few years.
And my number one favourite TV show of 2017 is...
1. The Punisher: Season 1 (Netflix)
I was not prepared for The Punisher. Don't get me wrong, judging by the trailers and other promotional material, I knew that this show was going to be unflinching and unforgiving portrayal of Frank Castle that wouldn't hide away from the brutality he inflicts upon his victims but the themes of Punisher hit me like a boulder from out of nowhere. In the show, Frank is still reeling from the deaths of his wife and children but, after the events of the second season of Daredevil, he's decided to go into hiding. It's only when a private military contractor is revealed to have played a part in his family's demise that The Punisher has to emerge from the shadows. Alongside Frank's redemption arc, we also are introduced to his partner in crime, Micro, a hacker who was presumed dead but secretly living underground. Watching his and Frank's relationship and bond form was one of the highlights of the show thanks to the punchy script and outstanding performances by Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Bernthal deserves all of the recognition for his turn as Castle proving that this was a role he was born to play. But amongst the revenge and onslaught of bullets, The Punisher contains an incredibly honest depiction of PTSD and the disastrous effects it can have upon a person and that is clearly and powerfully demonstrated within the character of Lewis (Daniel Webber). The Punisher also has a very effective villain in the form of Billy Russo (Ben Barnes) and after witnessing the culmination of his character in the final episode, the prospect of seeing Jigsaw come to life is extremely interesting. However, the moment I knew that this was my favourite show of 2017 wasn't what you'd actually think it might be. Going into The Punisher, I had every intention to plow my way through the show similar to how I completed Stranger Things 2, but after the first few episodes, they were too emotionally taxing to immediately continue with. This isn't a show you can just watch and then dust your hands with after it's done. Every episode has something important to say and whilst clicking that button on Netflix to continue watching is tempting, I feel that to truly appreciate the show, you need to sit back and let the episode marinate in your mind so you can feel the weight of certain events. It's one of Marvel's most outgoing and riskiest ventures and thankfully, it paid off.
And that completes my countdown of my Best TV Shows of 2017. It's been a pretty damn good year but 2018 is shaping up to provide some fairly stiff competition. Westworld returns for a second season and Star Wars Rebels will air its final season. There's also a new Star Trek show on the scene with Star Trek Discovery and, as always, there are a plethora of shows returning for another season. Next up in my Year In Review, we'll be straying over to the negative side of the year with my Worst Films of 2017.
What do you think of my choices? Any you agree with? Any you disagree with? What was your favourite TV show of 2017? Sound off in the comments below.
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