Written by This was a really hard list to put together, I started with 25 really good shows and forced my self to make some hard choices. But when comparing that to how sparse my list is for top films it is clear that in that last year all the people that had great stories to tell were doing it on the small screen. This is also evident in the lack of comedies on the list, not because there where not some funny shows but because there were that much more serious ones. This year also had a lot of new shows where last year had none. And while this was a great year for TV 2 shows ended with less then great seasons 24 and lost. But that is enough pre ramble, on with the list (images link to imdb where you can learn more about each show).
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10) Lost – Last year when I had this as number one I said they better not screw it up and look what happened. This goes to show that great shows never end well (except Lexx which remains my favourite show of all time). |
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9) Fringe – This show has gone from a amazing X-files clone to a crazy awesome show about multiple dimensions and super heroes. I love that the science fiction builds on it self and that unlike the X-file this show actually follows through on its plot. |
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8 ) Spartacus: Blood and Sand – Super fun adult entertainment. Its 300 meets Rome. Lots of blood and sex with some great character work and political intrigue. But above all its a lot of fun. Did I mention it has lots of blood. |
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7) Rubicon – Is a spy show that is all about the slow build. It is about exploring several big conspiracy’s over the course of 13 episodes. I love how this show does not hold your hand and speak down to you. Plus the character work and the plot payoffs are brilliant. Unfortunately there will be no second season. |
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6) Chuck – Where Rubicon takes the spy world very seriously chuck takes a very different approach. Take fun and sexy and wrap it up with a lot of heart and you have the show chuck. |
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5) True Blood – This is vampires done right. None of that stupid sparkling in day light crap. Also this is werewolves done right too. All joking aside this show builds a really interesting universe that brings together all our favourite monsters in fun and interesting way. I am loving that TV can be way more mature then movies. |
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4) Dexter – Last year had the great Jon Lithgow and this year we have Julia Stiles with the best performance of her career. It’s these performances that elevate Dexter from being a good show to a great show. |
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3) Breaking Bad – is a show that does not know the meaning of comic relief. Year after year this show keeps getting better and better. The character work is some of the best on TV. Plus the Cinematography in this show is better then most movies, It would make the great Stanley Kubrick smile. |
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2) Community – Simply the funniest show on TV right now. Each episode parodies a different genre of movie, all with out ever leaving the collage. My favourite is the zombie episode with the soundtrack of Abba, that never breaks continuity. This is one of the geekiest shows on TV (way more so then the overrated Big Bang Theory). |
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1) Justified – Simply the best written, best acted, and most entertaining show on TV. It is a must watch for everyone. This show reminds me a lot of due south with a more western vibe. The show follows a US marshal, played by Timothy Olyphant, that must return to his hometown in Kentucky after killing a drug lord (something that he says he was ‘justified’ in doing). The show is full of an amazing supporting cast, where the bad guy each week is brilliantly cast and acted. The show also features a great season long plot arc that ends in a amazing showdown that is not to be missed. But that thing that buts it over the top is Timothy Olyphant as the take no shit badass cowboy. He even has a awesome hat (like Paul Gross in Due South). |
If you have any comments or want to share your favourite shows of the last year post them below in the comment section.