2016 may have been a generally bad year, but the TV was more than great. Here are my top 10 TV shows of 2016.
It's been a good year for television, Netflix especially dominated with their original content. I'm basing this list on programmes released in 2016 in the UK, as of the 28th December 2016. Let's get going.
10. The Night Manager - BBC
It's hard to believe this aired in 2016, it seems so long ago. But, The Night Manager was simply brilliant. Tom Hiddleston's Bond audition? Perhaps. But the plot, the drama and the acting of a superb cast brought this show, deservingly, into the limelight and all the way to the awards season. It was a nice change in tone for Tom Hiddleston, who for me I've been so used to seeing in a Loki costume. Suave, cool and badass, I'm not talking about Tom Hiddleston - I'm talking about Olivia Colman. What a class act.
9. Black Mirror (Season 3) - Netflix
Imaginative, gutsy, compelling and unlike any other show on TV. Black Mirror often made me feel uneasy, but in a good way... if that's such a thing? Simply put - Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror is mind-blowing. It's intelligent, it's edgy and it takes bloody scary. Not in a jumpscare way, but in a cultural way. The cult show, with Netflix's help (wallet), is in its prime.
8. Humans (Series 2) - Channel 4
I loved the first series of Humans, so when it returned in the late year I was beyond ecstatic. While it started off a bit slow for me, the energy and thrill ramped up drastically. Gemma Chan is brilliant as Anita/Mia, and her storyline was so intriguing, but Emily Berrington blew it out of the park with her portrayal of Niska. The storyline of Niska being tested on to decide whether she can be placed under trial as a conscious synth human or destroyed as 'synth gone wrong' was so compelling and so reflective of modern day topics. Humans, despite being about artificial intelligence, excels on its social commentary, which worked in its favour when considering the events of 2016, to create such a compelling and thrilling watch.
7. Luke Cage - Netflix
A trend in this list so far is that these shows feel relevant, but nothing felt more relevant than Luke Cage. A bulletproof black man in Harlem? Don't try and tell me that Luke Cage is not an important representation needed in modern-day society because it is. Unapologetically black, rife with culture and style, and a killer soundtrack to accompany it alongside a talented, diverse cast. Luke Cage is what we needed in 2016.
6. Daredevil (Season 2) - Netflix
As gritty as ever, Daredevil returned to our subscription-service screens earlier this year, bringing along Elektra and the Punisher for good measure, and crikey, wasn't it great? While lacking a fight scene as iconic as that corridor scene from the first season, Daredevil made up for it with action, twists, and an array of characters that deserve their own spin-off. Fortunately, Punisher's spin-off is coming up in 2017, so we're off to a good start for the new year.
5. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Season 2) - Netflix
Oh Kimmy Schmidt, so innocent. I wasn't expecting much from the second season, it had fallen off my radar at the start of the new year despite my enjoyment of the first season. Then I saw a trailer and remembered just how much of a guilty pleasure it was for me. To hear that catchy-as-hell theme song again was great, and the season was a whole lot of fun, with a fantastic guest appearance from Phoebe Buffay Lisa Kudrow.
4. Planet Earth II - BBC
David Attenborough returned to our screens with a sequel to Planet Earth, this time with even fancier cameras with a seriously impressive titles sequence (that CGI though). Everyone loves Planet Earth, it's a fundamental British must to appreciate Planet Earth and David Attenborough. Animals, nature and real-life drama in the animal kingdom, who could ask for more?
3. Game of Thrones (Season 6) - HBO
Season 6 of Game of Thrones was everything I wanted and more. Jon Snow returned from the dead and later fought in one of the most epic battle scenes to ever be witnessed on TV. Daenerys remained as badass as ever, Arya got some more names off her list in a great storyline, and Lady Mormont proved herself to be the coolest child in all of Westeros. With all the plot twists and reveals in this season, as well as an incredible cast and a well-written storyline, Game of Thrones truly deserves being called one of the best shows of 2016.
2. Westworld - HBO
The television reboot of the classic film won me over after the first episode, I loved the two settings - Western and Modern, the music (which often reminded me of The Lego Movie for some reason), the visuals and of course, the host aspect of the show, all culminated to create a stylish and current programme. I was a huge fan of Maeve (Thandie Newton) and her storyline, and I cannot wait to see how that develops with her now outside of the park. Bring on season 2!
1. Stranger Things - Netflix
"Have you seen Stranger Things" is something I pretty much asked everyone when it came out in the summer. I finished the series in just a few days with no regrets because it was bloody brilliant. Did you really live in 2016 if you didn't see the hype around Stranger Things on social media, let alone watch the actual show itself? A fantastic premise with 80s nostalgia at its core and a talented cast of actors old and new. I was obsessed with Stranger Things, and to be frank I still am. Such a well-done show is worthy of the top spot as the best television programme of 2016.
Justice for Barb.
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That's all for now, I'll be back with my remaining Best Of's - Albums, Songs and Films.
Thanks for reading.
Bye!
Totally Culture
Curtis
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