The end of 2017 is right around the corner (already? And also somehow, finally!), which means it’s time for The List-ening, starting with The Televerse’s picks for the Top 20 TV Series of 2017. Noel and Kate run down their picks, 20 through 11, and have a quick chat about the year in TV, then dive in deeper with their top 10 series of the year. Which series made the list, which just missed the cut, and which are we surprised to see turning up elsewhere? All of this as more as Noel and Kate reflect on an interesting, at times challenging, and compelling year in TV.
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Noel and Kate’s Top 20–11
Noel’s picks (9:08)
Kate’s picks (9:58)
General discussion (10:44)
Noel and Kate’s Top 10 (17:35)
Lady Dynamite
The Vietnam War
Sense8
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Queen Sugar
Steven Universe
The Keepers
One Mississippi
Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju
One Day at a Time
Danger and Eggs
The Good Place
Halt and Catch Fire
The Leftovers
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Music Featured: “Ring of Keys” as performed by Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne on One Mississippi; One Day at a Time Theme song
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I think of Mad Men as an ensemble show, in which Peggy Olson wound up as prominent as Don Draper. I don’t like it nearly as much as Breaking Bad though.
You two and your Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. I wish I was able to watch it but I really can’t. I am extremely susceptible to what we Germans call “Fremdschämen” which basically means to feel the embarrassment of someone other. So if someone’s getting into a weird situation or he and she is about to do something stupid I really cannot watch it. And that was the pilot of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. All of it all the time.
Then there is the whole availability problem. Most of the CW and Sci-Fi (or however that is spelled these days) shows aren’t a problem. We get them a few months later on Netflix. But stuff that airs on other broadcast or cable networks? Not that easy to watch. I can finally watch season 2 of Wynnona Earp as it got released a short while ago on Netflix. But still no way of watching The Good Place apart from buying either the seasons on streaming services or the DVDs.
Speaking of shows this year: The Expanse seasons 1 and 2 (again: release issues) and – to a bit lower extend – the first two seasons of Killjoys I liked a lot.
“Thirteen reasons why” made my mind pace and kept me from falling asleep several nights in a row which definitely is a good thing (although I could’ve lived without the rape and the suicide scene, both of them I skipped because I couldn’t stomach them).
Sweet/Vicious was one of the most surprising experiences this year. That scene with Ophelia going to Kennedy to call BS on her behavior and later Jules and Kennedy in the library. Such amazing performances from these terrific actresses.
Those were my highlights this year off the top of my head. There were probably a few more but I can’t recall them at the moment ?