10 Best Things I Watched in 2015 

Sometime last year, I did this list and it wasn’t so hard to come up with a 10. This year, for someone who thinks the golden age of TV is no more, I struggled and struggled hard. And as I type this, I still don’t know what to include and exclude and whether to have a 5 way tie. As I did last year, I am giving a disclaimer that your faves (GoT, Walking Dead, Fargo et al) will probably not be on the list. While I can always admit when a show is quite well done, ultimately, no matter how flawed a show is, the more I enjoyed a show, the higher the chance that it made it on the list. Without further ado and in no particular order (well, except the first two. The first two shows listed were the two I enjoyed most), here’s my list.

1. The Jinx – This HBO miniseries  about Robert Durst, who beat two murder accusations until some damning evidence comes into play in one of the most fascinating finales that I have ever seen. See my thoughts on it here.
2. BoJack Horseman – As a person that’s not a fan of animated shows, this show was not on my radar, at all. I think I saw a gif with a quote that actually made me laugh and I decided to give it a go. It’s a dark comedy (right up my alley) that’s sarcastic and clever as it weaves us through a world where animals and humans exist on the same level in the world.
3. Mad Men – My TV heart and love. My favorite show before it ended it’s run. It may have hit some bumps where some episodes in the later seasons didn’t measure up to its earlier seasons but Matt Weiner buckled up and gave us a great final 8 eps in the last half of the season. Complete with an unexpected positive series finale. RIP Mad Men. I will always love you.
4. Unreal – This deliciously wicked drama that takes us behind the scenes of a fictional dating reality show a la The Bachelor served us two strong leading ladies who constantly crossed the line between what is wrong and what is right. Quite unexpected as it aired on Lifetime. One of the best new shows this year. So glad it got picked up for Season 2, I didn’t expect it to. You can read my thoughts on it here.
5. Rectify – My little engine that could thanks to Sundance. This is the best show that no one is still not watching. It’s such a subtle, nuanced show that tugs at my heartstrings every episode. While I agree it’s slow, it’s still worth its pace. It’s available on Netflix just in case the spirit leads you to check it out.
6. The Good Wife – I have to specify that I mean the current season[7] and not the last half of Season 6 which was so uneven and made worse with how Kalinda left and all. Still the best show on network TV, the yummy addition of Jeffrey Dean Morgan makes it all the more enjoyable.
7. Homeland – I’ve never seen a show turn itself around like Homeland did in its last season (we are going to forget the weak season finale). But the show continues to ride it’s new wave complete with a new setting (Germany) and new plot lines and still somehow keeping Saul and Carrie connected while keeping us at the edge of our seats.
8. Shameless – Shameless often gets forgotten because it airs in January but this season was such a strong showing by the cast that plays the Gallagher family particularly by Cameron Monaghan (Ian) and Noel Fisher (Mickey Milkovich)
9. Master of None – There really wasn’t anything like this on “TV” this year and I really enjoyed it. I’m cheating because this should fall under the comedy section but my blog, my rules.
10. Catastrophe – Another cheat because this is technically a comedy but really it’s a dramedy. The 6 episode first season about a couple who become one when an American on business in the UK, impregnates a woman he had a fling with. Great balance between comedy and real life issues. Show can be found on Hulu.
11. Grey’s Anatomy – Unpopular opinion but I don’t care what anyone says, this show is good. Yes, they lost        their way some seasons ago but it’s definitely been found. The current season has been so good that you don’t   even miss McDreamy at all.
12. The Leftovers – Yes, I am surprised that this is on the list. This show frustrated the hell out of me last season. I had no idea what was going on. I still don’t know what happened this season but I can say it was a whole lot     better and had me intrigued the whole time.
13. Sense 8 – Another unpopular opinion but I will readily admit this show is flawed but strictly on an enjoyment level, it sucked me in. So glad it got picked up for a second season (even though I expect it to go downhill). You can read my blurb on it here

So yep, these are the “10” best shows I watched this year and nope, I do not see that there are 4 #10’s. For no logical reason at all, I never include comedies\sitcoms in my list but I have to give a special and big shoutout to: Blackish, Fresh Off the Boat, You’re the Worst and Jane the Virgin. These shows have been at peak level all season long (You’re the Worst had a rough start but has totally made up for it) and made me laugh. At this point, mentioning Veep and Silicon Valley is kind of redundant. What do you think of my list?

To keep it a little bit more varied, I will post the top 10 of two fellow avid TV watchers soon. Hope you find something new to watch!