The amount of new shows on this list is very high compared to previous years. Maybe it's because this feels like a transitional year in a lot of ways. Maybe it's because a lot of the returning shows hit some bumps. In any case, it was a good year for television and I have a lot to talk about.
A quick reminder before we start that I watch a lot of genre television, I'm notoriously bad with comedies, and I have a neverending "To Watch" list. I use the Emmy rules for cutoff dates, which means that this list covers everything from the start of June, 2025 to the end of May, 2026. Entries below are unranked, and I'm limiting myself to one episode per show or miniseries.
I will endeavor to keep spoilers to a minimum, but please watch your step.
Dexter: Resurrection, "Call Me Red" - Let's start with some fanservice. The first few episodes of "Dexter; Resurrection" do a nice job of setting up a new status quo for Dexter and son in New York. However, it's when the past rears up unexpectedly in the fourth episode that the series feels like it's really sliding back into a familiar groove and hits its stride. Peter Dinklage as a rich eccentric is also one of the highlights of a wonderfully macabre, pulpy season.
Death By Lightning, "The Man From Ohio" - This miniseries about the election and assassination of President James Garfield in the 1880s feels wonderfully immediate for a historical drama, thanks to a bumper crop of excellent performances. The opening episode introduces us to all the main players, and sees Garfield win the nomination at the Republican convention - depicted as a chaotic, unpredictable event where political fortunes are made.
Pluribus, "Grenade" - I love science-fiction shows that really think about the consequences of the world-changing "what if" scenarios they create. "Pluribus" is about nearly all humans becoming a collective consciousness, the ramifications of which are explored over the whole season. "Grenade" is the first episode where we really get a dialogue between our heroine and the "Others," leading to so many, many more questions. And a grenade!
Paradise, "Graceland" - The season two opener is one of the show's exceptional character deep-dives, this one about a Graceland tour guide, played by Shailene Woodley, and how she spent the apocalypse. With barely any connection to the rest of "Paradise" until the very end, the episode does a great job of creating new stakes and goals while introducing us to the heretofore unseen world of the post-Apocalypse United States outside of Paradise.
Task, "Out Beyond Ideas of Wrongdoing and Rightdoing, There is a River" - "Task" is a crime miniseries carefully written to balance two stories on opposing sides of the law, and here's where they finally collide. Though the ending feels inevitable, it turns out that our antihero figure, Robbie Prendergrast still has a few aces up his sleeve. And I appreciate that the show's finale gives the surviving characters a measure of grace in spite of all of their losses.
Widow's Bay, "Beach Reads" - Honestly, I wasn't really feeling "Widow's Bay" until this episode, where the perspective shifts to the character of Patricia, and we get a fantastic parody of folkloric horror media. It's executed so beautifully, with all these little visual details and hints as to what's actually happening, plus the scary bits are actually pretty scary. This and Patricia's later faceoff with the local serial killer were easily the best parts of a great first season.
The Lowdown, "The Sensitive Kind," - This episode wraps up all of the season's mysteries, and delivers a surprising amount of justice. It could even be mistaken for a happy ending, thanks to Ethan Hawke's scrappy journalist character finally accepting that the best way to tell the truth about a dead man is to honor his wishes. Of course, this still takes some work. I have this in my notes as the one where Keith David's put upon PI ends up on bovine muscle relaxers.
Heated Rivalry, "The Cottage" - If you want a feel-good ending, however, there was none better than the capper to the first season of "Heated Rivalry." The show started out with steamy secret hookups, and ended with Shane and Ilya tentatively acknowledging that they're in a full-blown romantic relationship. And the unexpected thrills and laughs that come with finally admitting this to themselves (and a few others) made for some absolutely sublime television.
DTF St. Louis, "Missouri Mutual Life & Health Insurance Company" - How do I describe this episode or this show? Let's just say it's about three middle aged people and their complicated relationships. This one focuses on Linda Cardellini's Carol, whose efforts to save her husband from his own worst impulses seem to be doomed, possibly giving her a motive to kill him. It also features the most unlikely and instantly iconic musical moment of the year.
Only in Monroe, "May 22 202" - The last episode of "The Late Show" with Stephen Colbert interviewing a Beatle was fine. However, it feels like his return to hosting the "Only in Monroe" public television talk show, less than 24 hours later, was where he really got to let loose. Featuring Jeff Daniels as guest, and Jack White as sidekick/musical director, Colbert spent an hour doing much more absurdist and free-form comedy than his old job ever allowed for. And it was fantastic.
Honorable mention: The "Lord of the Flies" miniseries
---
No comments:
Post a Comment