Well, 2016, you’ve done it again. You’ve given television watchers a great escape from everything else that’s been happening. Everyone thought Peak TV was in 2015, but 2016 proved that Peak TV hasn’t been achieved. In 2016 alone, there were 455 scripted series, which is up eight percent from 2015 and up 71 percent from 2011, according to TVLine. Here at mxdwn, we try to give you, our lovely readers, the best TV news without much commentary about the shows. But, it’s the end of the year, and we can break the rules for our top 10 TV shows. So, without further ado, here’s the Top 10 TV Shows of 2016, chosen by the television writers here at mxdwn.
10. Blindspot
Blindspot is an American crime drama series that is posing to be a hit for NBC. It follows the story of a young and beautiful tattooed woman who got those tattoos for a purpose. Mystery and intrigue are merged and the second season is just as watchable. The background on the show is about a woman (Jaimie Alexander) with no memory of who she is or how she got there when she is discovered naked in New York’s Times Square with the etching of FBI Agent Kurt Weller’s (Sullivan Stapleton) name across her back, quickly making it obvious to whom the case should be assigned. An international plot blows up as Agent Weller and his team discover that each intricate tattoo on Jane Doe’s body is a crime to solve, creating a map that leads ever closer to the truth about her identity and mysteries yet to be revealed. This show is worth watching due to the fact that the suspense never stops.
By Veronica Felipe
9. The Blacklist
The Blacklist is quickly becoming the crime thriller it was supposed to be. Making the characters of Raymond “Red” Reddington (James Spader), a former U.S. Navy officer turned high-profile criminal, and FBI profiler Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone) both sensitive and smart. The question that remains is will the storyline be thickened and the characters even more inarguable. When Red surrenders to the FBI, he makes them an offer they can’t refuse, on the mysterious condition that he work only with recent Quantico graduate Liz Keen. He agrees to help put away criminals from a list that he compiled, which includes politicians, mobsters, spies and international terrorists – starting with long-thought-dead terrorist Ranko Zamani. As the two pursue their quarry, Red forces the rookie profiler to think like a criminal to see the bigger picture. This show is worth watching to the fascination espionage and delicate subject matter such as terrorism and spying.
By Veronica Felipe
8. Search Party
TBS has had a busy year rebranding itself, but thank goodness, because it has led to this utterly one-of-a-kind series from Michael Showalter, Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rodger. Part comedy and part Hardy Boys mystery, the series stars Alia Shawkat, John Reynolds, John Early and Meredith Hagner as a close-knit group of friends trying to uncover what happened to their missing college classmate, Chantal. The series fluidly moves between genres inhabiting a space all its own. The stellar cast is bolstered by a fantastic lineup of guest stars like Rosie Perez, Ron Livingston, Parker Posey, Christine Taylor and William Ragsdale.
By Nate Voris
7. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Sure, the final four words of the show were extremely polarizing to fans, which led to even more fan theories about the show, but, let’s admit it: nine years without the fast paced talking of Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) Gilmore was nine years too much. The revival brought back the best of the show and did it without Richard (Edward Herrmann). Amy Sherman-Palladino cemented her Gilmore Girls legacy and wrote some of the best scenes of the entire series, both the original series and the revival, especially in the “Fall” episode.
By Lauren Fitz
6. Baskets
The Louis CK, Zach Galifianakis and Jonathan Kristel created series is yet another example of FX’s keen eye for unique comedies. Galifianakis stars as wannabe clown Chip Baskets, who returns to his home of Bakersfield to be a rodeo clown after failing out of a prestigious French clown university. The series expertly blends tones, combining elements of goofy physical comedy and dark humor with moments of drama and sincere heart (particularly in the series’ fantastic ninth episode “Picnic”). Galifianakis is surrounded by a phenomenal cast on the series that includes the wonderfully deadpan and charming Martha Kelly (Louie Anderson), as Galifianakis’ mother (he won an Emmy for the role), Sabina Sciubba as Baskets’ French love and Ernest Adams as Baskets’ rodeo boss Eddie.
By Nate Voris
5. The Good Place
This, by far, is my most surprising like of the year. It seemed too farfetched—a woman gets mistakenly sorted into a utopian-esque “Good Place” after death? Where there’s magical fro-yo stores with soulmates? And Ted Danson? Yet all of that perfectly fit together in a completely weird and wonderful comedy straight from the hearts of several Parks and Rec alum. In a world full of tearjerkers and thrillers, it’s good to know there’s still a place for silly on a Thursday night lineup.
By Ashley Dize
4. American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson
Listen, if the same actors from the same show keep getting nominated and keep winning awards, and the show itself is winning awards, obviously, it’s doing something right. 2015 may have been the year of announced revivals, but 2016 was the year of true-crime anthology series and, more specifically, the year of O.J. Simpson. The People vs. O.J. Simpson reintroduced viewers to the events leading up to the crime of the century and re-enacted the trial. Though the results were the same as they were in real life, a lot of the people became more humanized, especially because of Sarah Paulson’s portrayal of Marcia Clark. Plus, the show became the number one new cable show of the year. It has definitely earned all of the accolades it has been receiving.
By Lauren Fitz
3. This Is Us
Ever since Parenthood ended in the beginning of 2015, TV viewers have continually looked for a show that will have them constantly in tears. In September, they found that show. In a time where television ratings dominate the talk of whether a show is stable and whether a show deserves a renewal, This Is Us has proved that it’s stable for NBC (the show premiered to a 2.8 rating in the 18 to 49 demographic, it’s lowest rated episode is a 2.3 rating when it was up against the World Series and the most recent episode tied its series premiere rating and is the most watched episode). Similarly to The People vs. O.J. Simpson, This Is Us deserves all the praise and award recognition that it’s getting. The reason it’s higher on the list is because it’s a broadcast network drama, which typically hasn’t produced a lot worthwhile in the last few years, though, of course, there are exceptions.
By Lauren Fitz
2. The Walking Dead
Yes, the ratings for The Walking Dead are in decline. Yes, people don’t really like the Negan storyline this season. But does that really matter? The season premiere posted the second-best ratings of the show of all time. It’s still the number one cable show by a large margain and still has decent playback numbers in the Nielson Live + 3 and Live + 7 day viewing. So, while the show is definitely down (like the majority of TV is anyway), it’s definitely not out. Plus, the show kept one of the biggest secrets of the TV season (Who Did Negan Kill) completely under wraps, causing viewers to be shocked when Negan killed not one, but two, members of Rick’s group in the season seven opener.
By Lauren Fitz
1. Game of Thrones
It finally happened this season! Characters finally interacted with each other! And I’m not talking about just Sansa and Jon, no, each character seemed more purposeful and important with each encounter they made. This season redeemed the slightly slower former season (a rebuilding year, let’s call it) with pure character arc, from Sansa’s inner strength to Cersei’s final stand against her enemies. It kept me on my feet and still had the ability to rip my heart out every episode. HBO is still here to show us how to tell a story.
By Ashley Dize