With only mere weeks left in 2016 it's time for me to start talking about some of my personal highlights in film and television from during the year. I've already spoken about the most disappointing films of 2016 and will eventually do my top 20 films of the year later in the month, but now I'm going to talk about my favourite television shows of 2016. This is not limited to shows that started in 2016 but also includes shows that had phenomenal seasons this year or shows who vastly improved themselves this year. Also, I have not had the time to watch every single show this year so don't get too bogged down if your favourite isn't here, it's just personal opinion is all. Anyway, here is my pick for the top 10 shows of 2016.
10. The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead was so promising in the beginning as it managed to bring the beloved zombie genre to the small screen on a huge scale. Since it began it's no secret that the series has declined in quality and the fourth and fifth seasons were abysmal, but this year I feel that The Walking Dead has vastly improved in quality. This year has seen the second half of season 6, the first half of season 7, and the most grueling inter-season wait ever, as Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and co found themselves facing off against a new group called the saviours led by the villainous Negan (Jeffery Dean Morgan). Season 6 managed to maintain a consistent level of thrills throughout, every week we were treated to something new and exciting which is an aspect that was missing from the previous two seasons. Along with that, the show finally had focus again and a sense of direction, as opposed to the aimless wandering in the last couple of seasons. Instead of forcing myself to watch The Walking Dead each week I found myself feeling excited to watch it. As we were left on a cliffhanger for a good few months we were finally treated to the shocking season 7 opening, the episode that gave the show the edge that it had long since lost. While the last few episodes haven't exactly remained consistent with the first, it is clear that The Walking Dead has found itself again and that something is building up to take shape in next weeks season finale. No longer are we there every week watching different characters wander aimlessly around the countryside, instead we are treated to a more focused story arch full of shocking moments, world building, and the meanest bastard the show has ever seen.
9. Preacher
As a fan of the comics by Garth Ennis and the late Steve Dillon, I could not wait for AMC's television adaptation of Preacher from the likes of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The story of a Texan reverand who goes on a quest for God after becoming possessed by a mysterious entity was one that was just waiting to be adapted, and this year we finally got that. Season 1 of Preacher acts as a precursor of sorts to the events that happen in the comics, it sets up the characters of Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper), Tulip (Ruth Negga) and Cassidy (Joe Gilgun) before sending them off on their quest. The characters were all spot on in terms of their comic book counterparts, Ruth Negga especially embodied that sheer badass-ery that makes Tulip O'Hare such a strong female lead. Along with that, the show also brought to life that off-colour humour and bizarre violence that defined Ennis and Dillon's comics, showrunners Rogen, Goldberg and Sam Catlin of Breaking Bad certainly pushed the envelope as much as possible on AMC to really stay true to the tone of the comics. While the pacing was quite slow and the show often seemed to repeat itself each week, it was hard to give up on Preacher so easily simply due to how unique it looked and felt. The colourful characters, the gritty Southern aesthetic, the dialogue that would make even Tarantino weak at the knees, Preacher season 1 did a fantastic job of setting the scene for future seasons in despite of its flaws. It is a truly unique story unlike anything on television at the moment, and considering how well the source material was handled in season one I cannot wait to see how the story of Reverand Custer and co unfolds in the seasons to come.
8. Ash vs Evil Dead
The first season of Ash vs Evil Dead brought back all of the qualities that made the original Evil Dead trilogy so unique, slapstick cartoon violence mixed with heavy gore topped off with the talents of groovy Bruce Campbell. While it did have some flaws such as feeling a bit uneven, those were swiftly fixed in the vastly improved second season of Ash vs Evil Dead. This time Ash and co are contacted by the antagonist of season 1, Ruby (Lucy Lawless), who has lost control of her demonic spawn and needs their help. This time however, it's much more personal as Ash finds himself returning to his home town where he must confront his past. What I loved most about this season is that it gave us an insight into Ashes life before The Evil Dead and helped to further link this series with the original trilogy. We get to meet Ashes dad played by Lee Majors, his old friend played by Evil Dead alum Ted Raimi, and we even see the return of Ellen Sandweiss as Ashes sister Cheryl who became possessed in the first film. It provided more of a backstory for Ash, adding further depth to his character and displaying how the events of the original trilogy effected his life between then and now. Along with that, Ashes sidekick Pablo (Ray Santiago) gets a much bigger role this season as he struggles with the aftermath of being possessed by the Necronomicon, it helps to promote him from being a simple sidekick and gives us something much more sinister to fear for over the course of the season. This was a much more personal season compared to the first both for Ash and fans alike, not only did it give Ash Williams more depth, but it also provided a much more coherent link between this series and Sam Raimi's original trilogy. It's been groovy as hell.
7. Penny Dreadful
John Logan's gothic horror series entered its third season this year, and after facing off against vampires, witches, and even Lucifer himself, Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) and co finally came face to face with the immortal Count Dracula (Christian Camargo). Unbeknownst to most viewers however, was that this would be the final season of Penny Dreadful, and it was not until 'The End' appeared onscreen in the final moments of the series finale that it really hit us. The season tied up a number of storylines, Ethan (Josh Hartnett) finally confronted his father in America (Brian Cox), while Vanessa put an end to her suffering for good, and while it did so at the same time it left us wanting more. The season introduced a number of new characters such as Dr. Jekyll (Shazad Latif), and the charming Catriona Hardtigan (Perdita Weeks), and by the time it ended I couldn't help but feel as though I wanted more from them. I wanted to see Jekyll become Hyde, I wanted to learn of Catriona's past, but unfortunately I will never get to see either of these. Still, the bittersweet ending may have left a lot to be desired, but it tied up the major storylines nicely and kept in line with the shows rather poetic tone. Season 3 saw some of the shows best performances yet, most notably from Green and Rory Kinnear as Frankenstein's monster, the two share a brilliant chemistry this season and both gave performances of a lifetime in the fourth episode. We also finally got to see Dracula on the show, one of many literary characters used in Penny Dreadful, and while it was a bit disappointing that (SPOILERS) he was the zoologist all along, Camargo gave a chilling performance as the Count nonetheless and brought to life that distinctive charm associated with him. It was a real shame to see Penny Dreadful come to an end, but I suppose it was better to end where it did instead of dragging things out into another season. It was a show that was just as beautiful as it was frightening and it will certainly be missed.
6. Daredevil
The first season of Marvel's Netflix series Daredevil was a hit due to its gritty style and masterful storytelling, and while season 2 doesn't quite hit the same mark as the first, it was still a fantastic piece of television nonetheless. Continuing the story of blind lawyer turned vigilante Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), the second season sees him cross paths with the deadly vigilante Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), along with the return of his ex girlfriend Elektra (Élodie Yung) who has ties with the mysterious Hand organisation. Like season 1, the second season of Daredevil gave us some fantastic and articulate action sequences such as Daredevil's stairwell fight and Castle's prison brawl, not only were these scenes action packed but they were also shot with incredible precision. While the first season finally managed to do Daredevil justice, this one finally does The Punisher justice and Jon Bernthal's performance as the violent antihero is by far the highlight of the season, I look forward to his own solo series soon to come. It was also great to see Scott Glenn return as Murdock's mentor Stick, who I felt was severely underplayed in the last season. However, the villain of the piece Nobu (Peter Shinkoda), never really fills the shoes of Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin from last season, who only appears a couple of times throughout this season. Still, despite that, Daredevil season two was packed with as much action as it was with story and development. While having some top class action sequences, it balances these out with unique visuals and strong storytelling to make it more than just your average superhero show. It may decline in quality ever so slightly in comparison to season 1, however not nearly enough to make Daredevil an even remotely bad show, in my opinion it's the best thing the MCU has going for itself at the moment.
5. Stranger Things
Another one from the people at Netflix now, and this one was certainly the surprise hit of the Summer. Set in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things tells the story of the mysterious events that occur following the disappearance of a young boy during the 1980's. The show incorporates elements from the works of Stephen Spielberg and Stephen King to name a few, along with a beautifully synthy score reminiscent of the works of John Carpenter to create the distinctive 80's vibe. The show focuses mainly on the friends of the missing boy Will (Noah Schnapp) who encounter a mysterious girl with telekinetic abilities named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). However it also follows a number of related stories such as Will's mother Joyce (Winona Ryder) attempting to locate her son and Will's brother Johnathan (Charlie Heaton) who conducts his own investigation. The whole show looks and feels like an 80's film and while it is heavy on the nostalgia, its original story and unique chemistry between the characters makes it more than just that. The cast are all incredibly, particularly the younger actors who have guaranteed themselves a promising career in the future. It was also nice to see an 80's star themselves onscreen as Winona Ryder took on the role of Joyce who never seems to be capable of staying calm. The distinctive 80's style, along with its memorable characters and quotable dialogue has made Stranger Things one of 2016's most popular shows and it has developed a huge fanbase since it aired over the summer. With a second season on the way next year it is clear that Stranger Things will continue its success for years to come.
4. Mr. Robot
Mr. Robot was one of last years most acclaimed shows due to its clever writing and unique brand of storytelling, so it was only natural that we would see a second season hit the small screen this year. Season 2 continues the story of hacker Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), who has retired from the business, leaving the hacker group fsociety in the hands of his sister Darlene (Carly Chaikin). This season was a lot more surreal than its predecessor, further utilising the concept of an unreliable narrator to leave us constantly questioning what's real and what isn't real. It was full of many twists and turns that somehow managed to top last seasons big reveal, and even managed to somehow use Alf in an episode, it's certainly something that has to be seen to be believed. Once again Rami Malek and Christian Slater are phenomenal onscreen, both together and individually, we learn more about the dynamic of their relationship and who's really in control. Along with that, we are also introduced to some new characters such as FBI agent Dominique DiPierro (Grace Gummer) and the enigmatic Ray played by funnyman Craig Robinson. While it can get a little too complicate at times to the point where I had no idea what was happening, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed season 2 of Mr. Robot even moreso than I did the first. This season takes full advantage of its unique brand of storytelling, allowing it to mess with our heads to a much greater extent than the first season did. It had some really clever twists that leave me wondering what sort of twists season 3 will have in store. Season 2 has managed to establish Mr. Robot as more than just a Fight Club imitation, it is something much more complex than that and has truly become its own thing now.
3. Black Mirror
As a huge fan of Charlie Brooker's dark sci-fi anthology, I was ecstatic when I heard Netflix had bought the rights and were developing new episodes for this year. In October, after two years without it, Black Mirror had returned and it was certainly worth the wait. This season consisted of 6 new episodes, double the usual amount, and broadened its horizons outside of the UK to incorporate some American stories as well. While the quality does fluctuate between certain episodes, they are all unique and continue to satirise modern technology in the same twisted way that the show has always done. From VR gaming to social media, to even the bee crisis, the 6 episodes all manage to stay relevant with their subject matter while presenting to us dark visions of the near future. As always, the show brings in some brilliant talent, this time from both sides of the Atlantic with American actors such as Wyatt Russell, Bryce Dallas Howard and Michael Kelly alongside British actors such as Kelly MacDonald and Jerome Flynn. My favourite episode of the new season would have to be 'Shut up and Dance', Jerome Flynn's episode that sees him join forces with a teenage boy in order to prevent hackers from blackmailing them. It was fast paced episode with one of the shows most shocking reveals, reminding us of what made Black Mirror so twisted in the first place. Other note worthy episode include the touching 'San Junipero' set against the backdrop of an 80's party town, and the feature-length finale 'Hated in the Nation' that displays the dark side of social media. I have ranked the episodes from worst to best in another post you can view here in case you're interested. It was a pleasure to have Black Mirror back, this time with a much bigger budget and on a more international scale, it worked quite well this season and I hope that Netflix continue to treat the show with care in the next.
2. Game of Thrones
Arguably one of the most popular shows at the moment, Game of Thrones entered its sixth season this year and it's safe to say that this was one of the greatest seasons yet. Betrayal and revenge, resurrections and returns, it was an incredibly eventful season that saw a number of storylines tied up and the scene set for many more to begin. First of all, this season saw the shows biggest battle sequences yet: the Battle of the Bastards. This was one of the seasons most pivotal moments and finally saw something decent happen for the Stark family, the battle was one of the most intense moments in the history of the show and the immense effort and budget put into this sequence definitely paid off. Once again, the incredibly ensemble cast are all on point in this season, and while I do feel like some of the best talents such as Peter Dinklage were underplayed this season, it did give some other characters more time to shine and develop. Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), in particular was a big part of this season and her development from average teenage girl to strong, independent woman is one of the best I've seen on the show. This season also contained some of the shows most shocking moments, from the explosive finale at King's Landing to 'Hold the Door', it's safe to say that I was left emotionally drained by the end of season 6. The reintroduction of certain characters such as (SPOILERS) Benjen (Joseph Mawle) and The Hound (Rory McCann) tied up a number of loose ends while a number of character deaths put an end to some of the ongoing subplots on the show. By the end of season 6 it is clear that the scene has been set for the final run up to the finale. It was one of the most satisfying seasons of Game of Thrones and reminded audiences of what makes it so bloody good.
1. Westworld
Based on Michael Crichton's original film, with writers such as Johnathan Nolan, and actors like Anthony Hopkins and Evan Rachel Wood on board, it was clear that HBO's Westworld series would be good, but I never anticipated that it would be this great. Set in the futuristic theme park known as Westworld, the series follows a number of the cybernetic hosts as they become more self-aware and advanced, forcing them to question the nature of their existence. Right from the get go it's clear that not everything is as it seems in Westworld, the fact that the Man in Black (Ed Harris) is human rather than robot like in the original film, is the first of many twists in this show. It is incredibly well-written and provides audiences with twist, after twist, after twist, we are constantly kept guessing what will happen next or what is the true nature of certain characters, the payoffs are always more than satisfying. Gradually the show begins to reveal hints of what is really going on until eventually dropping a bombshell on us, and although many of the big twists were predicted, Westworld still had some surprises up its sleeve to catch even the most eagle-eyed viewers off guard. The show boasts an incredibly talented cast, from Hopkins as the parks creator Robert Ford, to Evan Rachel Wood as Dolores, one of the hosts, to Ed Harris as the sinister Man in Black, the highlight of the season for me. Every character has their own distinctive look and personality and they are brought to life in such wonderful ways by the cast. It differs immensely from the film, focusing more on the hosts coming to terms with their reality as opposed to them just slaughtering the guests, it's a different sort of story to that of Crichton's film, but one that works. Westworld is one of those shows that left me waiting in anticipation week after week for the next episode, and in the end it always paid off. It's a show full of so much attention to detail, you can tell that Nolan and fellow showrunner Lisa Joy put so much into Westworld to make it the intense and intelligent masterpiece that it is. While season 2 could be a long way away, it will certainly be worth it in the end.
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