TOP 10 TV SHOWS OF 2017

In this list you will find a game that never seems to end, a mystery of who drew the dicks, hormone fairies, and even stranger things than that. 2017 has been a fantastic year for television and has shown those who gather around their TVs, computers, or other streaming devices, that the medium is still alive and thriving. TV is still able to bring new stories into our lives, while still providing its audience with the shows they love. Each series on this list has given viewers countless hours of laughter, tension, sadness and utter joy, which is exactly why we watch them. Enjoy each of these shows while you can, as I have a feeling that 2018 will be even bigger. 
– Ciaran Marchant

This “Top 10” list was polled by Dylan Blight, Ciaran Marchant, Jono Pech, Ashley Hobley, Jack Kruse and Nicholas Prior. Personal rankings formed a shortlist, which was voted into to an official top 10.

10.) Game of Thrones, Season SEVEN – Showtime (HBO)

The penultimate season of Game of Thrones was not the slow-paced methodical piece we’ve become accustomed to, but for all of its flaws, it provided some of – if not the most – satisfying moments on television this year. Whether it was returning characters long thought forgotten, reunions years in the making, characters finally getting screen time together, or a comeuppance long overdue, season seven gave plenty to keep fans happy. This year provided the show with some of the most iconic imagery of its run and has set the stage for what will hopefully be an epic conclusion to the saga.

– Ashley Hobley

9.) American Gods, season one – Amazon Prime

Bryan Fuller headed this adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s cult hit book of the same name and it was a quintessential example of a slow burn. But don’t let that turn you off — American Gods is very much worth your time. Featuring fantastic visuals and the mind-confusing dream sequences Fuller is known for, you could almost call this season a prologue, as it sets up the coming war between the Old Gods and the New Gods. This drama featured fantastic acting from its entire cast, with special recognition for Gillian Anderson for her portrayal as Media. The score is top notch and the show is not afraid to push the boundaries of social issues. In the end, American Gods was a surprise hit that set up a promising future, albeit marred by the showrunner’s departure.

– Nicholas Prior

8.) Sherlock, season FOUR – Stan (BBC)

Sherlock returned to our screens after an agonising three-year wait from the previous season and the bombshell of Moriarty seemingly being alive in last year’s Christmas special. This season sees Sherlock trying to unravel Moriarty’s plan, as he becomes obsessed with a prominent philanthropist, a major character dies, and an old family secret comes back to haunt the Sherlocks. This has everything you’ve come to love from the show — fantastic acting, a compelling plot and visually appealing direction.

– Nicholas Prior

7.) Glow, season one – Netflix

2017 felt the glow of 1985 burst through Netflix and back into our lives. Glow is a unique story based on the origin of an all-female wrestling promotion. The series was brought to life by the fantastic cast of Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Marc Maron and some fantastic supporting actors. Even though not every character is given equal screen time, none of them felt shallow or forced into the story. Compared to the rest of this list and everything we have witnessed in 2017, this was truly a feel-good story that anyone in the world could enjoy. With highly relatable characters and cameos from current and past wrestling stars to please the wrestling fans, Glow brings its audience together and deserves all the love and respect it receives.

– Ciaran Marchant
 

6.) Master of None, season two – Netflix

Master of None is a series that celebrates complexity in its characters, relationships, and life’s tough choices. The second season of Aziz Ansari’s Emmy-winning comedy made use of his complete creative freedom by playing more with linearity and narrative structure, while making bold stylised choices to give almost every episode a unique quality. For a show that is so tightly woven into the fabric of New York City’s culture and lifestyle, this season benefited from straying into foreign settings and fresh thematic territory as Dev dealt with unrequited love and career success (Clash of the Cupcakes!). The result was a hilarious and masterful piece of storytelling, but more than that, Master of None‘s second season breathed new life into the rom-com genre that has been on life support for years, more often reduced to a handful of predictable and formulaic structures and archetypes. With a semi-cliffhanger of an ending and an unclear future, we will continue praying to the TV gods for a third season.

– Jono Pech

5.) American Vandal, season one – Netflix

Almost everything about American Vandal was surprising. The mockumentary’s performances, story arc and cultural relevance were far more impressive than anyone could expect from a series that may have also reinvented the dick joke as we know it. What seemed like a simple premise, built on one crass idea (who drew the dicks?), became so much more. The kind of gag you’d expect to ride out in a Funny or Die sketch evolved into a nuanced satire of true crime documentaries, a teen dramedy, and a binge-worthy, compelling mystery. The commitment to the bit should be respected, with many people duped into thinking this was somehow an actual documentary along the lines of Making a Murderer. Subtle comedic touches and spot-on teenage dialogue, delivered by an unknown cast, made this a series that Netflix couldn’t renew fast enough.

– Jono Pech

4.) The Good Place, season TWO – Netflix (NBC)

It is safe to say that The Good Place is one of the most creative comedies currently airing. It’s rare that you feel compelled to give a spoiler warning for a comedy, but The Good Place provided a turn that should be experienced, not told. With some of the best writing of any genre, The Good Place managed to improve on its great first season, while further exploring its characters and the unique world they inhabit. Kristen Bell and Ted Danson provided some of the best comedic work of their careers and were ably supported by a stellar supporting cast.

– Ashley Hobley

3.) Big Mouth, season one – Netflix

For me, this was the big surprise packet from 2017. Nick Kroll’s Big Mouth was everything that I never knew I wanted from a television show. It was funny and crass, with magnificent performances from the whole crew playing  memorable characters. Big Mouth truly speaks (from what I remember) to the struggles of pubescent teens coming to terms with their own sexuality. But my favourite thing about Big Mouth is Maurice the Hormone Monster — I was cracking up with every line, and when he wasn’t on-screen, all I wanted was for him to come back. Kroll may have given me my new favourite fictional character.

– Jack Kruse

2.) Better Call Saul, season three – stan (AMC)

Fans of Breaking Bad have been waiting to see how Jimmy McGill finally plunges off the edge to become Saul Goodman, and we’re creeping closer with each season. In Better Call Saul‘s third season, we see Jimmy and his brother Chuck’s heated relationship come to a head. Episode five Chicanery had the two finally facing off in court and it’s one of the finest episodes of the series so far. This season also introduced Gus Fring to the show (Walter White’s greatest foe in Breaking Bad), which split Mike’s story off into the more direct path of getting involved with the drug business, as Gus and Hector Salamanca’s volatile relationship was explored. If anything, season three of Better Call Saul was the most tied into the Breaking Bad universe, yet it continued to stand on its own as one of the best shows on TV. 

– Dylan Blight

1.) Stranger Things, season two – netflix

The second season of Netflix’s Stranger Things was more of the same, but more of the same is exactly what we needed. The young cast was back and again seemingly trying to save Will from a terrifying entity in The Upside Down. With nostalgia vibes through the roof, Dustin and Steve’s buddy cop relationship and the addition of Sean Astin’s Bob were some of my favourite parts of the season. More backstory for Eleven and a fun love triangle were welcome additions to the already dynamic story. Other than a skippable episode seven and one extremely forgettable new character, this is a must-watch and I can’t wait for what’s next from the Duffer Brothers.

– Jack Kruse