Top 5 TV Shows of 2017

Top 5 TV Shows of 2017

Joe Bozzella, Staff Writer

1.) Rick and Morty (Adult Swim, streaming on Hulu)

 

Rick and Morty finally came back for its third season this year following a 2-year hiatus and returned with arguably its strongest season yet. The continuing adventures of Rick Sanchez and his grandson Morty are always fun to watch and is by far the smartest and most unique show on television. This season included highlights like the fan-favorite Pickle Rick episode and The Ricklantis Mixup which is one of the greatest episodes in television history. Showrunners Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland consistently figure out ways to still surprise the audience and should take as much time as they need to put out the fourth season. Rick and Morty was by far the best television show of 2017.

 

2.) The Leftovers (HBO)

 

The final season of the lowly-watched The Leftovers aired this year and did not disappoint its loyal fans. Creator and showrunner Damon Lindelof delivered a stellar final season (much better than his previous show Lost) with stars Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon putting in career-best work. This season explored everything from the distant past to the future, despair, faith, and mental health to brilliant effect. Every episode felt like a cinematic event as Lindelof and the rest of the writers did a spectacular job making the world of The Leftovers feel larger and more-developed than it actually was. The Leftovers will forever be remembered as one of the best shows from the golden age of television.

 

3.) Game of Thrones (HBO)

 

The seventh season of the HBO juggernaut delivered on almost every level even though it was dealing with extremely high expectations. The David Benioff and D.B. Weiss led show did suffer from a loss of nuance as the show has become more accelerated but does succeed with its large-scale battles and the greatest cast in television history. From Lena Headey to Liam Cunningham, every member of the cast elevates the material and is the reason why Thrones is the most talked about show on television. This season included some brilliant moments like the Loot Train Battle and the confirmation of Jon Snow’s parentage while also laying the groundwork for the final season that will air in 2019.

 

4.) Master of None (Netflix)

 

The brainchild of star Aziz Ansari and fellow co-showrunner Alan Yang returned for its second season after a two-year absence, and, like Rick and Morty, it did not underdeliver. After Dev’s breakup with Rachel at the end of season 1, the premiere picks up with Dev in Italy at pasta-making school before he makes his return to New York City. Ansari and Yang have such a grasp on the social consciousness and the problems that many millennials face today. The episodes are so easy to watch and might be the best original show that Netflix has ever made. No show is more in touch with what it is like to be a single-person in today’s society than Master of None.

 

5.) The Good Place (NBC, streaming on Hulu and Netflix)

From Parks and Recreation co-creator Michael Schur, The Good Place stars Kristen Bell and Ted Danson and is one of the smartest shows on television. Following the events of season 1, the show took everything that was great about its opening season and amplified it to another degree. Besides Bell and Danson, the show succeeds because the rest of the cast are unknowns which makes them so believable as their characters. What makes this show revolutionary is that it has completely reinvented the idea of a “twist” and surprises the viewer when they are least expecting it. Its humor is fun and inventive while also makes this show feeling like it could never get old. The Good Place is the best show on television that not enough people are watching.

Photo Credit: https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/11/the-25-best-tv-shows-of-2017.html