Top 10 Best TV Shows of 2017

2017 brought us a few shows connected to the “X-Men” universe, and the best by far was the critically-acclaimed “Legion.” In addition to dominating the silver screen this year in “Beauty and the Beast,” star Dan Stevens also took center stage on the small screen as David Haller (aka Legion). A mutant diagnosed with schizophrenia, David is a mystery even to himself. Each episode of “Legion” peels David’s psyche back one layer at a time and the show manages to be harrowing, thrilling, and empathetic at the same time. This series from “Fargo” creator Noah Hawley definitely stands out from the crowd with its surreal atmosphere and Kubrick-esque stunning visuals.

With its long-awaited third season, this animated cult classic revealed no signs of becoming any less hilarious or thought-provoking. Hardcore fans were ecstatic when the season premiere dropped unexpectedly on April Fools’ Day. In what might be the show’s most creative run yet, “Rick and Morty” expanded upon its already immersive universe with superhero team-ups, deleted memories, and an unsettling trip to the Citadel. Even Rick turning into a pickle was delivered with badass results. We can only hope that this series will last for at least nine seasons with enough Szechuan sauce to go around.

This adaption of Liane Moriarty’s novel had audiences fixated on the television every week and chatting up a storm at water coolers the next day. The story follows several families that have seemingly perfect lives . . . but trouble lurks in paradise. While Jean-Marc Vallée’s sharp direction and David E. Kelley’s darkly comedic writing were integral to the show’s success, it’s the all-star ensemble that made this material spring to life. Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley and Laura Dern show off some of their best work, but the MVPs are Nicole Kidman and Alexander Skarsgård, with their disturbing portrayal of domestic abuse. After winning 8 Emmys, there’s already talk of a second season.

“Better Call Saul” has evolved into something much more than a “Breaking Bad” spinoff. It’s a fascinating character study in its own right that redefines what a legal drama can be. In Season 3, Jonathan Banks and Rhea Seehorn once again turned in strong supporting performances, while Giancarlo Esposito finally returned as Gus Fring. However, the driving force behind this season was the relationship between Bob Odenkirk’s Jimmy and Michael McKean’s Chuck. Much like Walter White and Hank Schrader, the audience wasn’t sure if they should side with the crooked conman or the man of law. Their sibling rivalry reached its boiling point in the episode, “Chicanery,” one of 2017’s most riveting hours of television.

While the episode “Chapter Seven” admittedly slowed the narrative down, season 2 of “Stranger Things” was an otherwise stellar follow-up to its game-changing predecessor. In this sophomore season, the Duffer Brothers expanded upon the dark, inventive world they’ve created, while also dishing out plenty of nostalgic throwbacks. Of course, it’s the timeless characters that have made this series special. These nine new episodes not only furthered several character arcs, but also introduced a few welcome newcomers, like Madmax. The show even explored several dynamics audiences never knew they wanted to see: Dustin and Steve might sound like an odd pairing, but their bromance is one for the ages. Oh, and best of all, Barb got some overdue justice.

Aziz Ansari has evolved into a truly gifted actor and storyteller. “Master of None,” which he co-created with Alan Yang, went to some unexpected places in Season 2. While the storyline primarily remained focused on Dev’s love life, the showrunners weren’t afraid to shift attention to supporting players like Denise, who came out to her mother (Angela Bassett) in the Emmy-winning episode, “Thanksgiving.” This particularly ambitious episode took the main cast out of the equation, shining the spotlight on several characters we had never seen before and may never see again. The only thing better than binge watching this show would be binge eating some of Dev’s delicious pasta.

In the final episode of the original “Twin Peaks” series, Laura Palmer tells Special Agent Dale Cooper that she’ll see him in 25 years. The fact that Showtime brought this cult show back in 2017 is either a giant coincidence or the most ingenious example of foreshadowing ever. Over the past decade, we’ve seen several shows that were prematurely canceled, get a second chance. It was a dream come true when “Twin Peaks: The Return” was officially announced, and David Lynch (and co-creator Mark Frost) didn’t disappoint. This 18-episode limited series remained true to its predecessor with a mystifying narrative structure, bizarre imagery, and subtle humor.

As much as haters like to nitpick that convoluted plan to capture a White Walker, deep down everyone knows “Game of Thrones” was friggin’ awesome this year! The penultimate season of HBO’s epic fantasy series saw Cersei, Daenerys, and Jon Snow at the height of their powers. The Iron Throne’s top competitors found a common enemy in the Night King, however. With the fate of Westeros hanging in the balance, alliances were made, families reunited, romances blossomed, hearts were broken, loyalties were tested, revelations were, uh, revealed, and – of course – fan favorites died. We all have our theories on how the series will end, but one thing is for certain: the walls have come tumbling down.

Despite being one of the most critically acclaimed shows on television, “The Leftovers” failed to gain much traction either with audiences or major awards groups. Nevertheless, the show’s third and final season solidified this drama’s status as an unsung masterpiece. When it debuted, viewers probably thought they were just going to get a show about the Rapture. As the story unfolded, though, it became clear that “The Leftovers” was something much more profound: a show about how society responds to tragedy and how we’re all searching for a greater purpose in this crazy world. Above all else, it was a beautiful love story, with Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon both delivering powerhouse performances.



And since it was an especially strong year for TV, here are several honorable mentions:



“The Good Place” (2016-)



“American Vandal” (2017-)



“Mindhunter” (2017-)



“The Deuce” (2017-)



“Mr. Robot” (2015-)

While Netflix and Amazon have left their mark in this golden age of television, Hulu became the first streaming service to take home a series prize at the Primetime Emmys. “The Handmaid’s Tale” not only won Outstanding Drama Series, but also awards for writing, directing, and acting as well. We can’t think of a more deserving honoree, as few shows haunted and enthralled audiences in 2017 quite like this tour de force. Elisabeth Moss gives the performance of her career as a fertile woman forced to become a concubine. “The Handmaid’s Tale” uses its dystopian sci fi to deal with horrifying realities from our own world, making it an important viewing experience.