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2016 Television Top 10 Lists

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C

Cornballer

Member
It's the end of the year and various publications, websites, and critics are putting out their Top 10 TV show lists. I thought it'd be useful to have a thread to compile the lists for easy perusal. Metacritic has started accumulating them here, too.

Note that since we're in peak tv, there are waaaaaay too many shows for everything to get recognized. (FX research estimated mid-Summer that there will be about 450 scripted shows available in 2016.) As such, please don't use this thread just as a location to rail against whichever list doesn't include your personal favorite. If there's something that you feel has been overlooked, make a case for it in the thread rather than posting a "Where is _____?!?" drive-by without elaborating. These lists and the subsequent discussion are always a good reminder of some shows that you might have missed during the year. If you liked something, explain why in your post.

I'll continue to update the thread as more lists come in, and there are also typically a few other tangents (best episode lists, etc...) worth posting as well. If you see an article or list that hasn't been mentioned yet, please post it.

IndieWire panel

1. BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
2. Veep (HBO)
3. The Americans (FX)
4. Better Call Saul (AMC)
5. You're the Worst (FXX)
6. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
7. Atlanta (FX)
8. Rectify (Sundance)
9. Catastrophe (Amazon)
10. Mr. Robot (USA)
Click to expand...

NY Times (Poniewozik)
1. Atlanta (FX)
The Americans (FX)
BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW)
Full Frontal With Samantha Bee (TBS)
High Maintenance (HBO)
Horace and Pete (louisck.net)
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
Rectify (Sundance)
Transparent (Amazon)
Click to expand...

Paste Magazine (staff)
1. The Americans (FX)
2. Stranger Things (Netflix)
3. Atlanta (FX)
4. BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
5. Full Frontal With Samantha Bee (TBS)
6. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
7. Veep (HBO)
8. Better Call Saul (AMC)
9. Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO)
10. Halt and Catch Fire (AMC)
Click to expand...

The Ringer (Alison Herman)
1. Atlanta (FX)
2. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
3. BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
4. Transparent (Amazon)
5. High Maintenance (HBO)
6. Full Frontal With Samantha Bee (TBS)
7. Halt and Catch Fire (AMC)
8. The Girlfriend Experience (Starz)
9. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
10. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW)
Click to expand...

Rolling Stone (Rob Sheffield)
1. Atlanta (FX)
2. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
3. Stranger Things (Netflix)
4. Black Mirror (Netflix)
5. Full Frontal With Samantha Bee (TBS)
6. The Americans (FX)
7. Game of Thrones (HBO)
8. Fleabag (Amazon)
9. Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
10. Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO)
Click to expand...

Slant Magazine (staff)
1. Atlanta (FX)
2. The Americans (FX)
3. BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
4. The Girlfriend Experience (Starz)
5. Silicon Valley (HBO)
6. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW)
7. Horace and Pete (louisck.net)
8. Better Call Saul (AMC)
9. Transparent (Amazon)
10. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
Click to expand...

Time Magazine (Daniel D'Addario)
1. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
2. The Girlfriend Experience (Starz)
3. The Americans (FX)
4. Late Night With Seth Meyers (NBC)
5. Atlanta (FX)
6. O.J.: Made in America (ESPN/ABC)
7. Better Call Saul (AMC)
8. Veep (HBO)
9. Speechless (ABC)
10. Love (Netflix)
Click to expand...

TV Guide (staff)
1. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
2. Stranger Things (Netflix)
3. Better Call Saul (AMC)
4. The Night Of (HBO)
5. Atlanta (FX)
6. Rectify (Sundance)
7. The Good Place (NBC)
8. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW)
9. Westworld (HBO)
10. This Is Us (NBC)
Click to expand...

NY Mag (Matt Zoller Seitz)
1. Atlanta (FX)
2. The Girlfriend Experience (Starz)
3. O.J.: Made in America (ESPN/ABC)
3. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
4. BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
5. The Americans (FX)
6. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW)
7. Stranger Things (Netflix)
8. Rectify (Sundance)
9. Horace and Pete (louisck.net)
10. Search Party (TBS)
Click to expand...

NY Mag (Jen Chaney)
1. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
2. Veep (HBO)
3. The Americans (FX)
4. Atlanta (FX)
5. BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
6. Better Things (FX)
7. Better Call Saul (AMC)
8. The Good Place (NBC)
9. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
10. Casual (Hulu)
Click to expand...

AFI (panel)
The Americans (FX)
Atlanta (FX)
Better Call Saul (AMC)
The Crown (Netflix)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
The Night Of (HBO)
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
Stranger Things (Netflix)
This is Us (NBC)
Veep (HBO)

AFI Special Award: O.J.: Made in America (ESPN/ABC)
Click to expand...

Washington Post (Hank Stuever)
1. O.J.: Made in America (ESPN/ABC)
2. Veep (HBO)
3. The Americans (FX)
4. Transparent (Amazon)
5. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
6. Atlanta (FX)
7. Quarry (Cinemax)
8. The Night Of (HBO)
9. The Crown (Netflix)
10. Billions (Showtime)
Click to expand...

Newsweek (staff)
Chelsea (Netflix)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW)
The Crown (Netflix)
The Fall (Netflix)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Good Girls Revolt (Amazon)
The Kettering Incident (BBC Worldwide)
Love (Netflix)
Man in the High Castle (Amazon)
Mr. Robot (USA)
The Night Of (HBO)
Stranger Things (Netflix)
Westworld (HBO)
Click to expand...

Variety (Maureen Ryan)
1. Jane the Virgin
2. Rectify
3. The People vs O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
4. Black-ish
5. The Americans
6. One Mississippi
7. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
8. Atlanta
9. Insecure
10. Better things
Click to expand...

Variety (Sonia Saraiya)
1. Atlanta
2. Silicon Valley
3. The Girlfriend Experience
4. Halt and Catch Fire
5. Fleabag
6. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
7. Better Call Saul
8. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
9. Insecure
10. BoJack Horseman
Click to expand...

Slate (Willa Paskin)
1. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
2. The Americans
3. Halt and Catch Fire
4. Transparent
5. Atlanta
6. Better Call Saul
7. High Maintenance
8. Queen Sugar
9. Catastrophe
10. The Girlfriend Experience
Click to expand...

Digital Spy (staff)
1. The Night Manager
2. Game of Thrones
3. The Missing
4. Humans
5. Westworld
6. Stranger Things
7. National Treasure
8. Happy Valley
9. Line of Duty
10. The Night Of
Click to expand...


TVLine Dramas (staff)
1. Game of Thrones
2. Stranger Things
3. Bates Motel
4. The People Vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story
5. This is Us
6. Orange is the New Black
7. Westworld
8. American Crime
9. The Night Of
10. Horace & Pete

TVLine Comedies
1. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
2. Atlanta
3. Difficult People
4. Black-Ish
5. BoJack Horseman
6. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
7. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
8. Veep
9. Broad City
10. Insecure
Click to expand...

Empire Online (staff)
1. Game of Thrones
2. The Night Of
3. Stranger Things
4. The Night Manager
5. Westworld
6. Line of Duty
7. The Americans
8. The People Vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story
9. Peaky Blinders
10. Black Mirror
Click to expand...

Entertainment Weekly (Jeff Jensen)
1. O.J.: Made in America (ESPN/ABC)
2. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
3. The Americans (FX)
4. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
5. Atlanta (FX)
6. Better Things (FX)
7. Rectify (Sundance)
8. The Good Place (NBC)
9. Search Party (TBS)
10. Westworld (HBO)
Click to expand...

Alan Sepinwall / Uproxx
1. Horace and Pete
2. The Americans
3. O.J.: Made in America & The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
4. BoJack Horseman
5. Rectify
6. Atlanta
7. Veep
8. Fleabag
9. Better Call Saul
10. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Click to expand...

Daily Beast (staff)
1. Full Frontal With Samantha Bee
2. O.J.: Made in America
3. Atlanta
4. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
5. Veep
6. Transparent
7. The Americans
8. American Crime
9. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
10. Search Party
Click to expand...
Flavorwire (Lara Zarum)
1. Rectify (Sundance)
2. O.J.: Made in America (ESPN/ABC)
3. Insecure (HBO)
4. The Americans (FX)
5. Atlanta (FX)
6. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
7. Orange Is the New Black (Netflix)
8. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW)
9. Fleabag (Amazon)
10. Difficult People (Hulu)
Click to expand...
Hidden Remote (Reed Gaudens)
1. Game of Thrones (HBO)
2. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
3. Mr. Robot (USA)
4. Marvel's Daredevil (Netflix)
5. This Is Us (NBC)
6. Stranger Things (Netflix)
7. Marvel's Luke Cage (Netflix)
8. Better Call Saul (AMC)
9. Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
10. Atlanta (FX)
Click to expand...
Pittsburg Post-Gazette (Rob Owens)
1. This is Us
2. People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
3. Game of Thrones
4. The Americans
5. Better call Saul
6. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
7. Westworld
8. the Good Place
9. Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
10. Stranger Things
Click to expand...
Time Out NY (David Goldberg)
1. Stranger Things (Netflix)
2. The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
3. RuPaul's Drag Race (Logo)
4. Girls (HBO)
5. Full Frontal With Samantha Bee (TBS)
6. Difficult People (Hulu)
7. BoJack Horseman (Netflix)
8. Westworld (HBO)
9. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (CW)
10. Broad City (Comedy Central)
Click to expand...
io9 (staff)
1. The Expanse
2. Game of Thrones
3. Westworld
4. Luke Cage
5. Steven Universe
6. Stranger Things
7. The Good Place
8. Person of Interest
9. Supergirl
10. Ash vs. Evil Dead
Click to expand...
 
C

Cornballer

Member
I'm glad to see The Americans (FX) getting a lot of love on these lists. It's my favorite, and the acting, writing, and production of the show are superb. It's also nice to see Catastrophe (Amazon) get a mention.

As far as somewhat under the radar shows go, Insecure (HBO) is worth a look. It's a smart and funny look at friendship and relationships from a different perspective than what we normally get. The Expanse (SyFy) takes a few episodes to get going, but it's good sci fi with a fun cast, snappy dialog, and lots of twists and turns. Black Sails (Starz) never gets much love, but the show boasts excellent characters and some awesome pirate action filmed at a large scale. Vice Principals (HBO) was a ton of fun, and like it's predecessor, Eastbound & Down, cleverly inverts expectations and has you caring for characters that you didn't like from the outset.
 
M

Makonero

Member
So glad to see so much love for Crazy Ex Girlfriend. With it's low ratings, I'm hoping they keep it on because of its critical success.

Not to mention just how awesome it is to have a thoughtful examination of mental health during a comedic musical show centered around a woman.

Just an outstanding show on so many levels.
 
SJRB

SJRB

Gold Member
ctrl + f "mr robot", two mentions.

...wow. I honestly expected more mentions, this season blew my mind several times. Intruiging story and characters, shocking twists, visually striking and an incredible soundtrack and score to boot.


Isn't The Americans running for like 3 seasons already? Kinda weird to see so much praise all of a sudden. It's still on my "to watch" list.
 
P

PaleFolklore

Member
So glad to see The Walking Dud and Game of Thrones not making most of these lists. Both of which have been absolutely terrible this year. Granted The Walking Dead was always terrible but it hit new lows this year.
 
C

Cornballer

Member
SJRB said:
Isn't The Americans running for like 3 seasons already? Kinda weird to see so much praise all of a sudden. It's still on my "to watch" list.
Click to expand...
The Americans aired their fourth season in 2016. They've been renewed for two more seasons to complete the story. FWIW, they made the aggregated Top 10 list in 2013, 2014, and 2015, and they will again in 2016.
 
T

thestopsign

Member
Great to see some of my favorites I saw from this year on a lot of these lists. I haven't fully thought my list through but Atlanta, Bo Jack, and The Night Of will certainly be near the top.
 
Y

youngplaya21

Member
I thought Stranger Things came out this year and everyone loved it? Somehow thought it would be on every list

Also glad Atlanta is getting the love it deserves

Edit: ST is actually on more lists than I thought...
 
D

Donos

Member
Hm, only watched the first Ep of The Americans on Netflix but it didn't grip me right away. Seems like i have to watch on. Haven't heard of Atlanta till now.

Thanks Cornballer for reminding me of Vice Principals. Huge fan of East bound and Down and Mcbride. Not available on Netflix or Amazon Prime so far though (germany).
 
K

Kayhan

Member
Solo said:
Doesn't don't look like anything to me.
Click to expand...

Should have been the first post.

Is there some reason why Westworld doesn't feature on more of the lists? Like it came out to late to be included?

Because if not, then these host reviewers need to go in cold storage.
 
E

Enduin

No bald cap? Lies!
Solid lists. Glad to see Halt and Catch Fire get mentioned a few times, Rectify too, though it should have more I think.

Dirk Gently is probably too recent, but I really love that show so far, and I hope it gets more recognition.

Very happy to see Atlanta get so much love. Show was really fantastic.
 
P

Paz

Member
Westworld being missing from most of these lists is straight up ridiculous, finest television in recent memory.

I guess I should expect nothing less from 2016, given how bad the other choices people have made are.
 
K

Kayhan

Member
Reviewers too snobby for sci-fi shows?

Westworld and Stranger Things not getting the respect they deserve.
 
M

marrec

Banned
Atlanta deserves all the love, Mr. Robot needs just a bit more love (just a bit)

Westworld ain't in my top 10, too many clumsy mistakes in the plotting. Though I really enjoyed it nonetheless.
 
T

thestopsign

Member
youngplaya21 said:
I thought Stranger Things came out this year and everyone loved it? Somehow thought it would be on every list

Also glad Atlanta is getting the love it deserves
Click to expand...

It will get some mentions (and already has in some of those lists) but it won't sweep away critics in this day and age, there are too many high quality shows out there of all kinds for it to get on every list. It also is against some other tough competition on Netflix alone with BoJack, Love, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and numerous others. Some critics may not want to include too many shows from anyone service.
 
R

righthandmouse

Banned
Donos said:
Hm, only watched the first Ep of The Americans on Netflix but it didn't grip me right away. Seems like i have to watch on. Haven't heard of Atlanta till now.

Thanks Cornballer for reminding me of Vice Principals. Huge fan of East bound and Down and Mcbride. Not available on Netflix or Amazon Prime so far though (germany).
Click to expand...

First 2 seasons of the americans weren't so good. Way too much sex. Muster through them and you're in for a treat in 3 and 4.
 
R

Revolver

Member
I've been meaning to check out the Americans for ages but haven't gotten around to it. Never see it on US Netflix. Need to check out Atlanta and the Girlfriend Experience. Happy for Full Frontal.
 
G

GeeTeeCee

Member
Out of curiosity: the final season of Person of Interest hasn't aired here yet in the UK. Given that the previous seasons have included some of the best single TV episodes I've ever watched, is the complete absence of the final season a bad sign, or just grossly overlooked?

I'm glad I decided to watch Atlanta on a whim.
 
S

Shanlei91

Sonic handles my blue balls
Not enough Westworld but plenty of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

3vY3VfK.gif


SJRB said:
ctrl + f "mr robot", two mentions.

...wow. I honestly expected more mentions, this season blew my mind several times. Intruiging story and characters, shocking twists, visually striking and an incredible soundtrack and score to boot.
Click to expand...

The show hurt itself by having too good of a first season.
 
T

T Dollarz

Member
Where I'm at, as of now:

Tier 1:
The Americans
Better Call Saul
Rectify
Mr. Robot
Game of Thrones
Person of Interest

Tier 2:
Luke Cage
Supergirl

I also love watching John Oliver. There are other I watch but are weaker like Arrow, The Flash, Legends, etc.

I need to watch some newer shows like Atlanta, The Night Of, Westworld, Stranger Things, and People v OJ

Edit: Now that I think about it, Rectify, The Americans and Better Call Saul deserve their own tier. They are the definition of gripping television. The other ones at their peak are too, but are less consistent.
 
L

Lothar

Banned
I sound Better Call Saul really boring this year. Having it over Game of Thrones and Westworld makes no sense to me.
 
N

number11

Member
Chinner said:
Surprised at how how many mentions there are of bojack horseman.
Click to expand...

Animated or not, Bojack is one of the best shows out there. This show has me caring about a talking horse more than most live action characters on TV.

There's been a ton of great TV this year, but surely Game of Thrones has to still be up there. This season was one of the best in the entire series.
 
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