Well here we go ... the top 20 Dramas on television for the 2013-2014 Emmy cycle. I have AGONIZED over this list. There are so many good things on television right now and my decision to include the Miniseries American Horror Story, Fargo and Sherlock (which is inexplicably in the movie category) made it an even tougher list to crack. I enjoyed all 20 of these shows quite a bit this season ... and definitely enjoyed a few that just miss the list. Let's start with the honorable mentions.
2013-2014 Honorable Mention
Penny Dreadful (Showtime), Person of Interest (CBS), Hannibal (NBC), Grimm (NBC), Dexter (Showtime) — This list of shows is very strong, but all of them had a glaring thing or two missing. Dexter is the toughest one because there were times during its eight-season run that it was one of the five best shows on television. I enjoyed the final season, but it seemed to just be dragging toward its fate. Penny Dreadful and Hannibal both suffer from too much ambition. In the post American Horror Story world, horror stories are becoming more and more common. These two could definitely be very good in the future.
On to the top 20 ...
20. Hell on Wheels, Season 3 (AMC) — Hell on Wheels got relegated to Saturday nights by AMC and I thought it was a certain death blow to what has been a good show. Instead, it got great ratings and became a future Saturday night staple. There is plenty to dislike about this show, but the quality of Anson Mount in the lead role carries it to must-not-miss territory. He is such a strong actor and really carries the anti-hero burden well. Common continues to be a pleasant surprise every season as well.
19. The Bridge, Season 1 (FX) — FX simply does not put bad stuff on television. This show had a fantastic first four or five episodes before losing exactly where it was going. Despite an all-over-the-place plot and a few, "Why do I care about this?" moments, the show was carried by exceptional acting from Diane Kruger, Demian Bechir and Ted Levine. Supporting roles were also cast very expertly. While there was plenty of unfulfilled promise in Season 1, I find myself very much looking forward to the Season 2 premiere.
18. Boardwalk Empire, Season 4 (HBO) — Wow, how the mighty have fallen. While Season 1 and 2 of this wonderful period show were epic, the death of Jimmy Darmody at the end of Season 2 has left the show desperately trying to find its way for two seasons. Steve Buscemi is so good on this show, and it is a shame that he will end it without an Emmy, but unless the writers figure things out quickly, the upcoming final season could be a dud. I think the storyline pitting Jeffrey Wright against Michael K. Williams was entertaining, but stole far too much of the writer's attention throughout this past season. I am very curious to see where Nucky goes from here as he has very few friends left.
17. Sons of Anarchy, Season 6 (FX) — After a couple of fantastic seasons, Season 6 simply felt forced and lackluster to me. Still can't miss television. Still pretty good storytelling, but making the show nearly 60 minutes every week instead of the standard 42 made it often feel tedious. Obviously there is a very explosive final season coming up, and the death of Jax Teller's wife at the hands of his own mother is what the entire season was about. It is still a great show, but Jax vs. Clay is gone and now Mom vs. Daughter-in-law is gone. I am fascinated to see where Kurt Sutter takes us on one last ride.
16. Homeland, Season 3 (Showtime) — Was there any bigger letdown on television this year? No. Is it still truly an excellent show? Absolutely. Damian Lewis will likely not get any Emmy love this year, but he certainly should. He continued to act the hell out of Nicholas Brody right up until his demise. No matter how ridiculous the story was, Damian Lewis and Claire Danes somehow made it believable, right up to Brody dangling from a crane in the Middle East. While the overall story was completely implausible, the one-on-one interactions on this show continue to make it one of the best on television.
15. Sherlock: His Last Vow (BBC) — With two of the hottest actors on the planet carrying this show could it be anything other than fantastic? This show is entering the "Movie" category at the Emmy's and will surely lose to The Normal Heart, but it was a fantastic three parts of storytelling. Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch are going to make us wait until 2016 for the next installment, but they certainly make us realize that we want nothing to do with Robert Downey Jr. movies that aren't up to snuff.
14. Downtown Abbey, Season 4 (BBC) — A show that has tumbled down these rankings, but not because it lacks quality. While the acting was superb, I was a little disappointed in the show going to the "rape card" to provide a storyline. They could have taken it a better way if you ever felt that Bates was actually in trouble, but they did not play it out well and it seemed like shock television for a show that had prided itself on pace and LACK of shock. The rest of the story is still moving along at the right pace. I think we are all curious to see what the future holds for this estate.
13. American Horror Story: Coven (FX) — There is not a single show own television as self-aware as AMH. It regularly lays its cards on the table. It is not afraid of being scary, funny, tense and flat-out campy. And because of this it is regularly great. It scooped Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett into the fold this past season and they were perfect. Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson continue to be the best actress duo on television. AMH has been such a huge success that miniseries and anthologies are popping up across television and making for some great stories. Without it we would not have Fargo or True Detective and there are more coming. Very few shows are actual game changers and American Horror Story is one of them.
12. Ray Donovan (Showtime) — If you blinked you missed that Showtime's staples Dexter and Homeland were not the best dramas on the network anymore. Two freshman dramas have taken over, and Ray Donovan is one of them. Not getting nearly enough buzz because of its early run in the Emmy cycle, but Liev Schreiber and Jon Voight should both get serious consideration for a Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor nomination. You could tell the showrunners had a plan for if it was only one season and then scrapped it when it was clear they would get a second season. It will be very interesting to see how good that second season is this summer.
11. House of Cards, Season 2 (Netflix) — Ah ... binge watching television at its finest. Makes it tough to remember that Kate Mara was only in one episode because you watched it and Episode 13 all in the same day. There is little argument that the acting of Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright is superb and what carries this show. The overly negative view of D.C. is a little tedious at times, but certainly makes for plenty of fun. Frank Underwood is the ultimate bad guy ... and his ascension to the throne was masterfully done, even if it was highly predictable. It is going to be interesting to see if the writers finally write him a worthy opponent in Season 3.
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