I already posted my 20th-11th shows for the the 2013-2014 season right here: http://iwify.blogspot.com/2014/06/televisions-top-20-dramas-for-2013-2014.html
Tomorrow I will roll out my full Emmy nomination predictions AND reveal what I think they SHOULD be. And Thursday morning we will have the big Emmy Nomination rollout!
The top 10 was very difficult. It fell into 4 tiers for me. The top 4 is agonizingly close and I could make a strong argument for each one as the best show on television this season.
So ... here are my Top 10 Dramatic Serials from 2013-2014, including episodic shows from the miniseries and movie category.
10. The Walking Dead, Season 4 (AMC) — After a slow, boring second season, The Walking Dead hit its stride in Season 3 and then really stepped it up in Season 4. The show has too many "Huh?" moments for it ever to compete with the Top 5 or 6 on this list, but it might be the most watchable show on television. Losing its best actor to another AMC startup (David Morrissey who played the Governor) is going to hurt, but the intrigue of Terminus and the ridiculously high death count make it a must watch week-in and week-out. I can't wait for Season 5.
9. Justified, Season 5 (FX) — FX continues to churn out gold. With three shows in the 11-20 range, Justified is the first, but not the last, in the top 10. Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens and Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder is the best acting duo on television and when they get in scenes together it is always perfect television. The story was not as strong as it has been in a couple of seasons past, but the setup for the final season was great and has me sitting on the edge of my seat. With only one season to go, we are sure to get plenty of Givens vs. Crowder.
8. The Good Wife, Season 5 (CBS) — The Good Wife continues to be the class of network television and is the ONLY network show to make my Top 20 for the season. While it has a few dull and slow moments due to a network schedule of 22 episodes, the writing and acting keep it as a must see. For anyone who tries to watch all the great television that is on, it is hard to say that any other show delivered a bigger shock moment this season that The Good Wife. When the sheet is pulled back and Will Gardner is dead it changed the show suddenly, violently and shockingly. The problem is the show was just writing out an actor who wanted off in Josh Charles. They need to work hard to make it pay off and pitting Alicia (Julianna Margulies) against Cary (Matt Czuchry) in their battle for the direction they want to take their law firm is a good place to start. Still the best acting ensemble on television.
7. Masters of Sex, Season 1 (Showtime) — Wow. What a good show this became by the end of Season 1. Masters of Sex has an easy premise to hook viewers, but once hooked it is easy to realize that it is some of the best intrigue on television. Almost every character is easy to relate to in some way and the acting is superb, including the magnificent guest appearances by Allison Janney and Beau Bridges. But the real top notch here is Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan as Dr. Masters and Virginia Johnson. The two really do have a chemistry that never seems forced and is always gripping. The show might have some Emmy snubs because it airs in the summer, so far ahead of voting, but it should be in the running in multiple categories.
6. The Americans, Season 2 (FX) — This show has the potential to be the best on television by Season 3 or Season 4. Season 1 was good, but Season 2 ... just wow. It seems the showrunner and writers have realized that they have endless angles they can explore and at the heart of it all, the Jennings' love for each other and their "fake" marriage will always be able to carry the show. Noah Emmerich as Stan Beeman continues to be one of the best characters on television as we see his personal life keep him from seeing so much happening right before his eyes. And Annet Mahendru as Nina has really taken the show to new heights. But all that aside, the chemistry between Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys carries the show and could carry it to a number of Emmy nominations this year.
5. Game of Thrones, Season 4 (HBO) — Somehow, the slow pace of this show — the plodding of Daenerys and the White Walkers — the randomness of many events does not make it any less perfect. This show gets considerably better with age and we all will keep coming back for more, even as character after character is killed. The Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) storyline is the most underrated piece of excellent work on the small screen right now and a Kings Landing without Tywin Lannister surely has everyone salivating to see the circus in Season 5. But all that aside, the show-stealer on Game of Thrones continues to be Tyrion Lannister ... played so excellently by Peter Dinklage. His performance is going to have to fight for the Emmy it deserves, and he might not get it. But his regularly delivery and the emotion he is able to garner in each and every viewer is magnificent only a weekly basis.
4. Fargo, Season 1 (FX) — There were times when I thought this was the best show on television. The acting ensemble was pretty much untouchable, even by the great duo at the top of True Detective. Martin Freeman is simply laughably good at everything he does. Billy Bob Thornton is an Emmy lock. And Allison Tolman was still able to steal the show nearly every week. Without having the Coen Brothers directly involved, it seemed that almost every nook and cranny had their fingerprints all over it. Every single storyline came together perfectly and the show left us very happily fulfilled, but still wanting more. I feel guilty putting it as low as No. 4 on a list because it was just too good. But it will walk out with the Best Miniseries Emmy without much competition.
3. Mad Men, Season 7 Part I (AMC) — I fully admit that I have a huge thing for Mad Men. I think it might just be the best drama ever on television, so sometimes I might be blind to plotholes and other issues with the show. But the fact is this, right when I think they have something not going right, they will wrap it in a perfect bow. Mad Men does not compete on a season by season basis. It will plant stuff in Season 2 that it does not resolve or handle until Season 5. There has NEVER been a show as good at that as this (not even The Wire.) The first half of Season 7 was as almost as perfect as television gets and means that the second half will come hard looking for that Best Drama Emmy for a record fifth time. I can't see it pulling an upset on True Detective or Breaking Bad for the Emmy this year, but it just might be worthy.
2. True Detective, Season 1 (HBO) — Back when Breaking Bad wrapped in September, I declared that the Emmy's were over. Best Actor and Best Drama were locks for Breaking Bad ... then along came True Detective. While the ending seems to have left many people wanting a little more, the getting there was a fantastic season of twists and turns in the psyche of two great characters played by great actors. Matthew McConaughey could still pull off the Oscar/Emmy double this year, even though the show was unexpectedly entered in the Drama category to go head-to-head with Breaking Bad. It was not McConaughey, however, that made this show tick, that was the unbelievable performance of Woody Harrelson. The give and take between McConaughey's Rust Cohle and Harrelson's Marty Hart made the show perfect no matter how many times the script bounced from the past to the present. There were very few flaws in the show aside from a little bit of predictability and the overall ability to grab the viewers visceral emotions nearly every episode made it impossible to turn away from. The hush-hush on Season 2 (a completely new story set somewhere else) has only added to the allure as the Emmy voters filled out their ballots.
1. Breaking Bad, Season Five Part II (AMC) — It was a tough season to pull it off. Mad Men, True Detective, Fargo and others all produced some fantastic stories, but Breaking Bad pulled off a magnificent and satisfying final season that sends it off as the best show on television and one of the best Dramas to ever air. Vince Gilligan made it a little predictable at times, but all-in-all delivered a final season that very few viewers could complain about (paying attention Dexter?). Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul continued to push the envelope and have completely rewritten what viewers expect from actors on televisions top dramas. The death of Hank (Dean Norris) will likely earn Norris a deserved Supporting Actor nod and was probably the most emotional and memorable moment on television this year. And as the world caved in around Skylar, Anna Gunn sold every moment of devastation with fantastic acting. It might have wrapped up in a little too nice a bow, but overall, we could not have asked for a much better final season to one of the all-time greats.
Final Top 20 Tallies — Premium Cable - 7 (Counting Netflix), Basic Cable - 10, Network (counting BBC) - 3. Networks — FX (6), AMC (4), HBO (3), Showtime (3), BBC (2), Netflix (1), CBS (1)
9. Justified, Season 5 (FX) — FX continues to churn out gold. With three shows in the 11-20 range, Justified is the first, but not the last, in the top 10. Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens and Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder is the best acting duo on television and when they get in scenes together it is always perfect television. The story was not as strong as it has been in a couple of seasons past, but the setup for the final season was great and has me sitting on the edge of my seat. With only one season to go, we are sure to get plenty of Givens vs. Crowder.
8. The Good Wife, Season 5 (CBS) — The Good Wife continues to be the class of network television and is the ONLY network show to make my Top 20 for the season. While it has a few dull and slow moments due to a network schedule of 22 episodes, the writing and acting keep it as a must see. For anyone who tries to watch all the great television that is on, it is hard to say that any other show delivered a bigger shock moment this season that The Good Wife. When the sheet is pulled back and Will Gardner is dead it changed the show suddenly, violently and shockingly. The problem is the show was just writing out an actor who wanted off in Josh Charles. They need to work hard to make it pay off and pitting Alicia (Julianna Margulies) against Cary (Matt Czuchry) in their battle for the direction they want to take their law firm is a good place to start. Still the best acting ensemble on television.
7. Masters of Sex, Season 1 (Showtime) — Wow. What a good show this became by the end of Season 1. Masters of Sex has an easy premise to hook viewers, but once hooked it is easy to realize that it is some of the best intrigue on television. Almost every character is easy to relate to in some way and the acting is superb, including the magnificent guest appearances by Allison Janney and Beau Bridges. But the real top notch here is Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan as Dr. Masters and Virginia Johnson. The two really do have a chemistry that never seems forced and is always gripping. The show might have some Emmy snubs because it airs in the summer, so far ahead of voting, but it should be in the running in multiple categories.
6. The Americans, Season 2 (FX) — This show has the potential to be the best on television by Season 3 or Season 4. Season 1 was good, but Season 2 ... just wow. It seems the showrunner and writers have realized that they have endless angles they can explore and at the heart of it all, the Jennings' love for each other and their "fake" marriage will always be able to carry the show. Noah Emmerich as Stan Beeman continues to be one of the best characters on television as we see his personal life keep him from seeing so much happening right before his eyes. And Annet Mahendru as Nina has really taken the show to new heights. But all that aside, the chemistry between Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys carries the show and could carry it to a number of Emmy nominations this year.
5. Game of Thrones, Season 4 (HBO) — Somehow, the slow pace of this show — the plodding of Daenerys and the White Walkers — the randomness of many events does not make it any less perfect. This show gets considerably better with age and we all will keep coming back for more, even as character after character is killed. The Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) storyline is the most underrated piece of excellent work on the small screen right now and a Kings Landing without Tywin Lannister surely has everyone salivating to see the circus in Season 5. But all that aside, the show-stealer on Game of Thrones continues to be Tyrion Lannister ... played so excellently by Peter Dinklage. His performance is going to have to fight for the Emmy it deserves, and he might not get it. But his regularly delivery and the emotion he is able to garner in each and every viewer is magnificent only a weekly basis.
4. Fargo, Season 1 (FX) — There were times when I thought this was the best show on television. The acting ensemble was pretty much untouchable, even by the great duo at the top of True Detective. Martin Freeman is simply laughably good at everything he does. Billy Bob Thornton is an Emmy lock. And Allison Tolman was still able to steal the show nearly every week. Without having the Coen Brothers directly involved, it seemed that almost every nook and cranny had their fingerprints all over it. Every single storyline came together perfectly and the show left us very happily fulfilled, but still wanting more. I feel guilty putting it as low as No. 4 on a list because it was just too good. But it will walk out with the Best Miniseries Emmy without much competition.
3. Mad Men, Season 7 Part I (AMC) — I fully admit that I have a huge thing for Mad Men. I think it might just be the best drama ever on television, so sometimes I might be blind to plotholes and other issues with the show. But the fact is this, right when I think they have something not going right, they will wrap it in a perfect bow. Mad Men does not compete on a season by season basis. It will plant stuff in Season 2 that it does not resolve or handle until Season 5. There has NEVER been a show as good at that as this (not even The Wire.) The first half of Season 7 was as almost as perfect as television gets and means that the second half will come hard looking for that Best Drama Emmy for a record fifth time. I can't see it pulling an upset on True Detective or Breaking Bad for the Emmy this year, but it just might be worthy.
2. True Detective, Season 1 (HBO) — Back when Breaking Bad wrapped in September, I declared that the Emmy's were over. Best Actor and Best Drama were locks for Breaking Bad ... then along came True Detective. While the ending seems to have left many people wanting a little more, the getting there was a fantastic season of twists and turns in the psyche of two great characters played by great actors. Matthew McConaughey could still pull off the Oscar/Emmy double this year, even though the show was unexpectedly entered in the Drama category to go head-to-head with Breaking Bad. It was not McConaughey, however, that made this show tick, that was the unbelievable performance of Woody Harrelson. The give and take between McConaughey's Rust Cohle and Harrelson's Marty Hart made the show perfect no matter how many times the script bounced from the past to the present. There were very few flaws in the show aside from a little bit of predictability and the overall ability to grab the viewers visceral emotions nearly every episode made it impossible to turn away from. The hush-hush on Season 2 (a completely new story set somewhere else) has only added to the allure as the Emmy voters filled out their ballots.
1. Breaking Bad, Season Five Part II (AMC) — It was a tough season to pull it off. Mad Men, True Detective, Fargo and others all produced some fantastic stories, but Breaking Bad pulled off a magnificent and satisfying final season that sends it off as the best show on television and one of the best Dramas to ever air. Vince Gilligan made it a little predictable at times, but all-in-all delivered a final season that very few viewers could complain about (paying attention Dexter?). Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul continued to push the envelope and have completely rewritten what viewers expect from actors on televisions top dramas. The death of Hank (Dean Norris) will likely earn Norris a deserved Supporting Actor nod and was probably the most emotional and memorable moment on television this year. And as the world caved in around Skylar, Anna Gunn sold every moment of devastation with fantastic acting. It might have wrapped up in a little too nice a bow, but overall, we could not have asked for a much better final season to one of the all-time greats.
Final Top 20 Tallies — Premium Cable - 7 (Counting Netflix), Basic Cable - 10, Network (counting BBC) - 3. Networks — FX (6), AMC (4), HBO (3), Showtime (3), BBC (2), Netflix (1), CBS (1)
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