There is Too much TV in the world. This year alone there were more than 400 scripted series on the air, according to Variety, and who knows how many more reality and documentary shows. Also, I am just one person. Sure, I would love to do nothing but watch television, but then I would have no free time and I probably still wouldn’t be able to watch everything. There are plenty of shows that are possibly among the best of the year that I just haven’t seen (looking at you Game of Thrones and Fargo) and just as many that I love because they’re so trashy and ridiculous they aren’t making the cut (Married at First Sight, any iteration of the Real Housewives franchise, every competitive cooking show). But sitting down and reflecting on what’s been on the air (or Internet) from January 1, 2015, until now, these are the shows that stood out.
Fox tried to bring this drama stateside, but even with David Tennant reprising his role as the lead detective investigating the murder of a small child, it just didn’t catch on. It did, however, attract some curiosity about the British source material, which aired its second season this year. The first season ends (without giving too much away) with the capture of the murderer of an 11-year-old; the second season follows the trial, which seems like it’ll be a drag but is more compelling than anything from season one, thanks to some extraordinary performances and fascinating character development.
Empire (Fox)
Speaking of chilling villains, here’s Robert Durst—except he’s a real person. It’s rare to have the kind of access to a psychopath that Andrew Jarecki had for his true-crime documentary series. Proving that truth is stranger than fiction, Jarecki delves into a real-life murder mystery that is hard to turn away from, full of bizarre details and invasive, though compelling and revealing, moments with beady-eyed Durst and his burps heard round the world.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
