Last week, The Movie Sleuth explored some of the best
films of the 2010’s. Following suit,
here are ten of the best television series of the decade, along with a few
honorable mentions.
Rectify
Featuring an unforgettable ensemble cast, Rectify
is a slow burn humanistic journey from the brink of despair into the heart of
morality and forgiveness. After DNA
evidence sets a convicted murderer free, he sets about trying to reintegrate into
a normal life. What makes this show so
special is its intentionally slow pace and its absolute refusal to allow for
any sort simplistic closure or “ah hah” moment.
This is a heartbreaking, life affirming, truly remarkable
experience.
Legion
Without a doubt, Noah Hawley’s brilliant superhero origin
story is the of one of the best things born from our spandex overlords' newly
cemented reign. Wildly stylish,
terrifying, and mind-blowing virtually all at the same time, there is, almost
nothing quite like this show. Featuring
psychic dance competitions, silent film horror vignettes, and mature, boundary
pushing subject matter, Legion is top tier small screen bravura.
Atlanta
If art is a reflection of our times, Atlanta is
the looking glass inverted, shining a dangerous light into the horror of the nightmare
that modern America has become. Donald
Glover/Childish Gambino’s approach to complex issues is nuanced and plays out
over each episode in unexpected ways.
Featuring extremely well-developed characters and the infamous (ly amazing)
Teddy Perkins episode, Atlanta is perhaps the most important show
on this list.
Reprisal
The best surprise of 2019, Hulu’s Reprisal is a creatively
flawed madhouse. Focusing on a female
revenge plot, the story takes places in a world outside of time with flip
phones, unique rituals, and wars that never happened. Neon soaked sets abound while dueling gangs
of bikers and muscle car thugs play out in a city known only as The River. Abigail Spencer’s towering central performance
is only overshadowed by the ambition of the series that (mostly) works
throughout the first season’s 10 episodes.
Hannibal
The mere existence of this show; an existential,
artistically focused, homoerotic serial killer epic, is a miracle, considering
it debuted on a major network and not a premium channel. Regardless, Mads Mikkelson’s unforgettable turn
as the infamous (but reimagined) Hannibal Lecter is one of the best performances
of the decade. Beyond this, however, is a
traumatizing amalgam of brutal violence and awe inducing aesthetic.
Twin
Peaks: The Return
David Lynch’s 18 hour magnum opus was recently named the
#1 film of the year by Cahiers du Cinema.
Debuting on Showtime in 2017, one of the best things about the event is
in how it subverts viewers’ expectations, with much of the action (and lack
thereof) transpiring in different locations throughout time. A loving homage to the magic of hindsight,
Lynch’s monumental achievement is also a potent reminder that obsession, be it
with fandoms, morality, or closure, is a finicky god in a world where there is
no religion.
Watchmen
Another miracle born of the MCU’s rise to pop cultural
ascendancy, Damon Lindelof’s imaginative sequel to Alan Moore’s definitive classic
is pure perfection. It is perhaps the
only cinematic member of the Watchmen universe that truly understands
its source material while simultaneously also understanding the diseased heart
of America all too well. Taking place in
an alternate future, after the finale of the original graphic novel, the series
explores a complex murder investigation that spans across time and space.
Z
Nation
The Walking Dead has become an embarrassing shadow of
what made the comics so great. An
endless slog of melodrama and downright meanness mixed with frustrating writing
decisions. The remedy? Syfy’s absolutely insane Z Nation. What begins as a (admittedly) cheesy satire
in the first season slowly transitions to one of the best shot series of the century.
How this scrappy cast and crew are able to take such a laughable premise (It’s
the Zombie Apocalypse with Viagra dosed walking corpses, Juggalo Killers, etc.)
and turn it into a genuine reflection on family and loyalty is one of life’s
great mysteries. In addition, a prequel
series (also directed by the amazing John Hyams) Black Summer is
currently streaming on Netflix, though its tone is 100% in the opposite direction.
The
Leftovers
A profound achievement, Damon Lindelof’s dreamlike epic is a
beautiful reflection on life, love, and conviction. Based on Tom Stoppard’s novel, the story
begins after 2% of the world’s population mysteriously vanishes. What follows is three seasons of heart
wrenching character development, apocalyptic omens, and surreal near-death
experiences. There has never been anything
so organically human committed to the small screen.
Justified
Graham Yost’s neo-western is one of the greatest artistic
achievements of the century. Bringing the
lawman gunslinger archetype into the 2010’s is an interesting choice, and
Timothy Olyphant’s legendary Raylan Givens is more than capable. Focusing on the criminal underworld of Kentucky,
Raylan faces against neo-nazis, crooked businessmen, bluegrass gangsters, and
most importantly: himself. This is a
show that is not only about the death of the ideals that created a country, but
also the final breaths of an age that may have never existed in the first
place.
Honorable
Mentions
Fargo,
Fleabag, The Americans, Russian Doll, Mr. Robot
--Kyle Jonathan