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Decider’s Top 20 Shows Of 2019

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As the crest of the Peak TV wave begins to slowly crash, we’ll look back at the year 2019 and remember the extraordinary breadth of television shows that caught our interest. (Team Decider nominated 126 different shows that were worthy of inclusion on this list.) We’ll also, though, work overtime to try and forget the final season of the most popular show of the decade, Game Of Thrones, whose highly anticipated (and super duper expensive) final season proved to be a gigantic dud, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the cast of Lost were spotted in church.

We’re here today, though, to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. After tallying up our team’s individual ballots and hashing through the results, we’ve come up with this Top 20 list that runs the gamut from gut-busting network sitcoms (Superstore, The Good Place) to harrowing explorations of our legal system (When They See Us, Unbelievable), from a tender revisitation of the traumas we all endured in middle school (PEN15) to four-quadrant smash summer blockbuster (Stranger Things): This is the best that TV had to offer in the year 2019.

20

'The OA Part II' (Netflix)

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Photo: Nicola Goode/Netflix

How could Netflix cancel The OA after THAT cliffhanger?! While fans continue to fight for a Part III (the #SaveTheOA movement is strong, y’all), we still can cherish one of the most ambitious, provocative, and stunning works of art of the last decade. Creators and executive producers Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij managed to tie together the first season (a truly daunting task) while adding new dimension(s) to characters and subplots in Part II.  With an expansive supporting cast featuring the talents of Jason Isaacs, Phyllis Smith, Patrick Gibson, and newcomer Kingsley Ben-Adir, Marling remains the true star, anchoring the wild sci-fi series with a sincerity and grace both moving and mesmerizing.—Karen Kemmerle

Stream The OA on Netflix

19

'I Think You Should Leave With Tim Robinson' (Netflix)

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Photo: Netflix

I Think You Should Leave is a series that every sketch comedy fan will enjoy. Tim Robinson’s incisive comedic mind delivers at least one brilliant sketch per episode— the Garfield house, Laser Spine Specialists, and the terrific hot dog car crash bit are three of my personal favorites —  and you can stream the entire six-episode season in less than two hours. If you’re looking for a fresh alternative to Saturday Night Live, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is for you.—Josh Sorokach

Stream I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson on Netflix

18

'Superstore' (NBC)

Superstore - Season 4
Tyler Golden/NBC

Despite consistently being one of the best sitcoms on TV, Superstore—a workplace comedy starring America Ferrera and Ben Feldman as employees at a big box store retail corporation—continues to fly under the radar. Perhaps that low profile helped allow showrunners Gabe Miller and Jonathan Green to make Season 5 one of its best—and most radical—seasons yet. From Mateo battling ICE to Jonah rallying employees behind a union push, it’s so blatantly anti-capitalist I fear for the writers’ NBC contracts even as I cheer from my living room couch. I mean, this is a network sitcom calling out exploitative labor practices. That’s a big deal! The best part? It’s genuinely funny, every single episode.—Anna Menta

Stream Superstore on Hulu

17

'Tuca & Bertie' (Netflix)

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Photo: Netflix

Every moment of Lisa Hanawalt’s animated comedy about birdie besties was a blessing. That topless plant lady, pep talks about rompers and promotions, Speckle’s perfectly frameable face — all of it was as lovingly strange as it was emotionally poignant. Through its silly turtle adventures and its heart-breaking examination of sexual assault, no other show has better captured the unrelenting love, support, and complicated tension that accompanies female friendship. Ali Wong and Tiffany Haddish were practically made to embody best friendships everywhere. That this beautifully thoughtful Netflix original was canceled after only 10 episodes remains one of the biggest TV missteps of the year.—Kayla Cobb

Stream Tuca & Bertie on Netflix

16

'Below Deck Mediterranean' (Bravo)

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Photo: Bravo

Below Deck Mediterranean is not just the perfect summer show: it’s perfect for all seasons. The Bravo series about crew members working, flirting, and fighting on an expensive boat, all while they navigate crazy charter guests is the right mix of drama, comedy, and adventure. Season 4 this year included the highlights of Jack and Aesha’s wacky relationship, the high-stakes game of duck duck goose it took to finally find the perfect chef (Hi Ben!), and of course, the catchphrase of 2019: June, June Hannah?—Lea Palmieri

Stream Below Deck Med on Bravo Now

15

'When They See Us' (Netflix)

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Photo: Netflix

Netflix’s four-part miniseries When They See Us chronicles the true story of Central Park Five—five black and Latino teens who were wrongfully convicted of raping a white woman in 1989—and it’s just as much a masterful epic as Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. DuVernary, who co-wrote and directed every episode leads you on a terrible, almost unbearable journey of injustice and racism. Jharrel Jerome, who won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, takes it home in the final episode with one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful performances of the year.—Anna Menta

Stream When They See Us on Netflix

14

'GLOW' (Netflix)

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Photo: Netflix

A fourth season of Netflix’s excellent wrestling comedy/drama GLOW was far from a sure bet, but after the stellar third, Las Vegas set season, I’m sure glad we’ll be getting some resolution. Though Season 3 was less flashy than seasons one and two, mostly eschewing the frenemy relationship between Ruth (Alison Brie) and Debbie (Betty Gilpin) to focus on the expanded cast and other plotlines, these two incredible actresses provided the backbone for a season that was funnier, deeper, and took its time building out relationships and character arcs — particularly Sheila’s (Gayle Rankin), which ended in one of the most cathartic moments ever committed to film. From a phenomenal episode set all in the desert to a sweet, sad “Christmas Special,” GLOW continues (thank goodness) to be one of the best shows on TV.—Alex Zalben

Stream GLOW on Netflix

13

'PEN15' (Hulu)

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Photo: Hulu

Is it too much to ask every Hulu subscriber to watch Pen15? Produced by The Lonely Island, the comedy stars Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle as awkward, confused middle-school versions of themselves. The duo, who also serve as writers and producers, perfectly capture the nostalgia of the early 2000s, as well as the anxieties that plague teenage girls of any decade. In a year of strong female-driven comedies, Pen15 stands out as a must-watch reflection on friendship and self-identity.—Claire Spellberg

Stream PEN15 on Hulu

12

'The Good Place' (NBC)

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Photo: NBC

After a careful start to The Good Place‘s final season, things have ramped up considerably as the Soul Squad finally faced the imminent destruction (or at least, rebooting) of the world. Already sweet and funny, the afterlife comedy doubled down on its core relationship — Eleanor (Kristen Bell) and Chidi (William Jackson Harper) — making ‘shippers’ hearts go all a-flutter. As usual, though, it was the tenderness with which it treats its main cast (particularly in a mock funeral focused episode) that makes the show special, thrilling, and laugh out loud funny. — Alex Zalben

Stream The Good Place on Hulu

11

'Unbelievable' (Netflix)

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Photo: Netflix

Netflix’s Unbelievable is the anti-true crime “true crime” show. While most crime dramas lean on the crisp trappings of procedure or the glamour of style, Unbelievable stripped its story down to the bare, brutal bolts. The show starts with the victim, a troubled teen named Marie (a phenomenal Kailtyn Dever) whose story of being raped by an intruder is discredited by some patronizing police officers, and the show never lets us forget her. Unlike other crime dramas that make a game of the mystery or obsess over the psychology of the criminal, Unbelievable devoted itself to the heroes and survivors of sexual assault. Merrit Wever and Toni Collette’s detective duo don’t get their guy because they’re narcissistic geniuses, but because they’re imperfect people working doggedly in pursuit of justice.—Meghan O’Keefe

Stream Unbelievable on Netflix

10

'Stranger Things' (Netflix)

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Photo: Netflix

The summer movie season was kind of a bust for people that weren’t into superheroes or talking, photorealistic CG lions. That’s why we were eternally grateful for Netflix dropping Stranger Things 3 on July 4th and bringing blockbuster spectacle into our living rooms. Stranger Things 3 was fun in a way that shows are often nervous about. This was a season of TV that gave us a mall makeover montage, a body-snatchers plot, a Slurpee-lovin’ Russian operative, a big ol’ blood spider, and a superfluous but giddy cover of the Neverending Story theme. This emotional and bonkers season reminded us why we fell in love with the kids of Hawkins in the first place.—Brett White

Stream Stranger Things on Netflix

9

'Barry' (HBO)

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HBO

After an unforgettable first season, Barry came back darker, stranger and somehow even funnier in season two. Everyone’s favorite assassin-turned-aspiring-actor grew even more tortured as he tried to evade capture, save his loved ones, avoid being bested by an insane father-daughter duo (Shout out to “ronny/lily” as the television episode of 2019!), train the Chechen mafia in battle, and work on his craft. Phew! Season Two boasted one of the strongest supporting casts on television with Henry Winkler, Stephen Root, Anthony Carrigan and a sublime Sarah Goldberg all receiving Emmy nominations for their work.—Karen Kemmerle

Stream Barry on HBO Go or HBO Now

8

'Watchmen' (HBO)

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Photo: HBO

More than anything else, HBO’s Watchmen is a heady human drama that roots its flying machines, terrorist plots, and eccentric trillionaire characters in real honest emotion. The show isn’t merely compelling because it’s slick, bold, and dangerous — which it is. Watchmen is sensational because it never forgets that humans are behind those masks. Humans with lovers, children, pain, regret, and most of all, inherited trauma.

Watchmen is a spectacular show about broken people trying to fix their world, but it’s also a show unafraid to pick its own fights. Bold, breathtaking, and polarizing, Watchmen is a triumph.—Meghan O’Keefe

7

'The Righteous Gemstones' (HBO)

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Photo: HBO

The Righteous Gemstones hit HBO like a bolt of lightning, sent down by Danny McBride to scorch the Earth of all false idols. This satirical sermon exposed the seedy side of modern evangelism, all one-percenter flash and social-media-ready come to Jesus moments. But The Righteous Gemstones was way more than a Southern fried crime story set in the mega churches and shopping malls of America: it was also damn funny. This is the show that gave us Walton Goggins’ brilliantly conceived and executed Uncle Baby Billy, let Edi Patterson tear things up as an Emmy-ready force of nature, and dropped the song of the year in “Misbehavin’.”Brett White

Stream The Righteous Gemstones on HBO Go or HBO Now

6

'Schitt's Creek' (Pop TV)

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Photo: Netflix
Much like a fine wine, Schitt’s Creek just keeps getting better with age. Always a fan favorite, the fifth season of Pop TV’s explosively funny comedy finally earned some well-deserved critical acclaim as the series received a slew of Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor (Eugene Levy), and Outstanding Lead Actress (Catherine O’Hara). A deft mix of smart humor, brilliant acting, and heartwarming character development (David and Patrick’s relationship, Stevie’s Cabaret performance), Schitt’s Creek continues to be the most emotionally gratifying comedy on television.—Josh Sorokach

Stream Schitt's Creek on Pop TV

5

'Euphoria' (HBO)

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Photo: HBO

If you spent most of the running time of Sam Levinson’s Euphoria focusing on the wild visuals, obscene amounts of body glitter, and raw sexuality, that’s fine, I guess. But like how nearly every single character on the show was wearing a mask of some sort or another, whether it was Rue’s (Zendaya) hoodie and baggy clothes, or Kat’s (Barbie Ferreira) actual cat mask, the series’s flash purposefully obscured the beating heart — and hurt — lurking underneath. No show since the UK’s version of Skins (with which Euphoria definitely shares some significant DNA) has effectively captured the raw, pure emotion of being a teenager on screen. In particular, the relationship between Rue and Jules (Hunter Schafer) was one of the most electrically charged love stories on TV this year, or any year. Filled with iconic, original characters, scenes that defy categorization, and several career-defining performances, a second season of Euphoria can’t get here soon enough.—Alex Zalben

Stream Euphoria on HBO Go or HBO Now

4

'Chernobyl' (HBO)

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Photo: HBO

Rarely has a show felt as simultaneously essential and devastating as Craig Mazin’s five-part Chernobyl. Every detail, from the ill-fitting clothes of the 1980s Soviet Union to Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson’s superbly subtle acting, was intentionally constructed to authentically portray this disaster. But what transformed Chernobyl from good to great storytelling was its restraint. No matter what horror the show depicted the real story of this nuclear disaster was always far worse. From its first moments this HBO miniseries sought to glorify the brave men and women who risked their lives to contain this potentially world-ending monstrosity. Chernobyl more than accomplished that feat.—Kayla Cobb

Stream Chernobyl on HBO Go or HBO Now

3

'Succession' (HBO)

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Photo: HBO

Unlike its first season, which got off to an undeniably slow start, Succession’s sophomore run was a non-stop thrill ride — a veritable sh*t show at the f*ck factory — and I loved every second of it. With its spot-on writing, exceptional performances, and one VERY powerful bob, the HBO drama inspires a visceral reaction among viewers, even (and especially) those who find every single character repugnant. Kudos, Succession. No show on television can make me vacillate between extreme disgust, joy, embarrassment, and excitement quite like you.—Claire Spellberg

Stream Succession on HBO Go or HBO Now

2

'Russian Doll' (Netflix)

Russian Doll
Photo: Everett Collection

Russian Doll is irrefutably cool. Possessing an envious swagger most shows would kill to possess, the sophisticated Netflix comedy from the unassailable comedy troika of Leslye Headland, Natasha Lyonne, and Amy Poehler is an absolute blast. Starring the aforementioned Lyonne as a cynical New Yorker who keeps dying only to repeatedly return to her 36th birthday party (“Sweet birthday baaaaby!”), the series is a deft blend of humor, philosophy, and existential dread, but like, in a fun way. Number two on our list but number one in our hearts, the first season can be devoured in about three and a half hours, making Russian Doll the perfect weekend binge. — Josh Sorokach

1

'Fleabag' (Amazon Prime Video)

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Amazon

When Phoebe Waller-Bridge brought the first season of Fleabag to Prime Video, it was a refreshingly candid look at the inner life of a bad millennial feminist. However, Season 2 not only managed to top the show’s incandescent first season, but it became a cultural phenomenon. Fans were sporting the “Fleabag jumpsuit” and crushing on Andrew Scott’s “Hot Priest.” But what makes Fleabag the best show of the year is the fact that it’s a modern masterpiece. Juggling the pain of grief, the ecstasy of love, the frustrations of modern feminism, and some truly divine sister drama, Fleabag is as close to an honest portrait of the human heart as we’re likely to get. Hilarious, brutal, and ultimately transcendent, Fleabag is the best show of 2019.—Meghan O’Keefe

Stream Fleabag on Amazon Prime