‘Mr Robot’ – Brook Wentz
Hopefully you’ve heard about Mr Robot by now. It’s definitely gained the attention of many TV connoisseurs out there. But even if it’s already on your radar, I want to make one final push to bump it up your to-watch list.
Mr Robot focuses on the life of Elliot Alderson. He’s a computer hacker with seriously compromised social skills, stuck in a self fulfilling prophesy of constant isolation — a trope we’re all pretty used to hearing by now. But what Mr Robot does to combat this cliché is that it elevates the trope to such a high quality, in such a unique way, that you’re never too certain about anything. No spoilers, but Elliot has some serious mental health issues. And his status as an unreliable narrator keeps audiences on their toes and in constant suspense.
Related: How to talk your friends into watching Mr. Robot, summer’s best new show
While telling this fantastically intriguing story, Mr Robot is doing a thousand other compelling things as well. It’s holding a millennial lens over race, sexuality, sexual identity, friendship, entrepreneurial navigation, duty, self identity… but it never does these things in an overt or tasteless way. It simply holds moments up as examples, defining this generation’s natural view of the world without pointing at it and declaring some sort of stance.
Two tips for watching this show: Don’t binge watch it. It’s a show for savoring and thinking on. It’s too rich to be consumed and appreciated all at once. However, if you do insist on binge watching it, promise that you’ll give it a rewatch as well. You’ll pick up so much more the second time around. Plus, with a second viewing you’ll have a much different perspective on everything as well. So honestly it’s worth a rewatch whether you binge or not.
‘Narcos’ – Katie Awad
Despite hearing only positive things about Narcos, I was a little apprehensive. The constant comparisons to Breaking Bad were somewhat off-putting. I loved Breaking Bad, so how could something that’s so much like it be that good? The truth is, although there are similar elements between the two, like a drug cartel plot line and an ambiguously moral leader, the comparisons stop there.
Narcos is based on the true story of drug lord Pablo Escobar, and the growing distribution of cocaine across the world. If you’re already familiar with Escobar’s escapades, you’ll notice that many of the events in the show are indeed directly pulled from what actually happened.
In a clever creative touch, the show even uses actual footage of Escobar and various events that transpired over the years. It’s a wonderfully subtle way to constantly remind you that what you’re watching is in fact true, even when it seems like it’s just television dramatization.
The characters are generally unlikeable and unsympathetic, but that’s part of the appeal. Episode upon episode is exciting, with so many surprises you’ll give up trying to predict what’s next. It’s definitely a show you’ll want to binge-watch, so try and start when you have a couple of hours free.
‘Blindspot’ – Jennifer Lamoureux
In a Fall TV landscape filled with action shows and the next big thing, Blindspot stood out from the rest. One part Memento, one part Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and a dash of Jason Bourne, Blindspot takes the crime drama to a whole new level.
Jane Doe is discovered, naked in a bag, in Times Square with an FBI agent’s named tattooed on her body. As the story unfolds, each episodes relies on a tattoo as the key to solve the case.
Related: Why we need more shows like Blindspot
The bigger mystery is: Who is Jane Doe really? There are hints that she is an ex-SEAL, although there is no record of her. Or could she be Agent Weller’s long-ago kidnapped friend?
Blindspot makes you think, and just when one question is answered, several more take its place, and you find yourself trying to solve the puzzle of the tattoos along with the characters. The story is well written and intriguing, the secondary characters have depth. Jane Doe is skilfully played by Jamie Alexander, who is at times both a badass, and a woman completely lost.
‘Supergirl’ – Caitlin Kelly
Supergirl is the superhero show we needed, and for more than one reason. Most obvious is its feminism. The show is populated with women who are strong in different ways. We also have women dealing with problems that everyday women face both personally and professionally.
And the show isn’t shy about its feminism. While some complaints have said the show is too over the top with its feminism, I wonder why that’s a bad thing. Why is celebrating women something to complain about? How often do we get to see that in pop culture?
Related: Supergirl winter finale recap: Astra attacks
Another thing that makes Supergirl stand out from its fellow superhero series is its tone. While dark and gritty may rule the day for most superhero stories, Supergirl is bright and shiny. Its titular heroine wears primary colors and flies around the city in broad daylight. She is on the cover of magazines. The show seeks to fill its audience with hope and optimism, and that’s something we could all do with a little more of.
Supergirl may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the fact that Kara is starring in her own television series on the highest rated television network is a huge deal.
‘The Whispers’ – Kristen Kranz
The best new show of 2015 is one that will not see a season 2. That’s right. It’s already been cancelled, and most people probably didn’t even know it was airing. The Whispers was an awesome show that ran this summer on ABC, and was loosely based on a short story written by Ray Bradbury titled, “Zero Hour.”
The show was a thrilling tale of an invisible enemy that used the children of the world as his puppets. He would enter their lives as a friend, then manipulate them to do things they wouldn’t normally do. Their parents, some of which worked for the FBI, spent most of the show trying to keep this alien presence from whatever its goal seemed to be. It wasn’t until the finale that we learned exactly what Drill had planned.
Related: The Whispers officially cancelled by ABC: Our solemn goodbye
The show was equal parts thrilling and moving, and had one of the most original concepts I’ve seen on television in years. The invisible enemy allowed them to save the budget most sci-fi shows spend on special effects and use it to shoot with a talented cast on incredible locations and use practical, realistic effects. The impact of flickering lights to announce the villain’s presence was staggeringly effective, and I still get chills today when my lights flicker for no apparent reason.
I’m still bitter that The Whispers won’t be seeing a season 2, mostly because the show ended on such a shocking high note. They didn’t wimp out with their finale, despite not knowing whether or not there would be more episodes ordered. They went for it, didn’t pull any punches, and the emotional impact of the show hit you square in the gut every time. The Whispers is the best new show of the year, and it shouldn’t be forgotten.
‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ – Selina Wilken
Once upon a time, I watched a lot of TV. Then life happened, and now I keep up with exactly one show (The 100) a week. So I love these limited series that I can binge whenever I happen to have a couple of days off. Luckily (?), earlier this year I found myself bedridden for a week, and what better show to watch when you’re sick than Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt? I absolutely devoured it — and then moved on to Agent Carter, my unofficial fave (since Natalie grabbed that one already).
I have to say, I didn’t unconditionally love Kimmy Schmidt like others seemed to. I didn’t find it hysterically funny, nor did I think it was unproblematic in its various portrayals of women, etc. But I honestly don’t care, because I was so into it.
I loved Kimmy (played by the ever-lovely Ellie Kemper), her optimism was infectious, and I just fell straight into her bubbly, over-enthusiastic world. Maybe it was the sickness talking, but the show was just magical. Uncomplicated and silly in a way that few sitcoms these days manage to be. (Without incurring scorn and instant cancellation, that is. RIP Selfie, I’ll never forget you.)
But to be completely, 100% honest? Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is my favorite show of the year because of the theme song. I effing love that theme song.
‘Agent Carter’ – Natalie Fisher
ABC and Marvel answered the prayers of anyone with good taste by giving Hayley Atwell her own platform in which to showcase the inimitable Peggy Carter, one of Marvel’s finest female characters.
Inspired by the fervent response to the 15 minute Marvel One-Shot, Agent Carter follows Peggy’s work at the SSR in the years immediately following the “death” of Captain America. After serving as a highly respected agent in WWII, Peggy finds herself facing the same struggle that many women did after the war — that their power was only temporary, and that most men would like them to step down and get back in their place.
Related: New Agent Carter season 2 preview takes Peggy on a new adventure
This show combines two of my greatest loves — Captain America and period dramas — but even without the emotional ties to Steve Rogers’ life, Peggy’s story stands on its own that of an ultra-competent yet deeply relatable woman dealing with grief but not letting it define her, fighting for independence and equality, and cleaning up the messes of men.
The addition of Dominic Cooper’s caddish Howard Stark and his long-suffering butler Edwin Jarvis supply Peggy with a couple of allies who know her value, and through the Agent Carter lens, Steve was basically fridged to further Peggy’s journey, which is a nice subversive little twist on the superhero genre.
Agent Carter is the only show of 2015 where I found myself re-watching the previous episode every single week before starting the brand new one — partly so that I’m 100% sure I haven’t missed anything, but mostly because every second I get to spend with Peggy is precious. I’m counting down the days until season 2.
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