Listmania: The Best Shows of 2015

Chris Pratt in Parks and Recreation
With the passing of another year is another great year of TV. In 2015, there was a strong mixture of new series, returning favorites, and finales for some of the most influential. This installment is meant to highlight 20 TV series that made a difference over the past year and definitely deserve to be remembered for everything that they did right. So join in as the commentary explains why you should have been watching these shows week-to-week (or in the case of Netflix: hour to hour) and should definitely catch up on them if you haven't been doing so.


Scene from You're the Worst
1. You're the Worst (FXX)

After making a wave last year, Stephan Falk's romantic comedy satirizing series took a large jab at exploring maturity in its second season. Largely thanks to a phenomenal performance by Aya Cash, the show managed to not only get funnier and more experimental, but it also got more personal in tragic ways. It's a comedy series that's unafraid to hit hard, and its last few episodes rank among some of the most bittersweet moments on TV in any genre. So whether it be the amazing direction from "Spooky Sunday Funday" or the simplicity of "There is Currently Not a Problem Here," the show has elevated the potential of the medium without sacrificing any of its quality. One can only hope that it continues to surprise in the third season, even if it seems difficult to think of anything as richly satisfying as that of "LCD Soundsystem."

Scene from Fargo
2. Fargo (FX)

In 2014, there was a battle between True Detective and Fargo to see which show would be the best anthology series on TV. While the early favorite was True Detective, Fargo came out stronger in 2015 with one of the best seasons of TV period. Not only did it enrich the world of a homespun murder story, but it managed to do the impossible by slamming in countless Coen Brothers movie references into one perplexing package. If this wasn't the most engaging drama week-to-week since Breaking Bad, then there's definitely something flawless and amazing out there that I've missed. With dark humor, visual excellence, and a catchy soundtrack, this is the epitome of what TV dramas could be in 2015, and one can only hope that creator Noah Hawley finds a way to continue his run of good luck with season three.

Scene from Mad Men
3. Mad Men (AMC)

It was the show that launched a prestige network. After seven seasons, it ended with one of the most controversial finales in history. For those that loved the 60's and everything that Don Draper embodied, there was no better send-off than the final run of episodes that attempted to bring everything not to a close, but to a satisfying resolution. There's a lot to adore about Mad Men, especially in the nearly flawless "Lost Horizon" episode, where Peggy gets her last hurrah while skating around the empty lot of Sterling Cooper's once lively offices as Roger Sterling played "Hi Lili, Hi Lo" on a piano. The brief season was packed with the familiar great direction and writing that the series has always had. It will especially be missed, if just because AMC needs to find another drama that carried the same punch. They have tried, but haven't been lucky thus far.

Scene from The Leftovers
4. The Leftovers (HBO)

The end of season one saw The Leftovers practically reboot itself upon burning up the town. With season two, things only got crazier as the show willingly explored depression and death among the gated community of Paradise. Not only was it a chance for new beginnings, but a chance to make for some fascinating existential TV that involved mysterious ghosts and a surreal portrait of purgatory that was at times a reference to HBO alumni The Sopranos. No matter what, the show was emotionally complex and rich in ways that were far more satisfying this time around. There has not been an episode on TV as emotionally draining as "No Room For the Inn," where a series of obstacles lead to a depressing look at the power of sacrifice. The rest of the show is great, but hearing Regina Spektor play over the closing moments may very well be the moment to beat for 2015.

Scene from Last Week Tonight
5. Last Week Tonight (HBO)

It's a concept that should not work as well as it does. John Oliver's show is one man practically ranting for 30 minutes straight about the world. Thankfully, Oliver's writers are especially good at their job and the mix of humor and news makes for something fascinating and unique. However, the show continues to be relevant beyond its gags. Many of its segments turn into viral videos that crowd Monday morning news traffic. Beyond that, Oliver's prankish attitudes have resulted in several exciting results, including picking feuds with international leaders, interviewing Edward Snowden (yes, that one), and even starting his own church (Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption). The show is the most entertaining way to look at how screwed up the world is, and one can only imagine that it will continue to surprise in 2016.

Scene from The Knick
6. The Knick (Cinemax)

The world of 1900's medicine is a scary place. Thankfully, Steven Soderbergh is fascinated by it and his work on The Knick has created some of the most beautifully repulsive TV of the year. With a cast lead by Clive Owen, the second season only delved deeper into the conflicts of surgery with more grueling results. What's even more impressive than its constantly top notch cinematography, soundtrack, and acting is the prosthetic. I highly suggest listening to The Knick Podcast (available on iTunes) to accompany each episode, as they go into detail of how various props were created to make the disgusting surgeries look believable. Of course, the show is just a wonderful creation all unto its own, and whose finale features one of the most intense images ever to grace the screen in 2015. I'd tell you, but I won't. Not because it's a spoiler, but because it will give you nightmares. Still, this show is a masterpiece in rewriting what a medical drama can be.

Scene from Master of None
7. Master of None (Netflix)

In a year where Netflix dominated the market with impressive new shows, it's rather surprising that the show to beat ended up being Aziz Ansari's comedy series about the Indian-American 30-something experience. Not only is it among the funniest work that he has done, but it's among the most poignant and rich in commentary. Episodes like "Parents" and "Indians on TV" were so popular that they started discussions online. The show is inevitably a sweet creation that packs plenty of punches that range from high concepts to very silly and mundane relationship things. Still, the show works because it's true to itself and manages to hold meaning. One can only hope that Ansari manages to continue his winning streak with a season two.

Scene from Halt and Catch Fire
8. Halt and Catch Fire (AMC)

I love this series despite its first season flaws. While the show took some time to find its voice, the second season came out strong with one of the best dramas of the year. It was more focused on the upstart of a tech company and the various struggles that it faces. There were interesting plots as each character became more focused, especially the dynamic between Mackenzie Davis and Kerry Bishe. More than any other show, this AMC underdog perfectly fills the shoes left by Mad Men in its ability to mix drama with era appropriate atmosphere. Even then, it's a show full of charisma and personality that is brilliantly ambitious and is more deserving of attention than its low recognition would suggest.

Tituss Burgess
9. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)

Welcome back, Tina Fey. Oh how we have missed you. Despite the show being rejected by major networks, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt ended up becoming one of the most immediately satisfying new series of 2015. Largely thanks to Ellie Kemper and Tituss Burgess, the show's sporadic sensibilities made the show immediately gratifying and deserving of rewatching. There's a good chance that there's still jokes that haven't even been recognized after that. The show may have a ways to go before it's 30 Rock great, but it was definitely no slouch in its first outing. More than any other show, it's the most genuinely funny show of the year.

10. The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)

Considering how rarely I discuss late night talk shows, it may seem bizarre to put one in my Top 10 for the year. However, the retirement of David Letterman feels like the dawning of an era for me. No more will there be a cantankerous host in prime late night spots to harass guests and prank anyone who comes within its radius. Still, Letterman's farewell is one that reminded audiences why he was an important and charismatic presence for over 30 years. There's something overwhelming about remember the finale, not only because it marked the end of the series - but because of The Foo Fighters playing "Everlong" over decades of images; bringing back intense memories. It's tough to say goodbye to an icon, and thankfully Letterman did so on his terms in the familiar cranky way. His style will definitely be missed.

11. Rick and Morty (Adult Swim)

It's incredible that this show manages to work as well as it does. For a show that is essentially a crass parody of Back to the Future, it manages to find so much heart and development underneath monologues about testicles by Werner Herzog. One of the show's biggest attributes is its ability to constantly be quotable and fun. Even then, episodes such as the Tiny Rick one featured a complex balance of debauchery and a desire to grow up. The series isn't afraid to embrace the bittersweet sometimes, creating a dichotomy that seems to be rich in TV nowadays (especially in counterpart BoJack Horseman). Still, who knew the show about time travel and homicidal creatures could be the sweetest of them all?

Scene from Togetherness
12. Togetherness (HBO)

The Duplass Brothers started 2015 off on a high note with this series about 40-somethings. Featuring the duo's indie sensibilities, the comedy series managed to find the simple joys of being parents to young children and trying to find ambition in those last moments of relevance. The show could be crass, but it was also sweet and featured a certain kinship among its characters. So whether it was air drumming to Rush's "Tom Sawyer," or playing kick the can, the show managed to be the perfect antidote to HBO's other indie-style comedies Girls and Togetherness. In a lot of ways, it was more successful simply by being one of a kind. In another way, it was better simply for its uncomfortable use of nudity (yes, older people can be naked, too), which fuels one of the most memorable moments of the show's early run. Here's hoping that The Duplass Brothers continue to have some inspired fuel for whatever comes next.

Scene from Louie
13. Louie (FX)

If the last season of Louie was too high concept, then his latest was the perfect return to the form. With his shortest episode order to date, Louis C.K. managed to focus more exclusively on the things that made his show work while exploring the surrealism that made his later episodes intriguing. Thankfully, the results are perfectly balanced and show the troubled comedian continuing to grow in interesting ways. However, there's very little chance that anyone was ready for "Untitled," an episode that took us into the world of C.K.'s nightmares of donut-shaped genitals and strange, faceless men. The cast as usual was very strong, especially thanks to full time assistance from Pamela Adlon. While it will be awhile before we see him again, one can hope that he continues to be this weird and personal.

14. BoJack Horseman (Netflix)

Last year saw BoJack Horseman come out of nowhere to be the perfect show for the streaming service's binge-watching audience. Its mixture of Hollywood commentary and manic depressive subtext was the perfect fit for the increasingly bleak dramas. The only difference is that the show managed to embrace the absurdity straight on. In the second season, things got weirder and featured more guest stars (including Paul McCartney of all people), which only helps its status as the best short about a depressed horseman. With a great cast and a solid story, season two was a good continuation on its themes and motivations. It may not have the same shock value as season one, but thankfully it has the heart and background gags to spare.

Jonathan Banks
15. Better Call Saul (AMC)

It is very difficult to top the unexpected success of Breaking Bad. The series not only helped to make AMC what it is, but it gave us one of the most riveting dramas in TV history with some of the best performances to boot. Even if Better Call Saul has yet to achieve the caliber of its predecessor, it's easy to see fleeting moments throughout the series that promise an intriguing take on the lawyer drama genre. Bob Odenkirk is great in his lead role and the slow incorporation of Jonathan Banks works just fine. Even if it has a ways to go before it could even be considered as good as its original series, it at least can admit that it's done some nifty work, especially in "Five-O" where Banks gives one of his most iconic performances since "Half Measures."

Left to right: Nick Offerman and Amy Poehler
16. Parks and Recreation (NBC)

Truthfully, this Amy Poehler series started to wane a few seasons back and was always inconsistent in week-to-week quality. However, by some some miracle, the final season managed to lure everything into one unique mix of the show's various highlights. The final season featured one of its strongest episodes with "Ron and Leslie," which saw the butting heads duo finally confront each other emotionally. The finale, while a play on Six Feet Under, was itself a fitting farewell. It's amazing how many talents came out of this show, and there's no denying its general impact for when it worked. Still, it will be missed for those great moments - many of which can be seen in the final season; which may as well just be some of the sweetest fan service seen on TV this past year.

Scene from Humans
17. Humans (AMC)

In the quest to find replacement TV for Mad Men, AMC turned to their first sci-fi series Humans, which ended up being a compelling drama about man's relationship with technology. With a great variety of characters and interesting subtext, the series showed the potential of having artificial intelligence mixed in with drama. With an impressive first season, its slow build and complicated world view only make it one of the standalone hopes for AMC's venture into genre programming. Between this and Halt and Catch Fire, the network looks to at least be exploring prestige dramas in new and exciting ways. Even if not all of their genre shows work (Into the Badlands, Fear the Walking Dead), at least enough do to keep the channel in my good graces.

Lena Dunham
18. Girls (HBO)

It's incredible that this show is in its fourth season. For one that has almost garnered as much controversy as Game of Thrones, it's incredible that Lena Dunham still produces quality work on a week-to-week basis. While the season begins with Dunham going to grad school (likely to let Adam Driver do Star Wars things), the show develops into an interesting development on the central couple's relationship. It's a story arc so perfect that it could've marked the end of the series. Instead, it provided moments both tragic to longtime fans and impressive growth in various characters. Even then, Dunham's charm as being somewhat psychopathic does wear thin a little this time around, and it's why despite being well constructed, the season as a whole felt a little off. There's hope that everything will pan out next year, but with Girls it's impossible to be sure.

Krysten Ritter
19. Jessica Jones (Netflix)

Next to Daredevil, this is likely Netflix's most anticipated original new series. And for good cause, as it manages to explore themes unavailable to other Marvel properties. With a great lead in Krysten Ritter, the show explores the aftermath of being an abuse victim through the gaze of noir. It's a superhero show that barely relies on superhero tropes, and the show is all the better for it. The show itself takes awhile to get going, but eventually becomes satisfying when it finds its niche. While there's promise of a second season, I can only hope that the world building doesn't destroy its credibility and that the show is able to sustain its own against the more powerful heroes. She deserves that at the very least.

Eva Green
20. Penny Dreadful (Showtime)

There tends to be a curse that haunts every Showtime series. It's the fate of the second season, which has claimed such victims as Homeland, Masters of Sex, and this year's The Affair. However, the one miracle is that Penny Dreadful not only was effected by it, but the show was actually better. Sure, this show is still very much the Eva Green horror hour, but there's nothing wrong with it. Add in a perfect mix of absurd supernatural subtext and violent imagery and you get what is probably the best horror drama on TV of the past few years. It is full of great episodes that are among the most striking images of the year. For instance, you're not likely to see Green tormenting inanimate objects anywhere else. Consider that one of this show's many special gifts to the world.

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