2017 was a ridiculously year for television.
There were so many excellent new shows and limited series — the networks, cable networks, premium channels, and streaming services — everyone upped their game to the highest degree. Veteran shows also had terrific year, producing even more top notch content.
So that’s why voting in the year’s Best of TV Shows for Pop Break was one of the closest and most contentious we’ve ever had. But after much debate, voting, and deliberation we deliver to you..
The Pop Break’s Top 10 TV Shows of 2017
However, before we begin, a few Honorable Mentions. The shows that received a number of votes but did not make the Top 10…
- The Punisher (Netflix)
- Riverdale (The CW)
- Better Call Saul (AMC)
- Bojack Horseman (Netflix)
- Fargo (FX)
- American Vandal (Netflix)
10. Big Little Lies (HBO)
In an age where wine-throwing Real Housewives rule the airwaves, HBO’s Big Little Lies toyed with our expectations to deliver the most satisfying miniseries of 2017, and one of the all around best programs on television this year. What initially appeared as a soapy melodrama quickly morphed into an incredibly layered, beautifully written look at the relationships between five California housewives, and the way a simple incident of bullying in a kindergarten classroom ripples across all their lives.
In the end, Big Little Lies stood out as a stunning series that wasn’t about catty women fighting with one another, but the power that comes from solidarity, resulting in a deeply satisfying and oddly emotional final episode. While HBO has confirmed a second season is on its way, one almost has to wonder: is there any more of a story to tell? Everything wrapped up so perfectly here.
Read Matt Taylor’s original review of Big Little Lies here.
Regardless, Big Little Lies gifted TV viewers with one of the strongest ensembles ever assembled on television, with multiple movie stars gracing the small screen to deliver career best work. Nicole Kidman is particularly wonderful here, as she slowly peels the layers off her deeply guarded character during some intense and effective scenes that explore the impact of domestic violence.
On the other end of the spectrum, Laura Dern became the stuff of meme legend the second her character donned an eye patch after a particularly heated fight with another mother, remaining a much-needed source of comedic relief throughout the entire series. Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, and Zoë Kravitz were all also given at least one chance to shine each week. There haven’t been this many A-listers sharing the screen on TV since Angels in America more than ten years ago, and there probably won’t be this much star power assembled again until the second season airs, making Big Little Lies appointment television that has become all-to-rare in the age of streaming and binge marathons. Even better, it was a TV event that lived up to its potential.
-Matt Taylor
9. The Good Place (NBC)
Network TV is not quite the dearth of entertainment that many of us like to pretend. Sure, the fact that Young Sheldon exists is an affront to nature itself, but there are still a couple of good shows reminding us that everything need not be binged. Number one on that list is The Good Place. Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, and the whole crew are back for season 2, one of the funniest, most well-written seasons of TV I’ve had the pleasure of watching.
Read our review of the premiere of The Good Place here.
It would have been so easy for this show to hit a sophomore slump. There was a huge twist at the end of season 1, and I was unsure how they would move forward without the show becoming stale. Luckily for the fans, not only did they not stumble, the jokes are smarter, the excellent side characters have expanded roles, and it continues to have the charm and wit to remind you of shows like Pushing Daisies. Do yourself a forking favor, and check out The Good Place.
-George Heftler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMA6-p3V8hY
8. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC)
What can I say about Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. that I haven’t already said? I write about it every week. Well, if you like superheroes or science fiction and you’re patiently waiting for the next season of your favorite Marvel Netflix series, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The series’ first 10 episodes or so are a real slog, but it improves dramatically after that.
Check out our interview from New York Comic Con with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Clark Gregg.
There’s no definite reason for the improvement of the series over the years, though I think it’s a combination of a couple things. Last season’s android and artificial reality storylines and this season’s current space storyline are a lot brainier than previous arcs. The show has also become more serialized as it’s gone on. Episodic adventures were never the show’s strong suit, so the series is essentially cutting a lot of the fluff.
It’s strange to think Coulson’s tale almost ended after The Avengers. And while it might be a typical comic book resurrection scenario, we’re lucky he’s alive and kicking.
-Aaron Sarnecky
7. Rick and Morty
I love taking recommendations from the Pop Break staff. Staff writer and social media editor Alisha Weinberger has been espousing the virtues of Rick and Morty to me since the moment she joined our team.
This year, I finally decided to watch the series.
And I’m glad I did.
Rick and Morty, especially this season, is just a sublime, absurd comedy that is packed non-stop genius, hilarity, and a demented heart. Oh, and Rick becoming a pickle.
How good was this iconic episode? I’ll let Alisha’s words explain…
“‘Pickle Rick’ is another insight into the nihilistic and cynical world of Rick and Morty. Despite the many heartwarming moments of the series, even Rick’s few vocations of love and affection for his family, he is still addicted to boredom while rejecting the individualistic love of his family in the face of an unforgiving, infinite universe. The Smith family is simply stuck in an endless cycle of toxicity. Rick’s adventures, with or without Morty, are as much of a frivolous distraction and security blanket from reality as staring at your phone endlessly or a motivational poster in a cubicle.”
-Bill Bodkin & Alisha Weinberger
6. GLOW
It is incredibly rare for a piece of fiction – be it a television show, a movie, or a novel – to resonate with an audience member in such a way that they think to themselves, “This was created for me.” Some of us haven’t seen ourselves well-represented in media and are still waiting, but if you’ve had that experience, you can probably remember exactly when or where it happened. For me, my moment finally came this year when I watched GLOW.
While I eagerly anticipated the release date, I wondered if there was a mainstream enough audience to give this show a chance or if the die-hard group of fans who would appreciate it the most would reject the finished product. The idea of a semi-biographical dramatic comedy about the behind-the-scenes aspects of creating an all-women wrestling federation seemed like a niche idea from the moment it was announced, one that could have gone poorly but ended up groundbreaking. In the end, GLOW proved it was way more than just a niche dramedy about wrestling. It delivered an honest but not always pretty representation of women that is desperately lacking in entertainment, leading to some of the most relatable storylines and character moments we saw on television in 2017.
Read Melissa Jouben’s review of Season 1 of GLOW.
Wrestling has always been referred to somewhat derisively as “a soap opera for men.” It’s definitely true that a well-told storyline in the WWE has enough drama, tension, and comedic relief to keep audiences on the edge of their seats and give any daytime soap a run for its money. GLOW was like a Russian nesting doll version of that idea; it’s the story of a wrestling show written over the course of a season by the wrestlers themselves, actors whose own personal drama is constantly informing and inspiring their characters, who in the process learn lessons that inform their perspectives both in and outside the ring.
Despite wrestling’s reputation as a male-centric form of entertainment, the show is nevertheless unapologetically feminine, which never detracts from the story or distracts the audience – male or female. It’s a highly ambitious show that promises comedy, drama, wrestling, and empowerment – not necessarily in that order – and never sells you short in any of those areas. Talk to anyone who watched the show but struggled with it initially, and they’ll probably point to Allison Brie’s performance as a reason why. After watching her triumphantly turn her unlikable desperation into physical and metaphorical inner strength it’s no surprise that the show won people over – or that Brie was nominated for both a SAG award and a Golden Globe for her work on GLOW.
-Melissa Jouben
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZqDO6cTYVY
5. The Handmaid’s Tale
The Handmaid’s Tale might have been the most socially, culturally and politically relevant show to come out of 2017. I had been anticipating the release of the series since I had read the book. I’ll be honest, I’m a harsh critique when it comes to adaptations of books. I am a purist and I end up picking apart the show or movie that deigned to recreate a beloved book of mine.
When The Handmaid’s Tale finally debuted in this year, I was blown away. It was my longest reveiw to date and I could have kept on going. At the time, I rate “Offred” 10 out of 10 and stand by it now.
Read Marley Ghizzone’s review of The Handmaid’s Tale.
As disturbing as The Handmaid’s Tale was, especially when compared to what is happening around us, it was also, and more importantly, an amazing season of television. Bruce Miller created a near perfect adaptation in present day of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel. What might be the best part of the show, though, is the kickass and mostly female cast. If you haven’t watched the series yet I highly recommend it.
-Marley Ghizzone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJTonrzXTJs
4. Legion
We get so many cookie-cutter superhero movies and TV shows these days, but Legion was the breath of fresh air this genre desperately needed. It was unconventional. It took risks. It was weird. At times, the narratives were completely bonkers. As is the case with taking risks, you aren’t always going to hit homeruns. While Legion had a few inconsistencies, when it hit, it was the best television of 2017.
While the visuals and storytelling were unlike anything we’ve ever seen for something tied into a major property like X-Men, it still boiled down to characters. Watching David, played brilliantly by Dan Stevens, figure out the root of his dangerous powers was the perfect arc. Not only was this guy born with uncontrollable abilities, but those abilities were tainted with from birth. That’s a great hook. There were plenty of fantastic supporting characters as well, including Syd, played by Rachel Keller, who was like Rogue on steroids. She was fierce as hell.
Read Dan Cohen’s review of Legion’s premiere.
As great as these characters were, they paled in comparison to Aubrey Plaza, who gave an Emmy worthy performance as “Lenny,” who’s later revealed to be one of the most famous X-Men villains of the ’90s animated show. Aubrey Plaza delivers a villainous performance for the ages.
In my reviews for Legion I constantly berated Doctor Strange, which should have been as wonky and weird as this show. Superhero movies need to be more like Legion. While the show had peaks and valleys, the single best episode of television in 2017 was “Chapter 7,” the second to last episode of the season, which was a flat out visual masterpiece.
I can’t even fathom where this show goes for season two, but I can’t wait.
-Dan Cohen
3. Game of Thrones (HBO)
A lot of people weren’t feeling this shortened season. Time jumps, logic gaps, rushed storylines — you name it, people just had an issue with this season.
I was not one of them.
Game of Thrones Season 7 was an absolutely exhilarating season that was bursting with amazing battles, enjoyably breakneck plot twists, and white knuckle excitement. I relished not binging this season. I thoroughly enjoyed having this show come into my life, because it allowed for me and fellow Thrones fans to debate, theorize, and geek out over the show.
This season was a banner year, and I cannot wait to see how it plays into the final season…whenever they decide to air it.
-Bill Bodkin
2. Mindhunter
From its incredible opening Mindhunter makes it clear that the audience is in good hands. Three years of being beaten back and forth by HBO and various film studios have clearly done nothing to blemish David Fincher’s experienced and considerable talents for directing the hell out of a gripping story.
When I reviewed the pilot episode back in October I felt I had a good idea for what to expect from the Netflix original series’ story arc over the season. My intuition proved mostly correct but even I could not have predicted exactly where the show would go or Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany’s stunning performances that are almost inevitably set to be some of 2018’s biggest Emmy snubs. The supporting cast including Anna Torv is all up to Fincher’s expected level of greatness, with a breakout performance by Cameron Britton.
Read Matt Gilbert’s review of Mindhunter.
The comparisons to Zodiac continue as the season progresses but only compliment the series. Like the 2007 masterpiece, this is less a mystery series than it is a workplace drama. The twist is that there isn’t one. Audiences who partook in Agent Ford, Agent Tench and Dr. Carr’s delve into real-life serial killer psychoses found themselves immediately invested in their quest and sharing Ford’s sensation of being drawn further and further into their world. The moments Ford uses his criminal profiling knowledge to solve and prevent murders are pure heroin, both to the audience and Ford himself.
That only makes the moments where it hurts him, professionally or personally, all the more deliberately cold and uncomfortable. Fincher masters both of these types of moments with ease. Against my prediction from the pilot, it leaves plenty open for a second season with more killers to interview (Manson was mentioned a couple times) as well as a slow burn side plot of the origin of (potentially) the BTK Killer. The finale ends with a pulse-pounding, terrifying moment with Groff and Britton in a way that immediately cemented the series as my favorite TV of 2017. I couldn’t have been happier when I saw that Mindhunter was renewed, and add it alongside Westworld for another second season I can’t be more excited for.
Seriously though, what was with the cat?
-Matt Gilbert
1. Stranger Things
The first season of Stranger Things arrived with little fanfare and only became a pop culture phenomenon overnight thanks to glowing reviews and stellar word-of-mouth.
After that startling success, the show completely lost the luxury of flying under the radar when Netflix announced the series would return for another season. As such, few shows in 2017 carried as much anticipation and pressure to succeed as Stranger Things 2. Yet our favorite ’80s nostalgia trip managed to defy the odds and produce a truly satisfying sophomore outing that absolutely delivered (minus Eleven’s detour to the Windy City).
There is so much to love in Stranger Things‘ second season, but the true highlight was undoubtedly the characters we’ve come to adore. Fresh pairings like Eleven/Hopper and Mike/Joyce pushed the story forward in exciting directions, and new characters like Max and Bob managed to wiggle their ways into the hearts of fans.
Read Bill Bodkin’s review of Stranger Things Season 2.
And then, of course, there are the true MVPs of the season: Noah Schnapp’s incredible performance as the tortured Will Byers and Joe Keery’s amazing turn as Steve Harrington 2.0. Wrapped up in sidesplitting gags and riveting drama, these characters made a truly triumphant return to the small screen.
The ability to deftly weave humor, dark thrills, nostalgia, and beloved characters together was the primary factor that turned Stranger Things into a hit back in 2016, and the same proved true in this year’s installment of the series. Whether it was exploring the depths of the Upside Down, testing the bonds of families and friends, or turning the most popular kid in school into a teenage soccer dad, Stranger Things 2 consistently set itself apart as our favorite show of 2017.
-Josh Sarnecky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgS2L7WPIO4&t=64s
