Best TV Shows of 2013: Serving up our list of the best television of the year.
2013 was jammed pack with lots of great television. So much so, that its been hard to keep up, Why must every great show be on Sunday night? I feel like I’m cramming for exams watching endless hours of shows into the wee evening hours.
At this point TV has outclassed cinema with its compelling storylines and nuanced performances, so here’s my list of the best (and a few mentions of the worst).
If you’d like to own any of these awesome shows on Blu-ray/DVD, I’ll have Amazon links under each entry.
SPOILER ALERT: I’ll be revealing plot points throughout the countdown.
Without further ado:
Best Drama: House Of Cards
[amazon_image id=”B00BC5FN2C” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]House of Cards: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray][/amazon_image]
Netflix gave premium cable a run for their money this year with original programming, the best of which is this dark political satire. Kevin Spacey is deliciously evil as crooked politician Francis Underwood, with his wife Claire (Robin Wright Penn) who’s every bit as ruthless.
They are a sociopathic power couple that make for truly compelling television. Can’t wait for season 2!
Runner Ups:
Boardwalk Empire-Season Four
[amazon_image id=”B00FEP9MYG” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Boardwalk Empire: The Complete Fourth Season[/amazon_image]
As always this HBO gangster drama starts off slow, but builds to a fever pitch. Featuring some of the best fight sequences and gorgeous production work in cable tv, it remains a class act, but its finale was a heartbreaking affair.
Game Of Thrones
[amazon_image id=”B00C8CQTJY” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Game of Thrones: The Complete Third Season (Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy)[/amazon_image]
The tv adaptation of George RR Martin’s fantasy series continues to impress and rivet.
Honorable Mention; Breaking Bad
Okay, get this; I’ve never seen this show. I know! I know! What’s wrong with me? Bottom line; the premise never sounded interesting to me, and by the time I heard how awesome it was, I was hopelessly behind with a TV dance card that was already overfull. But I get it, it’s the best drama on TV! I’ll take your word for it. I’m sure I’ll bingewatch it at some point. Now leave me alone.
Same goes for Sons of Anarchy, on my to-watch list…
Click here for my list of Best Movie and TV Blu-ray/DVD Sets Of 2013!
Best Comedy Series:
Eastbound And Down
[amazon_image id=”B00FOHHMWI” link=”true” target=”_blank” size=”medium” ]Eastbound & Down: The Complete Fourth Season[/amazon_image]
It was supposedly cancelled, but HBO managed to wring one last season from Danny McBride’s perverse show, featuring a redneck idiot asshole that you can’t help but like against your better nature. It wrapped up on a perfect note, with a finale featuring Sasha Baron Cohen and um…Lindsay Lohan?
Best Pilot For a Show that went to shit real quick:
Hannibal
NBC pushed the boundaries of network television with a grisly, yet elegant, beautifully crafted pilot episode. But the problem was that while Hannibal looked premium cable worthy, it quickly became another CSI, Law And Order, murder gets solved within one episode contrive-fest, when a serialized drama format would have served it so much better.
Also, Mads Mikkelsen’s thick Danish accent lacked the syntax sizzle for a character who is as killing with his words as with his bite.
Most Traumatic Episode: Game Of Thrones, “Red Wedding”
GOT made fans drop to the floor by killing off a good portion of their cast in this disturbing and lurid episode. It’ll be hard to ever top it in terms of shock value and emotional turmoil. Watch at your own risk:
Best Comedy Special:
Louis CK-Oh My God
The dark comic genius took a year off from his excellent FX series, but made time for tv with this truly hilarious special.
Runner-Up:
Sarah Silverman-We Are Miracles
Silverman proved she’s more than just a potty mouth in this insightful special. But I’ll never hear the word pussy the same way again…
Best Late Night Show: At Midnight
I love Conan, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, but there’s always room for a new late night entry, and this snarky twitter based comedy panel is way funnier than its premise or promos suggested, with the always welcome Chris Hardwicke as emcee.
Bes SNL Skit:
I’ve been off of SNL’s radar for years now, but it’s the best its been since the early 90’s at this point. And this hilarious skewering of Wes Anderson (who I find super annoying) was dead on and hilarious.
Best Finale:
The Walking Dead
Okay I don’t get the point of a mid-season finale…just do a full season ok? Walking Dead has been so erratic and lame that I’d written it off. But this finale between Rick’s camp and The Governor was the best episode of the show since the pilot. Why? Less talking and more action. This show is always best when it sticks to that template given its threadbare dialogue.
Click here for a ton of cool Walking Dead gifts in my Holiday Gift Guide!
Best Finale Runner-Up:
Homeland
For a season so uneven, there was only solution, to create an endgame so they start again fresh next year, which they pulled with this emotional finale.
Worst Finale:
The Killing
Damn, I thought this show had come back from the dead with a purpose. Season 3 was the best season..until the dumbass finale which didn’t play fair with the audience. AMC (once again) gave the show the axe, but its been revived for Netflix. Count me out!
Runner-up:
Dexter
The more I think about this finale, the more it pisses me off. But you could say that for the past season (and really after Season 4, it was all downhill). I did like the tonal shift and there were enough cool moments that it didn’t totally disappoint, but it still failed to fully deliver.
Best Game Show:
The Chase
When’s the last time you DVR’d a game show? The Chase is the exception for me, where gutsy brainiacs battle The Beast, aka Mark Labatt, one of the world’s foremost trivia experts. It’s winner takes all or go home empty-handed, and its the most suspense you’ll ever see in a game show.
Best Web Series: Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee
Jerry Seinfeld makes a welcome return to television (ok the internet) with this underrated show featuring breezy chat-ups with his comedian buddies.
So that wraps up my list of the best TV shows of 2013! Now I’m readying myself for 2014, and looking forward to checking out True Detective, Sherlock season 3, and much more. What shows would make your best of 2013? Tell me in the comments.
And you might also enjoy my lists of the Best Movies Of 2013, Best Albums Of 2013, and the Most Underrated TV Shows Of All Time.
