Best-Reviewed TV Horror 2019

What a year to be a TV-watching horror fan: M. Night Shyamalan made his small-screen debut with Apple TV+’s creepy Servant; The Walking Dead returned to form; and American Horror Story finally embraced the slasher genre. All were splattered with love by critics. But it was CBS’s Evil, a supernatural thriller from The Good Wife and Good Fight creators Robert and Michelle King, whose reviews ran reddest, and proved that network TV still had a few surprises left up its sleeve.

The order of the rank below reflects the Adjusted Score as of December 31, 2019. Scores might change over time.

Evil: Season 1

#1

Adjusted Score: 95760%

Critics Consensus: Smartly-written and effectively unsettling, Evil works best when it dares to delve into the depths of the uncomfortable questions it poses.

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Starring: Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Michael Emerson

Directed By: Michelle King, Robert King, Liz Glotzer, Peter Sollett

The Walking Dead: Season 10

#2

Adjusted Score: 43981%

Critics Consensus: A few changes in front of and behind the camera allow TWD create space for compelling new stories and some seriously scary new adversaries.

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Starring: Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Danai Gurira, Lauren Cohan

Directed By: Frank Darabont, Greg Nicotero, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd

Castle Rock: Season 2

#3

Adjusted Score: 91425%

Critics Consensus: Driven by an unsettlingly compelling Lizzy Caplan, Castle Rock's second chapter opens the borders of its titular town without losing any of its creeping atmosphere.

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Starring: Lizzy Caplan, Tim Robbins, Paul Sparks, Yusra Warsama

Directed By: Sam Shaw, Dustin Thomason, J.J. Abrams, Ben Stephenson

American Horror Story: 1984

#4

Adjusted Score: 83725%

Critics Consensus: A near-perfect blend of slasher tropes and American Horror Story's trademark twists, 1984 is a bloody good time.

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Starring: Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman, Cody Fern

Directed By: John J. Gray, Mary Wigmore, Bradley Buecker, Ryan Murphy

Servant: Season 1

#5

Adjusted Score: 87708%

Critics Consensus: Though Servant's slithering mystery often wanders into dark, crowded corners, its claustrophobic atmosphere and powerful performances build enough tension to keep viewers hooked.

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Starring: Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Rupert Grint, Nell Tiger Free

Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan, Ashwin Rajan, Jason Blumenthal, Todd Black