Debate over TV’s best shows will rage eternal, but what we’ve found here at Rotten Tomatoes is that not every season of those “best” series are created equal.
Some of the best series of all time ran long enough to see their season scores land all over the map, so we decided to collect the best of the best and rounded up the seasons with perfect 100% Tomatometer scores. They are ranked below by the number of reviews.
Just Added:The Chair Company, Platonic Season 2, Code of Silence, Ballard, Pee-Wee As Himself, Asura, Toxic Town, The Righteous Gemstones Season 4.
Critics Consensus:Only Murders in the Building's silly approach to true crime obsessives is at once hilarious and insightful, thanks in large part to its extremely charming central trio.
Critics Consensus:Fleabag jumps back into the fray with a bracing second season that upholds its predecessor's frenzied wit and delicate heart, replete with Phoebe Waller-Bridge's indefatigable charisma.
Critics Consensus: Like an expertly confected sandwich, The Bear assembles a perfect melange of ingredients and stacks them for optimal satisfaction -- and thankfully keeps the crust-iness for extra flavor.
Critics Consensus: A prickling debut that pulls few punches, Hacks deftly balances its sharp critiques of the comedy world with more intimate moments, all the while giving the incomparable Jean Smart a role worthy of her talents -- and an excellent partner in Hannah Einbinder.
Critics Consensus:Insecure uses star Issa Rae's breakout web series Awkward Black Girl as the basis for an insightful, raunchy, and hilarious journey through the life of a twentysomething black woman that cuts through stereotypes with sharp wit and an effusive spirit.
Critics Consensus: Dark secrets are a family affair in Bad Sisters, a riotously funny murder mystery that makes fine use of its gifted ensemble while exemplifying creator and star Sharon Horgan's penchant for salty warmth.
Critics Consensus:Master of None's second season picks up where its predecessor left off, delivering an ambitious batch of episodes that builds on the show's premise while adding surprising twists.
Critics Consensus:Jane the Virgin's dubious premise has become part of its unlikely charm -- along with delightfully diverse writing and a knockout performance by Gina Rodriguez.
Critics Consensus: Sweet, sincere, and full of hope, The Baby-Sitters Club's grounded approach honors its source material while updating the story for a new generation.
Critics Consensus:Hacks hits the road, but Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder remain very much at home with each other in a sterling sophomore season that finds novel ways to deepen the central pair's lovable friendship.
Critics Consensus: An excellent showcase for Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, and their well-cast classmates, PEN15's sophomore season goes deeper into the nuances of middle school life without losing any of its cringey charm.
Critics Consensus: Family-driven drama and psychological themes propel The Americans' tautly drawn tension, dispensing thrills of a different ilk this season.
Critics Consensus: Blessed to have the late Paul Reubens feature in candid conversation, Pee-wee as Himself is a revelatory glimpse at the complicated man behind a beloved comic creation.
Critics Consensus:Cobra Kai continues the Karate Kid franchise with a blend of pleasantly corny nostalgia and teen angst, elevated by a cast of well-written characters.
Critics Consensus: Infectious energy, great songs, and a magnetic cast come together to make We Are Lady Parts a rocking comedy that is as subversive as it is hilarious.
Critics Consensus: The stakes get more more personal than ever before in Slow Horses' superb fourth season, proving that this spy series is saddled up for the long haul with no signs of fatigue.
Critics Consensus:The Last Movie Stars delivers the goods as a revealing retrospective of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward's romance, but director Ethan Hawke elevates this docuseries into a revelatory exploration of marriage and stardom.
Critics Consensus: An intimate portrait of addiction and love, Feel Good is at once sweetly charming, uncomfortably complicated, and completely worth falling for.
Critics Consensus: Witty, warm, and with just the right blend of wisdom and wisecracks, Schitt's Creek's final season is the perfect farewell to the Roses and the town that changed their lives.
Critics Consensus:Catastrophe proves that there's still a place for simple romantic comedy on television, as long as the actors have chemistry and the jokes are laugh-out-loud funny.
Critics Consensus: Clever and viciously funny, Fleabag is a touching, wildly inventive comedy about a complicated young woman navigating the aftermath of trauma.
Critics Consensus:Barry follows up a pitch-perfect debut with a second season that balances darkness with comedy while steering clear of antihero overindulgence.
Critics Consensus: Still as bracing as a punch to the face and invigorating with its vivid worldbuilding, Invincible is practically impervious to disappointing audiences in this sterling sophomore season.
Critics Consensus:Vida explores familiar familial ground from a fresh perspective to create an earnest and heartfelt take on identity and what it means to belong.
Critics Consensus: Bowing out while still having plenty of creativity to spare, Reservation Dogs' final season sidesteps feeling premature by satisfying on every level.
Critics Consensus: Tim Robinson's volcanic comedic ethos finds an ideal outlet in The Chair Company, a descent into paranoia that finds huge laughs in deeply uncomfortable places.
Critics Consensus:Reservation Dogs has bittersweet bite in its sophomore season as it mines more difficult dilemmas than before with its spiky sense of humor, making for a piquant portrait of a community and a place.
Critics Consensus: Fluidly animated and intelligently scripted, The Legend of Vox Machina is an addictive treat for fans of Dungeons & Dragons-style RPGs.
Critics Consensus: Zahn McClarnon is riveting as a coiled cop in Dark Winds, a solid procedural that derives much of its texture from an underrepresented cultural milieu.
Critics Consensus: Uniquely its own, and compelling and poignant as ever, Transparent continues to transcend the parameters of comedic and dramatic television with sustained excellence in its empathic portrayal of the Pfefferman family.
Critics Consensus: Going from strength to strength with new settings and vivid characterizations, Interview with the Vampire's sophomore season still has plenty of inspiration coursing through its veins.
Critics Consensus: Pamela Adlon fully asserts her authorial voice over Better Things in a triumphant third season that examines the exhaustion of motherhood with exhilarating artistry.
Critics Consensus: A difficult watch made riveting by director Justin Kurzel and star Jacob Elordi's sterling work, The Narrow Road to the Deep North chronicles the inhumanity of war with fierce intelligence.
Critics Consensus: Full of highs and with nary a low, Happy Valley returns at the peak of its hardscrabble powers, with Sarah Lancashire seamlessly slipping back into her quintessential role for one final mystery.
Critics Consensus: Tackling emotionally mature themes with an ingeniously zany sense of humor, Raphael Bob-Waksberg's Long Story Short welcomes viewers into a highly specific -- and extremely relatable -- family unit.
Critics Consensus: Bel Powley's arresting performance burns bright in A Small Light, a sensitive portrait of heroism in the face of all-encompassing tragedy.
Critics Consensus:Starstruck doesn't rewrite the rom-com datebook, but with a quick wit and a star-making turn from the dynamic Rose Matafeo it's easy to fall for anyway.
Critics Consensus: Anchored by the charming Midori Francis and Austin Abrams, Dash & Lily is a delightful rom-com adventure with plenty of holiday cheer.
Critics Consensus: Expansive in scope while hurtling towards the endgame at a rollicking pace, Arcane's second and final season is a supremely satisfying capper to an epic saga.
Critics Consensus: Smart and thrilling as ever, The Expanse's fourth season doesn't miss a beat, successfully navigating network changes without losing any of its rich character work or narrative complexities.
Critics Consensus: Stephen Graham gives a masterful performance in Shane Meadows' deeply personal depiction of trauma, gifting viewers with a raw account of self-destruction and a hopeful promise of renewal.
Critics Consensus:The Expanse's many threads come to a head in an excellent fifth season that expertly capitalizes on everything that makes the show work while setting the stage for an epic final season.
Critics Consensus:The Bold Type presents an aspirational yet refreshingly realistic portrait of young women's careers, friendships and love lives in a big city.
Critics Consensus: Frequently hilarious while possessing an absorbing sense of place, Mo is a thoughtful depiction of the immigrant experience that is light on its feet.
Critics Consensus:Freaks and Geeks lampoons real-life adolescence while affectionately embracing every growing pain along the way with refreshing honesty.
Critics Consensus: Poignantly repulsive, Big Mouth continues to confront the awkwardness of adolescence with foul-mouthed glee and an added layer of maturity.
Critics Consensus: It covers familiar ground, but with a feast of rare footage and a clear affection for its subject 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything is as edifying as it is entertaining.
Critics Consensus: Marrying state of the art visual effects with equally immersive narration by David Attenborough, Prehistoric Planet wondrously brings viewers back to the age of dinosaurs.
Critics Consensus: Smartly written, sharply performed, and sentimental without losing its sense of humor, Mythic Quest's stellar second season solidifies its place as one of TV's best workplace comedies.
Critics Consensus: Not letting up in season two, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is still odd in the best of ways, wonderfully building on its unique comedy stylings and brilliantly funny cast.
Critics Consensus: A stunning, lyrical piece of neon noir, P-Valley explores the unseen lives of strippers in Mississippi through Katori Hall's singular gaze, celebrating the beauty of the craft without sugarcoating the challenges.
Critics Consensus:Dear White People's endearing excellence returns, but with an added layer of emotional maturity that enhances the show's powerful, relevant meditations on race relations in America.
Critics Consensus: Skillfully puncturing the idea of celebrity and our culture's bizarre obsession with it, BoJack Horseman's third season continues its streak as one of the funniest and most heartbreaking shows on television.
Critics Consensus:American Crime offers a unique anthology series filled with surprising revelations and compelling inter-connected narratives that opt for original, emotional human commentary instead of tired arguments over current events.
Critics Consensus:Arcane makes an arresting first impression, combining a spectacular mix of 2D and 3D animation with an emotionally compelling story to deliver a video game adaptation that could become legendary.
Critics Consensus: As radically hilarious as it is relatably uncomfortable, Work in Progress is a stunning debut from co-creator and star Abby McEnany.
Critics Consensus: A triumph of sketch comedy, I Think You Should Leave's sophomore season dives deeper into Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin's strange minds with manically delightful results.
Critics Consensus: Thanks to sharp writing and an eccentric but exceedingly likable cast of characters, Modern Family signals the triumphant return of the family comedy.
Critics Consensus:You're the Worst continues to chart serious territory with intelligence, heart, and noxious wit in its third season, even as the anti-rom-com's damaged narcissist protagonists slowly start to get over themselves.
Critics Consensus: As timely and tender as ever, One Day at a Time's third season manages to up to comedy ante without losing the intimate family moments that help it hit so close to home.
Critics Consensus:Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return picks up right where its predecessor left off, retaining all the cult classic's crucial ingredients and adding a handful of fresh twists.
Critics Consensus: Aside from turning this demonic household into Three Vampires and a Baby, What We Do in the Shadows doubles down on what it does best without drastically changing the formula -- and remains fang-tastic all the same.
Critics Consensus: Tonally elastic and blessed with Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer's sparky chemistry, Colin from Accounts makes the alchemy of a satisfying rom-com feel effortless.
Critics Consensus:Happy Valley continues to grow in season two with noteworthy uses of character development, locale, and exceptional performances across the board, admirably led by Sarah Lancashire.
Critics Consensus: Carried on the wings of its cast's incredible chemistry and the strongest writing of the series so far, What We Do in the Shadows' third season is scary good.
Critics Consensus:Wolf Hall returns after a decade away without missing a beat, retaining its razor-sharp intelligence along with the irresistible alchemy of Mark Rylance and Damian Lewis' performances.
Critics Consensus:America to Me confronts hard questions through candid moments in a Chicago high school, crafting an exploration of race and class relations in America that is as insightful as it is inspiring.
Critics Consensus:Friday Night Lights delivers a triumphant final season, remaining true to its characters while continuing to dispense more of the absorbing drama that made it a cult favorite throughout its run.
Critics Consensus: Glazer and Jacobson give the people exactly what they want in Broad City's final season - relatable content, questionable intimacy, and ingenious escapades through the glorious squalor of IRL NYC.
Critics Consensus: Parting is such sweet sorrow, but Derry Girls' final season promises to milk as many laughs as it can before viewers say a fond farewell to this lovable band of miscreants.
Critics Consensus: Houston, there's no problem here -- For All Mankind's fourth season hones in on what the series does best and forges ahead with a thought-provoking revisionist history.
Critics Consensus:Platonic is easy to love in a sophomore season that continues to expertly leverage Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen's explosively charming chemistry.
Critics Consensus: Muddying the waters of justice and adding droplets of blood for good measure, Invincible and its titular hero reach their prime with this epic third season.
Critics Consensus:For All Mankind's sophomore flight isn't without its hiccups, but compelling character work and a renewed sense of wonder make for thrilling viewing.
Critics Consensus:Full Frontal with Samantha Bee adds a female perspective to late-night TV - and one that's fresh and funny enough to deserve more than just one show a week.
Critics Consensus: With stronger writing and a never-better Hailee Steinfeld, Dickinson finds surer footing in its second season without losing any of its strange delights.
Critics Consensus:Peaky Blinders' sixth season gracefully addresses the untimely passing of star Helen McCrory while setting the stage for a fitting climax to this epic saga of likable scalawags.
Critics Consensus: A saga of cutthroat competition with notes of cool intelligence, Drops of God is a sleek entertainment sure to stimulate refined palates.
Critics Consensus: Gina Rodriguez delivers a stellar performance in Jane the Virgin's final season, grounding the series in humanity amidst all its quirky telenovela humor.
Critics Consensus: An addictive mix of expressive animation, heady concepts, and an offbeat sense of humor, Common Side Effects is a must-have prescription.
Critics Consensus: The second season of Mad Men delves deeper into the personal lives of its characters without sacrificing the show's trademark droll humor and period atmosphere.
Critics Consensus:The Serpent Queen dramatizes one of history's most infamous monarchs with a deft, sardonic touch, with Samantha Morton's commanding star turn likely to swallow viewers' attention whole.
Critics Consensus:The Kids in the Hall have become seasoned comedy veterans without missing a beat, delivering a fresh set of sketches that will delight longtime fans.
Critics Consensus:Slow Horses says neigh to the sophomore jinx with a second season that might be even better than its supremely addictive predecessor.
Critics Consensus: Authentic and revelatory to the very end, Somebody Somewhere's final season fittingly feels like a casual hangout with the dearest of friends.
Critics Consensus: In its penultimate season, Friday Night Lights continues the raw, heartfelt drama fans expect while adding a few fresh narrative twists.
Critics Consensus: Against all odds the delightful cast and crew of Parks and Recreation pull off a socially distant reunion that's warm, funny, and very, very special.
Synopsis: Leslie Knope connects with her friends from the Pawnee Parks and Recreation department -- Ron Swanson, Andy Dwyer, April Ludgate, [More]
Critics Consensus: Smart, sharp, and effortlessly charming, Bunheads is a captivating blend of drama and comedy that succeeds on the strength of a terrific ensemble cast.
Critics Consensus: Who woulda thought? -- Harley Quinn graduates from a ribald spoof into one of the most heartening additions to the DC canon in a diabolically clever and emotionally textured third season.
Critics Consensus: By the grace of Grayskull, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power packs a powerful visual punch that hits even harder thanks to layered writing and multidimensional characters -- the perfect show for seasoned fans and little ones alike.
Critics Consensus: With its complicated bedrock now established, Foundation spreads its wings in an improved sophomore season that rewards viewers' patience with a brainy sci-fi epic of genuine grandeur.
Critics Consensus: The rare adaptation that exceeds its source material, Blindspotting deftly takes on complicated social constructs with comedic flair, crafting a show that's as funny as it is poignant while giving its incredible ensemble --- led by the captivating Jasmine Cephas Jones -- plenty of room to shine.
Critics Consensus:Halt and Catch Fire's character-driven drama culminates in an optimistic ode to the early internet age that's bound to stand the test of time.
Critics Consensus: Driven by the marvelous Daisy Haggard, Back to Life questions what it means to be a person with humor, heart, and a genuine sense of surprise.
Critics Consensus: Issa's future remains uncertain, but Insecure enters its final season a fully confident comedy with plenty left to say about friendship, love, and self-esteem.
Critics Consensus: Surprising, thoughtful, and superbly strange, How to with John Wilson's blend of documentary styles comes together to create a singularly delightful experience.
Critics Consensus: Building on earlier potential and extending character arcs throughout a solidly crafted third season, The Expanse continues to impress -- and shows no signs of abating.
Critics Consensus:Justified returns to form for its endgame, rebounding with crisp storytelling and colorful characters who never take themselves too seriously.
Critics Consensus: Bolstered by witty, efficient dialogue and confident storytelling, Justified makes a strong case for consideration among cable television's top dramas.
Critics Consensus:Veep shows no signs of slowing down in its fourth season, thanks to sharp, funny, rapid-fire dialogue between POTUS and her hilariously incompetent staff.
Critics Consensus:Harley Quinn maintains its frenetic energy and humor while doubling down on the shenanigans and giving its titular anti-heroine even more room to play.
Critics Consensus: Carried by the exceptional Rachel Bloom and her equally talented castmates, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's final season further explores the depths of Rebecca's mental illness with humor, heart, and humanity.
Critics Consensus: You're about to enter a show, a show not only of frights and fears but of mind. A journey into the limitless world of imagination. A show that pushes the boundaries of what a show can be. Next stop, The Twilight Zone.
Critics Consensus: Amiable and cleverly constructed, Extraordinary grounds the fantastical and makes it all the more accessible and thrilling as a result.
Critics Consensus: An intoxicating blend of historical footage, candid interviews, and animation that deftly captures Liz Carmichael's incredible life, The Lady and the Dale is a wild ride.
Critics Consensus:Random Acts of Flyness' poignant political poetry plays in harmony with its frenetic absurdist humor to create a singular musical television experience.
Critics Consensus:The Defiant Ones is a compelling, comprehensive portrait of two visionaries that illuminates both their colorful pasts and their historic influence on the music industry.
Critics Consensus:Big Mouth's simplistic animation and scatalogical humor belie its finely sketched characters and smart, empathetic approach to the messiness of adolescence.
Critics Consensus:Big Mouth's fourth season is another tour de force of empathetic cringe comedy that manages to get even better by finally giving Missy the storyline she deserves.
Critics Consensus: A perfectly curated cast and raw writing drive Derry Girls's dark humor as creator Lisa McGee makes frenetic light of teen life in 1990s Northern Ireland.
Critics Consensus: Marrying a trove of terrific actors at the their peak with a masterful script that draws from irresistibly juicy source material, I, Claudius transcends its paltry production values to become a gold standard for historical dramas.
Critics Consensus: Realistically flawed characters in harrowing, uncompromising circumstances, along with engrossing storytelling, make The Wire one of TV's top dramas of its time.
Critics Consensus:Malcolm in the Middle blasts out of the gate with a startlingly adept child performance from Frankie Muniz, a robust family ensemble, and a distinctive, punchy visual style.
Critics Consensus: Lead by the devilishly snappy Ray Wise, the chemistry of Reaper's cast turns its grim premise into a confident, frolicking fun time.
Critics Consensus: Ambitious, dense, and terrifically acted, Treme deepens in its second season while retaining the regional flavor that made it so intriguing to begin with.
Critics Consensus:Arrested Development puts an ambitiously complex, brilliantly fast-paced spin on dysfunctional family comedy, anchored by the efforts of a tremendously talented ensemble.
Critics Consensus: Rose Ayling-Ellis is terrific in Code of Silence, a sharp crime drama given an compelling wrinkle by its credible depiction of the deaf perspective.
Critics Consensus: Class is back in session and the plucky teachers of Abbott Elementary remain an absolute delight, with creator/star Quinta Brunson's savvy and sweet sensibility honed to perfection.
Critics Consensus: The elder Dubek siblings may still feel like they're also-rans, but The Other Two remains cream of the crop in a third season that turns foiled dreams into delightful comedy.
Critics Consensus: Double the J.K. Simmons brings double the aplomb in the second season of Counterpart, which finds time to deliver relevant societal critiques while deepening its labyrinthine lore.
Critics Consensus:Parks and Recreation's cast finally feels complete with the delightful additions of Rob Lowe and Adam Scott in a romantic third season that fully fleshes out Pawnee as an amusingly retrograde microcosm of America.
Critics Consensus: Incisively critical of the genre and equally delighted by its subjects, Documentary Now! nails mockumentary under the deft direction of Rhys Thomas and Alex Buono.
Critics Consensus: An increasing intensity and maturity are evident in Samurai Jack's beautifully animated, action-packed, and overall compelling fifth season.
Critics Consensus: Helen Mirren is at the peak of her towering powers in the concluding season of Prime Suspect, wherein Jane Tennison delivers her final bow in a wistful finale that will satisfy fans of the iconic character.
Critics Consensus: A thorough dissection of The Sopranos that gleans insight into both its production process and creator David Chase himself, Wise Guy is essential viewing for fans of one of television's landmarks.
Critics Consensus: Singular, subversive, and simply hilarious, A Black Lady Sketch Show finds universal humor in specific spaces to craft quick-witted sketches that perfectly showcase Robin Thede and her talented cast.
Critics Consensus: Powerful, beautiful, and like nothing else on TV, David Makes Man blends dreamy aesthetics with an empathetically crafted story to create a truly unique viewing experience.
Critics Consensus: An irreverent twist on the crime procedural, Deadloch's addictive mixture of mystery and mordant humor makes most of its corpse-strewn competition look comparably stiff.
Critics Consensus:Time's heavy load can be challenging, but strong writing and a magnificent performance from Sean Bean make for an incredible, thought-provoking watch.
Critics Consensus: A gripping mystery that draws immense power from its sterling cast and the specificity of its location, Sherwood is such a rich series that it makes the competition look all the poorer.
Critics Consensus: The verdict is in: The Good Wife is a solid adult drama, with a delicately fine-tuned performance from Julianna Margulies and storylines that become increasingly absorbing as they progress.
Critics Consensus: A rare and expansive look into the consequences of unfettered power, Immigration Nation is a powerful, harrowing indictment of the current state of American immigration.
Critics Consensus:Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. swings for the fences with large-scale storytelling and wild twists that elevate season 5 from the saturated MCU and into its own space.
Critics Consensus:Feel Good's second season is at once sharp and soft, a bittersweet examination of love and life that will leave viewers wanting more from Mae Martin ASAP.
Critics Consensus:Bojack Horseman truly comes into its own during season two, maturing into an ambitious comedy that sensitively blends wackiness with dark, nuanced drama.
Critics Consensus: As layered, loving, and laugh-out-loud funny as ever, One Day at a Time successfully does the network shuffle without missing a beat.
Critics Consensus: Retaining its first season's laidback charms without resting on its hind legs, Colin from Accounts' second outing is as cranky, funny, and delightful as ever.
Critics Consensus: Warm as a winter coat and full of lovable characters from an interesting milieu, North of North is a sweet example of a show that doesn't need high drama to be addictive.
Critics Consensus: Dee hits rock bottom and Charlie gets smart in a consistently hilarious ninth season that proves the Gang doesn't need an award to be one of television's funniest ensembles.
Critics Consensus: Bearing the unmistakable stamp of creator Shea Serrano's authentic voice, Primo is a generation-spanning sitcom that feels like home.
Critics Consensus: Absurdly funny and fearless, South Side successfully captures the spirit of a community and confronts tough social constructs with smart writing, a spectacular cast, and just the right amount of silliness.
Critics Consensus:Penny Dreadful's second season maintains the show's intense, bloody drama, utilizing a vast array of fascinating characters and locales to tell a unique story.
Critics Consensus: A crisp procedural with a magnetic lead in Maggie Q, Ballard is a worthy sibling series to Bosch that comes with its own unique strengths.
Critics Consensus: Disturbing and wondrous, Scavengers Reign presents a vividly realized world that beckons exploration by its marooned characters and television viewers alike.
Critics Consensus:Community unfurls into a marvel of meta-madness in its sophomore season, artfully deconstructing sitcom tropes while repeatedly knocking its own emotional beats out of the park.
Critics Consensus:24 defies the law of diminishing returns with a spectacular fifth season that features White House intrigue, some of the most harrowing set-pieces in the series yet, and a heroically committed performance by Kiefer Sutherland.
Critics Consensus: Still evolving in its third season, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. further hits its stride with a blend of thrills, humor, and heart.
Critics Consensus:High School is as effervescent and sensitive as a Tegan and Sara album, delivering a highly specific coming of age comedy that rings with universal truth.
Critics Consensus: With a first season that altered the TV comedy landscape, the original British version of The Office proves the most mundane parts of daily life can be as hilarious as they are cringeworthy.
Critics Consensus:Making It puts a whimsical, refreshing new spin on reality TV -- one made even more fun by well-matched hosts Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman.
Critics Consensus: Led by two of the funniest women on TV, Broad City uses its stars' vibrant chemistry to lend an element of authenticity to the show's chaotic yet enlightening brand of comedy.
Critics Consensus: In its third season, The Wire's taut, unflinching examination of Baltimore expands from the criminal underworld to the top of the political machine.
Critics Consensus:Planet Earth weaves innovative camera techniques and patient observation to deliver viewers an astounding glimpse of the world's perils and wonders, capturing jaw-dropping scenery and animals on both an epic and intimate scale.
Critics Consensus: Bold, brisk, and beautiful, Sherman's Showcase is a delightful and stylish sketch show that moves to its own groove and invites everyone to laugh along.
Critics Consensus:Pushing Daisies' tawdry quirks continue to bloom in a deliciously inventive second season that rises to the high bar set by its predecessor.
Critics Consensus: By pairing striking visuals with the show's trademark intimate storytelling, This American Life makes the leap from radio to television with extraordinary results.
Critics Consensus:Ugly Delicious injects new life into the food documentary by dispensing with culinary pretensions and celebrating a vibrant spectrum of dishes that are sure to whet audience appetites.
Critics Consensus: Lizzo acquits herself splendidly as master of ceremonies in Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, a joyous reality competition that's equal parts fun and uplifting.
Critics Consensus: Recapturing the original movies' blend of cuteness and mayhem, Secrets of the Mogwai is delightful family entertainment -- just don't feed it after midnight.
Critics Consensus: Layering cultural specificity over its gripping mystery, Get Millie Black is an addictive procedural with a breakout performance by Tamara Lawrance as its center.
Critics Consensus: Scathing as ever and even funnier than before, Killing It's sophomore season compresses capitalistic malaise into a comedic diamond.
Critics Consensus:Bates Motel's final season brings the franchise full circle, with a satisfyingly creepy conclusion to the trials and tribulations of Norman Bates.
Critics Consensus: Spanning an epic runtime, George Carlin's American Dream is an exhaustive and revealing retrospective on the beloved comedian's career that ought to be mandatory viewing for standup fans.
Critics Consensus: Stylized animation, dark storylines, and mature character development set Batman: The Animated Series apart in the crowded field of Batman adaptations.
Critics Consensus:High Maintenance's silly premise turns surprisingly insightful in its second season, offering a hopeful, generous view tinged with bittersweet melancholy that consistently avoids stumbling into sentimentality.
Critics Consensus: Double the dosage of dragons along with swashbuckling antics, The Legend of Vox Machina's sophomore season goes from strength to strength as a richly imagined adventure tale.
Critics Consensus: Leslie Knope runs for City Council while Parks and Recreation runs its own campaign as one of the very best sitcoms on television, making a persuasive case with consistent hilarity and an ample dose of heart.
Critics Consensus:Tuca & Bertie's superb second season is as vivid and sparkling as the first, diving deeper into its dynamic leads without losing any of its singular humor.
Critics Consensus: In its final season, Rectify endures as a vital and compelling drama, poignantly driven by a narrative that envelops its characters in complexity, humanity, and a bittersweet beauty.
Critics Consensus:Rectify's subtlety draws viewers in deeper during season three - and they continue to be rewarded with quality acting, compelling dialogue, and thought-provoking drama.
Critics Consensus: Going out not with a whimper but a chilling cackle, Evil's final season dishes out more deliciously twisted self-contained mysteries while confidently building towards its endgame.
Critics Consensus: The show about nothing tries on an overarching plot for a change and yields a riotous satire on television in the process, further solidifying its claim as master of the sitcom domain with observant humor mined from the mundane and uncomfortable.
Critics Consensus: Dark, charming and unusually thoughtful, Battlestar Galactica's third season continues to improve on the show's most addictive elements.
Critics Consensus: Intriguing, intelligent, and dripping with searing social satire, Back proves a welcome return for collaborators David Mitchell and Robert Webb.
Critics Consensus: Flush with vibrant performers and one of the best soundtracks on television, In Living Color is a refreshing spin on the sketch comedy format.
Critics Consensus: Expertly paced and given a rich emotional core by its outstanding ensemble, Toxic Town dramatizes an inspiring true story with compelling conviction.
Critics Consensus: A richly realized period piece guided along by writer-director Hirokazu Koreeda's characteristic empathy, Asura mines terrific drama from the joy and strife of family ties.
Critics Consensus:Servant's devotion to gothic absurdity pays off handsomely in a confident final season, with this singular series ending on a note of characteristically wry disquiet.
Critics Consensus: Romantic tensions and twisty plot lines come to a head to create even more chaos in the delicious political fantasy that is Scandal.
Critics Consensus:The Righteous Gemstones takes a bow with plenty of heavenly inspiration left in the tank, delivering a riotous final season that goes out on a holy high note.
Critics Consensus: A celebration of art and life through the eyes of a delightful curmudgeon, Painting with John is a surprising, intimate feat of TV joy.
These 10 series are just the thing to bring you from winter to spring this March, whether you are craving wars between gods, unlikely romantic comedies, badly behaved rich folk, or the corrupt getting their due. Catch our monthly binge guide below.
What it is: The gods are out to play — and out for blood — in this cult favorite series on Starz. Based on the fantasy novel of the same name by Neil Gaiman, American Gods follows recently released convict Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle), who’s employed by the mysterious Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane) as a bodyguard. Diving into a world of dark magic and gods new and old, it is soon revealed that Mr. Wednesday is on a mission to unite the Old Gods against the rise of the New.
Why you should watch it: Few series are quite as engrossingly strange and ambitious as American Gods, and that’s what has us hooked. It’s a timely commentary on the world we live in today but set against the backdrop of a dark and lurid fantasy epic. Season 2 premieres March 10.
What it is: Here’s a romantic comedy squarely for adults. Amazon’s very funny London-set Catastrophe shows what happens when a no-strings-attached week of sex between a visiting American businessman (Rob Delaney) and an Irish schoolteacher (Sharon Horgan) turns into an unexpected pregnancy, a move overseas, and a proposal. And that’s just in the first episode.
Why you should watch it: Co-creators and stars Horgan and Delaney perfectly blend comedy and heart in their utterly original spin on the classic sitcom. Plus, their airtight scripts full of rat-a-tat-tat dialogue are about as joyously quippy and naturalistic as they come. (Judging from the pair’s famous Twitter accounts, that comes as little surprise.) And did we mention the late, great Carrie Fisher co-stars? The fourth and final season premieres March 15.
What it is: Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) gets the leading lady treatment with CBS All Access’ hit spin-off of The Good Wife. Set one year after the events of that acclaimed series’ finale (and picking up on the morning of President Donald Trump’s inauguration), The Good Fight follows Lockhart after she’s forced out of her own firm and teams up with goddaughter Maia Rindell (Game of Thrones’Rose Leslie)and The Good Wife‘s Lucca Quinn (Cush Jumbo).
Why you should watch it: Sure, if you loved The Good Wife, you’ll love The Good Fight — but believe it or not, Baranski is even more astounding here and finds exciting new shades to the beloved Diane Lockhart. Season 3 premieres March 14.
What it is: The early aughts’ hit, boundary-pushing reality series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, gets a makeover of its own with this charming, three-time Emmy-winning reboot on Netflix.
Why you should watch it: If any other series captured the world’s collective heart over the last year like Queer Eye did, we haven’t heard of it. Yes, its main hook lies in the fashionable, fabulous, and heartwarming makeovers the Queer Eye guys give Georgia men (and the occasional woman), but you’ll stick around for the playful banter and true, deep friendship between the main cast of industry experts. It all packs a surprisingly emotional punch, so stock up on tissues! Season 3 premieres March 15.
What it is: Showtime’s Billions dramatizes the high-stakes world of Wall Street when Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti), a U.S. attorney, sets his sights on bringing down hedge fund manager Bobby Axelrod (Homeland‘s Damian Lewis) for insider trading and other illegal proclivities. Talk about one-percenters.
Why you should watch it: Giamatti has built a career on playing the everyman, and here, he’s fighting for him. The actor’s turn as the hard-hitting U.S. attorney would be reason alone to watch (scenes of surprise BDSM and all), but Billions also boasts a timely, engrossing premise and firecracker performances fromLewis, Maggie Siff, Condola Rashad, and a bevy of other supporters that meet Giamatti mark for mark. Season 4 premieres March 17.
What it is: It comes as no surprise that a series as sprawling and ambitious as Jane the Virgin has taken on many forms over the last four seasons, but the family-driven hourlong series begins when Jane, the titular character, is accidentally artificially inseminated.
Why you should watch it: More than just a star-making vehicle for the incomparable Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin is a dramedy like no other, rolling out bits of magical realism, vital cultural representation, female empowerment, and plenty of charm. It’s a series that wears its heart on its sleeve, and we can’t wait to see what its final installment has in store. Season 5 premieres March 27.
What it is: A small-screen adaptation of Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson’s graphic novel of the same name, Happy! follows a crooked, alcoholic cop-turned-hitman Nick Sax (Christopher Meloni) who inexplicably begins seeing his kidnapped daughter’s imaginary friend: a blue winged horse named Happy (voiced by Patton Oswalt). Together, they set out on a mission to find a Santa-dressed kidnapper on-the-loose.
Why you should watch it: “Happy” is one word for it, another is “weird.” Other words for it are “transporting,” or “hallucinogenic,” or “wild” — all meant in the best way. Unlike just about anything else on TV, Happy! demands your attention and promises a crazy ride. Season 2 premieres March 27.
What it is: We’ve seen the modern-day American layperson satirized to no end on the small screen, but we’ve never seen them with zombies. That’s where Santa Clarita Diet comes in. Sheila (Drew Barrymore) and Joel Hammond (Timothy Olyphant) are happily married real-estate agents living in the titular Californian town when Sheila unexpectedly becomes a bloodthirsty, flesh-craving, card-carrying member of the living dead.
Why you should watch it: Any excuse to watch Barrymore is A-OK in our book, but it’s even better when it’s a series as unique, fun, and — pardon the pun — biting as Santa Clarita Diet. Driven by its central mystery as much as it is its core cast of characters, it’s a suburban satire for all, not just fans of The Walking Dead. Season 3 premieres March 29.
What it is:Bill Haderstars as Barry Berman, a Midwestern hitman who, when traveling to Los Angeles for a job, unexpectedly takes an acting class and considers a career change.
Why you should watch it:Henry Winkler is gifted the kind of late-career role that the Happy Days TV veteran has long deserved in washed-up acting coach Gene Cousineau. (And he’s got the Emmy to prove it!) That in itself is reason enough to tune into Barry, but then there’s the title character himself. Hader has never been better as the hitman-turned-aspiring actor: circumstantially funny as a fish out of water, boasting leading-man gravitas as a morally torn hero, and even exuding an unexpected sex appeal as a kickass former Marine. Season 2 premieres March 31.
What it is: Selina Meyer is an anti-heroine for the ages as a former senator and now Vice President of the United States who curses like a sailor and handles the things her predecessor never bothered to attend to.
Why you should watch it: There are few comedic performances as decorated as Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ turn in HBO and creator Armando Iannucci’s Veep (a record-tying five Emmy wins for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the same role, to be exact). But still, she and the series seem to get better year after year. While Veep started out as a hilarious satire of the goings-on in our country’s capitol, it’s proven over the last few seasons to be more of a premonitory look at what’s to come in the West Wing — making it as relevant and darkly funny as ever. The seventh and final season premieres March 31.
Thumbnail photo courtesy Patrick Ecclesine/CBS; Isabella Vosmikova/HBO; Jan Thijs/Starz/Fremantle
Gather ’round, witches and warlocks: Netflix has ordered 16 new episodes of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, in addition to the nine-episode Part Two that is set to premiere on April 5, 2019.
Said creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa in a statement announcing the news, “Praise Satan! I’m so grateful to my partners at Warner Brothers, Netflix, Berlanti Television, and Archie Productions for supporting this darker vision of the world’s most famous teen witch. And I’m thrilled to be continuing to tell Sabrina’s chilling adventures with our incredible cast and crew, led by the unstoppable Kiernan Shipka.”
The new episodes will air in two parts (Parts Three and Four), and will begin filming in 2019. The series’ holiday special, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale, debuted on Dec. 14.
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$100,000 Pyramid: season 3(ABC) – Renewed The 100: season 6 (The CW) – Renewed (pictured)
12 Monkeys: season 4 (SyFy) – Cancelled(after fourth season) 13 Reasons Why: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed 2 Dope Queens: season 2 (HBO) – Renewed 48 Hours: season 32 (CBS) – Renewed 60 Minutes: season 51 (CBS) – Renewed
9-1-1: season 2 (Fox) – Renewed
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Castle Rock: season 2 (Hulu) – Renewed Castlevania: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
Celebrity Family Feud: season 4 (ABC) – Renewed Champions: season 1 (NBC) – Cancelled Chance: season 2 (Hulu) –Cancelled Channel Zero: season 4 (Syfy) – Renewed Chelsea: season 2 (Netflix) –Cancelled Chesapeake Shores: season 3 (Hallmark) – Renewed The Chi: season 2 (Showtime) – Renewed Chicago Fire: season 7 (NBC) – Renewed Chicago Med: season 4 (NBC) – Renewed Chicago P.D.: season 6 (NBC) – Renewed
Child Support: season 2(ABC) – Renewed Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: parts 3 and 4 (Netflix) – Renewed Chrisley Knows Best: season 7 (USA) – Renewed The Circus: season 3 (Showtime) – Renewed Class: season 1(BBC America) – Cancelled Claws: season 2 (TNT) – Renewed Cloak & Dagger: season 2 (Freeform) – Renewed Cobra Kai: season 2 (YouTube Premium) – Renewed (pictured) Colony: season 3 (USA) – Renewed Condor: season 2(Audience) – Renewed Corporate: season 2 (Comedy Central) – Renewed Cosmos: season 2 (National Geographic/Fox) – Renewed Counterpart: season 2(Starz) – Renewed Crashing: season 3 (HBO) – Renewed Craig of the Creek: season 2 (Cartoon Network) – Renewed Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: season 4 (The CW) – Renewed (for final season) The Crossing: season 1 (ABC) – Cancelled The Crown: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed Curb Your Enthusiasm: season 10 (HBO) – Renewed The Curse of Oak Island: season 6 (History) – Renewed The Curse of Civil War Gold: season 2 (History) – Renewed
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E Elementary: season 7 (CBS) – Cancelled (after final seventh season) Elite: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed Ellen’s Game of Games: season 2 (NBC) – Renewed Empire: season 5 (Fox) – Renewed The End of The F***ing World: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed Everything Sucks: season 1 (Netflix) – Cancelled The Exorcist: season 2 (Fox) – Cancelled
The Expanse(pictured above): season 3 (SyFy) – Cancelled; season 4 (Amazon) – Renewed
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Game of Thrones: season 8 (HBO) – Cancelled (after final eighth season) (pictured) Genius: season 3(National Geographic) – Renewed The Get Down: season 1 (Netflix) – Cancelled Get Shorty: season 3 (Epix) – Renewed The Gifted: season 2 (Fox) – Renewed
Girlboss: season 1 (Netflix) – Cancelled Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce: season 5 (Bravo) – Cancelled (after final fifth season) GLOW: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed Goliath: season 3 (Amazon) – Renewed The Gong Show: season 2 (ABC) – Renewed Good Behavior: season 2 (TNT) – Cancelled Good Girls: season 2 (NBC) – Renewed The Good Cop: season 1 (Netflix) – Cancelled The Good Doctor: season 2 (ABC) – Renewed The Good Fight: season 3 (CBS All Access) – Renewed The Good Place: season 4 (NBC) – Renewed The Gorburger Show: season 1(Comedy Central) – Cancelled Gotham: season 5 (Fox) – Renewed (for one final season) Grace and Frankie: season 5 (Netflix) – Renewed Grantchester: season 4 (PBS) – Renewed
Graves: season 2 (Epix) – Cancelled Great News: season 2 (NBC) – Cancelled
Greenleaf: season 4 (OWN) – Renewed Grey’s Anatomy: season 15 (ABC) – Renewed Growing Up Hip-Hop: Atlantaseason 2 (We) – Renewed
Grown-ish: season 2 (Freeform) – Renewed
The Guest Book: season 2 (TBS) – Renewed Gypsy: season 1 (Netflix) – Cancelled
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The OA: season 2(Netflix) – Renewed Odd Mom Out: season 3(Bravo) – Cancelled On My Block: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed Once Upon a Time: season 7 (ABC) – Cancelled One Dollar: season 1 (CBS All Access) – Cancelled One Mississippi: season 2 (Amazon) – Cancelled Orange Is the New Black: season 7 (Netflix) – Cancelled (after final seventh season) The Originals: season 5 (CW) – Cancelled (after final fifth season) Orphan Black: season 5 (BBC America) – Cancelled The Orville: season 2 (Fox) – Renewed Outcast: season 2 (Cinemax) –Cancelled Outlander: season 5 and 6 (Starz) – Renewed (pictured) The Outpost: season 2 (The CW) – Renewed Ozark: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed
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(Photo by Alfonso Bresciani/AMC/Sony Pictures Television)
The Quad: season 2(BET) – Cancelled Quantico: season 3 (ABC) – Cancelled
Quarry: season 1 (Cinemax) – Cancelled Queen of the South: season 4 (USA) – Renewed Queer Eye: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed (pictured)
The Rain: season 2 (Netflix) – Renewed
The Ranch: season 4 (Netflix) – Renewed Random Acts of Flyness: season 2 (HBO) – Renewed Raven’s Home: season 3 (Disney Channel) – Renewed Ray Donovan: season 7 (Showtime) – Renewed The Real Housewives of Atlanta: season 11 (Bravo) – Renewed The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills: season 9 (Bravo) – Renewed The Real Housewives of Dallas: season 3 (Bravo) – Renewed The Real Housewives of New Jersey: season 9 (Bravo) – Renewed The Real Housewives of New York City: season 11(Bravo) – Renewed
The Real Housewives of Orange County: season 13 (Bravo) – Renewed The Real Housewives of Potomac: season 4(Bravo) – Renewed
Red Oaks: season 3 (Amazon) – Cancelled The Resident: season 2 (Fox) – Renewed Reverie: season 1 (NBC) – Cancelled Rick and Morty: 70 episodes (Adult Swim) – Renewed Rise: season 1 (NBC) – Cancelled Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: season 2 (Nickelodeon) – Renewed Riverdale: season 3 (The CW) – Renewed (pictured) Riviera: season 2 (Sundance Now) – Renewed Room 104: season 2 (HBO) – Renewed Roseanne: season 10 (ABC) – Renewed thenCancelled RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars: season 4 (VH1) – Renewed Marvel’s Runaways: season 2 (Hulu) – Renewed Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes On Television: season 2 (YouTube) – Renewed
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Taboo: season 2 (FX) – Renewed (pictured) Take Two: season 1 (ABC) – Cancelled Taken: season 2 (NBC) – Cancelled Tangled: season 2 (Disney) – Renewed Teachers: season 3 (TV Land) – Cancelled Teen Wolf: season 6 (MTV) – Cancelled Tell Me a Story: season 2 (CBS All Access) – Renewed Ten Days in the Valley: season 1 (ABC) – Cancelled The Terror: season 2 (AMC) – Renewed This Close: season 2 (Sundance) – Renewed This Is Us: season 3 (NBC) – Renewed The Tick: season 2 (Amazon) – Renewed Titans: season 2 (DC Universe) – Renewed Timeless: season 2 (NBC) – Cancelled (following two-part finale) Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: season 2 (Amazon) – Renewed
Top Chef: season 16 (Bravo) – Renewed Tosh.0: season 12 (Comedy Central) – Renewed
Transparent: season 5 (Amazon)- Cancelled (after final fifth season) Travelers: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed Trial & Error: season 2 (NBC) – Renewed Trollhunters: season 3 (Netflix) – Renewed Truck Night in America: season 2 (History) – Renewed Turn: season 4 (AMC) – Cancelled Twisted Sisters: season 2 (Investigation Discovery) – Renewed
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Valor: season 1 (The CW) – Cancelled
Van Helsing: season 4 (Syfy) – Renewed
Vanderpump Rules: season 7 (Bravo) – Renewed
Veep: season 7 (HBO) – Cancelled (after final seventh season) (pictured) Veronica Mars: season 4 (Hulu) – Renewed Versailles: season 3 (Ovation) – Cancelled Vida: season 2 (Starz) – Renewed The Voice: season 15 (NBC) – Renewed Voltron:Legendary Defender season 8 (Netflix) – Cancelled
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Young & Hungry: season 5 (Freeform) – Canceled (after final fifth season and movie) Young Sheldon: season 2 (CBS) – Renewed You’re the Worst: season 5 (FXX) – Canceled (after final fifth season) You: season 2 (Lifetime) – Renewed You Me Her: season 4 and 5 (Audience) – Renewed
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We’ve come to the end of another TV season, and the big news is the surprising specials and new series that dominate the top 5 of our Spring-Summer TV Scorecard. Click on to learn more about those cheeky upstarts as we rank new and returning series and films on TV or streaming that premiered from mid-March through August by Tomatometer.
Seasons and films must have at least 10 reviews to be included. Certified Fresh scores indicate that the title has gotten a Fresh rating by more than 20 reviewers for series and more than 40 reviewers for TV or streaming films; in each case, at least five reviews must be from “Top Reviewers” to be Certified Fresh.
The final ranking reflects an adjusted score calculated based on the number of reviews a series has; for example, if one title has 10 reviews and a 100% score, while another has 45 reviews and a 99% score, the second title ranks higher because of the larger pool of critics’ opinions used to form the score.
Final Update:Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert ; America to Me, season 1; Aggretsuko, season 1; John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City; Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife; Hannah Gadsby: Nanette; Making It, season 1; and Random Acts of Flyness, season 1; Insatiable, season 1; The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time; The Package; Deep State, season 1; Archer: Danger Island; Alone Together, season 1; Disenchantment, season 1; Ozark, season 2; Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, season 1; Snowfall, season 2; One Strange Rock, miniseries; Ghoul, season 1; Orange Is the New Black, season 6; The Innocents, season 1; Ordeal By Innocence, miniseries; Bobby Kennedy for President, season 1; Crime + Punishment; To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before; Insecure, season 3
Critics Consensus:The Week Of suggests promise in further collaborations between Sandler and Robert Smigel, but its shopworn premise and listless execution aren't enough to recommend it.
Synopsis: Two fathers with opposing personalities come together to celebrate the wedding of their children. They are forced to spend the [More]
Critics Consensus: By deviating from its source material, 13 Reasons Why can better explore its tenderly crafted characters; unfortunately, in the process, it loses track of what made the show so gripping in the first place.
Critics Consensus:The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter wastes a promising premise and talented cast on a frustratingly uneven comedy that lacks enough laughs to forgive its narrative flaws.
Synopsis: The great hunter Buck Ferguson and his trusted cameraman Don set out for an epic weekend adventure to reconnect with [More]
Critics Consensus:Extinction has a few intriguing ideas, but they -- and some game performances from its talented stars -- are lost in the movie's muddled plot and frustrating pacing.
Synopsis: A man's home life starts to suffer when he has recurring nightmares about a destructive and unknown force. He must [More]
Critics Consensus:Fahrenheit 451 fails to burn as brightly as its classic source material, opting for slickly mundane smoke-blowing over hard-hitting topical edge.
Synopsis: In a future society where books are banned and burned, a fireman begins to read in secret and discovers an [More]
Critics Consensus:Sweetbitter fails to live up to its well-received literary source material -- or stand out from the many big-city coming-of-age television series that came before it.
Critics Consensus:Splitting Up Together tries to make light of divorce, but its commitment to genre tropes keeps it from being very fun or funny, despite the always charming Jenna Fischer's best efforts.
Critics Consensus: Lacking enough depth to fulfill its evident ambitions or enough excitement to work as a sci-fi action thriller, Anon lives down to its title in the most glumly predictable ways.
Synopsis: In the near future, private memories are recorded and crime has almost ceased to exist. But in trying to solve [More]
Critics Consensus: By failing to establish the credibility of its lead, Alex, Inc loses sight an appealing premise and strands a likable Zach Braff in a sea of wasted potential.
Critics Consensus:Like Father unites an alarmingly talented cast for a predictable rom-com that does nothing to counter the negative stereotypes surrounding the genre.
Synopsis: Left at the altar, a young executive takes her Caribbean honeymoon cruise with the last person she ever expected -- [More]
Critics Consensus: Fleetingly funny and all too relevant, Who is America? proves Sacha Baron Cohen still has something to say -- though its nihilistic approach may not be the right way to say it.
Critics Consensus:Deep State is dense with terrific actors and slick action, but it's disappointingly shallow in dramatic depth as it fails to get to the bottom of its characters or offer much insight into the geopolitical arena.
Critics Consensus: Though long-time fans may be frustrated by this slim diversion from Archer's main narrative, Danger Island gleefully colors outside the lines of 1930s serial tropes while incorporating many of the series' treasured jokes into a self-contained story.
Critics Consensus: Esther Povistky and Benji Alflalo's awkward charms and convincingly platonic chemistry work, though Alone Together's lack of urgency keeps its nihilistic tenderness from truly jelling.
Critics Consensus:Come Sunday benefits greatly from Chiwetel Ejiofor's central performance, which is often enough to lift an otherwise uneven drama.
Synopsis: Internationally-renowned pastor Carlton Pearson risks his church, family and future when he questions church doctrine and finds himself branded a [More]
Critics Consensus:Disenchantment showcases enough of Matt Groening's trademark humor to satisfy fans -- although the show's overall familiarity and disappointing willingness to play it safe may not bode well for future seasons.
Critics Consensus:Arrested Development finds itself back in familiar form, recapturing much of the cast's chemistry and comedic brilliance -- though it still doesn't quite live up to its own past.
Critics Consensus:Troy: Fall of a City never tries to reinvent the bronze wheel but succeeds in engaging audiences with both royal and divine intrigue, making for a highly enjoyable romp in the lost kingdom.
Critics Consensus: Fans will bask in the familiar glow from Station 19, though anyone who doesn't already indulge in the soapy delights of Shondaland may not feel the spark.
Critics Consensus:Lost in Space's production values are ambitious enough to attract sci-fi adventure fans, while the story's large heart adds an emotional anchor to all the deep space derring-do.
Critics Consensus: Engaging and entertaining -- if not particularly challenging -- Ozark's descent into darker waters is kept afloat by another superb turn from Laura Linney.
Critics Consensus:Kodachrome gains richer hues due to Ed Harris' colorful performance, which is enough to enliven a solid if predictable father-son road trip drama.
Synopsis: Matt, a struggling executive, finds his world turned upside down when his estranged father's nurse shows up unexpectedly in his [More]
Critics Consensus:Ibiza settles into an amiable comedic groove enlivened by its talented stars, even if the end result is fittingly somewhat narratively hazy.
Synopsis: Harper, a single 30-something New Yorker, lets loose on a business trip to Barcelona, leading to a flirty encounter with [More]
Critics Consensus: Compelling and disturbing in occasionally unintended ways, The Rachel Divide uses one woman's infamy to examine modern American race relations.
Synopsis: Rachel Dolezal, the former leader of the NAACP's Spokane branch, becomes a national news story when she is exposed for [More]
Critics Consensus:Roseanne's return finds the show's classic format, original cast, and timely humor intact, even if the latest batch of episodes suffers from sporadically uneven execution.
Critics Consensus: Though not as thematically rich as some of its geopolitical predecessors, Jack Ryan is a satisfying addition to the genre buoyed by exceptional action sequences and a likable cast.
Critics Consensus:Roxanne Roxanne belatedly honors its subject with a gripping character-driven biopic that serves as a primer for a trailblazing career while telling an often tragic story.
Synopsis: The most feared battle emcee in the early 1980s in Queens, New York, was a fierce teenager from the Queensbridge [More]
Critics Consensus:Safe boasts a superb cast -- albeit with some questionable accents -- who carry its soapy, mystery-laden drama just well enough to offer an entertaining diversion.
Critics Consensus: Heavier themes lead to higher stakes, but Supergirl gives its eponymous heroine and her fellow supers plenty of room for growth, creating a well-balanced, engaging third season.
Critics Consensus: Natalie Dormer charms in Picnic at Hanging Rock, a stylish retelling of an Australian classic -- though convoluted sub-plots at times distract from its otherwise tantalizing delights.
Critics Consensus:One Strange Rock contains enough visually sumptuous imagery to remind viewers of Earth's cosmic uniqueness, although this Will Smith-narrated series falls a stone's throw short of being a definitive account on the blue planet.
Critics Consensus:The Child in Time skillfully resists melodrama, trusting the finer details of its story -- and the actors bringing them to life -- to land with a slow-building, devastating impact.
Synopsis: Stephen Lewis, a successful author of children's books, is confronted with the unthinkable when his only child disappears in a [More]
Critics Consensus:Motherland pulls no punches, creating an honest and hilarious portrayal of parenthood buoyed by brilliant performances from its seasoned cast -- though for some viewers it may hit a little too close to home.
Critics Consensus: Far more traditional and straightforward than its unwieldy title, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society offers delightful comfort food for fans of period drama.
Synopsis: In 1946 a London-based writer begins exchanging letters with residents on the island of Guernsey, which was German-occupied during WWII. [More]
Critics Consensus:Condor never aspires to be a realistic depiction of spy games -- instead, it excels at evoking a uniquely 21st century brand of paranoia with its slick concept and propulsive pacing.
Critics Consensus: Brutality and humor continue to mesh effectively in a season of Orange Is the New Black that stands as a marked improvement from its predecessor, even if some arcs are more inspired than others.
Critics Consensus: The well-acted Dietland delivers timely and engaging social commentary with enough humor and scathing wit to make up for an occasionally scattered narrative approach.
Critics Consensus: In its second season, Marvel's Luke Cage delivers a satisfyingly complex narrative and a solid ensemble cast led by Alfre Woodard's standout performance as the archvillainess Black Mariah.
Synopsis: Hardened by years in foster care, a teenage girl from Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood decides that joining the all-boys wrestling team [More]
Critics Consensus: Heidi Thomas' Little Women miniseries offers a charming, intimate, and decidedly loyal adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's original story.
Critics Consensus: Despite uneven writing, The Last O.G. succeeds on the strength of Tracy Morgan's inspired performance and Tiffany Haddish's comic instincts.
Synopsis: Based on the best-selling novels by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling), Tom Burke ("The Musketeers") stars as private detective Cormoran [More]
Critics Consensus:Cargo takes a refreshingly character-driven approach to the zombie genre that's further distinguished by its Australian setting and Martin Freeman's terrific lead performance.
Synopsis: Stranded in rural Australia in the aftermath of a violent pandemic, an infected father desperately seeks a new home for [More]
Critics Consensus:Alex Strangelove offers a refreshingly insightful -- and fittingly adult -- take on teen sexuality enlivened by smart humor and a fearlessly progressive approach.
Synopsis: A high school senior plans on losing his virginity to his girlfriend. Things get complicated when he meets a handsome [More]
Critics Consensus: Peppering its pathos with acid wit, Succession is a divine comedy of absolute power and dysfunction -- brought to vivid life by a ferocious ensemble.
Critics Consensus:Westworld builds on its experimental first season, diving deeper into the human side of AI without losing any of its stylish, bloody glory.
Critics Consensus:Citizen Rose serves as a vehicle for #MeToo archivism through the bold reclaiming and rebuilding of one of the movement's complex characters -- Rose McGowan.
Critics Consensus: Delicately sketched but thematically rich, 6 Balloons rises on Abbi Jacobson's gripping performance -- and marks writer-director Marja-Lewis Ryan as a talent to watch.
Synopsis: Over the course of one night, a woman drives across Los Angeles with her brother, who is addicted to heroin, [More]
Critics Consensus: Five seasons in, Silicon Valley finds a new way to up the ante with tighter, less predictable plots, while still maintaining its clever brand of comedic commentary.
Critics Consensus:Set It Up follows the long-established outlines of the rom-com template -- and in the process, proves there's still substantial pleasure to be wrought from familiar formulas.
Synopsis: Two overworked and underpaid assistants come up with a plan to get their bosses off their backs by setting them [More]
Critics Consensus:Patrick Melrose is a scathing indictment of British high society's inherited dysfunction, cruelty, and the wealth that enables them. The Crown this ain't.
Critics Consensus: Earnest and endearing, Queer Eye's tear-inducing reality wiles continue to challenge social norms -- and, in its best moments, the Fab Five themselves.
Critics Consensus:Legion returns with a smart, strange second season that settles into a straighter narrative without sacrificing its unique sensibilities.
Critics Consensus: As a quirky courtroom satire Trial & Error continues to delight, but its best motion may be allowing the singular Kristin Chenoweth to shine in all of her whimsically manic glory as the titular Lady, Killer.
Critics Consensus:The Affair's captivating character study returns with fewer kinks than its previous outing, resulting in a more emotionally grounded season that regains much of the show's initial allure.
Critics Consensus:Cloak & Dagger blends soapy drama with superhero grit to create an exciting, surprisingly thoughtful addition to the genre -- even if it falls prey to a certain amount of narrative bloat.
Critics Consensus: Beautifully shot but dishearteningly relevant, The Handmaid's Tale centers its sophomore season tightly around its compelling cast of characters, making room for broader social commentary through more intimate lenses.
Critics Consensus: Masterfully assembled by Judd Apatow, The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling is an affectionate tour through the life and philosophy of the comic icon.
Critics Consensus:Preacher returns to its delightful debauchery, but with a steadier hand and better balance, elevating the drama without taking the edge off.
Critics Consensus:The Staircase -- in its newly expanded form -- offers a gripping, detailed depiction of the complex justice system, even if the overall narrative lacks objectivity.
Critics Consensus: A nearly unbearable slow burn, Sharp Objects maintains its grip with an unshakably grim atmosphere and an outstanding cast led by a superb Amy Adams.
Critics Consensus:Siren turns traditional lore on its tail with a unique, well-paced show that presents dangerous, violent mythical creatures in a surprisingly empathetic and exciting light.
Critics Consensus:Crime + Punishment shines a brilliant light on systemic corruption, building a case for change that's as upsetting as it is ultimately inspiring.
Synopsis: Amidst a landmark class-action lawsuit over illegal policing quotas, filmmakers use footage recorded over the course of four years to [More]
Critics Consensus:Elvis Presley: The Searcher delves into an American icon's early career with patience and skill, delivering a lengthy close-up look that should satisfy fans of all persuasions.
Critics Consensus: Charming, realistic, and focused on underrepresented communities, On My Block is the respite from stylized teen dramas you didn't know you needed.
Critics Consensus:Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind offers a poignant -- albeit tantalizingly incomplete -- peek behind the curtain of a brilliant performer's tragically curtailed life and career.
Synopsis: This intimate portrait examines one of the world's most inventive comedians. Told largely through Robin's own voice and using a [More]
Critics Consensus: Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw impress in A Very English Scandal, an equally absorbing and appalling look at British politics and society.
Critics Consensus:To All the Boys I've Loved Before plays by the teen rom-com rules, but relatable characters and a thoroughly charming cast more than make up for a lack of surprises.
Synopsis: A teenage girl's love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her life. [More]
Critics Consensus: Charged with energy, poise, and confidence, Pose pirouettes between artistic opulence and deliciously soapy drama to create a fresh new addition to Ryan Murphy's lexicon.
Critics Consensus: Seductive and surprising, Killing Eves' twist on the spy vs. spy conceit rewards viewers with an audaciously entertaining show that finally makes good use of Sandra Oh's talents.
Critics Consensus:Insecure returns for a third season as authentic and exuberant as the star who made it, but with an added layer of growth that keeps it moving forward.
Critics Consensus:The Tale handles its extraordinarily challenging subject matter with sensitivity, grace, and the power of some standout performances led by a remarkable Laura Dern.
Synopsis: Jennifer has it all, with a loving boyfriend and a great career as a journalist and professor. But when her [More]
Critics Consensus:The Americans' powerful final season pumps up the volume on an already intense show, concluding the complex series arc with epic familial conflict... and a high body count.
Critics Consensus: Well-crafted and compelling as ever, Better Call Saul's fourth season deftly balances the show it was and the one it will inevitably become.
Critics Consensus: Fearlessly led by its excellent ensemble, GLOW's second season adds a new layer of drama without sacrificing its self-effacing, delightfully silly humor.
Critics Consensus: Refreshingly frank and soberingly insightful, King in the Wild goes beyond the myth and finds the human being who inspired the world.
Synopsis: A portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. during the last years of his life, from his part in the Voting [More]
Critics Consensus: John Mulaney incisively describes his own befuddlement with the modern world in this uproariously funny deconstruction of manners, relationships, and religion.
Synopsis: John Mulaney relays stories from his childhood and "SNL," eviscerates the value of college and laments getting older in this [More]
Critics Consensus:Humans gains new sociopolitical dimensions in its third season, mining deeper insight from its sci-fi premise without diluting the potency of its well-drawn characters.
Critics Consensus: Ali Wong emerges a mother still perturbed in Hard Knock Wife, a hilariously honest hour of comedy that highlights the joys and oh boys of motherhood with fearless energy and just the right amount of squirmy detail.
Synopsis: Two years after the hit "Baby Cobra," Ali Wong is back with another baby bump -- and a torrent of [More]
Critics Consensus: After seven years of friendship, New Girl signs off with a thoughtful, funny final season that bids a proper adieu to its colorful cast of characters.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Kirby Dick examines the the $400 billion medical device industry and the profit-driven mindset that rushes implanted devices into [More]
Critics Consensus: Uniquely bleak for a Sanrio property, Aggretsuko balances biting corporate satire with adorable characters and absurdist comedy to create a surprising, insightful addition to the world of animation.
Critics Consensus:Mercury 13 offers yet another sobering example of how institutionalized sexism has thwarted countless dreams -- and held nations back from their full potential.
Synopsis: Women train and test for space flight in 1961, but their dreams are dashed when only men are selected to [More]
Critics Consensus:Bill Nye: The Science Guy is as edifying as it is entertaining, much like the scientist turned TV celebrity and political advocate himself.
Synopsis: Television personality Bill Nye attempts to restore science to its rightful place in a world that is hostile to evidence [More]
Critics Consensus: Building on earlier potential and extending character arcs throughout a solidly crafted third season, The Expanse continues to impress -- and shows no signs of abating.
Critics Consensus:Random Acts of Flyness' poignant political poetry plays in harmony with its frenetic absurdist humor to create a singular musical television experience.
Critics Consensus:America to Me confronts hard questions through candid moments in a Chicago high school, crafting an exploration of race and class relations in America that is as insightful as it is inspiring.
Critics Consensus:Making It puts a whimsical, refreshing new spin on reality TV -- one made even more fun by well-matched hosts Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman.
Critics Consensus:The Bold Type presents an aspirational yet refreshingly realistic portrait of young women's careers, friendships and love lives in a big city.
Critics Consensus: Shaking up traditional religious and musical iconography, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert is a sight to be heard, superbly infiltrating the classic source material with originality, rock legend star power, and soulful depth.
Critics Consensus:Dear White People's endearing excellence returns, but with an added layer of emotional maturity that enhances the show's powerful, relevant meditations on race relations in America.
Critics Consensus:Vida explores familiar familial ground from a fresh perspective to create an earnest and heartfelt take on identity and what it means to belong.
Critics Consensus:Cobra Kai continues the Karate Kid franchise with a blend of pleasantly corny nostalgia and teen angst, elevated by a cast of well-written characters.
Critics Consensus:Hannah Gadsby: Nanette brilliantly moves modern comedy into nakedly honest new territory, pivoting from dry humor to raw, powerful storytelling.
Synopsis: Australian comic Hannah Gadsby reshapes standard stand-up by pairing punchlines with personal revelations on gender, sexuality and childhood turmoil. [More]
The long of it: In 2017 alone, 487 scripted original series aired on television or streaming services.That’s a 69% increase from 2012 to 2017, according to tracking done by FX Networks Research. At the rate new TV is being made, 2018 should out-pace every other year with more than 500 original series airing.
The short of it: There’s a lot of TV. And though some of it is clutter, there is also more outstanding television being made than ever before.
As the Television Academy gears up to name the nominees for the 2018 Emmy Awards, recognizing excellence in an ever-more-populated field, there’s a heck of a lot more excellence out there than there ever was.
That’s why it seems like your Netflix queue is ever-growing, and it’s also why, come July 12, you should not be surprised if your favorite TV show doesn’t get a nod. There’s simply too much good TV out there to recognize it all. There are plenty of TV staples that will get recognized when the nominations are revealed (ahem, Game of Thrones), but Rotten Tomatoes’ TV team humbly suggests voters (and non-voters alike) also take a look at these exceptional, new, and heretofore overlooked-by-the-Emmys titles. And while some of the actors in these series may get a nod for their work, the series themselves probably won’t get nominated, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less deserving.
Who Stars In It: Tyler Alvarez, Griffin Gluck, Jimmy Tatro
What’s It’s About: A mockumentary in the style of docuseries like Making a Murderer, the show sees Peter Maldonado (Alvarez) trying to solve a case of vandalism in the teacher’s parking lot. The school expelled Dylan Maxwell (Tatro) for drawing penises on the cars, but Peter thinks Dylan’s been framed.
Why It Deserves an Emmy: First of all, just making a mockumentary with the gravitas of Making a Murderer over such an immature act is hilarious. But just like Dylan’s alleged crime, there’s more under the surface of American Vandal. Creators Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda have crafted a genuine mystery that keeps you guessing in each of its eight episodes. By the end, you’re truly invested in who drew the dirty pictures and feel emotionally attached to the characters involved. Now that’s some Emmy-worthy dramedy. – Fred Topel
Who Stars In It: Will Arnett, Aaron Paul, Alison Brie, Amy Sedaris, Paul F. Tompkins
What It’s About: Bojack Horseman (Arnett) was a washed-up sitcom star in Hollywoo, a world of humans and anthropomorphized animals mixed together. He’s managed to get taken seriously as an actor by playing Secretariat in a movie. His agent, the cat Princess Caroline (Sedaris), is trying to start a family while she manages Bojack’s crises. His rival, the dog Mr. Peanutbutter (Tompkins), is in a relationship with his biographer, the human Diane (Brie), and Bojack’s former roommate Todd (Paul) is is exploring his asexuality.
Why It Deserves an Emmy: If it were only a brilliant animated spoof of Hollywood, Bojack Horseman would already be up there with The Simpsons and South Park; however, there’s real drama in the animated series — and using animation, Bojack can tackle stories that live-action never could. The best example is its season 3 episode, “Fish out of Water,” which takes place entirely underwater with no dialogue. Season 4 had a strong contender in “Time’s Arrow,” which delves into the dementia-addled memory of Bojack’s mother (Wendie Malick), who is searching for her beloved Henrietta (whose face is scratched out of all the animation). It’s profound, heartbreaking stuff.
Creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg believes making the characters animals made some of the more somber material palatable. “I think if we were a live-action show, people might feel like this is a little too much, this is a little saccharine or a little too oppressive,” Bob-Waksberg told Rotten Tomatoes. “Because it’s this goofy horse face saying these words, it claws a new way in.” – Fred Topel
Who Stars In It: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Mary Mouser, Xolo Mariduena, Nichole Brown
What It’s About: This show revisits the main characters of The Karate Kid 30 years later, but from the perspective of high school bully Johnny Lawrence (Zabka). Losing the All Valley Karate tournament sent his life on a downward spiral, so he believes re-opening the old Cobra Kai dojo will give him purpose again. Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) is his nemesis, since karate’s been so good to him, Danielsan still trades off of his karate victory as a local hero and auto-sales tycoon.
Why It Deserves an Emmy: The idea of a Karate Kid reunion seemed at best like nostalgia and at worst like a joke. The fact that Cobra Kai is a genuinely good drama despite those expectations is a victory worthy of Daniel’s crane kick. Zabka and Macchio both get to play heavy drama about falling back into childish patterns. The younger characters tell a powerful Karate Kid story for teens of the social media generation. The bullied can so easily become bullies themselves, and women still have a lot of fight ahead of them in the worlds of sports, school, and love. Daniel’s daughter Samantha (Mouser) and Johnny’s students Miguel (Mariduena) and Aisha (Brown) could easily carry this series once the original Karate Kids retire. – Fred Topel
Who Stars In It: J.K. Simmons, Nazanin Boniadi, Harry Lloyd, Olivia Williams
What It’s About: The best of espionage and science fiction converge in this complicated and well thought-out freshman drama in which Howard Silk, a lowly cog in a quasi-governmental bureaucratic spy machine, discovers his organization guards the gateway to a parallel world.
Why It Deserves an Emmy: The premise of creator Justin Marks’ Starz drama is so complex it’s actually quite simple: J.K. Simmons is Patty Duking it as the mild-mannered government desk warmer Howard Silk and his considerably more Alpha “counterpart” who has recently crossed over from the unknown-to-Howard other dimension to warn that there’s a mole in the operation. A heavy rotation of scenery-chewing supporting cast members (some of whom are also, naturally, playing dual parts) add to this paranoid universe of cover-ups, germ warfare, spy chases, and double agents, which would be all the makings for a must-watch prestige drama if Counterpart were on a broadcast or basic cable channel. – Whitney Friedlander
Who Stars In It: Christine Baranski, Cush Jumbo, Rose Leslie, Delroy Lindo, Sarah Steele, Audra McDonald, Justin Bartha
What It’s About: A continuation of The Good Wife featuring Christine Baranski’s Diane Lockhart, the series follows an on-the-verge-of-retirement Diane as she loses her life savings and goes back to work at a new, all-black law firm.
Why It Deserves an Emmy:The Good Fight feels a lot like The Good Wife in all the best ways. It’s an eclectic ensemble with Baranski at the center and a rotating lineup of delightful guest stars. Season 2 has tackled liberal frustration with the Trump Administration (episodes are named after how many days the Celebrity Apprentice star has been in office) in a funny yet all-too-real way, along with everything from the serious (racially motivated police violence) to the silly (microdosing on mushrooms) with some smartly deployed F-bombs, too. This is streaming, after all. — Jean Bentley
Who Stars In It: Gina Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Yael Grobglas, Justin Baldoni, Jaime Camil, Ivonne Coll
What It’s About: A rom-com about an accidentally artificially inseminated millennial that’s both feminist and funny.
Why It Deserves an Emmy: For all the hoopla surrounding NBC’s This is Us – it’s multi-generational and sometimes super sad! – the thing people seem to be missing most about that show is that it’s frankly not that good once they get past their own empathetic crying. Instead, please consider CW’s Jane the Virgin. Creator Jennie Snyder Urman’s telenovela has all of the above, but it also doesn’t take itself that seriously when handling substantial topics like parental abandonment, moving on after loss, and career reinvention. Just here for the stunt casting and Twitter-friendly cliffhangers? Brooke Shields cameoed this season as a Hollywood A-lister named River Fields and guest star Rosario Dawson’s JR accidentally shot someone in the finale — prompting those of us at home to ponder #JRShotWho?, until next season. – Whitney Friedlander
Who Stars In It: Justina Machado, Rita Moreno, Isabella Gomez, Marcel Ruiz, Todd Grinnell, Stephen Tobolowsky
What It’s About: Three generations of a Cuban-American family are living together in Los Angeles under one roof: recently divorced military vet single mom Penelope (Machado), Penelope’s old-school mother, Lydia (Moreno), and her tween son and teen daughter, Alex (Ruiz) and Elena (Gomez).
Why It Deserves an Emmy:Roseanne might have gotten the ax, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any more multi-camera sitcoms deftly tackling the plight of working-class Americans. The re-imagining of Norman Lear’s classic addresses plenty of hot-button political issues (with stellar performances by Moreno, Gomez, and Machado, in particular), but, more importantly, it’s a show about a family that truly loves each other. Isn’t heart what 2018 needs most of all? — Jean Bentley
Who Stars In It: Sonequa Martin-Green, Jason Isaacs, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Mary Wiseman, Shazad Latif, Michelle Yeoh
What It’s About: The Star Trek universe returns to TV in a prequel to the Original Series. Martin-Green plays disgraced Starfleet officer Michael Burnham, the adopted sister to franchise favorite character Spock.
Why It Deserves an Emmy: With outstanding performances by a talented ensemble cast, singling out any one of them with an Emmy nod may seem as daunting as facing down a Klingon Bird-of-Prey in an away shuttle. The series, however, takes its drama seriously, enveloping viewers in a believably treacherous world that pays homage to earlier Star Trek TV efforts, while surpassing them with film franchise–quality effects and standout performance by Isaacs as the troubled Captain Gabriel Lorca. — Debbie Day
Who Stars In It: Jared Harris, Ciarán Hinds, Tobias Menzies, Paul Ready, Adam Nagaitis, Ian Hart, Nive Nielsen
What It’s About: A fictionalized account of a Royal Navy voyage to the Arctic in the 1840s offers a supernatural explanation for the disappearance of Captain Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition to find the Northwest Passage.
Why It Deserves an Emmy: Performances by Harris, Hinds, Menzies, and supporting players Ready, Hart, Nagaitis, and more provide a solid dramatic base for a harrowing adventure tale that transforms into a haunting horror story. The lavish event series, from showrunners David Kajganich (screenwriter of buzzy fall horror film remake Suspiria) and Soo Hugh, delivers award-worthy chills. — Debbie Day
We ranked new and returning series and films on TV and streaming from January 1 through mid-March by Tomatometer (seasons and films must have had at least 10 reviews to be included).
The final ranking reflects an adjusted score calculated based on the number of reviews a series has; for instance, if one title has 10 reviews and a 100% score, while another has 45 reviews and a 99% score, the second title ranks higher because of the larger pool of critics’ opinions used to form the score.
Critics Consensus: Visually polished but narratively derivative and overall muddled, Mute is a would-be sci-fi epic whose title serves as an unfortunate guide to how it might be best enjoyed.
Synopsis: In a Berlin of the future, a mute bartender's search for his missing lady-love takes him deeper and deeper into [More]
Critics Consensus:Living Biblically commits the cardinal TV sin of wasting the outline of an refreshingly unusual premise on broad, hammy acting and stock sitcom laughs.
Critics Consensus: Starring a disengaged Jared Leto and stuffed with gangster cliches, The Outsider never distinguishes itself enough to gain admittance into the inner circle of good yakuza pictures.
Synopsis: After World War II, an American POW stays in Japan and works his way through the rituals and hardships of [More]
Critics Consensus:Valor's attempt to highlight an often overlooked segment of the armed services is undercut by a badly judged blend of military action and melodrama.
Critics Consensus: Bland and uneven, Disjointed does more smoke-blowing than joke-telling -- though it's further proof that Betsy Sodaro is a comedian to watch.
Critics Consensus:Here and Now clearly has a point it wants to make, but a nebulous plot and unfocused character development stand in the way of its potential.
Critics Consensus:Wisdom of the Crowd wastes a talented cast on a formulaic procedural crime drama that wavers between modest returns and unintentional laughs.
Critics Consensus: Sugar-coated satire, Our Cartoon President wavers between scathing social criticism and softball slings in a way that's as unsatisfying as it is uncomfortable.
Critics Consensus: Formulaic to a fault, The Brave fails to bring anything new to the genre -- though high production values and a capable cast may be diverting enough for some.
Critics Consensus: Esther Povistky and Benji Alflalo's awkward charms and convincingly platonic chemistry work, though Alone Together's lack of urgency keeps its nihilistic tenderness from truly jelling.
Critics Consensus:Hard Sun's heady mix of narrative and visual flourishes buckle under a surfeit of clichés that ultimately weigh it down and leave the show a muddled mess.
Critics Consensus:Dynasty's revival retains enough of its predecessor's over-the-top allure to offer a glamorous guilty pleasure in its first season, even if it never quite recaptures the magic of the original.
Critics Consensus: Refreshingly lewd humor and funny, relatable characters are crammed into LA to Vegas alongside pacing problems and a dearth of punchlines, leaving this sitcom's high-flying potential stuck in an amiable holding pattern.
Critics Consensus:Final Space doesn't always hit its mark, but for those looking for a bite-sized intergalactic comedy it may prove an amusing diversion.
Critics Consensus: Despite moments of hilarity and a talented ensemble, discordant direction and a sloppy script keep The Polka King from truly singing.
Synopsis: The rise and fall of Pennsylvania polka sensation Jan Lewan, who ultimately fleeced millions from investors through his polka-related activities. [More]
Critics Consensus: With sporadic amusement and a handful of decent performances, The Resident drifts between medical melodrama and hospital horror with often unintentionally funny results.
Critics Consensus:Rise's admirable aim to inspire audiences with a grounded depiction of high school theater is undercut by stock characters and an off-putting presumption that it is more moving than it ever manages to be.
Critics Consensus:The Good Doctor's heavy-handed bedside manner undermines a solid lead performance, but under all the emotionally manipulative gimmickry, there's still plenty of room to improve.
No relationship is perfect. But for viewers tuning in for just 30 minutes to an hour, they can seem like they are.
Some comedies, like Amazon’s Catastrophe, Fox’s New Girl, and Hulu’s recently ended The Mindy Project, prove that the perils of dating, marriage, and parenting are far from the bill of Norman Rockwell–hued goods many of us were sold as children. The humor in those series, however, is something that critics clearly appreciate: Catastrophe is Certified Fresh at 100% for each of its three seasons; New Girl’s review count has dipped as its seasons have gone on, but dedicated critics have kept its score high; and Mindy has an 87% Fresh Tomatometer score.
Meanwhile, shows like NBC’s This Is Us, ABC’s black-ish, and former NBC series Friday Night Lights remind us that some couples do get relationships with marks almost as high as their Tomatometer scores if they’re willing to put in the work. Even teen dramas, like former Fox series The O.C. and Glee, are known for their devotion to the intricacies of relationships. And then there’s Homer and Marge Simpson, who have been going strong for decades and seem to have not aged a day.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’ve gathered a list of TV shows that offered the best portrayals of coupledom in all its funny, messy, emotional, complicated glory.
The series are arranged first by Tomatometer score, then alphabetically where the show does not currently have a series score.
Which is your favorite TV couple and why? Tell us in the comments!
Synopsis: The Pearson family's generational story unfolds in this emotional drama. In moments of love, joy, triumph and heartbreak, revelations emerge [More]
Synopsis: Told from the perspective of an unseen documentary filmmaker, the series offers an honest, often-hilarious perspective of family life. Parents [More]
Synopsis: Explore life, death and everything in between through the relatable, hilarious and brutally honest lens of the working-class Conner household, [More]
Synopsis: A sex columnist, Carrie Bradshaw, and her three friends -- Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda -- explore Manhattan's dating scene, chronicling [More]
Synopsis: Sensitive, introspective adults or self-absorbed, whiny yuppies? That debate still rages around this drama series about a group of close-knit [More]
Fall TV 2017 is done, and The Good Place has triumphed — at least, by straight Tomatometer score. We’ve updated our fall TV by Tomatometer scorecard each week all season, registering every new season and TV movie (starting September 1) that got at least 10 critic reviews.
The Good Place took the top spot with a 100% Tomatometer score on 28 reviews. It’s worth noting, however, that Alias Grace, the Margaret Atwood adaptation from Netflix, has a 99% score on 69 reviews — significantly more reviews than the 13-review average of the 20 series boasting a 100% final score for the season.
So while The Good Place is perched atop the list by straight Tomatometer score, it comes in fourth after Alias Grace, Mudbound, and Stranger Things by adjusted Tomatometer score, which takes into account the number of reviews that make up the final score. Season 1 of Mindhunter rounds out the top 5, proving Netflix’s dominance over fall TV by adjusted Tomatometer.
Just added (12/27):The Last Post, Bright, Peaky Blinders, Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Christmas, Gunpowder, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Great News, Exorcist, The Halcyon, Nathan for You, and No Activity
Critics Consensus:Marvel's Inhumans sets a new low standard for the MCU with an unimaginative narrative, dull design work, weak characters, and disengaging soapy melodrama.
Critics Consensus:Valor's attempt to highlight an often overlooked segment of the armed services is undercut by a badly judged blend of military action and melodrama.
Critics Consensus:Bright tries to blend fantasy, hard-hitting cop drama, and social commentary -- and ends up falling painfully short of the mark on all three fronts.
Synopsis: In an alternate present day, humans, orcs, elves and fairies have been coexisting since the beginning of time. Two police [More]
Critics Consensus:Wisdom of the Crowd wastes a talented cast on a formulaic procedural crime drama that wavers between modest returns and unintentional laughs.
Critics Consensus: Lacking an interesting plot or stimulating social commentary, Neo Yokio is a missed opportunity bound to bore or befuddle casual viewers and frustrate hardcore anime fans.
Critics Consensus: Formulaic to a fault, The Brave fails to bring anything new to the genre -- though high production values and a capable cast may be diverting enough for some.
Critics Consensus:Dynasty's revival retains enough of its predecessor's over-the-top allure to offer a glamorous guilty pleasure in its first season, even if it never quite recaptures the magic of the original.
Critics Consensus:Ten Days in the Valley's instantly tense delivery of familiar material leads to an intriguing character study and engrossing mystery despite naggingly untapped potential.
Critics Consensus: Jay Pharoah proves he's leading man material even if White Famous' satirical indictments of Hollywood -- though at times irreverent -- often feel outdated.
Critics Consensus:The Good Doctor's heavy-handed bedside manner undermines a solid lead performance, but under all the emotionally manipulative gimmickry, there's still plenty of room to improve.
Critics Consensus: Though perhaps a little uninspired, The Halcyon exercises well-worn period tropes with style, and its solid cast makes for watchable company.
Critics Consensus: A rocky start can't keep The Punisher from pushing the boundaries of Marvel's TV universe with a fresh take on the comics-derived action thriller.
Critics Consensus: Breezily entertaining, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World relies on its likable lead to carry its still-sketchy premise, hinting at deeper potential that's yet to develop.
It’s that time of year: leaves are falling, football is in season, and your favorite TV shows are headed back to the air after loooong summer hiatuses. Here’s a list of premiere dates for your returning favorites — and new obsessions! Time to get your DVR priorities in order.
Sunday, Nov. 19
The American Music Awards, 8 p.m., ABC
The Root 100 (2017), 9 p.m., FUSION TV
Search Party: Season 2 ()96%
10 p.m., TBS
The Problem With Apu (2017), 10 p.m., TruTV
Monday, Nov. 20
Love, Lies & Records, Acorn TV
David Letterman: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize (2017), 8 p.m., PBS ()
8 p.m., Disney XD
Elizabeth Smart: Questions Answered, 10 p.m., A&E
Sunday, Dec. 3
The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special, 8 p.m., CBS
Monday, Dec. 4
The Brokenwood Mysteries Season 4, Acorn TV
The Indian Doctor, Acorn TV
95th Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting from President’s Park (2017), 7 p.m., Hallmark
The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee (2017)94%
8 p.m., HBO