Top TV Shows of 2013
Choosing just 10 TV shows from over the year proved to be a harder task than I would have ever thought possible. Even limited to the conditions that A: It must be a scripted series, and B: That it cannot be a daily soap opera. Regardless of the difficulties, after much deliberation I came to this list! Now without further ado, let’s get started...
10. Banshee – Sky Atlantic – Not for the faint hearted, Banshee brought over the top action by the bucket load and continued to deliver in all ten episodes of its first series. Created by the previous show writer of True Blood, Alan Ball, Banshee, at its core, is a twisted love story, with an unnamed ex-con leaving prison after fifteen years and going to track down his girlfriend and the loot from his last heist. However, his girlfriend now having changed her name and married with two children lives in the small town of Banshee. Angry and rejected, the ex-con takes the identity of Sherriff Lucas Hood, who dies a day before he can take up the position of Banshee county sheriff. It’s an interesting premise with a host of cool characters, from “Lucas Hood” himself, to the bartender Sugar and the transvestite super-hacker Job. The show also features a European gangster known only as Rabbit and an Amish crime lord, Kai Proctor, who serve as the series returning antagonists. But the main drawing point is the action; from brutal realism with a crazy Albino to downright ridiculous scene with an RPG you can’t help but be entertained. However, depending on your taste this can also be the shows main sticking point as well as the fact that there are a lot of names/alias’ to remember. If you missed it, never fear, the first series is preparing to be show again, this time on Sky 1.
9. My Mad Fat Diary – E4 – Another series premier this year, and another hit. It is based on the novel My Mad Fat Teenage Diary by Rae Earl. It is based on her true story and follows the exploits of Rea who is struggling to return to teenage life outside the psychiatric hospital where she has spent the last four months, but sometimes you question why, out of all the other characters, she was the only one locked up.
This shows attraction comes from its ability to keep you laughing for a whole hour before tearing up in the last ten minutes. It handles the serious subject matters of teenage life without making them too difficult to watch. In some ways it is reminiscent of early Skins. But where this show wins for me, is its soundtrack. Set in the Nineties it has a whole host of brilliant tracks from Oasis, The Prodigy and the Beastie Boys...the only thing missing is some Nirvana or early Foo Fighters.
8. Misfits – E4 – Lets not sugar-coat it, the fourth series of Misfits would never had made this list. It was poor, with the only original character returning being the most boring of the bunch. Now they’ve combined the revamped cast from the previous series and one new member, with a series trademark wacky superpower, for the final series. Needless to say I was a little apprehensive, but as it is officially the final series and out of loyalty to the first three series I vowed I would see it through to the end. And I’m glad to say this show is back on form, it may not hit the heights of the original gang’s misadventures, but it no longer feels like a completely different show. It feels like the old Misfits in new skin. It follows a group of London teenagers who undertake community service as punishment for their various crimes. While out picking up litter they are caught in a freak storm which gives them superpowers related to their personality or their crime. The group are keen to continue their lives of alcohol and drugs normally; however they soon realise that they weren’t the only people caught in the storm and they now face a world full of “super-hoodies”, zombie cheerleaders and a fortune knitting granny. Some may argue that series 5 is repetitive with several themes repeated from series 1 but to me this makes it feel more like the old-school Misfits I fell in love with. However, as the series is yet to finish, some part of me still fears how the end will play out and whether it will be fitting for the five year series.
7. Arrow – Sky 1 – The first series of Arrow seemed like a mesh of individual stories tied together loosely by a small mystery. But all that was left on its head in the surprising season finale this year which left me buzzing for the second series and I’m glad to say, when it arrived in October, it didn’t disappoint. It’s a show based on the DC Comics Green Arrow and centres on billionaire Oliver Queen who is shipwrecked on an island for five years before he returns to fight crime in his city. For those that don’t know the original source material he’s basically modern day Robin Hood...but that is one of the beauties of the show, you don’t need to know the comics to enjoy it. With series 2 seeming to have a fully fleshed out story which shows no sign of lagging like its predecessor, as well as many more cameo’s from popular DC villains.... and an announced appearance by Barry Allen AKA The Flash (another DC hero who will be getting his own spin off show soon), there seems to be plenty of fresh material for this series to feast on.
6. Dexter - FOX – Although it’s final season may not have been the jewel in the serial killers bloody crown, it was the farewell to a character who has entertained us for the last eight years. And I think with few shows reaching this kind of milestone now, Dexter should be celebrated with one final hurrah. The finale was a letdown, but there are reasons for that; chiefly the producers controlling how the writers ended it. Dexter Morgan is a Miami Police Department Blood Splatter analyst who moonlights as a serial killer who preys on other serial killers and unlucky few that the justice system spits out. He has always had murderous tendencies, as we see in flashbacks, but he is trained by his adoptive father to use his urges only against others like him and to never be caught. Michael C. Hall (Dexter) and Jennifer Carpenter (His swear-heavy sister Debra) are brilliant throughout all eight series. Dexter’s monologues are extremely well written, giving us his perspective of events as well as treating us to some darkly devious humour. Even if you haven’t seen the show before I implore you to try it as soon as possible. The first four series are definitely deserving of a Netflix binge.
5. Luther – BBC 1 – What to say about Luther? Well, to start it has to be one of the best British police dramas ever to grace the small screen. Idris Elba (The Wire, Thor, Pacific Rim) plays DCI John Luther the damaged detective on the hunt for serial killers around London. I know it sounds cliché but stay with me. The difference comes with the actual killers who don’t shy away from violence. Some that come to mind are a masked killer aiming to become an urban legend and a killer under the bed. These killers actually do a better job at scaring you than any horror film will! There is also a strong humanity to Luther which is highlighted brilliantly by Elba. In a life where decisions aren’t always black and white, and the desire to take justice into your own hands can be overpowering, you understand why this man is on the edge and seems all too keen to fall off. This show shares both similarities and complete differences with Dexter, clearly one is about a serial killer and the other a cop, but they are also two very psychologically damaged people who take opposite paths to attain justice.
4. Homeland – Channel 4 – A show which shows best the benefits of a small cast, Homeland is blessed to have two very strong actors in its central roles: Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody and Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison make this show one of the most gripping and entertaining shows of the last three years. It centres on a gifted CIA analyst (Danes) who hears rumours of an American POW being converted to Islam for a terrorist strike on America. When a Marine POW (Lewis) is finally returned home after several years, she believes the convert to be him and will stop at nothing to find the truth. This show is gripping and intense, managing to keep viewers in the dark until a crazy plot twist is sprung onto us. This is a must watch for any fans of 24 and if that hasn’t convinced you, even Barack Obama loves it! The only downside could be considered that it suffers from every sequels terminal illness, with each successive series the writers begin to run short of ideas and the plots become less and less believable, but hopefully Homeland can hang in there a little bit longer.
3. Game of Thrones – Sky Atlantic – 2013 brought with it series 3 and with series 3...winter well and truly has come. Based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Game of Thrones is an unmatchable fantasy epic. It was almost totally unique when it arrived three years ago and now it seems to have inspired a host of similar shows e.g. Vikings, but none can hold a candle to the mythical land of Westeros. It follows the seven noble families, chiefly house Stark in the North and the houses Lannister and Beratheon in the south of Westeros as they struggle for the Iron Throne and the crown, while the exiled daughter the previous king gathers an army too return to claim what is rightfully hers. However, this series turns fantasy on its head, with magic being almost non-existent in the early series.
One of the best things about the show for me is the young talent. I don’t know of any other show where you will find such inexperienced actors and actresses performing so well e.g. Kit Harrington and Maisie Williams as Jon Snow and Arya Stark to name a few. But I can’t leave out Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister the unwanted dwarf with a wit as sharp as a sword, and Emilia Clarke who plays Daenerys Targaryen. The only downside to the show I could say that it is difficult to fall in love with any particular character due to the shows reputation of having such a high body count...most recently the infamous wedding scene. Oh and there are big wolves, which means it cannot get any better than that! Season 4 will be returning in March/April and will most likely follow a similar path to the books. However, for those who haven’t read them I can promise: New faces, Old faces, Dragons and another wedding...and we all know they are more dangerous than a battlefield in Westeros.
2. The Walking Dead – FOX – Anyone who knows me will know that part of me died a little when the barn was opened at the midpoint of season 2. That’s the thing about The Walking Dead, it’s incredibly entertaining, with visceral zombie killing gore a-plenty, but somehow it manages to make you look past the violence and see into the genuinely bleak world these characters inhabit. The plot is fairly self explanatory: Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) wakes up from a coma to find his family missing and his entire town overrun by “walkers”. From there the plot is simply his struggle to survive in a world where order has fallen and there are no right or wrong answers, only how they choose to survive. 2013 welcomed series 4 with a subtle yet effective bang. Fan favourites Glen (Steven Yeun), Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) build the foundations of the shows strong main cast. It is based on the comics of the same name by Robert Kirkman, also a writer on the show, but the story differs dramatically so it is still fresh for fans of the comic. Another thing that is so great about this show is that although after the long break between series 3 and 4, the attachment to these characters doesn’t seem lessened...even The Governor (David Morrissey) could be a sight for sore eyes. Season 5 was pretty much a certainty before it was announced after the season 4 premiere. This time though, there is very little indication of where the story will go next. The apocalypse doesn’t show signs of ending so I’m pretty sure there will still be zombies, and as long as there are zombies there will be survivors looking for a “safe” place to live...but safe would be boring, right?
1. Breaking Bad - Netflix – I know...predictable right? But this was the end! It had to be in here. Season 5 part 2 arrived this year. The final ever series of the show that gripped the globe six years ago...back when dorky Walter White had hair (the first time) and we found Jesse Pinkman childish and annoying. Well didn’t he change our minds? The story follows Walter White, a chemistry teacher who turns crystal meth cooker to help provide for his family after he is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. The synopsis may sound depressing, and is probably the reason why the show didn’t really gain much viewership until series 3, but Breaking Bad is just as morally ambiguous as other shows at the end of my list, because a lot of what is done is done to survive. I loved the first series. However, I couldn’t help thinking that series 2, and a large part of season 3, was a little underrated. This isn’t a show that will throw action at you every five minutes, it can sometimes involve long dull and pointless conversations...but that’s what makes it interesting, because the people are realistic. For me series 5 was where the show hit its high note and earned itself recognition on this list. If that hasn’t persuaded you to try it, the fact that the final episode drew 10.3 million viewers which is a massive improvement on its normal figures could persuade you. The only problem is no channels in the UK picked its final seasons up as they showed the first two at stupid-o’clock and no one watched it, so it’s only available on Netflix or DVD. Although, with its massive cult fan base, in the end I don’t think Heisenberg has to worry about people forgetting his name any time soon.
9. My Mad Fat Diary – E4 – Another series premier this year, and another hit. It is based on the novel My Mad Fat Teenage Diary by Rae Earl. It is based on her true story and follows the exploits of Rea who is struggling to return to teenage life outside the psychiatric hospital where she has spent the last four months, but sometimes you question why, out of all the other characters, she was the only one locked up.
This shows attraction comes from its ability to keep you laughing for a whole hour before tearing up in the last ten minutes. It handles the serious subject matters of teenage life without making them too difficult to watch. In some ways it is reminiscent of early Skins. But where this show wins for me, is its soundtrack. Set in the Nineties it has a whole host of brilliant tracks from Oasis, The Prodigy and the Beastie Boys...the only thing missing is some Nirvana or early Foo Fighters.
8. Misfits – E4 – Lets not sugar-coat it, the fourth series of Misfits would never had made this list. It was poor, with the only original character returning being the most boring of the bunch. Now they’ve combined the revamped cast from the previous series and one new member, with a series trademark wacky superpower, for the final series. Needless to say I was a little apprehensive, but as it is officially the final series and out of loyalty to the first three series I vowed I would see it through to the end. And I’m glad to say this show is back on form, it may not hit the heights of the original gang’s misadventures, but it no longer feels like a completely different show. It feels like the old Misfits in new skin. It follows a group of London teenagers who undertake community service as punishment for their various crimes. While out picking up litter they are caught in a freak storm which gives them superpowers related to their personality or their crime. The group are keen to continue their lives of alcohol and drugs normally; however they soon realise that they weren’t the only people caught in the storm and they now face a world full of “super-hoodies”, zombie cheerleaders and a fortune knitting granny. Some may argue that series 5 is repetitive with several themes repeated from series 1 but to me this makes it feel more like the old-school Misfits I fell in love with. However, as the series is yet to finish, some part of me still fears how the end will play out and whether it will be fitting for the five year series.
7. Arrow – Sky 1 – The first series of Arrow seemed like a mesh of individual stories tied together loosely by a small mystery. But all that was left on its head in the surprising season finale this year which left me buzzing for the second series and I’m glad to say, when it arrived in October, it didn’t disappoint. It’s a show based on the DC Comics Green Arrow and centres on billionaire Oliver Queen who is shipwrecked on an island for five years before he returns to fight crime in his city. For those that don’t know the original source material he’s basically modern day Robin Hood...but that is one of the beauties of the show, you don’t need to know the comics to enjoy it. With series 2 seeming to have a fully fleshed out story which shows no sign of lagging like its predecessor, as well as many more cameo’s from popular DC villains.... and an announced appearance by Barry Allen AKA The Flash (another DC hero who will be getting his own spin off show soon), there seems to be plenty of fresh material for this series to feast on.
6. Dexter - FOX – Although it’s final season may not have been the jewel in the serial killers bloody crown, it was the farewell to a character who has entertained us for the last eight years. And I think with few shows reaching this kind of milestone now, Dexter should be celebrated with one final hurrah. The finale was a letdown, but there are reasons for that; chiefly the producers controlling how the writers ended it. Dexter Morgan is a Miami Police Department Blood Splatter analyst who moonlights as a serial killer who preys on other serial killers and unlucky few that the justice system spits out. He has always had murderous tendencies, as we see in flashbacks, but he is trained by his adoptive father to use his urges only against others like him and to never be caught. Michael C. Hall (Dexter) and Jennifer Carpenter (His swear-heavy sister Debra) are brilliant throughout all eight series. Dexter’s monologues are extremely well written, giving us his perspective of events as well as treating us to some darkly devious humour. Even if you haven’t seen the show before I implore you to try it as soon as possible. The first four series are definitely deserving of a Netflix binge.
5. Luther – BBC 1 – What to say about Luther? Well, to start it has to be one of the best British police dramas ever to grace the small screen. Idris Elba (The Wire, Thor, Pacific Rim) plays DCI John Luther the damaged detective on the hunt for serial killers around London. I know it sounds cliché but stay with me. The difference comes with the actual killers who don’t shy away from violence. Some that come to mind are a masked killer aiming to become an urban legend and a killer under the bed. These killers actually do a better job at scaring you than any horror film will! There is also a strong humanity to Luther which is highlighted brilliantly by Elba. In a life where decisions aren’t always black and white, and the desire to take justice into your own hands can be overpowering, you understand why this man is on the edge and seems all too keen to fall off. This show shares both similarities and complete differences with Dexter, clearly one is about a serial killer and the other a cop, but they are also two very psychologically damaged people who take opposite paths to attain justice.
4. Homeland – Channel 4 – A show which shows best the benefits of a small cast, Homeland is blessed to have two very strong actors in its central roles: Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody and Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison make this show one of the most gripping and entertaining shows of the last three years. It centres on a gifted CIA analyst (Danes) who hears rumours of an American POW being converted to Islam for a terrorist strike on America. When a Marine POW (Lewis) is finally returned home after several years, she believes the convert to be him and will stop at nothing to find the truth. This show is gripping and intense, managing to keep viewers in the dark until a crazy plot twist is sprung onto us. This is a must watch for any fans of 24 and if that hasn’t convinced you, even Barack Obama loves it! The only downside could be considered that it suffers from every sequels terminal illness, with each successive series the writers begin to run short of ideas and the plots become less and less believable, but hopefully Homeland can hang in there a little bit longer.
3. Game of Thrones – Sky Atlantic – 2013 brought with it series 3 and with series 3...winter well and truly has come. Based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Game of Thrones is an unmatchable fantasy epic. It was almost totally unique when it arrived three years ago and now it seems to have inspired a host of similar shows e.g. Vikings, but none can hold a candle to the mythical land of Westeros. It follows the seven noble families, chiefly house Stark in the North and the houses Lannister and Beratheon in the south of Westeros as they struggle for the Iron Throne and the crown, while the exiled daughter the previous king gathers an army too return to claim what is rightfully hers. However, this series turns fantasy on its head, with magic being almost non-existent in the early series.
One of the best things about the show for me is the young talent. I don’t know of any other show where you will find such inexperienced actors and actresses performing so well e.g. Kit Harrington and Maisie Williams as Jon Snow and Arya Stark to name a few. But I can’t leave out Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister the unwanted dwarf with a wit as sharp as a sword, and Emilia Clarke who plays Daenerys Targaryen. The only downside to the show I could say that it is difficult to fall in love with any particular character due to the shows reputation of having such a high body count...most recently the infamous wedding scene. Oh and there are big wolves, which means it cannot get any better than that! Season 4 will be returning in March/April and will most likely follow a similar path to the books. However, for those who haven’t read them I can promise: New faces, Old faces, Dragons and another wedding...and we all know they are more dangerous than a battlefield in Westeros.
2. The Walking Dead – FOX – Anyone who knows me will know that part of me died a little when the barn was opened at the midpoint of season 2. That’s the thing about The Walking Dead, it’s incredibly entertaining, with visceral zombie killing gore a-plenty, but somehow it manages to make you look past the violence and see into the genuinely bleak world these characters inhabit. The plot is fairly self explanatory: Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) wakes up from a coma to find his family missing and his entire town overrun by “walkers”. From there the plot is simply his struggle to survive in a world where order has fallen and there are no right or wrong answers, only how they choose to survive. 2013 welcomed series 4 with a subtle yet effective bang. Fan favourites Glen (Steven Yeun), Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) build the foundations of the shows strong main cast. It is based on the comics of the same name by Robert Kirkman, also a writer on the show, but the story differs dramatically so it is still fresh for fans of the comic. Another thing that is so great about this show is that although after the long break between series 3 and 4, the attachment to these characters doesn’t seem lessened...even The Governor (David Morrissey) could be a sight for sore eyes. Season 5 was pretty much a certainty before it was announced after the season 4 premiere. This time though, there is very little indication of where the story will go next. The apocalypse doesn’t show signs of ending so I’m pretty sure there will still be zombies, and as long as there are zombies there will be survivors looking for a “safe” place to live...but safe would be boring, right?
1. Breaking Bad - Netflix – I know...predictable right? But this was the end! It had to be in here. Season 5 part 2 arrived this year. The final ever series of the show that gripped the globe six years ago...back when dorky Walter White had hair (the first time) and we found Jesse Pinkman childish and annoying. Well didn’t he change our minds? The story follows Walter White, a chemistry teacher who turns crystal meth cooker to help provide for his family after he is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. The synopsis may sound depressing, and is probably the reason why the show didn’t really gain much viewership until series 3, but Breaking Bad is just as morally ambiguous as other shows at the end of my list, because a lot of what is done is done to survive. I loved the first series. However, I couldn’t help thinking that series 2, and a large part of season 3, was a little underrated. This isn’t a show that will throw action at you every five minutes, it can sometimes involve long dull and pointless conversations...but that’s what makes it interesting, because the people are realistic. For me series 5 was where the show hit its high note and earned itself recognition on this list. If that hasn’t persuaded you to try it, the fact that the final episode drew 10.3 million viewers which is a massive improvement on its normal figures could persuade you. The only problem is no channels in the UK picked its final seasons up as they showed the first two at stupid-o’clock and no one watched it, so it’s only available on Netflix or DVD. Although, with its massive cult fan base, in the end I don’t think Heisenberg has to worry about people forgetting his name any time soon.
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