Best Television of 2018

Television: America's past time. There's a lot of it out there. Streaming continues to carve out its niche, premium cable is still doing its thing, and network television is just barely holding my attention. The last few years have produced some excellent half-hour comedies with dramatic elements that most speak to me. Just one hour long drama here.

These are the shows making me think, laugh, and empathize.

10. American Vandal (Netflix, season 2)
Netflix! Why would you cancel American Vandal?! Welp, season 2 came back with a whole new school and set of characters and kept the momentum going. While season 2's faux true crime documentary may not totally live up to the first go around, there were some classic hijinks and satire abounded. Turd burglar!

9. Bob's Burgers (Fox, season 9)
Bob, Linda, Tina, Gene, Lousie. Love 'em all.

8. The Americans (FX, season 6)
The series ended just perfectly. Satisfying and believable. These Cold War killers provided one of the most interesting and nuanced families over the last six years of television.

7. Bojack Horseman (Netflix, season 5)
Just when I think this show is too wrapped up in itself, there's a perfect animal/human joke, or a moment of transcendence. The show continues to explore new and uncharted territory for any show, much less an animated comedy.

6. The Good Place (NBC, season 3)
Network television isn't totally dead! The Good Place is just so smart and interesting with an ever evolving plot and framework. Daring in itself but then it's all moved forward by a cast of characters I affectionately care for. Jeremy Bearimy!

5. Big Mouth (Netflix, season 2)
An animated comedy cartoon about puberty. And it has a lot of heart. What ya gonna do?

4. Atlanta (FX, season 2)
This show keeps me on my toes. Surrealistic while not straying far enough to lose my attention. Perhaps benefitted by the half-hour format where it consistently makes its point then moves no. A wonderful artistic pursuit for Glover.

3. Homecoming (Amazon Prime, season 1)
This was just fun to watch. A tight-knit story told with incredible pacing. Inventive cinematography throughout in addition to creative use of aspect ratio depicting past and present. Great acting, music, script. All the above.

2. Killing Eve (BBC America, season 1)
Yes to this show. Detective and serial killer track each other down. It elevates my already beloved British crime drama genre to the next level. (More thoughts here.)

1. Insecure (HBO, season 3)
All of the characters in Insecure are perfect. Well-rounded, funny, flawed, relatable, annoying. This show is just so fun to watch. Also the music.

Honorable Mentions (A bunch more, listed alphabetically)

Arrested Development (S5); Atypical (S2); Barry (S1); Bodyguard (S1); Better Call Saul (S4); Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S5); Dear White People (S2); Forever (S1); Glow (S2); Jane the Virgin (S4); Love (S3); Mozart in the Jungle (S4); New Girl (S7); Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat (S1); Silicon Valley (S5); Trial & Error: Lady Killer (S2); Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (S4)

Highly Anticipated (A few more, listed alphabetically)

The Assassination of Gianni Versace (mini-series); The Handmaid's Tale (S2); Sharp Objects (mini-series); West World (S2)