My Best TV 2019

7) The Good Place (NBC)

A family favorite, now that Benjamin has caught up to it as well.  It has that simple thing that makes great comedies work - a cast you care about in funny situations.  Its philosophical overtones have been very intriguing to Benjamin, who took a philosophy course this Fall.  Alison is a huge Kristen Bell fan and has grown to love all the characters.  I appreciate it's fast pacing, with the storyline not getting stuck in one place.  The AI character, Janet, deserves an Emmy for best supporting actress (comedy).

6) Marvel's Agents of SHIELD (ABC)

Once again, the best show on broadcast TV.  For fans of Joss Whedon's work, it is the best thing available that shows his influence.  It's another show with swift plotting and great characters.  It's occasionally had a hard time keeping up with the changes in the Marvel movie universe, but it's still done an excellent job of staying exciting and vital.  Ratings would probably be better if they had an occasional guest appearance by an Avenger or two, but they are either too expensive or highfalutin to do that.

5) Stranger Things (Netflix)

Great show, even as the kids age.  Adding a more significant role for Steve Harrington and Robin, centered on the ice creamery, Scoops Ahoy.  I love slips into alternate worlds, and the writers have done a clever job in slowly introducing us into their nightmare vision.

4) The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)

Great extension of Margaret Atwood's novel, as it moves uncomfortably close to our own reality.

3) For All Mankind (Apple +)

For those who like their alternate history super-realistic and done with precision.  One minor historical variation, the Russians landing first on the moon, and the ripple effects are amazing to behold.  One of them is shown above - women added in force to the astronaut core early on, spurred by the Russians landing the first woman on the moon.

My son, Gregory Strait, is the editorial colorist on this show.  The work he has done is amazing and adds significantly to the effects and feel of this show.

This streaming service, Apple +, came online at the same time as Disney Plus, and it has heavily overshadowed it.  Check out its array of programs.  It's $4.99 a month, but worth checking out.  The annual cost is $59.88, which may seem like a lot, but it is less than the cost for two or three people to have a meal at Olive Garden.

2) Game of Thrones (HBO)

The ending that I longed for (or close to it), although I do concede that the season was rushed, and needed more episodes to prepare the viewer for where the show was going.  I've read the books, some twice, and the ending was on cue as to where I think the author intended to go.  I don't mean specifically who becomes King, but to the geopolitical growth that occurred.  I look forward to George RR Martin completing the book series.

1) Watchmen (HBO)

Oh, my Lordy, did this show blow me away!  So much more than even an extension of the classic Watchmen graphic novel, it was a tour-de-force exploration of our country's racism and prejudices.  Regina King deserves every performance award ever made.  If you have HBO or access to it, you must not miss this show!



Honorable mentions: Servant (Apple +), Supergirl (CW), Orville (Fox - soon on Hulu), Superstore (NBC), The Cook Kids (Fox), all on HBO - Silicon Valley, The Righteous Gemstones, Succession, Barry, On Becoming A God in Central Florida (Showtime), Why Women Kill (CBS All Access), Castle Rock and The Act (Hulu), The Boys (Amazon Prime), Killing Eve (BBC America, Hulu), Doom Patrol (DC Universe), You and Russian Dolls (Netflix).

Yeah, I like streaming services.  Free country.  Deal.