Geofferson

As we did in 2014 and 2015 - and in conjunction with the current Top 10 thread in Movie Talk - creating this placeholder thread to capture our Top 10 lists for the 2016 TV season that was.

This can include shows that air on TV along with the various streaming platforms. For those that have finalized their lists this year, please feel free to share. For those that haven't yet, let's try to use this final week to do so.

Updated with my entries:

1. The People vs O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
2. The Americans (FX)
3. Atlanta (FX)
4. Better Call Saul (AMC)
5. Stranger Things (Netflix)
6. This is Us (NBC)
7. The Night Manager (AMC)
8. The Girlfriend Experience (Starz)
9. Animal Kingdom (TNT)
10. The Exorcist (FOX)

Honorable Mention: Quarry (Cinemax)
Disclaimer (shows not yet watched): Rectify, Better Things, Halt and Catch Fire, You're the Worst, Mr. Robot, The Affair, Masters of Sex, plus a variety of streaming content.

Osiris3657

1. The Americans (Season 4)
2. American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson (Miniseries)
3. Better Call Saul (Season 2)
4. Westworld (Season 1)
5. Bosch (Season 2)
6. Daredevil (Season 2)
7. Game of Thrones (Season 6)
8. Turn: Washington's Spies (Season 3)
9. The Strain (Season 3)
10. The Walking Dead (Season 6/Season 7)

mphtrilogy

This is a work in progress

Better call saul amc
This is us nbc
American crime story oj fx
The affair sho
Stranger things netflix
Bosch amazon
Orange netflix
Fargo fx
Goldbergs abc
Silicon valley hbo
Westworld hbo
Game of thrones hbo

Hon mention
The night manager amc
The oa netflix
Goliath amazon
Fleabag amazon
The girlfriend experience starz
Flesh and bone starz
Luke cage netflix
Poldark pbs catching up on amazon
The americans fx

DJariya

1. ESPN 30 for 30: OJ: Made in America (ABC/ESPN)
2. The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story (FX)
3. Westworld (HBO)
4. Animal Kingdom (TNT)
5. Black Sails (Starz)
6. The Magicians (SyFy)
7. The Night Manager (AMC)
8. This is US (NBC) -- Even though only 10 episodes have aired
9. The Exorcist (FOX)
10. Bates Motel (A&E)

There a bunch of others that I think are good, but not the best. Also, a bunch that I haven't finished the seasons or aren't caught up with.

DJariya

FYI,
Fargo didn't air in 2016. Season 2 aired Fall 2015

cleaver

1. Game of Thrones
2. 30 for 30
3. People vs OJ Simpson
4. Person of Interest
5. The Americans
6. Westworld
7. Animal Kingdom
8. The Magicians
9. Halt and Catch Fire
10. Vikings

Honorable mention: The Night Manager, Broad City
Show I wish counted: One Punch Man
Disclaimer: I watched Battle of the Bastards for the 1st time last night so it's fresh

Raul3

In no order:

- The Americans
- Westworld
- Game of Thrones
- The Affair
- Stranger Things
- Silicon Valley
- This is US
- The OA
- ????

TWD and The Simpsons maybe.

PhantomStranger

One-Punch Man is a hilarious deconstruction of superhero tropes. It's amazing it came out of Japan and not America.

The Questyen

I watch way too many shows. I could easily make a top 40 of shows I love.

1. Game of Thrones
2. Westworld
3. Stranger Things
4. Black Mirror
5. Orange is the New Black
6. Bojack Horseman
7. Happy Valley
8. Broad City
9. Fresh Off the Boat
10. Girls

Deftones

Stranger Things
Westworld
Game of Thrones
Silicon Valley
People Vs. OJ
Person of Interest
Bosch
Better Call Saul
You're the Worst
The Detour

honorable mention: Vice Principals, Ash vs Evil Dead

PhantomStranger

1. The Magicians (Syfy) - This is my idea of fantasy television aimed at adults done correctly, with a verve and passion you rarely get from the medium in genre material. Cross the Chronicles of Narnia with an adult Harry Potter framework, the result is one of the more vibrant shows in recent memory.

2. The Night Manager (AMC) - An absolutely taut spy thriller with nigh brilliant performances by its leads, Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston. Female lead Elizabeth Debicki is a star waiting to happen.

3. The Exorcist (Fox) - This series turned out far better than my expectations. One of the best horror shows of the past decade, its crisp pacing and wild reveals surprised even me. Fox needs to figure out a way to bring it back despite anemic ratings. The best thing about this new take on The Exorcist is its humanity, often lacking in supernatural drama.

4. The Flash (The CW) - It's still the standard by which all other superhero shows on television are measured. This season two wasn't the unqualified success of season one, but Flash has more going for it than most other shows. Flash is pure fanboy heaven at its best.

5. Animal Kingdom (TNT) - A gritty drama that mixes the Sopranos with Point Break.

6. Pitch (Fox) - A far more nuanced peek into the life of a MLB player and the game than could have been expected. Pitch does require a huge suspension of disbelief accepting its main premise but its very likable cast makes up for that deficiency.

7. Search Party (TBS) - This is one of the unsung gems of 2016. The serialized comedy starts off a bit slowly but gets funnier and funnier as its central mystery unfolds. A couple of moments are some of the funniest I've seen on television in years. It is classic binge viewing at its finest, meant to be rapidly consumed.

8. Falling Water (USA) - The opening episodes may have been too cryptic but Falling Water is an intriguing series bursting with promise.

9. Game of Thrones (HBO) - I had to include GOT as it continues to be compelling television, season after season. The HBO series has set such a lofty standard during its run that this most recent season has to fare against itself, falling a bit short from earlier seasons.

10. The Americans (FX) - This is a much different kind of drama than anything else on television. Ambivalent protagonists live in a brutal world of grey morality. The Americans isn't for everyone, which is fine.

Honorable mentions: No Tomorrow (CW), Supergirl (CBS), Ash Vs. Evil Dead (STARZ), iZombie (CW), American Ninja Warrior (NBC)

chrisih8u

I like these threads. I havent even heard of some of the shows mentioned so far so it's good to get some insight from people who like some of the same shows as me. In no particular order.

Game of Thrones
Daredevil
The Flash
House of Cards
Supernatural
Billions
Marvels Agents of Shield
People vs OJ Simpson
Better Call Saul
Stranger Things

Geofferson

Never even heard of this, but sounds like my cup of tea so will definitely check this out. Plus, I see Michael Showalter is part of the creative team.

Lifepawn

Black Sails S3 - One of the best shows ever got better in S3.

Better Call Saul S2 - Squat Cobbler.

Dark Matter S2 - Was surprised how much I liked S1 and then surprised again with S2.

Game of Thrones S6 - Made me realize I didn't really like S2,S3,S4,S5 that much as seasons.

Hell on Wheels S4 - Final season to one of my favorite shows.

Outlander S2 - The production values alone warrant this shows place on my list.

Stranger Things S1 - I had the exact same wallpaper as Will Byers when I was his age.

Supernatural S11 - S10 was one of their worst seasons but S11 is one of their best.

Turn S3 - Mostly I like seeing the time period get used for a show.

Westworld S1 - A new favorite. Great first season. Can't wait to see where this show goes now.

hdnmickey

1. This Is Us
2. The People vs. OJ Simpson
3. The Night Manager
4. Black Sails
5. Ash Vs. Evil Dead
6. Game Of Thrones
7. Turn
8. Outlander
9. The Good Place
10. The Walking Dead

Coral

In no particular order (and still a work in progress):

Narcos (surprised no one even had it on their list yet)
Better Call Saul
You're the Worst
Silicon Valley
Veep
Halt and Catch Fire
Happy Valley
The Missing
Red Oaks (another one not mentioned?)
Hap and Leonard

EDIT: Decided to add Honourable mentions:

Casual, Broad City, Brooklyn 99, Startup, Baskets.

PhantomStranger

The one caveat I'll throw on my list is that I tend to save most premium cable shows for Blu-ray viewing, so I am usually a year or two behind on the shows from Starz and Showtime. I caught three episodes of Westworld before deciding to wait until it hit home video for the entire season.

I watch a fairly comprehensive schedule of regular cable and broadcast shows, so if a show is missing from my list there are good reasons why I didn't feel it was worthy in 2016.

PhantomStranger

TBS has been running marathons of all their shows this week. It's a great way to catch up with programs you may have missed. Wrecked is another comedy from the channel worth catching.

skatefan20

1) Presidential Election night coverage - CNN, ABC, NBC/MSNBC, CBS all in denial. hilarious.
2) Cubs/Indians World Series, Game 7 - no fan of either team, but thrilling.
3) Outlander
4) Jane the Virgin
5) Angie Tribeca
6) The Middle
7) BrainDead/The Good Wife
8) Search Party
9) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
10)Designated Survivor

Gave up on so many new shows after the 2nd airing, I probably need to do one of those binge-a-thons.

DJariya

I'm surprised that OJ Made in America didn't make any of your top 10 lists. Unless you're thinking of only scripted.

It was only a miniseries and a 5-part documentary, but I thought those 7 hours were some of the most riveting TV of the year.


Also, I watch and like Game of Thrones, but I think the show is a little too complex with too many characters for me to appreciate it as some of the best of this year. Don't get me wrong, there were some pretty great episodes from this past season. But, I found that I had to read recaps and look up character names practically all the time to figure out plot points.

Red Dog

Off the top of my head, and seeing the shows already posted.

OJ
Fargo
Americans
Better Call Saul
Atlanta
Black Mirror
Narcos
Bosch
The Crown
Bojack Horseman
11.22.63

DJariya

Fargo didn't air in 2016

Season 2 aired from October to December of 2015

cleaver

It made DJariya's and mine

PhantomStranger

I'll step forward and admit the subject matter doesn't interest me. Having lived through the O.J. experience the first time, once was enough.

Game of Thrones requires a real commitment from the viewer. It's like any long-running, serialized story that demands constant attention. That is not for everyone.

MrTerrific

1. Game of Thrones
2. Halt and Catch Fire
3. Rectify
4. Better Call Saul
5. The Expanse (started at the end of 2015, but most aired in 2016)
6. Black Mirror
7. One Mississippi
8. Daredevil
9. Stranger Things
10. Silicon Valley

No specific order. Haven't watched Westworld yet, but cannot wait to see it.