2017 saw some strong new television offerings (although network TV is still struggling a bit to keep up with streaming and cable services). That doesn’t mean there wasn’t a lot out there worthy of your binge time and without further adieu, here are my Top Ten New Shows Of 2017.
10. Riverdale (Premiere Date: January 26, 2017): I almost forgot that the first season of Riverdale premiered on The CW in late January of 2017 but thankfully I did because the show proved to fill the gap left by such shows as Gossip Girl as being instantly addicting and watchable. The dark take on the beloved Archie Comics works because the ensemble is strong and it actually surpasses its conventions of just being guilty pleasure TV. The first season mystery is strong and at only 13 episodes, it’s extremely focused on a show that is aimed at young adult viewers. Season 2, which premiered in October of 2017, has had its faults but it’s still intriguing and worthy of your attention. Riverdale didn’t premiere too strong out the gate but The CW’s decision to stream the first season on Netflix over the summer led to many people binging it for the first time which led to a solid increase in ratings for the season 2 premiere.
9. The Good Doctor (Premiere Date: September 25, 2017): The Fall TV season has only seen one true hit breakout on network TV and that’s The Good Doctor. The initial reviews were mixed for the medical drama but it has emerged as the highest-rated new drama of the season and has truly resonated with viewers. My initial decision to watch it was solely based on its lead, Freddie Highmore, who amazed for five straight seasons on Bates Motel. He’s definitely the shows strongest selling point as he gives a top-notch performance as Shaun Murphy, a young surgical assistant with autism and savant syndrome. His performance has led to him receiving a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series and the honesty of his portrayal has made The Good Doctor one of those water cooler shows in the same vein as This Is Us. It would be easy to just rely on Highmore but the supporting cast has shined in the most recent episodes and has made the show a true ensemble. ABC is also pretty happy as it has saved the 10:00 PM Monday slot that has been an issue for them since Castle left the air. Network TV might seem like it’s going an extinct but shows like The Good Doctor make a strong case that there is still life left in it.
8. 13 Reasons Why (Premiere Date: March 31, 2017): What I thought would be an overwrought teen melodrama, 13 Reasons Why became instantly addicting and also a poignant take on depression and teen suicide. The series revolves around a high school student, Clay Jensen, and his friend Hannah Baker, a girl who committed suicide after suffering a series of demoralizing circumstances brought on by select individuals at her school. A box of cassette tapes recorded by Hannah before her suicide details thirteen reasons why she ended her life. The show garnered a lot of controversies because some believed it glamorized teen suicide and made entertainment out of it but I’d argue that smart viewers would watch this and look at what not to do when faced with this situation. Yes, the structure of the show plays out like an addicting murder mystery but there is honesty within the characters and their situations, which allows it to transcend simply being a binge-worthy show. This was originally supposed to be a one and done but it instantly became one of the most streamed series on Netflix which resulted in the service ordering a season 2, which premieres in 2018.
7. The Defenders (Premiere Date: August 18, 2017): Netflix and Marvel did a great job of turning a few Marvel properties into compelling TV series (Daredevil, Jessica Jones & Luke Cage) and then gave us a final flawed installment (Iron Fist) to round out the lineup. Iron Fist felt like a largely rushed affair and a part of that was because they needed to get the last hero in place so they could premiere The Defenders in August of 2017. When the series (billed as a miniseries but I’m sure we have more coming) made its way to streaming services, it brought the best of what each show had to offer and created a superhero mashup that pleased many fans. Even the character of Iron Fist, who took a beating on Twitter when his show premiered, was better received this time around and like any good show, it got better with each episode. Some complained that it took too long to get the team together but I liked the gradual build up of each character so we could buy them as a reluctant team put together in an impossible situation. Solid action, great character moments and a villainous turn from Sigourney Weaver made this one of the best action series to premiere in 2017.
6. Ozark (Premiere Date: July 21, 2017): If you needed more proof that Netflix is killing the game when it comes to original programming, look no further than Ozark. I was pressured by a few friends to start watching this series when it began streaming back in July and it was a solid recommendation. On the series, Jason Bateman portrays financial planner Marty Byrde, and Laura Linney portrays his wife, a homemaker turned real estate agent Wendy Byrde. Marty suddenly relocates the family from a Chicago suburb to a summer resort community in the Missouri Ozarks after a money laundering scheme goes wrong, and he must pay off a debt to a Mexican drug lord. The series is addicting in the same way that Bloodline, another Netflix original series, is in a sense because it’s appropriately dark and bolstered by strong performances. Jason Bateman is known primarily for comedy but when he takes on a serious role he always brings his A game and this is no exception. The show was renewed for a second season a few weeks after its season one launch so there is plenty of time to catch up before season 2 premieres.
5. Legion (Premiere Date: January 26, 2017): Don’t let anyone tell you that comic book TV series can’t be completely cerebral because Legion is a fine example of this feat. While most comic book shows rely on spectacle and action, Legion is a creative mindfuck come to life in the best way possible. The series is based on the Marvel Comics character David Haller/Legion and is connected to the X-Men film series. It follows Haller, a mutant diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age and what results are different aspects of his personality that are split off into the forms of other characters that inhabit the series. Dan Stevens leads a strong cast that is great from top to bottom and I give it kudos for simply being different. It’s not built with the same D.N.A that seems to come with the territory when it comes to series like this and you’re simply not going to see a more visually appealing show on TV at the moment. They dazzle and suck you into its crazy, chaotic and beautiful world. Season 2 premieres in February of 2018, so get familiar with this series as soon as possible.
4. The Deuce (Premiere Date: September 10, 2017): It would be easy to dismiss The Deuce as merely being just about sex since the marketing campaign focused heavily on it but, the HBO series is actually a compelling series about the very nature of desire. The series tells the story of the legalization and ensuing rise of the porn industry in New York beginning in the 1970s. Themes explored include the violence of the drug epidemic and the resulting real estate booms and busts that coincided with the change. The series is provocative and entertaining while boasting strong performances from its top-notch cast which includes Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Franco. HBO must feel pretty great about the series as well since it was renewed for a second season a week after its debut.
3. Feud: Bette and Joan (Premiere Date: March 5, 2017): I’d argue that no one really does salacious television quite like Ryan Muphy, especially when pulling from real-life source material (look no further than American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson) so it’s no surprise that Feud: Bette and Joan was an entertaining look into a legendary Hollywood feud that is stuff of legend. The first season of the anthology series centers on the backstage battle between Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon) and Joan Crawford (Jessica Lange) during and after the production of their 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? The series ends up being a highly entertaining history lesson that is anchored by strong work from its leading ladies, who capture their real-life counterparts with the greatest of ease. All kudos to the immaculate production design and cinematography which truly captures the time period. The show was renewed for a second season to premiere in 2018 and it will look into the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Scandalous!
2. Big Little Lies (Premiere Date: February 19, 2017): David E. Kelly’s adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novel could have been a by-the-book miniseries adaptation of a popular novel about wealthy women and their catty schemes (which end in a shocking murder). Under the direction of Jean-Marc Vallée, however (and with the superb performances from Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, and Laura Dern), the miniseries was less your typical whodunit and more a moody satire of modern parenting and a disturbing take on the lengths to which domestic violence can penetrate a family’s psyche. While the show did lean heavily on the dark side of things, it also had a heightened sense of self that allowed some comedy to slip through in its depiction of these adult characters resorting to near childlike antics to maintain the status quo. The biggest achievement of the series? In a time when substantial roles for women are lacking, the series was a true showcase for strong female characters and a big platform for the talented ladies bringing them to life. This is another example of a series that was meant to be limited but due to the strong ratings and universal critical appreciation, the series was renewed by HBO for a second season on December 8, 2017.
1. Mindhunter (Premiere Date: October 13, 2017): On paper, the premise of David Fincher’s cerebral Netflix show does not sound like anything new: Two FBI agents investigate a series of notorious murderers and find their work taking a toll on their personal lives. So far it’s very Criminal Minds on CBS—except that the emphasis of Mindhunter was not on chasing killers, but rather on interviewing them and trying genuinely to understand them. Light on action and heavy on psychology, the show played like a small-screen spinoff of Fincher’s masterful Zodiac, starring Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany as fictionalized versions of the agents whose research gave birth to the term “serial killer.” Mindhunter is a meticulous, mesmerizing character-driven thriller which, thanks to its emphasis on real serial killers like Ed Kemper and Richard Speck, taps right into pop culture’s current true crime obsession (And I should know, I’m one of those people glowed to Investigation Discovery). Plans for a season two were already underway before the first season premiered but the official renewal for a second season was made in November of 2017.
