A Full House of Ford, Foster, and Farrell.
As I’m sure a majority of you know, I’m a late bloomer when it comes to TV shows, but there are those I mange to catch up on. And I can still make my list of the best shows of the year, whether they’re continuing seasons or first timers. And believe me, there are a number of great stars in great shows. I haven’t seen every show or miniseries this year, but maybe one day, I’ll come around and watch them. In the meantime, here are the shows I have enjoyed.
10.) “Sugar” (AppleTV+)
Created by Mark Protosevich
My mother suggested I watch this AppleTV+ series, and I finally did. Colin Farrell stars as private investigator John Sugar, who is asked by producer Jonathan Siegel (James Cromwell) to find his granddaughter. This show uses classic movies to help represent its direction and style, and it also allows Farrell to deliver the goods. No wonder my mother enjoyed this show.
9.) “Agatha All Along” (Disney+)
Created by Jac Schaeffer
Kathryn Hahn reprises her “WandaVision” role as the witch Agatha, who finds herself on a journey with other witches (Aubrey Plaza, Patti Lupone, Ali Ahn, and Sasheer Zamata), a familiar (Joe Locke), and a neighborhood woman (Debra Jo Rupp, Kitty herself). Almost every episode has them in different houses that act like escape rooms, but with a lot of twisted sorcery.
8.) “Shrinking” (Season 2) (AppleTV+)
Created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, and Brett Goldstein
There’s a lot to unpack this season with Jimmy (Jason Segel) messing things up, Dr. Paul (Harrison Ford) dating his neurologist (Wendie Malick), Gaby (Jessica Williams) ending her sexual relationship with Jimmy, and everyone struggling to handle their own pathos. And can both Jimmy and his daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell) forgive the drunk driver for accidentally killing his wife and her mother? Let’s let the examinations decide.
7.) “Emily in Paris” (Season 4) (Netflix)
Created by Darren Star
Lily Collins is delightful as the American girl Emily, who has learned life in French as the seasons continue, even though she has trouble choosing the right soul mate. This season was divided into two parts, which wasn’t really consistent, considering that we wanted to see more at the time. But when we got to see the second half, we still know her story isn’t over. That’s how optimistic I am about this Netflix comedy series.
6.) “Only Murders in the Building” (Season 4) (Hulu)
Created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman
A movie version of the podcast is in production, and Eugene Levy is set to play Charles (Steve Martin), Zach Galifianakis is set to plays Oliver (Martin Short), and Eva Longoria will be Mabel (Selena Gomez). And the same time, yet another murder takes place, and the stakes are higher. 4 seasons in a row and this is a brilliant comedy whodunit series.
5.) “Bad Monkey” (AppleTV+)
Based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel and developed by Bill Lawrence
Vince Vaughn gives one of his most entertaining performances of his career as a fired detective in South Florida, who finds himself with a case regarding a severed arm giving the finger. But could this lead to something bigger? I think it could. I love the setting and attitude of this series, and you could have asked for a sharper lead than Vaughn.
4.) “The Bear” (Season 3) (Hulu)
Created by Christopher Storer
I’m sorry I’m late with this series, but I managed to catch up to this third season. What starts off as a Chicago sandwich shop transforms into a restaurant with complications and challenges along the way. What happens in the kitchen, can’t even stay in the kitchen. Jeremy Allen White (as Carmie), Ebon-Moss Bachrach (as Richie), and Ayo Ederbiri (as Sydney) are among the returning actors, who all show us the tensions and ambitions within the kitchen, and it’s going to stay with us for a while.
3.) “True Detective: Night Country” (Max)
Created by Nic Pizzolatto
Jodie Foster played an FBI agent in “Silence of the Lambs,” and now, she plays a detective in this series continuation, which takes place at Alaska, which is dark at this time of the year. This is probably the most haunting season of the series, because of how it deals with whatever evils this state is caught in and how the main heroine is a tough-as-nails badass with complications. And the time and place sets the mood quite right.
2.) “Masters of the Air” (AppleTV+)
Created by John Shiban and John Orloff
This epic made-for-AppleTV+ series focuses on the 100th Bomb Group during the war, like how the American Army Air Force and the British Royal Air Force had different approaches to bombing Germany. And it also has some fine lead characters like Major Gale “Buck” Cleven (Austin Butler) and Major John “Bucky” Egan (Callum Turner), who are good friends and the leaders of a unit group, and Lt. Henry Crosby (Anthony Boyle), who is the show’s narrator and the navigator. If you love WWII stories, then you’ll love this series.
1.) “The Penguin” (Max)
Developed by Lauren LeFranc
Another Colin Farrell series on this list. Picking up where Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” left off for Farrell’s character, this Max series is dark and explosively entertaining. We see him in the stages of becoming a criminal kingpin. And we also see him dealing with his dead boss’ daughter Sofia Gigante (Cristin Milioti), who was wrongfully placed in Arkham and knows he killed her brother. Despite its hateful ending, this is an epic series with “Sopranos” undertones and a “Once Upon a Time in America” scope.
