TV is becoming like movies where I’ll never finish all the 2019 shows in 2019, and that’s not even taking into account the premium cable channels I don’t get. So eventually one just has to call it a day, draw the line, and of course keep watching. For a look at what critics were picking you can try Metacritic, but below are the gems I thought stood out.

• The Good Place (NBC) / BoJack Horseman (Netflix) – Ok I’ve already watched both of these into this year so my take might be a little skewed, each had a disparate take on bigger issues like life purpose and depression with unique and zany worlds, with great cast and creators who could really nail the range, they will be sincerely missed.
• Fleabag (Amazon) – I liked but didn’t love the first season of this but the second season really made a great capsule of the torture of our protagonist played by creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge with a style that added to her tale.
• Unbelievable (Netflix) – This was a tough run but the back and forth between the detectives and a young victim both pulls you in and was a great showcase for Kaitlyn Dever, Merritt Wever, and Toni Collette.
• Sex Education (Netflix) – Funny premise about socially awkward son of sex therapist who gives council to his peers and all the foibles surrounding him with good cast, including Gillian Anderson as the mother, and good moments.
• Better Things (Fx) – This is still one of my fave half hours where Pamela Adlon creates as semi-autobiographical show about a single mom raising three daughters and caring for her mother but the mix of random moments are both heartfelt and funny.
• Russian Doll (Netflix) – Natasha Lyonne, co-creator with Amy Poehler, plays a woman stuck in a groundhog day loop that leads her into a look at her life and circumstance through what never feels like a repetitive round of events, it just sucks you in, curious what the next season will be.
• David Makes Man (OWN) – Oprah describes this show as like poetry and she’s not wrong, created by Moonlight’s Tarell Alvin McCraney the coming of age story of David struggling with his magnet school and life in the projects, it’s as beautiful to watch as it is poignant.
• Schitts Creek (POP) – I was behind on this for several seasons but caught up, mostly on a long international flight, and while in the beginning you might not warm to the extremes of the characters, I can’t help but love where they’ve gone in the very funny look at a wealthy family hitting hard times stuck in a small town.
• Lodge 49 (AMC) – I wish we were getting more of this series but glad to have spent the time we did as down on his luck Dud joins a lodge and the mundane to possible magical realism the oddball characters chase was a show worth watching.
• The Good Fight (CBSAA) – I was a big fan of the Good Wife and other King shows (Brain Dead and Evil), so when they aired the first season on regular network tv they had me hooked and I’ve paid for the second and third seasons through Amazon, I love the characters that made the leap but love even more that they’ve created a truly new law firm world with enough bizarreness and enough anti Trump sentiment to keep me inspired (probably best to watch real time but wondering how much the topicality will weather).
• Downton Abbey (PBS/Amazon) – A late entry here this show was one of my catch ups and I was thoroughly brought into the period drama with characters that caused you to care about their journey whether one of privilege or of service (was trying to finish this before the movie but…).

What were your favorite shows last year?