This list is based on my overall enjoyment of a show’s previous season and current season and that’s why Arrow is number one. Scoff all you want, Arrow was my favorite and the best show on TV this year. Yes, it’s a superhero show on The CW, but don’t judge a book by its cover. It’s much, much more than that. Every episode is so well-done and the storytelling is topnotch.
I dare you not to fall in love with Team Arrow (Oliver, Diggle, and Felicity). I dare you not to fall in love with Felicity. My only complaint (and it’s minor) is the fact that the writers don’t seem to be going the slow burn route with Olicity and I’m afraid that it’s going to overshadow everything else on the show. I love Felicity to death, but I hope they pull back just a little bit with her character because I don’t want the writers to shoehorn her in every scene just because she’s a fan favorite.
It was tough not to put Orphan Black at the top of my list, but as amazing as Tatiana Maslany is, Arrow’s last half of season one and its first half of season two just blew OB’s first season out of the water. For all the talk about Tatiana’s performances, the show tends to get overshadowed a bit which shouldn’t be the case because it’s a pretty damn good show. And I’m glad I hopped on that bandwagon much earlier than the rest of the fandom (hey, let me gloat) because it was a lot of fun reading/watching everyone’s reactions on Tumblr.
Here are the rest of my top 10 shows.
1. Arrow
2. Orphan Black
3. Elementary (Sherlock and Joan’s relationship is still the best thing about this show. This show turned me into a Natalie Dormer disliker to a Natalie Dormer lover.)
4. Game of Thrones (Red Wedding. Brienne and Jamie. Brienne fighting the bear. Can we go back to the Red Wedding? Still not over that.)
5. The Fosters (Best portrayal of a lesbian relationship, heck, of any married relationship on TV this year.)
6. 2 Broke Girls (Next to Sherlock and Joan, these two have the best friendship on TV. Friendship - for now, anyway.)
7. Pretty Little Liars (This season was a bit all over the place, but what about that Halloween episode??? It made me a believer of the show again. Can’t wait to see where they go from here.)
8. Orange is the New Black (The show is definitely better than the book.)
9. The Voice (This has turned into my favorite reality competition show all thanks to the judges - save maybe for Adam because he’s a douche - and to Amber Carrington from last season and Will Champlin this season. Absolutely love those two singers and I look forward to hearing more from them.)
10. The Big Bang Theory (There’s a reason why this show gets huge ratings. It’s truly funny and has heart. That’s all I ask from a sitcom.)
Honorable mentions: Chicago Fire and Person of Interest
Both shows have been pretty solid this season and always have me on the edge of my seat.
Noticeably missing: Homeland
It wasn’t the biggest disappointment - more on this later - but it didn’t merit a mention in the top 10 because this season has been pretty uneven. It started out slow, got pretty good in the middle, stagnated towards the end…and then that finale was a long time coming. It was all a bit anticlimactic. And let’s not even talk about the pregnancy shenanigans.
Biggest disappointment: Nikita
This is a shortened last season - only six episodes - and I feel like the first five episodes have been a complete waste. The series finale is next Friday and it was only last week that Nikita and Alex finally (FINALLY!!!!) came face to face and it was at the very last scene of the episode with only 10 seconds left. Fuck this show for waiting at the last episode to have them finally come together to take down Amanda (not even going to talk about her still being alive and playing with people’s minds…again). Next week’s finale better pay off big time in regards to Alex and Nikita. This show has always been about their relationship and it better end with the two of them together. Not Michael and Nikita. Not Alex and Sam/Owen. Nikita and Alex. I won’t accept anything else.