Best & Worst TV Series 2019 Year-End Review

Best of 2019

I watched eighty TV seasons and mini-series this year. Here are my top 11 for the year. I didn't watch any seasons that fell into the 'worst' category this year. This is based simply on what I watched this year, not on what was released this year.
Check out the previous year-end reviews.

The Top 11 of 2019:

The Umbrella Academy (2019-)
Season 1 - 10 episodes (2019 February 15)

Watch The Umbrella Academy on Netflix 
Created by: Jeremy Slater
Starring: Ellen Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Mary J. Blige, Cameron Britton, Adam Godley, Colm Feore
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer & more information
Plot
A disbanded and dysfunctional family of superheroes reunite after their adoptive father, who trained them to save the world, dies.
Verdict
This show has a great vibe. It's the end of the world, but the siblings are busy arguing with each other. That's the tone of this show, comedy against a dire backdrop. The story is engrossing with mysteries and reveals in equal measure. Be forewarned, this does end on a big cliff hanger. Most of the characters are well developed. The stylized production is really well done and the soundtrack is simply amazing. I rarely binge a show non-stop, but I couldn't stop watching this.
Full review

Babylon 5 (1994-1998)

Watch Babylon 5 Season 1 on Amazon Video Season 1 - 22 episodes (1994)
Watch Babylon 5 Season 2 on Amazon Video Season 2 - 22 episodes (1994-95)
Watch Babylon 5 Season 3 on Amazon Video Season 3 - 22 episodes (1995-96)
Watch Babylon 5 Season 4 on Amazon Video Season 4 - 22 episodes (1996-97)
Watch Babylon 5 Season 5 on Amazon Video Season 5 - 22 episodes (1998)   
Created by: J. Michael Straczynski
Starring:  Bruce Boxleitner, Mira Furlan, Richard Biggs, Stephen Furst, Andreas Katsulas, Peter Jurasik, Jerry Doyle, Bill Mumy, Claudia Christian, Michasel O'Hare
Rated: TV-PG
Watch the trailer
Plot
In the mid 23rd Century, the Earth Alliance space station Babylon 5, located in neutral territory, is a major focal point for political intrigue, racial tensions, and various wars over the course of five years.
Verdict
What this show does is so impressive. It's like a novel in how the first seasons setup the great war while still developing these characters. It's a space opera and I mean that as a compliment. It's a broad story that balances a galactic war with characters that grow and develop almost every episode. This tackles tough issues, and it's hard not to like these characters by the end. Their personal journeys are so intriguing and they change so much by the close of the show. The writing is top notch.
At first I thought this was a knock-off Star Trek, quitting half way into the first episode, but I went back and it becomes so much more, telling a story much bigger than Star Trek ever managed. This show is so entirely underrated.
Full review

The Office (2005-2013)

Season 1 - 6 episodes (2005)
Season 2 - 22 episodes (2006)
Season 3 - 25 episodes (2007)
Season 4 - 19 episodes (2008) 
Created by: Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Starring: Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, B.J. Novak, Mindy Kaling, Ed Helms, Craig Robinson, Ellie Kemper
Rated: TV-PG
Watch the trailer
Plot
A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium.
Verdict
I really thought this show might not be as good as I remembered or the first season would be bland, but from the beginning this show is so funny. A big part of it is that I can relate. I work in an office. Few shows make me laugh as much as this show.
While it does lose some appeal once the story gets broader, I forgot Jim and Pam were a thing from the beginning. A lot of plot points I thought happened after the show started declining were there early on.
The series has a normal that it drifts from and comes back to. I didn't like when Jim transferred, but that doesn't last long. Season 4 is the first time I checked the time on an episode to see when it would end. It's the episode where Michael drives into a lake.
It really is one of the funniest shows, with these disparate personalities interacting and reacting  This is at it's best when things are just slightly awkward. There's a great understated hilariousness to that and the show lost that as Michael did increasingly dumber things. Once Michael left, it was never quite the same.
While this lasted nine seasons, I only watched the first four in this session.

Love, Death & Robots (2019-)
Season 1 - 18 episodes (2019)

Watch Love, Death & Robots Season 1 on NetflixCreated by: Tim Miller
Starring: Scott Whyte, Nolan North, Matthew Yang King
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer & more info
Plot
In this animated anthology series for adults, the shorts span the genres of science fiction and fantasy to horror and comedy while presenting a variety of animation formats from traditional 2D to photo-real 3D CGI. Each segment is about ten minutes long, created by different teams of filmmakers from around the world.
Verdict
This is a fun watch. Each ten minute episode provides a quick idea, some only half an idea, but I loved every bit of it. Even the episodes I didn't like as much, are over soon enough. Some of the CGI is just crazy good. There are a lot of episodes that are really neat. Even if you aren't a fan of sci-fi, this isn't always heavy on the science. I like that this isn't a show that asks me to remember a lot or watch a dozen episodes for a conclusion. It's easy, fun, and I want more. This contains eighteen unique ideas, and some of these worlds are ripe to be revisited. I hope this gets a second set of stories.
Full Review

Flight of the Conchords (2007-09)

Season 1 - 12 episodes (2007)
Season 2 - 10 episodes (2009)
Watch Love, Death & Robots Season 1 on Netflix 
Created by: James Bobin, Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie
Starring: Jemaine Clement, Bret McKenzie, Rhys Darby, Kristen Schaal
Rated: TV-MA
Watch the trailer
Plot
Bret and Jemaine are Flight of the Conchords, a folk-rock band from New Zealand living in New York City in search of stardom.
Verdict
I'm a big fan of What We Do in the Shadows, and this has been on my watch list for a long time. This is very indie with the band breaking into song at least once an episode. The humor is understated, but very clever. In the first episode they sing a song about a girl  "so beautiful [she] could be a waitress" or "a part time model."
I love how subtle the humor is. It's ridiculous, but the actors downplay it. You could miss it if you aren't paying attention. Rhymnocerus and Hiphopotamus are amazing rap names.
It's great in the way it presents humor and the songs as well. Very enjoyable, very funny.

Chernobyl (2019)
Mini-series - 5 episodes

Watch the trailer 
Created by: Craig Mazin
Starring: Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson
Rated: TV-MA
Plot
In April 1986, an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics becomes one of the world's worst man-made catastrophes.
Verdict
From the very start of this series I loved it. It's an amazing story that's true. That fact gives this an extra impact. The production design is fantastic, the directing is effective, and the writing that serves as the foundation is excellent. It's absolutely amazing and a must watch. It follows the Chernobyl disaster from the beginning through the perspective of a scientist and bureaucrat. The series does everything right, presenting this story while also urging the viewer to do their own research. While Chernobyl is an incredible event, this series does an incredible job of portraying that story. I watched each episode as it aired, and watched a second time before the next episodes. That's how good this is.
Full Review

When They See Us (2019)
Mini-series - 4 episodes

Best & Worst Movies 2019 Year-End Review

Best & Worst of 2019

Check out my previous reviews!

I watched two-hundred and two movies this year. Here are my top 13 and bottom 3 picks for the year. This is based simply on the movies I watched this year, not on what was released this year.
Check out the previous year-end reviews.

I frequently forget to catalog the best scenes, but If Beale Street Could Talk's emotional scenes are well crafted, Dragged Across Concrete does an amazing job creating tension, and The Matrix's actions scenes defined a generation.
The Top 13 of 2019:

First Reformed (2017)

Rent First Reformed on Amazon Video 
Written by: Paul Schrader
Directed by: Paul Schrader
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Amanda Seyfried, Cedric the Entertainer
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A minister of a small congregation in upstate New York grapples with mounting despair brought on by tragedy, worldly concerns, and a tormented past.
Verdict
This movie has a small focus, but it's tackling big issues. Hawke does a great job as Toller, a man that barely holds it together while his life is in shambles. This looks at climate change, personal crises, and making a difference. It's well written and directed, a movie that will stick with you after the credits roll. This looks at personal responsibility from a number of different angles, and Toller is such an intriguing character. While we don't fully know his motives, that only makes him more authentic. Human beings don't always make sense, biased in a number of ways.
Full Review

Widows (2018)

Rent Widows on Amazon Video // Buy the novel  
Written by: Gillian Flynn & Steve McQueen (screenplay by), Lynda La Plante (based on "Widows" by)
Directed by: Steve McQueen
Starring: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Liam Neeson, Jon Bernthal, Daniel Kaluuya, Carrie Coon, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
Set in contemporary Chicago, four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities resolve to pay off the debt by engaging in the same crimes that got their husbands killed.
Verdict
A nice twisting plot that's really well written. This balances action with character development. It feels like the characters have lives off screen too. This is a well made movie with great dialog and shots. McQueen is a great director and he's working with a fantastic script. I continuously thought, "Wow, that's good."  From the dialog to the images and characters, there's nothing not to like about this.
Full Review

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Rent If Beale Street Could Talk on Amazon Video // Buy the book  
Written by: Barry Jenkins (written for the screen by), James Baldwin (based on the book by)
Directed by: Barry Jenkins
Starring: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Colman Domingo, Teyonah Parris, Michael Beach, Dave Franco, Diego Luna, Pedro Pascal, Ed Skrein, Brian Tyree Henry, Regina King
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A woman in Harlem embraces her pregnancy while she and her family struggle to prove her fiancé innocent of a crime.
Verdict
This is an impressive movie. Everything works together to create an intimate and emotional movie. You feel what this movie is saying, you empathize with the characters. The directing and performances are amazing as characters are brought to life. The movie explores discrimination and abuse of power through a couple in love. It's incredibly well crafted, exemplifying what a movie can not just say, but do.
Full Review

The Matrix (1999)

Rent The Matrix on Amazon Video 
Written by: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski (as The Wachowski Brothers)
Directed by: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski (as The Wachowski Brothers)
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano, Gloria Foster
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
Have you ever had a dream that you were so sure was real? What if you couldn't awaken? Computer hacker Neo dives into an underworld with a shocking truth. The life he knows is an elaborate deception.
Verdict
This is such an awesome movie. From the melding of sci-fi and action to the aesthetics and concepts. The movie has numerous iconic scenes from the dojo to the lobby, rooftop rescue, and the subway fight.
What is real? That's a question that pervades the movie and asks the audience to question their own perceptions. Real is just a feeling, something we tell ourselves.
You've probably seen this movie a few times, but there is a lot of foreshadowing. The movie follows the rule of cool, but in a construct that completely works. It's smart, the action is amazing, and it's still engaging.
Full Review

Brothers (2009)

Rent Brothers on Amazon Video 
Written by: David Benioff (screenplay), Susanne Bier and Anders Thomas Jensen (motion picture "Brødre")
Directed by: Jim Sheridan
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire, Sam Shepard, Clifton Collins Jr., Carey Mulligan, Ethan Suplee
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
A young man comforts his older brother's wife and children after he goes missing in Afghanistan.
Verdict
While this looks at an extreme situation of a soldier dealing with a form of PTSD, this also examines the rivalry between brothers and effective parenting. When his over-achieving brother is killed in combat, the black sheep of the family does an admirable job of helping the widow and family left behind. The movie doesn't address this directly, but you being thinking he was a black sheep due to poor, or at least misguided, parenting. These elements are completely off screen, but help create more than a few intense scenes.
So much of what's intriguing happens off screen. This is as much a look at parenting as it is about a POW. It's an aspect ignored in the conclusion of the film, but I found it the most fascinating.
Full Review

Moneyball (2011)

Rent Moneyball on Amazon Video // Buy the book  
Written by: Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin (screenplay), Stan Chervin  (story), Michael Lewis (book) 
Directed by: Bennett Miller
Starring: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Pratt, Reed Diamond
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by utilizing advanced analysis to acquire under rated players.
Verdict
It's a well made movie from the script to the look and performances. This captures the intricacies of baseball while still being accessible to a non-fan. This is an underdog story that transcends baseball. Can Billy Beane's plan to revolutionize how baseball players are valued work? The knowledgeable veterans tell Beane it can't. This basically dramatizes spreadsheets of player data creating an engrossing narrative. We see a bit of the ball game, the front office, and trades. There's no villain, just the realization that life is unfair and Oakland doesn't have the resources to compete.
I'll watch any movie even tangentially related to baseball and I'm a fan of analyzing economics to solve a problem. While that alone isn't enough, fortunately this movie delivers.
Full Review

Dragged Across Concrete (2018)

Rent Dragged Across Concrete on Amazon Video
Written by: S. Craig Zahler
Directed by: S. Craig Zahler
Starring: Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, Tory Kittles, Michael Jai White, Jennifer Carpenter, Laurie Holden, Don Johnson
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
Two overzealous cops get suspended for assaulting a suspect and then delve into the criminal underworld to get the compensation they deserve.
Verdict
This is the kind of movie that wears you down from anticipation. While it takes time to establish the characters, the pace doesn't change. What changes with the inciting incident of a robbery is that violence could erupt at any moment and frequently does. While I doubted this film in the beginning, from the robbery forward is an experience. Zahler has crafted something remarkable. While focused and bleak, it has sharp dialog and a satisfying plot. It's unfortunate this hasn't gotten more attention.
Full Review

Toy Story 4 (2019)

Rent Toy Story 4 on Amazon Video
Written by: John Lasseter & Andrew Stanton & Josh Cooley & Valerie LaPointe and Rashida Jones & Will McCormack & Martin Hynes & Stephany Folsom (original story by), Andrew Stanton & Stephany Folsom (screenplay by)
Directed by: Josh Cooley
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Keanu Reeves, Jay Hernandez, Joan Cusack, Kristen Schaal
Rated: G
Watch the trailer
Plot
When a new toy called "Forky" joins Woody and the gang, a road trip introduces old and new friends while Woody attempts to save Forky.
Verdict
This movie is better than it has any right to be. When first announced I assumed this was a lazy sequel. It's not. It's a story that needed to be told, at least it feels that way.. There's a lot of depth to the movie as Woody wrestles with the prospect of becoming an abandoned toy. There are great arcs for the villain and Bo Peep. The plotting is excellent. Of course the animation is top notch.
Full Review

The Public (2018)

Rent The Public on Amazon Video 
Written by: Emilio Estevez
Directed by: Emilio Estevez
Starring:  Emilio Estevez, Alec Baldwin, Taylor Schilling, Jena Malone, Christian Slater, Gabrielle Union, Michael K. Williams, Jeffrey Wright
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
An act of civil disobedience turns into a standoff with police when homeless people in Cincinnati take over the public library to seek shelter from the bitter cold.
Verdict
I really liked this movie. The writing has some really nice moments, though it does get too cute at times, but it's designed to make you ask questions. What do we do with the homeless? How can they be accommodated, and do we have an obligation when refusing them could result in death? It doesn't wrap everything up at the end, but it never intended to do that. This is raising a few different points about a person's moral obligation, journalism, and government. There are no easy answers, but I was pushed to consider my perspective and how to make a difference.
Full Review

Ad Astra (2019)

Rent Ad Astra on Amazon Video 
Written by: James Gray, Ethan Gross
Directed by: James Gray
Starring: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland, Live Tyler
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer 
Plot
Astronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, thirty years later, threatens the universe.
Verdict
Great movie. The visuals are brilliant with a mix of intense action sequences and quiet contemplative scenes. The directing is outstanding and the writing is really good, aside from the heavy voice over in the beginning. That's my only complaint. This is a stellar movie. I wasn't sure the movie could deliver a satisfactory ending after such a great build up, but it completely does.
Full Review

Watchmen (2009)

Rent Watchmen on Amazon Video // Buy the graphic novel
Written by: David Hayter and Alex Tse (screenplay), Dave Gibbons (graphic novel illustrator), Alan Moore (graphic novel, uncredited)
Directed by: Zack Snyder
Starring: Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Rated: R
Watch the trailer
Plot
Based on the 1986 graphic novel of the same name and set in an alternate timeline 1985, super heroes are outlawed. Vigilante Rorschach begins investigating the murder of a former super hero, in a case that has global implications.
Verdict
It's got a great mood and style that showcases this alternate world with a deconstruction of super heroes and the often black and white nature of their morality. Many super heroes purport to uphold the law by breaking it and acting as vigilantes. The characters are intriguing and well rounded, but my favorite part is the moral question at the end. What price is acceptable for peace? It's this question that remains days after the movie ends.
It goes without saying the comic is better, but I still love this movie.
Full Review

Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Rent Ford v Ferrari on Amazon Video 
Written by: Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller (written by)
Directed by: James Mangold
Starring: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Jon Bernthal, Josh Lucas
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer 
Plot
American car designer Carroll Shelby and driver Ken Miles battle corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Verdict
Well made from the script to the directing, acting, and production values. The racing is exhilarating and the plot is engrossing. Shelby and Miles are endearing characters trying to do the impossible, beat Ferrari at Le Mans while placating their benefactors, Ford Motor Company. This is exciting, humorous, and emotional with a great performance from Bale. It's one scene too long, but despite that this movie shines.
Full Review

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Rent Raiders of the Lost Ark on Amazon VideoWritten by: Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay by).  George Lucas and Philip Kaufman (story by)
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, John Rhys-Davies, Alfred Molina, Paul Freeman
Rated: PG [PG-13]
Watch the trailer
Plot
In 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before Adolf Hitler's Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.
Verdict
A grand adventure that excels in every facet. Indiana Jones became an iconic character because of this adventure. From the introduction to the final scene, this movie gets it right. While it's likely you've seen it, you've probably forgotten just how good it is.
Full Review

The Bottom 3 of 2019:

Battlefield Earth (2000)

Battlefield Earth on Amazon Video 
Written by: Corey Mandell and J.D. Shapiro (screenplay), L. Ron Hubbard (novel)
Directed by: Roger Christian
Starring: John Travolta, Forest Whitaker, Barry Pepper, Kim Coates
Rated: PG-13
Watch the trailer
Plot
It's the year 3000 A.D. and the Earth lost to the alien race Psychlos. Humanity is enslaved by these gold-thirsty tyrants, who are unaware that their "man-animals" are about to ignite a rebellion.
Verdict
It's amazing how many poor creative decisions were made. In every scene you will see something that makes you wonder how someone saw or did that and then thought, "This is good." That, and no one stopped them. The story is boring and underdeveloped, the characters are flat, and it's impressive just how bad all of the actors are. The director managed to get absolutely terrible performances from everyone. It's unintentionally comedic, but that doesn't make it worth watching.
Full Review

Secret Obsession (2019)

Watch Secret Obsession on Netflix 
Written by: Kraig Wenman, Peter Sullivan
Directed by: Peter Sullivan
Starring: Brenda Song, Mike Vogel, Dennis Haysbert
Rated: TV-14
Watch the trailer & more information
Plot
A brutal attack leaves a young woman with amnesia. When her memories start coming back, she realizes she no longer knows who to trust, not even those closest to her.
Verdict
It's like a very dark and bad retelling of Overboard. It's a television episode stretched to feature length and it shows. From the boring story to the silly plot and flat dialog, every bit of this is sub par. The production value seems budget television level. Characters act incredibly stupid just to further the plot. Some of the issues aren't even difficult to fix.
Full Review

Sextuplets (2019)

Watch Sextuplets on Netflix 
Written by: Mike Glock (story by) and Rick Alvarez & Marlon Wayans
Directed by: Michael Tiddes
Starring: Marlon Wayans, Bresha Webb, Michael Ian Black
Rated: TV-14
Watch the trailer & more info
Plot
On a personal journey to find his parents, Alan meets his brother Russell and discovers he was born a sextuplet. Seeking out his other siblings (all played by Marlon Wayans), the two brothers set out on a road trip.
Verdict
This is bad. The biggest issue is that it's not funny and it isn't even trying. It's a low effort movie with Wayans playing dress up I suppose just to amuse himself.
I knew I wasn't going to like this, and I was still surprised at how terrible this movie is. The script had to be made up on the spot and it just doesn't end.
Full Review

Best TV Series 2018 Year-End Review

Best of 2018

I watched seventy-three TV seasons and mini-series this year. Here are my top 11 for the year. I didn't watch any seasons that fell into the 'worst' category this year. This is based simply on what I watched this year, not on what was released this year.
Check out the previous year-end reviews.

The Top 11 of 2018:

Generation Kill (2008)

Watch the trailer 
Written by: Ed Burns, David Simon, Evan Wright
Directed by: Susanna White, Simon Cellan Jones
Starring:  Alexander Skarsgard, James Ransone, Lee Tergesen
Rated:TV-MA
Plot
A Rolling Stone reporter, embedded with the 1st Recon Marines chronicles his experiences during the first wave of the American-led assault on Baghdad in 2003.
Verdict
It has a raw, real feel to it. Soldiers are fighting a war and ill equipped. They're a bunch of kids just trying to make it. Incompetence runs rampant and is often rewarded. In that regard, it's like any other work place, the difference is that the stakes are much higher, life and death.
Nothing makes sense to the guys on the ground. The people making decisions don't always see what's happening, don't care, or both. It's an amazing show that captures all the emotions of war and everything wrong with chain of command. The camaraderie constantly builds with dialog feeling realistic, even when soldiers break into song. The ending is great, everyone watching the video an enlisted made, but none can stand to see the entire video.

Better Call Saul (2015-)
Season 3 - 10 episodes (2017)

Buy Better Call Saul Season 3 on Amazon Video // Watch Better Call Saul on Netflix 
Created by:  Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould
Starring:   Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorn, Michael McKean
Rating: TV-14
Plot: 
Jimmy McGill is a former grifter who is now a lawyer. He wants to do the right thing, but at the same time, becoming a lawyer hasn't been the dream he imagined. 
Verdict: 
We know where Jimmy (Bob Odenkirk) and Mike (Jonathan Banks) end up, but getting there is quite the journey. There are plenty of cameos from Breaking Bad, including Hector, Tuco, and Nacho among others. It never feels like a gimmick. Each episode delves into Jimmy and his relationships. Jimmy being Jimmy, strains those bonds.
The introduction of each episode deserves a mention. They often feel like short films, tangentially related to the episode and always well done. This show is well crafted. It's a joy to watch and Odenkirk really shines.

Star Trek Continues (2013-)

Season 1 - 11 episodes (2013-2017)

Watch Star Trek Continues 
Created by: Vic Mignogna
Starring: Vic Mignogna, Chris Doohan, Todd Haberkom, Michel Specht, Grant Imahara
Rating: TV-14
Plot: 
Star Trek Continues is an American fan-created web series set in the Star Trek universe. Produced by the non-profit charity Trek Continues, Inc. and Dracogen. The series is an unofficial direct continuation of Star Trek: The Original Series, and emulates its visual and storytelling features to achieve the same look and feel.
Verdict: 
It's amazing at how well it captures the original. From the look, theme, story, acting, even to lighting, and how scenes ramp up and stop for non-existent commercial breaks, everyting is faithful and the people that made this are incredible fans that picked up on all kinds of details. There are call backs to the original, as within this series that only happened the previous year. While the characters don't look exactly like the originals after two episodes you don't notice. Reboots and remakes try to change content to be darker and edgier or to fit the modern style, and this proves it isn't necessary. It's a lot of fun and incredibly impressive. More than fan service, it's a full recreation and that's only possible from devout fans who labored and were passionate about this. A great show that will mean a bit more if you've seen the original but amazing nonetheless.

Succession Season 1

Season 1 - 10 episodes (2018)
Watch the trailer
Created by: Jesse Armstrong
Starring: Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, Matthew Macfadyen, Alan Ruck
Rating: TV-MA
Plot:
Logan Roy and his four children control one of the biggest media and entertainment conglomerates in the world. When the aging patriarch begins to step back from the company, the children contemplate what the future and company will hold for them.
Verdict:
I wondered where this show would go after four episodes, but it has places to go. This is a cutthroat world of business and family is even worse. Great characters developed, what really strikes me about the show is you can begin to piece together why the kids are the way they are even though the show never states it. Kendall is forever searching for his father's love, because as a kid I imagine he was put down a lot. Roman is comic relief because that's how he dealt with everything. Instead of crying he laughed. Everyone in this show is broken.
The trailer made the children overthrowing the father is the culmination but it happens early on. The way the season ends is crazy, but its the character that pull me in, not the crazy events. Can't wait for season two.

Atypical Season 2

Season 2 - 10 episodes (2018)
Watch Atypical on Netflix
Created by: Robia Rashid
Starring: Keir Gilchrist, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael Rapaport, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Amy Okuda, Nik Dodani, Jenna Boyd
Rating: TV-MA 
Plot: 
A coming of age story about autistic spectrum teen Sam (Keir Gilchrist), his search for love and independence upends his family as they struggle with what it means to be normal.
Verdict:  
This is such a neat show, and a really hard hitting season. The parents are having a rough time, the sister is in a new school, but the manages to find humor in it. Sam is an observer of the human race, an alien taking notes. This shows the importance of a support system, and that family is a strong bond even if siblings don't always state it.. I like how it treats characters and mistakes. All the characters are likeable despite their downfalls. 
What he goes through is applicable to anybody, though sometimes a bit exaggerated due to how he perceives the world. It's really cool looking at the world through his eyes. The last episode really challenges perceptions. How many people see a person that seems like a freak on that stage, but don't realize the epic journey? It is awesome to see someone interact in the world with out all the social pretense. Completely honest and straight, nothing has meaning, the world is made of facts.

Bojack Horseman Season 5 

Season 5 - 12 episodes (2018)
Watch Bojack Horseman on Netflix
Created by: Raphael Bob-Waksberg
Starring: Will Arnett, Amy Sedaris, Alison Brie, Aaron Paul, Paul F. Tompkins
Rating: TV-MA
Plot:
In this animated world, anthropomorphic animals and humans live side by side. Bojack Horseman is a TV actor trying reclaim fame.
Verdict:
This season tackles the patriarchy in Hollywood with Bojack filling in for that. It's another great season, often very meta. Each season seems to have one really uniquely formatted episode. This season it's a eulogy by Bojack. The entire episode is a eulogy and it provides a lot of insight into Bojack. The show goes out there creatively and I like it.
Bojack has quite an arc. He's always been self destructive. The ridiculous side of this is Todd becoming a CEO of an ad company. This show is so melancholy, but so comical too. It's amazing how they blend those.

Maniac Season 1

Season 1 - 10 episodes (2018)

Watch Maniac on Netflix
Created by: Cary Joji Fukunaga, Patrick Somerville
Starring: Jonah Hill, Emma Stone, Sonoya Mizuno, Justin Theroux, Sally Field
Rating: TV-MA
Plot:This dark comedy is about a man that joins a pharmaceutical trial that supposedly deals with past traumas by exploring the emotions through dreams.
Verdict:
This works on so many levels. Each episode almost feels like a digression, but we're learning about the characters. Digressions are never to tightly woven to a character. We're experiencing an adventure while unpacking these characters. The retro-future setting is a cool touch too. It's incredible what this set out to do and almost more incredible the show achieved it. It's a wild, impressive ride and Fukunaga's visuals are stunning as usual.

The Haunting of Hill House Season 1

Season 1 - 10 episodes (2018)
Watch The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix
Created by: Mike Flanagan
Starring: Michiel Huisman, Carla Gugino, Henry Thomas, Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel, Timothy Hutton, Annabeth Gish
Rating: TV-MA
Plot:Flashing between past and present, a fractured family confronts haunting memories of their old home and the terrifying events that drove them from it.
Verdict:
While I wondered where this would go during the season, the ride as a whole is amazing. By the end my doubts had no merit. Each episode primarily focuses on one character and we get a lot of small reveals with a different perspective completely changing story elements later in the season. The plotting is impressive. This is a horror series and it's creepy. There are plenty of jump scares, but this also is effective at setting a mood that causes you to warily peer in the shadows for that monster lurking.

Bodygard Season 1

Season 1 - 6 episodes (2018)
Watch Bodyguard on Netflix
Created by: Jed Mercurio
Starring: Richard Madden, Keeley Hawes, Sophie Rundle
Rating: TV-MA
Plot: 
David Budd, a war veteran-turned-cop, is assigned to protect a senior politician.
Verdict:
Intense action from the jump. This is surprising, defying what you think this will be. It's a thrill ride all the way through and Madden does a great job. It seemed like every episode defied where I thought this would go. This touches upon government surveillance and politics while also being a solid action thriller.

Homecoming Season 1

Season 1 - 10 episodes (2018)
Watch the trailer
Created by: Micah Bloomberg, Eli Horowitz, Sam Esmail
Starring: Julia Roberts, Bobby Cannavale, Stephan James, Shea Whigham, Sissy Spacek
Rating: TV-MA
Plot: 
Heidi works at Homecoming, a facility helping soldiers transition to civilian life. Years later she has started a new life, when the Department of Defense questions why she left Homecoming. Heidi realizes there's a whole other story behind the one she's been telling herself.
Verdict:
What a great story. This has the same dedication to craft as Sam Esmail's Mr. Robot. The story overlaps time periods while the question remains, what actually happened at the facility? The thirty minute episodes compel you to keep watching, but they also keep the pacing very quick. We get answers by the end and the culmination of this show is great.

The Shield Seasons 1-7

Season 1 - 13 episodes (2002)
Season 2 - 13 episodes (2003)
Season 3 - 15 episodes (2004)
Season 4 - 13 episodes (2005)
Season 5 - 11 episodes (2006)
Season 6 - 10 episodes (2007)
Season 7 - 13 episodes (2008)     
Watch the Season 1 trailer
Created by: Shawn Ryan
Starring: Michael Chiklis, Catherine Dent, Walton Goggins, Jay Karnes, Benito Martinez, CCH Pounder, David Rees Snell, Kenny Johnson
Rating: TV-MA
Plot:Follows the lives and cases of a dirty Los Angeles Police Department cop and the unit under his command.
Verdict:
I'm rewatching this for the third time. It's amazing. It's intense. This show never lets up, and while certain story aspects shift, it remains a thrill ride until the very end. This has a great finale. One of the best all time.
Michael Chiklis is a dirty cop, but he bends the rules for the greater good. It's an easy excuse sure, but the ends justify the means for him. Little by little we've slipped down that rabbit hole with him and the finale holds us accountable for everything we've let slide.
More than Chiklis's Vic Mackey, we've become attached to many characters. This is absolutely incredible. It's one of my all time favorite series, top three all time.
From Vic and his desire to control crime by being a de facto mob boss to detectives Dutch and Claudette. The tension between all these cops just increases. Vic may be dirty, but it makes him an effective cop. That's used for full effect. There are no truly good characters. Every single one of them will bend the rules if it benefits them. Some have limits, some don't.