In a year that produced such an immense amount of culture, 2013 will undoubtedly be revered when we look back on the more significant eras of television. Just this year, I myself encountered perennial characters such Dexter Morgan, Walter White, Cersei Lannister, Will McAvoy, Cyrus Beene, Frank Gallagher, and in turn, some of the most compelling television I've ever seen. This year brought in some excellent freshman talent, and as every year does, produced some not-so-durable content. Here's my subjective, categorical list of some good, some new, some great, some bad and the sad from my TV experience in 2013.
TOP DISCOVERIES -- I caught up on these shows this year:
Game of Thrones (HBO)
It took me some time to actually make it through the hour-long pilot, all the way up to Bran's plunge from the tower by way of Jaime Lannister, but Westeros and the iron throne are too adventurous and too vicious to pass up; a king as young and vile as Joffrey, names like Daenerys Targaryen, back stabbings, beheadings, political schemings and treachery. This is the cream of the crop of the fantasy/medieval genre in television right now. This year's biggest highlight from the show's third season came from the pre-finale episode "The Rains of Castamere", more remembered as "The Red Wedding", which was nominated in this year's Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.
Dexter (Showtime)
My brother begged me for years to tune in, and this year I finally learned the legend of Dexter Morgan. While barreling through my senior thesis in May, it was catching up on the prior seven seasons of Dexter that kept me fueled during intermissions. Coincidentally, I said both hello and goodbye to Dexter this year, as the show aired it's eighth and final season this past summer. Even though critical reception following the series finale was mostly negative, I expressed in my Spreecast how I felt the show essentially ended up staying true to Dexter's original dark, tragic nature. Regardless, 2013 put to rest one of the most creatively coveted shows in television history.
Breaking Bad (AMC)
That's right. Here's to another eternal TV phenomenon that I arrived late to. I worked my way through the first four seasons of Bad at the top of the summer, only to reach the concluding fifth season as it returned from hiatus for the final episodes in August. Winning their first Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series this year was somehow still an understatement. This was the LeBron James of television. This was chaos at it's finest. 2013 was Breaking Bad.
Shameless (Showtime)
The Gallaghers are one of the most entertaining and bizarre acts on television, and it didn't take long for me to coast through up to this year's third season at the top of the year. I was hooked from the pilot -- I still remember Frank passed out on the living room floor at the end and Debbie putting a blanket over her drunken, dead beat dad, and thinking, who are these people? This year I found out. You should too.
Scandal (ABC)
This year I succumbed to Shonda Rhimes' high-octane drama series if not because my entire family was watching. Some might say the drama (and even the acting) has gone overkill in the current third season of "Operation Remington" situations, but based on twists and turns alone, plus Cyrus the destroyer, I've recommended Scandal to anyone who would listen since starting it.
The Newsroom (HBO)
When my good friend recommended this show it was like my experience with Homeland. This wasn't my type of show on the surface. But my experience turned out much like Shameless, drastically reeling me in with just the pilot episode. Will McAvoy's public tirade at a college panel introduced me to one of the most dynamic characters on television, and kept me going through the show's second season this year. Jeff Daniels beat out Bryan Cranston, Damian Lewis, and Jon Hamm for Best Actor in a Drama Series at this year's Emmy's. If you watch The Newsroom, you should know why.
BEST STRIDES -- These shows made the biggest improvements this year
Arrow (The CW)
I wrote last month that the Arrow stock was sky-rocketing in it's second season, which is currently on mid-season holiday hiatus. I'm not sure any show made such noticeable improvements from it's freshman season. Just nine episodes into the sophomore campaign and we've already had a resurrection, better fight scenes and production, Ra's al Ghul, "Brother Blood", and a backdoor Flash pilot. Night and day doesn't even do this upgrade justice from the first season of Arrow.
Revolution (NBC)
Back in March I wrote about my tarnished history with NBC drama series in fear that Revolution might be next. I started watching the post-apocalyptic series during it's three-month midseason hiatus warranted by show runner Eric Kripke. They changed the game in the second half of it's debut season, only to bring more expansive threats into play for the sophomore campaign, which is currently airing. Now we have more pressing "government" figures and Aaron as a fire-starting weapon? I like it.
Teen Wolf (MTV)
I don't need your judgment about watching an MTV series, because quite frankly, Teen Wolf has gone darker than anything else I saw this year (besides NBC's Hannibal). The first half of the show's second season brought demonic creatures and mythologies into play, with more danger imminent than teenage romance. You'll see what I mean when the show returns next week for the second half of season three. For viewers like myself, darker is always better.
DIAPER DANDIES -- Most impressive freshman shows (baby!)
The Americans (FX)
It's no wonder why Joe Weisberg, writer for TNT's Falling Skies and former CIA agent, was able to create such riveting, authentic content with this 80's spy drama. Re-setting events during the Cold War is one thing, but making our protagonists a Russian KGB couple posing as your ordinary American family is downright unnerving, and brilliant. Mark my words, this show will start to be recognized as one of the best on television when the sophomore season airs in February.
Hannibal (NBC)
This show is not for the weak, faint-hearted, or easily disturbed. All credit to Bryan Fuller for delivering a genuine concept to NBC for the storied human-eater. Essentially the series re-introduces Dr. Hannibal Lecter as a psychiatrist, making his murderous, cannibalistic hobbies a mystery to every one except the audience. The crime scenes are poetically graphic and Mads Mikkelsen brings a new Hannibal that is delicate and exceptional. This series could go on for a long time. NBC has itself a frightening gem that will attract more eyes when the sophomore season kicks off in February.
The Blacklist (NBC)
The more commercial gem for NBC came gift-wrapped this fall with James Spader as the bow. Over 12 million viewers tuned in for the show's fall finale, and if that's not enough, it set the new record in U.S. television history for biggest "live plus three day" increase last month. The November 4th telecast was viewed by more than 5 million people in the three days following the live episode, which usually means DVR-viewing, making The Blacklist one of the most sought-after shows by far this year (some might say Emmy-worthy). I like that we still don't truly know the connection between Reddington and Agent Keen, or the deal with Keen's husband, which should be addressed when it returns in January. The Blacklist was renewed at the top of this month for a second season.
The Originals (The CW)
Klaus Mikaelson's ruthless wit and terror on The Vampire Diaries is at the forefront on The Originals. Spinning off the original-vampire-turned-original-hybrid and his original vampire siblings Elijah and Rebekah was naturally genius. Joseph Morgan plays the diabolical supernatural with great consistency and rage, and it wasn't the fall finale, but the pre-fall finale that truly showed what Klaus is capable of when properly enticed by his enemies. If TVD can stick around for five seasons, this should be able to thrive.
Sleepy Hollow (FOX)
I'm astounded that this show hasn't only lasted to make the cut, but has flourished in doing so. Earning over 10 million viewers for the show's premiere was good for Fox's highest-rated drama premiere in six years. Demons, witches, and headless horsemen are comfortably down my alley, but I wouldn't expect this supernatural fiction drama to garner such wide reception and an early renewal for a second season. No doubt, 2013 took heed to the colonial humor of Ichabod Crane.
DISAPPOINTMENTS -- Flops & let downs
Do No Harm (NBC)
You may or may not remember the Jekyll and Hyde rendition with Dr. Jason Cole, and that's because it only lasted for two episodes. I'll admit, the concept did come across a bit stale, and nothing necessarily indicated instant plight, plus the whole "J. Cole" thing never sat well with me (for my fellow rap fans). This was both a flop and a let down, because I'll also admit I had some situational intrigue with the main character. One of 2013's many casualties.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (ABC)
As if I wasn't apprehensive enough going into a TV-series loosely derived from the greatest superhero movie event of all time. I approached this show with caution and an open, hopeful mind, and stopped watching after the fourth or fifth episode. This show was a huge let down, but not because I had unrealistic expectations. I didn't expect Thor sightings every week or anything, but I didn't expect to get to a point where I despised watching these characters go about hero business with no heroes. It's simply not cool enough, and it hasn't made me care enough to label it anything but a disappointment.
Ray Donovan (Showtime)
Was I the only one really struggling with why people thought this show was so amazing? I found the acting, between Liev Schreiber and Jon Voight, to be fantastic. But I found myself asking questions I didn't want to ask every week about the late Donovan sister and the feud between Ray and Mickey. I impatiently waited for real issues (like Sully) to arrive rather than Abby Donovan constantly asking her husband where he spends his nights. The best part of the season, in my estimation, turned out to be the ordeal between Ray and the priest. There's a gangster-crime feel to the show, which I think viewers clung to, but it took sheer pride for me to actually continue watching this year's freshman season. For as much credit as the show earned despite my criticisms, I'm filing it under one of my disappointments in 2013.
Dracula (NBC)
Lastly, I give you Alexander Grayson, known in the freshman NBC series as the storied Count Dracula. For the record, this is a decorated failure to just about every critic, but not this one. The only let down for me is that no one seems to want to give it a chance. I'm not blown away by Jonathan Rhys Meyers' portrayal, or his accent, but I actually think he's appropriate when most needed. Although the centerpiece of the narrative is essentially a love story, I believe there's enough there to at least want to understand what happens. Unfortunately, not many agree, and Dracula is expected to be a one-and-gone endeavor.
MY 2014 TV RESOLUTIONS?
American Horror Story, The Walking Dead, House of Cards, OITNB, Nurse Jackie
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