2018 was another stellar year for television, it was also the year that streaming became the most watched thing in my household something I hadn’t expected to happen for at least another few years. Similarly to last year, this post will look at the 5 shows that had me hooked and that I would recommend to any fan of TV.
Altered Carbon
Altered Carbon was one of the most highly anticipated TV shows of the year for sci-fi fans. The book series was long regarded as some of the best-written cyberpunk stories ever so when Netflix announced they’d be doing a big budget adaptation the hype was real. The show delivered on that hype and then some. It was a sheer visual spectacle from start to finish featuring some of the best CGI I’ve seen on a TV show. That isn’t to say the storytelling was awesome as well, it was as good if not better than the visuals. I’d regard this as a
The Sinner (Season 2)
The Sinner was a show that I watched in 2017 and really enjoyed (it nearly made the list last year) but I wasn’t expecting a second series due to the nature of the story being told. When this hit Netflix I was very excited to watch. This show focused less on the person accused of the crime and more on the development of Detective Harry Ambrose who returns as the now main character. Definitely, recommend this to any fans of the previous season or of whodunits.
The Punisher
The Punisher was a show that had been recommended to me since it originally aired, however, I didn’t try watching it assuming it would be standard Netflix superhero affair. How wrong I was. This show was fantastic, brutal and gritty whilst also developing a cast of characters I really cared about by the end. Several twists which made it constantly surprising. This is probably my favourite “superhero” tv show by a long way. It speaks volumes that several of the other Marvel heroes on Netflix has been cancelled but The Punisher has a second season due out in 2019. Don’t let the links to Marvel put you off this if you aren’t usually a fan, it is amazing.
American Horror Story: Apocalypse
American Horror Story was a show I previously described as hit and miss, which I still think is true. However, the previous 3 seasons have been phenomenal and it will be sad to see the show eventually come to an end if the quality remains as high as it currently is. This season featured a non-linear method of storytelling which worked very well and a large portion of the previous cast returned or made cameos. This season expanded on previous seasons linking of the stories being told with seasons 1 and 3 being must watch before this one to fully understand what’s going on. Highly recommend to fans of horror.
People Just Do Nothing (Season 5)
People Just Do Nothing was a show I have been aware of for several years but never tried watching it until seeing the promo ads for Season 5. After watching This Country and falling back in love with the mockumentary format I decided to try it and I did not regret it. The show follows a group of misfits who run a pirate radio station in London and this season, in particular, follows the tribulations of the group members going through changes. The show is perfect binge material, I watched all original 4 seasons in little over a week and loved it, finishing season 5 felt bittersweet as it has been stated this will be the last season the show has. Any fans of British comedy will love this show.