This year’s wrap up is not like others in the past that have been much more in depth. I’ve barely been able to focus on TV, even TV that I love. Anyone who knows me knows that this is completely unlike me. I usually hang onto every word of a TV show/movie and stare daggers into your eyes if you dare interrupt me while I watch anything. That was not at all the case this year. I multi-tasked or doom scrolled while watching pretty much everything this year and didn’t really keep track of anything that I watched like I usually do. So I know I’m missing quite a number of titles here but I’d still like to recap what I can of what I enjoyed in TV and movies (mainly the former since the latter was scarce this year). As I’m writing this, Soul and Wonder Woman 1984 have not come out but by now, Aside from that, here’s what I thought of TV, Movies, & Books this year.
Here we go.
1. Favorite Content That I Watched In 2020?
*My goal: List five or less shows per category.
New Drama: Into the Night (Netflix), Transfers (Netflix), Erased (Netflix), I May Destroy You (HBO)
New Comedy: Avenue 5 (HBO)
Returning Drama: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: Part Three (Netflix), The Umbrella Academy: Season 2 (Netflix), Good Girls: Season 3 (NBC)
Returning Comedy: Dead to Me Season 2 (Netflix) Insecure: Season 4 (HBO)
New Reality: Nailed It! France (Netflix), Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness (Netflix)
Documentary: Athlete A (Netflix), Spelling the Dream (Netflix), The Speed Cubers (Netflix)
Documentary Series: I’ll Be Gone In The Dark (HBO), Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (Netflix), The Last Dance (ESPN)
Movies: The Platform (Netflix), Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), The Half Of It (Netflix), Palm Springs (Hulu), Spontaneous (Amazon Prime)
2. Most Surprising Content That I Watched in 2020?
Stargirl (The CW) starts off cornier than intended (at least that’s what I’d like to believe) but finds its footing soon enough. I tossed it on one day as something to have on while I worked and I ended up really enjoying it!
Hunters (Amazon Prime) was quite a surprise. That’s all I’ll say about that.
Evil (CBS) was definitely a shocker since it’s good (which wasn’t a surprise because the trailer looked great) but it is on CBS. Those two things don’t typically go together and it’s rare for CBS to have a show that really is what good TV is all about. So, I won’t be surprised if this gets canceled after 1-2 more seasons since that’s what usually happens with CBS shows that are actually good.
I watched the movie Color Out of Space that came out last year. I’m not gonna lie, I don’t quite know what I watched but it was pretty.
3. Most Thrilling Content of the Year?
TV
Into the Night (Netflix) was SO much fun to watch oh my god. This is 100% a ME show. I inhaled every second of it and can’t wait for more.
Locke & Key (Netflix). I was anticipating this adaptation so much! I was on the edge of my seat all the way through and really am impressed with how they pulled off what they did. Changes were made, understandably so. I still thoroughly enjoyed this series and am interested in seeing what decisions are made for the second season.
Another great adaptation was Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu)
Lovecraft Country (HBO) was also fantastic. It had its problematic moments, though no one can deny the way that it brought us together on social media and we needed that.
Movies
The Old Guard (Netflix) just wow, everything about it killed! #Alive (Netflix) because zombies. The Invisible Man was also really good, which I hate to actually promote since it stars the talented Elisabeth Moss who is a Scientologist.
4. TV Show I Can’t Believe I Waited Until 2020 To Finally Watch?
The Crown (Netflix) is definitely worth the hype. I had been enjoying Victoria (PBS) while everyone was raving about The Crown. But I finally caught up with my royalty watch I guess you could say and welp, silly me for not giving this show the time of day for so long. I figured, what more could you know? But seeing it dramatized, wow! So good.
Pen15 (Hulu) was on my watch list but I have no idea why I waited so long to watch this show which deserves all of the awards, oh my goodness.
Room 104 (HBO) I find is not a show that you can binge. You really have to sit with each episode and take the time to appreciate and ruminate in each episode. The things people can do when they are allowed to do it. Wow. I love it when a network gives the keys to the kingdom to creatives and really lets them do their thing.
5. TV Shows I Watched For the Last Time on Air in 2020 (Cancelled/Ended) & Will Miss?
I feel like I’m behind on more shows than I am caught up on. That said, I loved the series finale of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC), The Good Place (NBC), and Schitt’s Creek (Pop).
I will never understand why they decided to cancel Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj (Netflix) in this political climate when the show is needed most. Stupid.
Notable Mention to 2019 shows that were canceled this year: Watchmen (HBO), The Society (Netflix) which was renewed only to be canceled after COVID-19 which makes my blood boil just thinking about it, The Purge (USA), Altered Carbon (Netflix), and I’m sure there are more to mention. I haven’t caught up on The Magicians (Syfy) and I don’t plan on it. I want this show to last in my head for much longer.
6. Best TV Show I Watched In 2020 That I Watched Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody:
For my fellow zombie lovers, there’s Kingdom (Netflix) which I am so grateful made it to my radar.
Kim’s Convenience (CBC, Streaming on Netflix) just made it on my radar THIS year. A huge middle finger to everyone I know who knew about this show (which has been around since 2016) and didn’t tell me. Show yourselves!
I don’t watch 90% of horror that is out there because I’m a punk (though I do appreciate the genre and love, love, love how smart and clever it is). All of that to say, my sister got me to watch The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix) with her and then I watched The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix) and I thoroughly enjoyed both. I’m down to watch more shows/movies like this.
7. Notable World Building/Most Vivid Setting?
TV
Snowpiercer (TNT) was a fantastic addition to the Snowpiercer world. Note that story wise, it is different so if you can enjoy the show and the movie as two separate entities, that’s best. If you’ve been following the show behind the scenes, while watching, you can make a very educated guess as to what the creative differences were that led to the exit of one of the creatives behind the TV adaptation. I’m dying to know what could have been done with the show if he had stayed on and that’s all I’ll say about that.
Movies
The Platform (Netflix) gave us just enough and left us wanting exactly what we should have.
Onward (Pixar) gets a shout out here but it’s a Pixar movie so are we really surprised that their world building/setting is on point?
8. Content That Put A Smile On My Face/Were The Most Fun To Watch?
Dramas: The Umbrella Academy (Netflix) delivered one of the best sophomore seasons of a show I’ve seen all year, Blood & Water (Netflix) gave me Gossip Girl feels and it’s set in Cape Town so watching a teen show set entirely in Africa with African actors was so refreshing and amazing. Reality Z (Netflix) for my Big Brother trash heart (and yes, I’ve seen Dead Set) deserves a mention. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) Episode 709″As I Have Always Been” was orgasmic for this time loop addict. That season finale of The L Word: Generation Q (Showtime)!!!!
Comedies: Never Have I Ever (Netflix), Everything’s Going To Be Okay (Freeform), and Betty (HBO) are as charming as ever. Must watch!
9. Most Unique TV Show I Watched In 2020?
Dispatches From Elsewhere (AMC) was absolutely phenomenal. It was unlike anything I’ve watched this year and I devoured every single second of it. The way that I fell in love with this show! Oh my goodness. I love it.
10. Most Anticipated Content in 2021?
Movies in theaters. The last movie that I saw in theaters was JoJo Rabbit just before the Oscars. I miss going to the movies.
What are your TV/movie standouts of the year?