ILX’s Top 77 Television and Streaming Video Series of 2020

I'd be interested to know how involved Scharpling is in WWDITS because the humor often reminds me of Best Show-level absurdity.

It took me until WWDITS to realize that I'm really, really not much interested in genre TV shows, at least not compared to genre movies.

scharpling is a writer on the tv show, yes

at least on s1. i don't know if he stuck around for s2.

i do think colin robinson is a very inventive and genuinely new character type for the genre.

Loved the WWDITS movie (have watched it three times), didn't like S1 E1 of the TV spinoff so bailed, shall reconsider forthwith.

― mike t-diva,

Same!

That british guy is incredibly annoying and has zero range and i hate him in everything, will not watch him

Intellectualism and nuance is given categorically short shrift in most popular entertainment but Michaela Coel leaned heavy into presenting the complexities of a world where there are no clearly defined absolutes. Victims can be monsters, rape can be a damaged cry for help, sex can be hateful, presenting your trauma can be selfishness, social media love can damage you, your friends can’t really know you, and all of these as opposites are proved true as well. This uncertainty is a conscious reflection on the show’s central concern: the importance and fungibility of consent. Control is an impossible thing to attain and yet it’s the only thing all this show’s characters strive for: control of self, control of one’s story, control of one’s sexuality and control of the repercussions for having that control taken away.

Coel’s remarkable finale, which left me teary-eyed and in awe, seemed to suggest that the illusion of control is unattainable, that if we could truly control everything that hurt us or moved us, we’d break apart no less spectacularly than we already have. I think it’s safe to say that I May Destroy You is going to be remembered as one of the defining documents of the past decade and Coel starred, wrote, co-directed and produced the whole damn thing. Whatever she does next, I want to be first in line.

https://i.imgur.com/oO9U3jF.jpg
#1 - I May Destroy You (HBO, BBC) - 253 points, 18 votes, 10 #1 votes, 17 top 5 votes
NB: Most Points, Most #1 Votes, Top HBO, Top BBC, Top Drama
I May Destroy You - Michaela Coel

Trailer
Sample Clip 1
Sample Clip 2
US Website
UK Website
Michaela Coel’s 2018 MacTaggart Lecture
Talking with GQ
How It Changed Our Lives
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/feb/03/emily-in-paris-writer-on-i-may-destroy-you-snub-golden-globes
https://blackgirlnerds.com/michaela-coels-i-may-destroy-you-establishes-a-new-paradigm-for-social-justice-television-and-life/
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/rethinking-rape-and-laughter-michaela-coels-i-may-destroy-you/
https://www.vulture.com/article/michaela-coel-i-may-destroy-you.html
https://hyperallergic.com/583965/i-may-destroy-you-review-michaela-coel/
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/07/06/michaela-coels-chaos-and-charisma-in-i-may-destroy-you
https://www.npr.org/2020/07/22/894167333/michaela-coel-on-i-may-destroy-you
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/25/arts/television/i-may-destroy-you-sexual-assault.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/arts/television/paapa-essiedu-i-may-destroy-you.html

And that’s the poll!

Here’s all the data :
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r38SVcWq42bp75PdbZaJE_ClK4vfdpAjIHI5KUOlJiI/edit?usp=sharing

And here’s Moka’s complete image album:
https://imgur.com/a/aaHQcxP

And here’s our final list. Happy viewing!

#1 - I May Destroy You (HBO, BBC) - 253 points, 18 votes, 10 #1 votes, 17 top 5 votes
#2 - What We Do in the Shadow (FX) - 215 points, 24 votes, 14 top 5 votes
#3 - How To with John Wilson (HBO) - 203 points, 16 votes, 5 #1 votes, 14 top 5 votes
#4 - Better Call Saul (AMC) - 190 points, 16 votes, 3 #1 votes, 15 top 5 votes
#5 - The Last Dance (ESPN, Netflix) - 161 points,16 votes, 2 #1 votes, 10 top 5 votes
#6 - Ted Lasso (Apple +) - 150 points, 16 votes, 2 #1 votes, 8 top 5 votes
#7 - The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix) - 141 points, 20 votes, 5 top 5 votes
#8 - The Mandalorian (Disney +) - 115 points, 15 votes, 2 #1 votes, 5 top 5 votes
#9 - Sex Education (Netflix) - 106 points, 10 votes, 3 #1 votes, 6 top 5 votes
#10 - The Boys (Amazon) - 104 points, 10 votes, 1 #1 vote, 7 top 5 votes
#11 - Schitt’s Creek (Netflix) - 100 points, 12 votes, 6 top 5 votes
#12 - Small Axe (Amazon, BBC) - 92 points, 11 votes, 3 #1 votes, 4 top 5 votes
#13 - Bojack Horseman (Netflix) - 83 points, 11 votes, 1 #1 votes, 4 top 5 votes
#14 - All Gas No Brakes (YouTube) - 76 points, 8 votes, 5 top 5 votes
#15 - Normal People (Hulu) - 75 points, 8 votes, 6 top 5 votes
#16 - The Dress Up Gang (TBS) - 71 points, 8 votes, 1 #1 vote, 4 top 5 votes
#17 - Lovecraft Country (HBO) - 67 points, 11 votes, 2 #1 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#18 - Mrs. America (Hulu) - 66 points, 9 votes, 3 top 5 votes
#19 - Big Mouth (Netflix) - 64 points, 7 votes, 1 #1 vote, 4 top 5 votes
#20 - Action Button (YouTube) - 61 points, 6 votes, 3 #1 votes, 3 top 5 votes
#21 - The Expanse (Amazon) - 60 points, 5 votes, 4 top 5 votes
#22 - PEN15 (Hulu) - 59 points, 8 votes, 3 top 5 votes
#23 - Devs (Hulu) - 56 points, 9 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#24 - The Crown (Netflix) - 54 points, 8 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#25 - Dead to Me (Netflix) - 53 points, 6 votes, 3 top 5 votes
#26 - Jeopardy (Syndication) - 51 points, 8 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#27 - The Great British Bake Off / The Great British Baking Show (Netflix, Channel 4) - 47 points, 9 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#28 - Brockmire (IFC) - 47 points, 6 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#29 - Search Party (HBO) - 43 points, 6 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#30 (Tie) - Dark (Netflix) - 41 points, 7 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#30 (Tie) - Killing Eve (BBC America / BBC) - 41 points, 7 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#32 - Work in Progress (Showtime) - 41 points, 5 votes, 1 #1 vote, 2 top 5 votes
#33 - The Great (Hulu) - 38 points, 5 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#34 - Giri/Haji (BBC, Netflix) - 37 points, 7 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#35 - I Am Not Okay with This (Netflix) - 37 points, 6 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#36 - Insecure (HBO) - 36 points, 5 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#37 - Worzel Gummidge (BBC) - 35 points, 4 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#38 (Tie) - The History of the Seattle Mariners (YouTube) - 33 points, 4 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#38 (Tie) - Kingdom (Netflix) - 33 points, 4 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#38 (Tie) - The New Pope (HBO) - 33 points, 4 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#41 - Quiz (ITV, AMC) - 32 points, 5 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#42 - Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing (BBC) - 30 points, 3 votes, 2 top 5 vote
#43 - Rick and Morty (Adult Swim) - 29 points, 8 votes
#44 - Last Week Tonight (HBO) - 29 points, 6 votes
#45 (Tie) - Aggretsuko (Netflix) - 28 points, 4 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#45 (Tie) - Unorthodox (Netflix) - 28 points, 4 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#47 - High Maintenance (HBO) - 28 points, 4 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#48 - RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) - 27 points, 5 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#49 - Aunty Donna’s Big Ol’ House of Fun (Netflix) - 26 points, 5 votes
#50 - Never Have I Ever (Netflix) - 26 points, 4 votes, 1 #1 vote, 1 top 5 vote
#51 - Tiger King (Netflix) - 25 points, 6 votes
#52 (Tie) - Fargo (FX) - 25 points, 4 votes, 1 top 5 vot
#52 (Tie) - Ghosts (BBC1, HBO) - 25 points, 4 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#54 - Strictly Come Dancing (BBC) - 25 points, 3 votes, 1 #1 vote, 1 top 5 vote
#55 (Tie) - Beef House (Adult Swim) - 23 points, 4 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#55 (Tie) - Desus and Mero (Showtime) - 23 points, 4 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#57 - A House Through Time (BBC2) - 23 points, 3 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#58 - The Repair Shop (BBC, Netflix) - 20 points, 2 votes, 1 #1 vote, 1 top 5 vote
#59 - GeoWizard Missions (YouTube) - 20 points, 2 votes, 2 top 5 votes
#60 (Tie) - Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (Netflix) - 20 points, 2 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#60 (Tie) - Murder on Middle Beach (HBO) - 20 points, 2 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#62 (Tie) - High Fidelity (Hulu) - 19 points, 4 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#62 (Tie) - Ozark (Netflix) - 19 points, 4 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#64 - Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet (Apple +) - 18 points, 5 votes
#65 (Tie) - AEW Dynamite (TBS) - 18 points, 3 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#65 (Tie) - The Plot Against America (HBO) - 18 points, 3 votes
#67 - The Good Lord Bird (HBO) - 18 points, 2 votes, 1 #1 vote, 1 top 5 vote
#68 - Star Trek: Picard (CBS All Access) - 18 points, 2 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#69 - Dave (FX) - 16 points, 3 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#70 - 20020 (SB Nation) - 16 points, 2 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#71 - Bob’s Burgers (FX) - 15 points, 3 votes
#72 (Tie) - Oxventure Dungeons and Dragons! (YouTube) - 15 points, 2 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#72 (Tie) - Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult (Starz) - 15 points, 2 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#72 (Tie) - Taskmaster (Channel 4) - 15 points, 2 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#72 (Tie) - Teenage Bounty Hunters (Netflix) - 15 points, 2 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#72 (Tie) - Videogame Dunkey (YouTube) - 15 points, 2 votes, 1 top 5 vote
#77 (Tie) - Bluey (Disney +) - 15 points, 1 vote, 1 #1 vote, 1 top 5 vote
#77 (Tie) - Followers (Netflix) - 15 points, 1 vote, 1 #1 vote, 1 top 5 vote
#77 (Tie) - She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (Netflix) - 15 points, 1 vote, 1 #1 vote, 1 top 5 vote
#77 (Tie) - The Umbrella Academy (Netflix) - 15 points, 1 vote, 1 #1 vote, 1 top 5 vote
#77 (Tie) - We Are Who We Are (HBO) - 15 points, 1 vote, 1 #1 vote, 1 top 5 vote
RUNNER UP (Tie): Corporate (Comedy Central) - 4 votes, 14 points
RUNNER UP (Tie): The Eric Andre Show (Adult Swim) - 4 votes, 14 points
RUNNER UP (Tie): His Dark Materials (HBO) - 4 votes, 14 points
RUNNER UP (Tie): I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (HBO) - 4 votes, 14 points
RUNNER UP (Tie): Only Connect (BBC2) - 4 votes, 14 points
RUNNER UP (Tie): Star Trek: Lower Decks (CBS All Access) - 4 votes, 14 points

Fucking delighted

very deserving #1, good job everybody

10 number one votes! Incredible

I may have enjoyed a few other shows more this last year, or rather some may have been more on my wavelength, but when looking back at the shows of the year, there was no doubt in my mind this was the only choice for my #1 spot.

Ten #1 votes!!! I've been putting this off because it seemed like a degree of heaviness I'll only be able to stomach once life gets back to something approaching normal, but...ten #1 votes!!! Maybe I need to bite the bullet.

Thank u 2 forks and Moka for your exemplary work!

I never thought it could be anything else. A staggeringly great show.

OK, I guess I need to watch this. ILX validation, the final push needed to do so.

Thanks to forks and moka for running this, got loads of stuff to watch :)

Thanks to both and all voters too

The only show from my ballot that I'm surprised to not see in the countdown is The Outsider, which imo is probably the closest a Stephen King adaptation has come to replicating the feel and the rhythms of a Stephen King novel.

Nice, expected winner

I didn't participate so can't complain but I see now my favourite show of last year, My Brilliant Friend S2, was not nominated

everything on my ballot made it, which makes sense because i have great taste

and so do y'all

The only show from my ballot that I'm surprised to not see in the countdown is The Outsider, which imo is probably the closest a Stephen King adaptation has come to replicating the feel and the rhythms of a Stephen King novel.

― The Mandolinrainian (Old Lunch),

Yeah this deserved a top 20 placing imo but i didnt vote so

mostly I'm just glad Aunty Donna did better than Tiger King

i've seen at least one episode of 40 of the 87 listed shows, can anyone top that?

I have as well, but two of those are only because of the poll, so that probably doesn't count.

great write-up on I may destroy you forks

i'm at 39, but that number goes down significantly if you only count episodes that aired in 2020

xp thanks! i have loads more to say about I May Destroy You but likely not some combination of the talent, impetus or lived experience to really do it justice
i'll likely rewatch it before the end of the year.

Got 8 out of my top 10 predictions right. I was doubtful about Curb My Enthusiasm making it but amazed that Perry Mason only made #123. I thought it was much more highly rated around here.

thanks poll runners!

I May Destroy You is frequently heavy yeah, but it is fun too. I knew from Chewing Gum I'd watch everything Coel ever does but.... holy wow

Surprised to realize that I've actually seen >1 episode (and in most cases all of the episodes) of at least ten of the ones that placed (aside from Jeopardy because who hasn't seen a ton of Jeopary).

xp thanks! i have loads more to say about I May Destroy You but likely not some combination of the talent, impetus or lived experience to really do it justice
i'll likely rewatch it before the end of the year.

i will say that if anyone is holding off on watching IMDY because it's "the rape show" and it's going to be heavy, don't. The tone shifts a lot from scene to scene and episode to episode; it's uproariously funny and also utterly devastating, often in the same hour. What it's not is anything that you expect it's going to be and that includes cruel or preachy.

yes,otm

Curb didn't make it, wow! I must have missed loads of great shows here

The only show from my ballot that I'm surprised to not see in the countdown is The Outsider, which imo is probably the closest a Stephen King adaptation has come to replicating the feel and the rhythms of a Stephen King novel.

― The Mandolinrainian (Old Lunch), Tuesday, February 16, 2021 1:53 PM (forty-nine minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Yeah, but a decidedly second-tier Stephen King novel (didn't see the show, but having read the book I wasn't moved to)

the show had some strong acting but was overall not good

Thanks for the poll! First time I've voted as Lockdown meant I actually got to watch a fair amount of telly. I May Destroy You was utterly astonishing television; I'm still reeling from it, to be honest.

thanks for your time and efforts moka and forks.

I liked The Outsider, even if some of the middle episodes felt padded.

Couple of my votes im suprised didnt place at least in the lower ranks: Discovery, Raised by Wolves

Thanks for this, Forks and Moka!

(A reminder that the Umbrella Academy is, if not the moral victor, at least in the moral top 50)

much appreciated forks & moka, you guys deserve many days off from ilx polls

Thanks. I'll try and vote next time!

yes, thanks! really enjoyed reading this thread

Yeah, thanks forks and moka, and thanks for encouraging me to vote even though I think I only had 6 things on my ballot!

Thanks for the poll, enjoyed that. I'm still so out of it--I haven't heard of (not "I haven't seen"--haven't heard of) six of the top ten shows. I watched a lot of TV through the pandemic, but half of it was re-watching favourites from start to finish. Can we post out ballots here?

please do!