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

New Pope, same as the old Pope, different from the Young Pope.

https://i.imgur.com/18y0Up0.jpg
#38 (Tie) - The New Pope (HBO) - 33 points, 4 votes, 2 top 5 votes
hbo/bbc's the young pope w/ jude law and the new pope w/ john malkovich

Trailer
Sample Clip (yikes)
Website
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/12/arts/television/the-new-pope-review-hbo.html

lol you had to go straight to the marilyn manson scene as the sample clip

there are indeed many scenes without marilyn manson in this show, though it does make sense that malkovich's pope character would gravitate to someone like manson's performative transgressiveness while ignoring the actual abuse he commits.

here's the other, much less problematic cameo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XppefSOavY8

Sorry, but any pope-themed historical drama will always remind me of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2xWQr4VaUA

it's not a period piece fwiw

Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing, two aging comedians going around the UK fishing, which admittedly sounds terrible. The Trrip isn’t a bad comparison, but without sounding trite feels a but more organic, less needle between them and less competitive.

It’s an acute examination of male mental health and wellbeing and dealing with mortality, both there own and the loss they’ve experienced. The scene where Bob Mortimer revisits his childhood home and talks about the loss of his father is devastating. It’s often hilarious too and looks absolutely gorgeous.

I haven't seen a second of it but "two nice men who have been hilarious and unproblematic in public for thirty years, hanging out together and talking" doesn't sound terrible

I have to assume Kingdom is less racist and classist and somnambulant than The Walking Dead, what else does it have going for it?

https://i.imgur.com/vwmj8pS.jpg
#38 (Tie) - Kingdom (Netflix) - 33 points, 4 votes, 2 top 5 votes
Netflix Watch Instantly Recommendation Thread

Trailer
Sample Clip
Website
https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kingdom-season-2-netflix-review-a-zombie-show-that/1900-6417439/

probably not as good as the sad-macho MMA series of the same name

Or, like,

Yay, this show rules, and not just for the hats.

i wish i had more time to give it a chance. watched the first ep, but didn't get time to delve any further before tuning in my ballot.

As a guy who used to watch the Walking Dead, gave up on that, and loves Kingdom, I'd say the vibe is totally different -- the addition of political intrigue to the zombie formula is so much better than the soap opera boredom that took over TWD.

same! i gave up on TWD part way into s3. love the idea of a zombie (or whatever kind of monster he is) with political clout!

The rumor is that you don't need to care any more about baseball to enjoy Jon Bois' second entry in the poll than you would for Brockmire. Can anyone confirm?

https://i.imgur.com/bzoXHyF.jpeg
#38 (Tie) - The History of the Seattle Mariners (YouTube) - 33 points, 4 votes, 2 top 5 votes
The Seattle Mariners in 2006
The Seattle Mariners in 2007
The Seattle Mariners in 2008
The Seattle Mariners in 2009
The Seattle Mariners in 2010
No question...this team fucking stinks. Seattle Mariners 2011 season of continued disappointment
You can't shine a turd. 2012 Seattle Mariners need help thread
The Seattle Mariners in 2013
The Seattle Mariners in 2014
The Seattle Mariners in 2015
Always different, always the same: 2016 Seattle Mariners
James Paxton & Co: 2017 Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners in 2018

Supercut Edition
Website
https://www.sbnation.com/secret-base/22188707/history-of-the-seattle-mariners-top-documentaries-episode-list
https://www.cinematary.com/writing/2020/5/25/the-history-of-the-seattle-mariners-2020-by-jon-bois
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Seattle_Mariners

i love baseball, but didn't really see why people enjoyed this so much.

Having never heard of the books or the original 1970’s show starring Jon Pertwee, I figured I owed the first episode of this kids show a shot... and it’s good! Very twee, very bucolic, very funny, well cast and well filmed. Though it’s written by and stars Mackenzie Crook, who US ILXors may know best as Gareth from the original UK The Office and one of the two lead characters in The Detectorists, it has a distinctly (and yet uncloying) Neil Gaiman air about it.

https://i.imgur.com/bcuLIla.jpg
#37 - Worzel Gummidge (BBC) - 35 points, 4 votes, 2 top 5 votes
NB: Top Children’s Show
books/films/tv shows that TERRIFIED you as a child and were DEFINITELY trying to (and maybe you shouldn't have been exposed to at that age)

Trailer
Credits Music
Website
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/dec/26/worzel-gummidge-review-mackenzie-crook-hes-back-hes-hilarious-and-hes-wearing-a-cravat

I thought the first two seasons of Insecure were as good as anything HBO had done up till then. There are certainly still bright spots but it's running on steam imo. Rae remains one of television’s great comedians but the diffusion of the story’s thrust to the lives of the less interesting secondary characters isn’t helping and suggests that the most important ideas this show has to offer have already been presented. This season was focused on female friendship, which is a great topic but the plotting points generally came off as petty and underdeveloped. Insecure is wrapping up in 2021; I’m hoping for a strong finish.

https://i.imgur.com/Z7vfCvO.jpg
#36 - Insecure (HBO) - 36 points, 5 votes, 2 top 5 votes
Issa Ray's "Insecure" HBO show

Trailer
Sample Clip
Website
https://www.vulture.com/2020/06/insecure-season-4-finale-review.html

agree w liking insecure quite a bit, but not this season v much

it steams me that a handful of seasons' mariners threads are not called "the seattle mariners in ____", maybe i will watch whatever that youtube is at some pt but prob not lets be real

I was a big fan of the first season of Netflix’s The End of the Fucking World and I enjoyed the original Forsman comic that I Am Not Okay with this is based on (lol that the lead character is literally Olive Oyl) but I never quite got around to watching this. Please convince me I should!

https://i.imgur.com/bCjp4XA.jpg
#35 - I Am Not Okay with This (Netflix) - 37 points, 6 votes, 2 top 5 votes
Netflix Watch Instantly Recommendation Thread

Trailer
Sample Clip
Website
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/25/arts/television/i-am-not-okay-with-this-review.html
https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a31133146/not-okay-with-this-graphic-novel-lgbtq/
https://www.vulture.com/2020/02/i-am-not-okay-with-this-charles-forsman-comic-netflix.html

I very much liked the most recent season of Insecure (and voted for it). The end of a friendship is something shows rarely seem to do.

i agree and i thought it was a good idea poorly executed. i find orji's character deeply uninteresting on some sex and the city bullshit.

Seattle Mariners series is basically 'do you like Jon Bois' but taken to extremely lengthy levels. I for one do and was one of the top 5 voters. He has revolutionised the sports doc imo

sorta feel like tim rogers and jon boi should get together and do a series about sport games

Love this show; top three on my ballot. The main character's best guy friend bopping around his room to Prefab Sprout made me happier than anything I saw in any new media in 2020.

love kingdom. just a really fun watch. the stakes feel low despite it being pretty serious. approx 100x better than walking dead.

i dipped out of i am not okay with this, but i am glad i stuck around long enough to see that "king of rock and roll" scene, which was by far my favorite in the show

really liked this season of insecure, it was well written without some of the dumber plotlines of earlier seasons

This next one is deep on my “to watch” list so I’m gonna need some help with description here…?

https://i.imgur.com/SgNa4Rw.jpg
#34 - Giri/Haji (BBC, Netflix) - 37 points, 7 votes, 1 top 5 vote
But Is It on Netflix? - Streaming Video Service Thread: Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, Disney+, Peacock, YouTube TV, AT+T Watch, Philo, Playstation Vue, HBO Max, HBO Now, Facebook Live and many more
Rolling iPlayer and All 4 and iTVPlayer 2017-2018

Trailer
Sample Clip
Website UK
Website US
https://www.npr.org/2020/01/31/801563128/giri-haji-is-a-story-of-cultural-cross-pollination-unlike-anything-else-on-tv
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/giri-haji-cancelled-bbc-netflix-will-sharpe-joe-barton-b421871.html

and i need to go for a run before the sun goes down so let's get one more in the mix and call it a day...

The Great is created by a co-writer of the dark comedy of manners (and, not incidentally, multiple Oscar winner) The Favourite and it clearly shows in subject matter, style and sense of humor. I watched a single episode and liked it a lot but my partner hated it so I tapped out. What did I miss out on?

https://i.imgur.com/Vw6YaCF.jpg
#33 - The Great (Hulu) - 38 points, 5 votes, 2 top 5 votes
STUFF ON HULU

Trailer
Sample Clip
Website
https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/the-great-hulu-review.html

More tomorrow! Here's your newly updated hitlist!

#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) - The 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

Naked Nicholas Hoult and that's about all I've got to add to the conversation on that one.

The Great is created by a co-writer of the dark comedy of manners (and, not incidentally, multiple Oscar winner) The Favourite

sadly something called green book meant this only one Oscar

re: Insecure, I think this was much more Molly's season and I like that. Also Andrew is nice.

the great was fantastic, especially both leads. it felt less like 'the favourite' and more like if veep documented 18th century russia instead of modern washington (well, it's more romantic and poetic than veep, but still)

(also not as funny as veep, but what is?)

it felt less like 'the favourite' and more like if veep documented 18th century russia instead of modern washington

good one

Saw bits of the great and bits of i am not ok with this and have zero patience for the approach of either tbh

Ohhh yea I guess I have seen I Am Not Ok With This. I got it confused with I Think You Should Leave. TV should think of some better show names imo.

OK Im sold on watching the Great if thats its angle.