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

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!

I submitted twice--I think this was the final version:

1. Small Axe
2. The Last Dance
3. Better Call Saul (S5)
4. Mrs. America
5. Ozark (S3)
6. Modern Family (S11)
7. A Teacher
8. Homecoming (S2)
9. Fargo (S4)
10. Killing Eve (S3)

Catching up:

1. Homecoming (S1)
2. Mr. Robot (all seasons)

That's really a list of everything I watched--I only left off one show. But even at #10, I enjoyed some of Killing Eve's weakest season so far.

My #1 for catching-up should have been Modern Family, which I forgot. Ups and downs, but enjoyed it the whole way.

Yes, thanks, forks and moka. A very good poll.

Work in Progress (Showtime)
Dead to Me (Netflix)
I Am Not Okay With This (Netflix)
Jeopardy (Syndication)
Beef House (Adult Swim)
Killing Eve (BBC America)
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark (HBO)
The Outsider (HBO)
The Crown (Netflix)
Matt Baume’s Culture Cruise (YouTube)

Best New-to-Me: Fleabag (Amazon)

Thanks, forks and moka!

i wish i had watched Plot Against America before the poll. after reading the description up thread i wound up marathoning it not long after. would def had given it a high ranking on my ballot.

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

ime this is the thing in which he is most consistently well-used. often a little goes a long way, but the overall tone of this supports him being one-fifth of the ensemble.

also the episode where he's the lead, in S2, is one of the best of the series.

thanks forks and moka as ever!

deems is thinking of "matt berry," while the guy in wwdits is a similar, but far superior actor named "bat berry." i can see why he's confused.

MATT!