Ranking my Top 10 Television Shows of 2020: Which Shows Made The Cut?

Greetings TV Fans! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2021, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 10 TV Shows of 2020. 

While some returning shows continued strong, others fell off slightly. Meanwhile, some other new shows completely captivated my attention, paving their way into my top 10.

**Please note some spoilers are ahead.**

Without any further delay, let’s get to my list!

My Top 10 Television Shows of 2020 are:

10

The Undoing

The Undoing HBO

Image courtesy of HBO

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant brought some mesmerizing thrills and intensity to the small screen. This mystery hooked me from the very first episode and I couldn’t wait to find out how it all ended.

Edge of your seat moments and then some!

9

Homeland (Season 8, Final Season)

Homeland Season 8

Image courtesy of Showtime

It’s been a long journey for Carrie and Saul, but I thought that the final season did a fantastic job of wrapping things up. For me, the ending was satisfying and it’s not always easy to pull this off for a long-running show.

8

Killing Eve (Season 3)

Killing Eve season 3

Image courtesy of BBC America

While season 1 still remains my favorite so far, I thought that season 3 did a good job of filling in a lot of blanks I had about Villanelle’s character and backstory. Plus, we got some Villaneve moments that were simply to die for…pun intended!

7

Lucifer (Season 5, Part 1)

Lucifer season 5 part 1

Image courtesy of Netflix

The will-they-won’t-they tension is finally resolved and we got some pretty epic showdowns that may have made this season one of my absolute favorites so far. I’m still sitting here anxiously waiting for a release date for part 2, but this season exceeded my expectations so far.

6

Cursed

Cursed

Image courtesy of Netflix

This re-imagining of King Arthur was full of beautiful cinematography, but I was obsessed with Katherine Langford’s portrayal of Nimue (The Lady of the Lake). She was the bad-ass female character I was looking for and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

5

The Stranger

The Stranger Netflix

Image courtesy of Netflix

Harlan Coben is the master of creating mysteries that will keep you guessing, but this show was the definition of the perfect binge-watch for me. It hooked me right from the opening scene and I had to know more as each piece of the puzzle was introduced.

4

Dispatches From Elsewhere

Dispatches from elsewhere

Image courtesy of AMC

This show came out of nowhere for me. But I can say that it was like nothing I have ever watched before. There was something transcendent and magical within this show and while the mystery was compelling enough, the development and connection between characters was truly meaningful. Jason Segel is a genius!

3

The Flight Attendant

The Flight Attendant

Image courtesy of HBO Max

A unique and addicting thriller with a brilliant performance by Kaley Cuoco. This show was fun, intense, and really out there and I am completely obsessed with it!

2

The Queen’s Gambit

The Queen's Gambit

Image courtesy of Netflix

Honestly, it’s really a toss up between my number one and two picks this year. I loved both shows so much, but I guess it comes down to preference for me. However, I can’t say enough good things about The Queen’s Gambit. This show was like nothing I have ever seen before and Anya Taylor-Joy deserves an Emmy for her performance.

Who would have thought that a story about a chess player would be so incredibly moving and entertaining? If you haven’t seen this yet, please move it to the top of your watch-list. It’s that good.

Drum roll please…

1

The Haunting of Bly Manor

The Haunting of Bly Manor

Image courtesy of Netflix

A beautifully chilling ghost story that channeled its Gothic roots while bringing us a fresh take on a classic story. As soon as I started watching this, I was completely drawn in by the narration and I thought that each reveal was brilliantly done.

There was something beyond haunting about this show. It truly pierced my heart and soul and forever changed me in a lot of ways. “Perfectly splendid.”

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post your own thoughts and comments about your favorite television shows of 2020. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

Spoiler-Free Review of “Cursed” on Netflix: The Badass Female Character I have Been Waiting For

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“Where to begin…with water or with fire?”

Mystery has often surrounded the infamous Lady of the Lake from Arthurian legend and while we have witnessed plenty of twists and versions of King Arthur in film and in television, I have been anxiously waiting for this show to premiere.

Cursed premiered on July 17th 2020 on Netflix. It features ten episodes available to stream now (approximately 55 minutes in length). The show stars Katherine Langford, Devon Terrell, Gustaf Skarsgård, and Daniel Sharman.

Cursed centers on the story of a young enchantress named Nimue. She encounters the power of the sword and stumbles upon a young Arthur, while trying to protect her people from being wiped out by the Red Paladin. As Nimue continues her journey, she soon discovers that there is an incredible power within her that is begging to be unleashed.

The show is a good mix of The Witcher and Maleficent, bringing us beautiful cinematography and incredible action sequences, but does Cursed do enough to stand out on its own? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Cursed Netflix 1
Images courtesy of Netflix

Katherine Langford shines as Nimue!

I have not been this excited about a female character since The Witcher’s Yennefer of Vengerberg and while there are many characters I hold to high esteem on this list (Buffy Summers, Octavia Blake, Daenerys Targaryen, Piper Halliwell), it’s not easy to hold your own and Katherine Langford absolutely steps up to the plate as Nimue!

The Wolf-Blood Witch is badass and then some! While I absolutely loved Katherine Langford on 13 Reasons Why, she truly shines here and I will be a fan of hers forever!

Unique twists on the Arthurian legend.

Cursed Netflix 2
Images courtesy of Netflix

While Arthur plays a major part in the series, he takes a back seat to the Queen wielding the sword. As the series goes on, you will quickly discover a lot of familiar characters and reveals along the way, but a lot has changed and I think that’s a good thing. This actually helped the show stay fresh and relevant. It prevented it from becoming a predictable shadow of a story, allowing it to branch off into a really interesting retelling that has captivated my full attention.

The supporting characters were also really entertaining and I didn’t even mind when the story shifted to them for a little while because everyone was really fantastic on this show.

Stunning cinematography.

I mean, it just took my breath away. Everything was so beautiful and magical. I also appreciated that this didn’t overwhelm the show. It just complimented each scene perfectly, really bringing us into this world seamlessly.

The Cons:

Cursed Netflix 3
Images courtesy of Netflix

The plot wavers here and there…

We all know the point of the series and where the Lady of the Lake should end up, but the plot becomes a little uncertain here and there and then is covered up by gory and flashy fight scenes to make you forget about any inconsistencies. I would say that the plot did a good job of redeeming itself, but there were some moments when I needed to go back to see what was actually happening.

So am I in or out?

Cursed Netflix 4
Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in 100 percent! This series was everything I hoped for and more. Katherine Langford was incredible as Nimue! I really hope this show gets picked up for a second season…especially after that major cliffhanger!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Cursed in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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The 2020 Mid-Season TV Premieres I am most looking forward to: Bring on the new episodes!

Greetings TV Fans!  As we approach Mid-January, some of our absolute favorite shows will be returning with new episodes and we can also look forward to some brand new shows as well that have a lot of potential.  Looking to find out when they all start?  You came to the right place!

While some of our favorite returning shows already have 2020 premiere dates announced, others are still giving out a TBD 2020 response, as I vigilantly keep checking to see when they will be premiering.  It looks like we have several new shows with a lot of potential and some of our returning favorites seem very promising as well.

Without further delay, the 2020 Mid-season TV premieres I am most looking forward to are:

The Outsider

The Outsider HBO
Image courtesy of HBO

Premiere date:  January 12th 2020

Where to watch:  HBO

Based on Stephen King’s novel, this series will follow the murder investigation of a young boy, which leads a seasoned cop to question everything after discovering some supernatural forces and threats along the way.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Part 3)

Sabrina Netflix
Image courtesy of Netflix

Premiere date:  January 24th 2020

Where to watch:  Netflix

Sabrina Spellman is back and we can’t wait to see what she does next!  Will she finally find a balance between being a mortal and a witch or will she lose herself to dark magic completely?

The Stranger

The Stranger Netflix
Image courtesy of Netflix

Premiere date:  January 30th 2020

Where to watch:  Netflix

Adam Price seems to have it all.  That is, until a stranger approaches him one night and reveals a shocking secret that will change his life forever.  This new mystery thriller looks binge-watch promising for sure!

Katy Keene

Katy Keene The CW
Image courtesy of The CW

Premiere date:  February 6th 2020

Where to watch:  The CW

A spin-off of Riverdale Yes please!  Oh wait and it stars Pretty Little Liars’s Lucy Hale?  I’m in!

Locke & Key

Locke and key Netflix
Image courtesy of Netflix

Premiere date:  February 7th 2020

Where to watch:  Netflix

Based on the graphic novel, this show follows a group of siblings who move into Keyhouse after their father is murdered, which leads to some creepy findings of their own.

Homeland Season 8 (Final Season)

Homeland Showtime
Image courtesy of Showtime

Premiere date:  February 9th 2020

Where to watch:  Showtime

It seems like it’s been quite some time since we’ve last checked in with Carrie Mathison, but it’s about time.  I can’t wait to see how it all ends!

The Haunting of Bly Manor (The Haunting of Hill House Season 2)

The Haunting of Bly Manor Netflix
Image courtesy of Netflix

Premiere date: TBD 2020

Where to watch: Netflix

The second season of The Haunting of Hill House already looks extremely promising based on the premise.  Much like the AHS anthology, we will see several of the stars return from season one as we are welcomed into a new story, which will loosely follow The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.  Can’t wait!!!!

Cursed

Cursed Netflix
Image courtesy of Netflix

Premiere date: TBD 2020

Where to watch: Netflix

A fresh take on the Arthurian legend starring 13 Reasons Why’s Katherine Langford?  I’m definitely in!  This show is based on Frank Miller’s novel and will center around the Lady of the Lake (Nimue) story in a re imagined way.

Lovecraft Country

Lovecraft country HBO
Image courtesy of HBO

Premiere date: TBD 2020

Where to watch: HBO

A Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams team-up seems too good to be true, but that’s what we have here for this highly anticipated horror drama.  Based on the novel by Matt Ruff, this story follows Atticus Black, who is searching for his missing father.

Westworld (Season 3)

Westworld HBO
Image courtesy of HBO

Premiere date: March 15th 2020

Where to watch: HBO

Season 3 will bring us into a whole new world and if Aaron Paul is around for it, I’m in!

Little Fires Everywhere

Little Fires Everywhere Hulu
Image courtesy of Hulu

Premiere date: March 18th 2020

Where to watch: Hulu

Starring the talented and amazing Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, this limited series will follow the fears of suburban mothers, which may give us some Big Little Lies and Desperate Housewives nostalgia for sure.  I’m in!

Stay tuned for reviews, recaps, and top five moments!  I don’t know about you, but I am very excited for new episodes to return and I am really looking forward to exploring these new promising shows!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post the shows you are looking forward to premiering in 2020 in the comments below.  I always love discovering new shows and that’s where you come in!  Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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