It was an excellent year for television!
We had so many great surprises, that we had to leave off some of our favorites. What shows on our list do you love? What should have made the list?
Click HERE to listen to our full Television in 2015 discussion!
Show of the Year: Fargo
By the time that we started discussion for the Top Shows of 2015, we all sort of expected that someone would convince the rest of us that one of the television staples like Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, or The Walking Dead should be our first official Show of the Year. Much to our surprise, when Fargo was brought up for nomination, no one disagreed, no one fought it, we all just sort of knew that the second season of Fargo was Fox Radio Network's Show of the Year for 2015.
We were big fans of the first season of Fargo, which premiered in April of 2014. It was probably the biggest surprise hit of last year. Actually, the show was so good, that we became pretty nervous when we heard that they would be doing a second season. While True Detective attempted to do the same this year, it fell flat, and almost felt like a parody of the first season. Fargo Season 2 takes everything that the first season did well and builds on it. The mix of mystery, violence, dark humor, and small-town quirkiness hasn't gone away. If anything, it's even darker, more violent, funnier, and at the end of the day: weirder.
While Fargo's greatest attribute is its writing and performances, the aesthetic isn't anything to scoff at. We might go as far to say that it is the most visually stunning show of the year. In all phases of cinematography, editing, and costume design, Fargo season 2 not only impresses, but astonishes.
Suggested for fans of: Fargo (season 1), Fargo (1996), In Bruges
The Best Shows of 2015
Mr. Robot
Captivating, confusing, and cool: Mr. Robot does a lot of things right. It depicts hacker culture more accurately than just about every show or movie. It provides an interesting social commentary with the state of society and consumerism. It uses negative space to convey a story. It breaks the fourth wall to the point that the audience is actually the imaginary friend of our protagonist, Elliot.
With everything it does right, Mr. Robot's socially awkward lead will either intrigue or alienate. You will either love or hate his stiffness. Love him or hate him, though, Rami Malek's portrayal of the computer engineer by day, hacker vigilante by night is performed perfectly. You will find yourself begging for Malek to provide more information, but at the same time, you will be questioning just how much you can trust him as a narrator. Don't be surprised if you hear "Emmy Award nominee/winner Rami Malek" anytime soon.
Suggested for fans of: Fight Club, The Dark Knight
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones has now established itself to be more than a tiny spark, but a large wildfire that consumes the forest of the audience's minds.
With the fifth season of Game of Thrones having premiered earlier in 2015, we see the show beginning to significantly escape from the bounds of the source material. Game of Thrones is now reaching the point of becoming a mystery to everyone, even the readers of the books.
This season had its ups and downs, but it does one thing significantly better than most, and that's making you salivate at the mouth to find out what happens next.
Suggested for fans of: The Lord of the Rings, The Walking Dead
The Jinx
The Jinx, a six-part documentary aired on HBO, feels like the perfect blend of Unsolved Mysteries, True Detective, and that creepy guy that you see at the store every now and again. The Jinx really succeeds at providing facts and theories as narrative. Watching the mystery surrounding Robert Durst unravel is evocative and unsettling. What's even more unsettling is realizing that ultimately, this documentary was Robert Durst's idea.
We'll let you make your own assumptions after watching the show, but nothing is more chilling than listening to a man accused of three different murders discuss the cases so openly.
Suggested for fans of: True Detective, Unsolved Mysteries, Catfish (2010)
@Midnight
There are only a handful of shows that last a long time on Comedy Central. What has kept shows like The Daily Show, South Park, and (though respectively newer) Tosh.0 around for so long? These shows succeed or have succeeded because of their ability to stay completely relevant and let the world write it's own comedy.
@Midnight began in October of 2013, and it continues to be entertaining every week night. Chris Hardwick, who also hosts The Talking Dead for AMC, hosts the new "game show" where the points don't really matter. Sound familiar? The point system isn't the only similarity with the cult classic "Whose Line is it Anyways?"
@Midnight features three guests every night, typically comedians, who are given the opportunity to write their best jokes regarding recent events, trending topics, or memes. It's a simple show, but with all of the serious dramas taking up our time, @Midnight is a breath of fresh air, and a great break from every character we love dying.
Suggested for fans of: South Park, Comedy Central Presents, Whose Line is it Anyways?
Public Morals
Public Morals might not be brought up in conversation a lot, but there has definitely been a buzz about the show going around the Fox Radio Network office. Ed Burns shines in this era piece surrounding the Public Morals Division in 1960s New York City.
While it might not be as true and accurate to the era, as Mad Men appears to be, the costume and set design are still pretty impressive. No one in the office claims this to be the best show of 2015, but definitely one of the most overlooked ones.
Suggested for fans of: The Untouchables (1987), Mad Men, Fargo