Best of 2020 - TV

 

So rather than repeat what I said yesterday, I'm just going to say that Covid has also affected TV programs in almost the same way it has for films. But there are some differences. For example, the shows that had incomplete episodes prior to the pandemic, ended early with those episodes either due to air at a later date, be part of the next season or just be scrapped outright which has left some shows with no resolution as far as seasons are concerned. Despite this, completed seasons have been broadcasted or streamed in full because unlike films, the audience is the people at home, so it makes the most sense to just release them as if everything were "normal". So going to look at the best TV this year which will only include shows us geeks would be watching (new or otherwise) and I will count ones that are not completed yet even though Covid has delayed production. So tune in and let's watch some great telly:

Better Call Saul (Season 5)

Everyone's favourite lawyer from Breaking Bad is back for another season and this one feels much closer to its predecessor than ever before. The dark humour is there, the performances are ace and all the characters from the predecessor continue to set themselves up for their respective roles in that show. Who knows if in the final season we get Walter White himself making an appearance, but for a season released in the pandemic, it did really well and keep us on our feet for what's to come next.

 

The Mandalorian (Season 2)

The latest season of The Mandalorian brings us closer to Star Wars than it did before. This season confirms a few lingering questions about the canon timeline such as if Boba Fett lives or not and features the first ever live action appearance of Jedi outcast Ashoka Tano (who until now was previously animated) and even a young Luke too. Plus the child everyone calls Baby Yoda finally has a name so people can now stop calling him that (because even though his species hasn't got a name yet, that is definitely not Yoda). As a second season, it's great. This year we UK folk got both seasons as Disney+ came to us the day lockdown started and the first season had already been shown to other territories at the time. So in a year without at Star Wars films, this was the next best thing, and it is a fine series that just keeps getting better.

 

Truth Seekers (Season 1)

It feels like such a long time since Simon Pegg and Nick Frost last worked together, and I'm really glad that they are because this series is just about what I would expect from the two after seeing their satires in the Three Flavour Cornetto Trilogy and their other projects. Ghost hunting is all the range here, and it is funny but sometimes a bit scary here and there. But another fine series from the duo and I look forward to seeing more of their work.

 

Doctor Who (Season 12)

Long before the pandemic started, came the long awaited twelfth series of Doctor Who after having nearly a year's break, and it's back in a big way. Former companions return as do some old enemies too. Plus everything we knew about the Doctor and the Time Lords are all changed in a big but welcoming way (at least for me. I don't know about the rest of you). Plus it feels as though horror has been the big thing in the series this time. So yeah it may still be the same old stuff as before, but things are starting to get fresh and interesting for the series and that's good enough for me.

 

Stargirl (Season 1)

DC have been pretty busy this year with their films and TV shows. Most were released as planned while many of the TV shows (especially those connected to the Arrowverse) had to end early. But out of all the shows that came out, Stargirl (which in the Arrowverse is set on the new Earth-2) was the one I enjoyed the most. It brings hope that things can get and will get better and shows off a team of superheroes that haven't really been seen on screen properly. A great series that I hope will continue on and help attract a new generation to the world of DC Comics.

 

The Umbrella Academy (Season 2)

The second season of The Umbrella Academy put the gang in a very different world in a time of the past, and it explores everything from racial issues to lots of illegal activities at the time. All while trying to save the world once again with a soundtrack that makes Awesome Mix eat its heart out. Plus it will be interesting how it will continue now that we know about Elliot Page (formerly Ellen Page) being a transgender identified as he/him. Looking forward to the next one.

 

Quiz (miniseries)

As with every year, ITV (a UK broadcaster) always strives to bring out the best drama it can muster and this year we got to hear the story behind one of the last contestants on the UK version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire during Chris Tarrant's tenure to win the £1 million jackpot. For those of you who don't know, the show in the UK has had seven winners over time, but one of them cheated his way to the jackpot which got media attention back in late 2001. Long before the pandemic, this was the thing people were raving about when it came to coughing. In my opinion, cheating is wrong and all game shows should always be played by the rules. This series perfectly captures the whole incident from when it all began to right at the end with court hearings and all sorts. I mean seriously if you really don't know the answer, use a lifeline or quit while ahead. Don't cheat because it means other contestants lose out.

 

South Park (The Covid Special)

Something as big as a pandemic was too good for South Park to ignore. So instead of a full series, they decided to have a special which perfectly captures everything wrong with 2020 as far as the USA (an otherwise great country) is concerned. The pandemic, misuse of masks, video chat problems, a lack of normality and the incompetent president (which in the show, is actually Mr. Garrison transformed into a Trump-like character) who goes around as if everything is "normal" and pays the price as a result. And then of course the whole George Floyd incident and lots of other things. It may still be lacking what was good about the series originally, but this special proves that not one thing in the world will be overlooked by Trey Parker and Matt Stone. Not even a pandemic and this special gets that across really well in the best way it can.

 

There are of course lots of other great (and not so great) shows that were broadcasted and released this year, but these are my personal favourites. For the most part, it's felt as if all is OK with TV with most shows still being broadcasted and released on time in light of the pandemic while others have had to change to account for it. So that is that and now let's pay our respects to some of the people from TV that we lost this year (any I mentioned yesterday will not be mentioned again):

 

Fred Willard - a comedy actor known largely for a number of television shows like The Simpsons and Space Force

 

Jerry Stiller - father to Ben Stiller who has been on television for several decades in various roles as well as few films and stage productions too