The original list was controversial but here's some of our picks. Any notable ones we left off?
A few days ago, Season 5 of
Breaking Bad was acknowledged as the best TV season of all time in a recent poll by review-aggregator website Metacritic. We're massive fans of that particular season - Ozymandias was a stunning episode - but we couldn't help but think that the decision was slightly hollow. Hell, Season 5 isn't even the best season of Breaking Bad in my humble opinion.
On that note, the rest of the top 10 was eclectic with plenty of people disagreeing with the following inclusions:
10) The Office UK (Christmas specials), 9) The Office UK (Season 1), 8) The Leftovers (Season 3), 7) The Wire (Season 3), 6) The Wire (Season 4), 5) The Larry Sanders Show (Season 6) 4) The Larry Sanders Show (Season 4), 3) Murder One (Season 1), 2) Rectify (Season 4), ) 1) Breaking Bad (Season 5)
Bearing this in mind, we've decided to look at some superb seasons of TV that didn't even make the critics top 10.
Note, we're not choosing any miniseries (Band of Brothers) and in the interest of fairness, we're opting to include only one season of each show. Hell, we could have put every season of The Wire, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad etc into the list.
True Detective - Season 1
Worth its place because: Very few shows have combined mystery, murder and the occult quite like Nic Pizzolatto and Cary Fukunaga did. Harrelson and McConaughey are superb throughout.
The standout: That epic tracking shot which follows the two main characters as they flee a firefight.
Breaking Bad - Season 4
Worth its place because: The meeting of two kingpins. Gus vs Walter White.
The standout: Harvey Dent isn't the only fictional character that's two-faced.
Father Ted - Season 2
Worth its place because: Like every season of the superb comedy, there's rarely a poor episode in it. Picking your favourite Father Ted season is like asking which finger you want to lose. They're all amazing. This gets our nod because it had the most episodes and the quality never dipped.
The standout: Again, not a weak episode in the season but we're opting for the parochial house being infested by rabbits. Comedy at its finest.
Peaky Blinders - Season 2
Worth its place because: This is when we were introduced to Alfie. Enough said.
The standout: That tense standoff as Tommy stood over his open grave. Be honest, you thought that all was lost.
Game of Thrones - Season 6
Worth its place because: This was building. Baelor, Blackwater, The Rains of Castamere , Watchers on the Wall, Hardhome. With every passing year, Game of Thrones upped its stakes cinematically and in terms of its emotional gut punches. The double whammy of Battle of the Bastards and Winds of Winter was proof that GOT had overtaken cinema in terms of the wow factor.
The standout: One iconic shot.
The Simpsons - Season 8
Worth its place because: Truth be told, you could probably pick any season of The Simspons from 3-10 and make an INCREDIBLY strong case that it's the best one. Truth be told, you would probably win. This being said, Season 8 had Homer as a boxer, Larry Burns, the burlesque house, hurricane Neddy and more but we've got one particular reason in mind...
The standout: You Only Move Twice. Hank Scorpio. The end.
The Sopranos - Season 3
Worth its place because: The season when Tony's relationship with his immediate family really came to the fore.
The standout: Two dicks getting lost in the wilderness. A near perfect episode of TV.
Friday Night Lights - Season One
Worth its place because: Aside from its superb visual style and wonderful characters, FNL is the rarest of things. A show with real heart.
The standout: The pilot. Very few episodes would be that daring to include a game-changing twist in its first episode. FNL was great from the start and it continued to get better.
Prison Break - Season One
Worth its place because: Superb concept. Well acted. Incredibly gripping. What else do you want?
The standout: End of the Tunnel. The escape is on.
Master of None - Season 2
Worth its place because: The most perceptive show about the modern world - especially dating - in years.
The standout: Parents. Did you not instantly call your mam and dad after seeing that?
Rick and Morty - Season 2
Worth its place because: The show is the smartest thing on TV. Those fans that queued and rioted because they didn't get any schezwan sauce...ARE NOT.
The standout: Incredible TV. Absolutely incredible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PMr3WJ6sDc
Clip via -
Alpas
Arrested Development - Season 2
Worth its place because: the finest written comedy since The Simpsons. Hell, Season 3 wasn't great but when measured against the first two seasons, what else could?
The standout: Tobias Funke with a one-liner for the ages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axHe_BVY_9c
Clip via - KimudaWasHere
24 - Season One
Worth its place becasue: The concept changed TV and marked a change where 'film' actors decided to take more prominent roles in TV shows. It also helped that Kiefer Sutherland's character, the superb Jack Bauer, was a total badass.
The standout: The ending. We were all gripped. The alternate ending is interesting though. What might have been?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbs9EFYTGWE
Ok, we know that it's impossible to choose every amazing season of TV but is there any notable show/season that we left out? Trust us, The West Wing, Sons of Anarchy, Fargo, Luther, Homeland, The Americans were all in our minds. Any thoughts?
