Rueben's Ramblings

Every TV season viewers never know what to expect from their favorite shows because the powers that be behind those shows are sneaky, they like to freak us out, make us laugh, make us cheer and sigh in relief.

There is always so much going on each TV season that sometimes it’s hard to point out all of the good (and the bad) that TV gives us each year, but the following list, which is featured in no particular order, is what really stood out for me this TV season:

Highest Rated New Drama – God Friended Me (CBS)

Averaging about 8.4 million viewers since its debut, the CBS drama about an outspoken atheist whose life was turned upside down when he received a friend request on social from God and unwittingly became an agent of change in the lives of others, which also changed his life forever.

Best Actress in a Drama {Three-Way Split} – Maddie Hasson on Impulse (YouTube); Stana Katic on Absentia (Amazon) and Jodie Whitaker on Doctor Who (BBC America);

Maddie was riveting to watch as 16-year-old Henry, who learned she has the ability to teleport, in the YouTube series Impulse while Stana played against type as Emily Byrne in the dark thriller about an FBI agent, who returned to her life after being missing for 6 years.

Also, Jodie became the first woman to play the Doctor, bringing quirkiness to the role, winning over critics and viewers alike.

Let’s Keep This Going (and Growing) – The Me Too and Time’s Up movements

These movements were a long time in coming, and let’s hope that they can help change the course of lives for a lot of women (in and out of the entertainment industry).

Most Upsetting Deaths on TV {Three-Way Split} – Learning how Jack died on This Is Us (NBC); Jack on When Calls the Heart (Hallmark Channel) and Xavier Dolls on Wynonna Earp (Syfy)

Viewers knew that Jack died on This Is Us, but learning what exactly happened and seeing it was a whole different thing; it was heartbreaking watching Rebecca’s reaction too. Fans were devastated with the reveal that Mountie Jack died saving two other Mounties in the season finale of When Calls the Heart and realizing that Dolls was murdered right before our eyes on Wynonna Earp was heart-breaking.

Most Moving Performance in a TV Movie – Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (NBC)

John Legend may have been Jesus Christ in the live performance of Jesus Christ Superstar on NBC, but it was the electrifying performance of Brandon in the role of turncoat Judas that blew viewers away.

Best Actor in a Drama – Richard Madden in Bodyguard (Netflix)

There are a lot of talented actors on TV (and in films) – there is no doubt about that. In his role in the British series Bodyguard, which aired on Netflix here in the States, Richard Madden expertly navigated between being a highly professional security specialist, a loving father and a tightly-wound man on the edge. It was a riveting performance to watch.

WTF Moments in TV – Michael being alive in the Jane the Virgin season finale (The CW)

Just as it looked like Jane and Rafael might would cementing their relationship permanently, Jane [and the viewers] received the biggest shock. Michael, Jane’s long-deceased husband, was – in fact – very much alive and well, standing right before her in Rafael’s apartment. OMG!

Hunky Newcomer – Giacomo Gianniotti on Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)

Eagle eye viewers will remember Giacomo as Lord Julien Varga from the debut season of The CW drama Reign and he also guest starred in the short-lived Karen Gillan-led comedy Selfie, but it’s been his role of Dr. Andrew DeLuca in Grey’s Anatomy that has really turned heads.

Can You Believe the Resemblance? – Parisa Fitz-Henley as Meghan Markle in Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance (Lifetime)

It really is amazing how much Parisa and Meghan have in common beyond their remarkable resemblance. If only Parisa’s appearance in this movie could be helping more people to watch her NBC fantasy series Midnight, Texas.

Prettiest Newcomer – Lana Condor in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (Netflix)

Lana portrayed Lara Jean in the instant fan favorite film To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – based on the book by author Jenny Han – which aired on Netflix over the summer, making her the envy of many a girl (young and old alike). She will be seen next in the box office film Alita: Battle Angel as well as the new Syfy series Deadly Class, which is based on the comic book of the same name.

Best New Drama – New Amsterdam (NBC)

While God Friended Me may be the highest rated new drama this fall, New Amsterdam has proven to be the best new drama for this TV season all thanks to the portrayal of Dr. Max Goodwin by actor Ryan Eggold (best known for his work on The Blacklist) and four little words “How can I help?” And for me to say that about a medical drama, given my absolute aversion to hospitals and doctor, is saying a lot, as I haven’t missed an episode. In fact, this is the first medical drama I have WANTED to watch in nearly 10 years that hasn’t made me cringe.

Best Kick-Ass Moment on TV – Elizabeth Keen on The Blacklist in the episode “Ruin” (NBC)

This was the 9th episode of the fifth season of the show, finding Elizabeth Keen abandoning her old life for a fresh start in a new place after the tragic death of her husband Tom. She moved to the middle of nowhere, but was surprised when an injured man appeared at her supposedly well-hidden cabin followed quickly by a group of men claiming to have survived a crash. This quickly turned into a cat-and-mouse game between Elizabeth and the men. She had to use her emotional and physical strength to bring them down. The fight scene was made even more moving with the Alice Merton song “No Roots” playing over.

Best Villainess – Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton on Yellowstone (Paramount Network)

Kelly Reilly played Beth Dutton in the new Paramount Network drama Yellowstone, working alongside Kevin Costner as her father. Beth was a ruthless, cold-hearted master manipulator who may not have been the villainess of the series, but she might as well have been. All those negatives in her personality are because she is not only a very unstable woman but also suffers from a substance abuse problem.

Best Streaming Series – Altered Carbon (Netflix)

This futuristic drama was based on the 2002 novel by English author Richard K. Morgan, taking place over 360 years into the future with most of the series set in the year 2384 in Bay City (formerly San Francisco). The best part of the entire series was everything about cast members Dichen Lachman and Renee Elise Goldsberry.

Best Ending to a Sci-Fi Series – 12 Monkeys (Syfy)

This much overlooked futuristic sci-fi drama – loosely based on the box office film – came to an end after four seasons on Syfy near the end of this summer, providing SO many answers to lingering questions AND giving all of the characters a happy ending especially long-suffering leads James Cole and Dr. Cassandra “Cassie” Railly.

Worst Cancellation Announcements {Three-Way Split} –  The Brave on NBC; Kevin Probably Saves the World AND Take Two on ABC

While cancellations happen every TV season, learning that these dramas were cancelled far too early was a bit disappointing. None of these shows were big ratings busters – for sure – but they were all very entertaining to watch, and it would have been nice if their respective networks had given them a little more time.

The John Barrowman Award – Thom Allison as Pree on Killjoys (Syfy)

For those of you who have not seen Thom in action as the delicious Pree on Killjoys, get yourself over to Syfy and start streaming the past episodes of this sci-fi treat. You can thank me later. After you’ve seen him in action, I am sure you will agree with me that he is AWESOME; and deserves his own show.

WTH Moment in a TV Drama – The Magicians season three finale (Syfy)

All of The Magicians attempted to get magic back once and for all, but that backfired on them. Instead as the final scene played out, viewers learned that all of them are living very separate lives as other people and Eliot is possessed. ARGH!

I Didn’t Like Him Until… – Noah Centineo

I didn’t really care for Noah as the replacement Jesus on the recently defunct drama The Fosters, but my opinion of him changed because of his portrayal of Peter Kavinsky in the Netflix film To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. In fact, it was clear given the response to his performance in the film that he became the summer TV boyfriend for a LOT of viewers.

Best Save By a Streaming Service – Designated Survivor from ABC by Netflix

Designated Survivor aired for two seasons on ABC and while the ratings may not have been stellar – especially given the fact that Kiefer Sutherland is the star – but the second season ending with quite a cliffhanger, and it’s nice for the fans of the show to know that it will return on Netflix.

It Might Be Time To Let This One Go – Arrow (The CW)

I’ve been a big fan of Arrow since its debut episode, but seven TV seasons later, my dedication to the show is beginning to wan. For that matter, I have already taken off two of the DC shows off my viewing list (Black Lightning and Legends of Tomorrow). To be honest, The Flash and Supergirl may not be too much farther behind Arrow – sad as that is to say.

NOTE: The only caveat I have to this choice is that The CW really pulled through with the recently aired three-part crossover event between The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl, which I found so enjoyable to watch. Every minute of it. What with the introduction of Batwoman, hearing the theme song for Smallville during the first scenes of Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane at the Kent Farm that was the original Kent Farm in the TV series to seeing John Barrowman and John Wesley Shipp make guest appearances. Wow! It was great fun. I just wish they could do this for every episode of the three shows.

Series Finale Disappointments {Two-Way Split}– The Last Ship (TNT) and Colony (USA Network)

After five intense seasons on TNT, The Last Ship came to an end on Veteran’s Day, but I have to admit the series finale was rather disappointing. It would have been nice to see what happened to all of the characters after taking down their latest adversary Tavo – even if it might be trite – a scene set a few years later would have sufficed.

Then there is the finale of Colony that left all of the characters in dire circumstances because it was supposed to be a season finale not a series finale, but the USA Network had other plans, cancelling the show without TPTB being able to give the show a proper send-off.

Best New Import – Private Eyes (ION)

This hit Canadian series airs on ION here in the States, starring Beverly Hills 90210 star Jason Priestley and Supernatural alum Cindy Sampson as former pro hockey player Matt Shade and private investigator Angie Everett, who team up as private detectives.

Best Use of a Moustache – Tim Rozon on Wynonna Earp (Syfy)

The picture [to the left] says it all, doesn’t it?

It’s About Damn Time – Liza and Charles on Younger (TV Land)

It’s only taken five seasons, but viewers of this much overlooked TV Land dramedy, finally got to see Liza (Sutton Foster) and Charles (Peter Hermann) give into their simmering feelings for each other.

Say It Ain’t So – NBC cancelled Timeless AGAIN

When the cancellation of Timeless came down last year from NBC, fans stood up to support the show, and the network actually gave it a second season – not something that the networks typically do, I might add – but when the network decided yet again this year to let the show go after a big cliffhanger ending, fans were – to say the least – outraged. Thankfully, the networks listened [sort of], giving us the two-hour series finale event that aired last week.

Please Make It Stop – Rebooting TV shows

I think it’s time that the networks work at creating new shows rather than rebooting show from years past. After all Magnum P.I. and Charmed haven’t won over audiences. Now reboots of Northern Exposure and NYPD Blue are being considered; and don’t even get me started on Roswell, New Mexico. Hey network heads, start thinking outside the box.

Thanks for the Memories – Nashville (CMT)

The show started out performing pretty well for ABC, but after four seasons the network cancelled it only to be picked up for two more season by CMT. Regardless of how viewers may have felt about the direction the show went over the course of those seasons, it was quite nice for long-time viewers to see so many familiar faces in the final scene where so many cast members returned to the stage to sing the show out.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what you liked the most and the least on television throughout 2018. Please share.

TOMORROW: Movies