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:
Highest Rated New Drama – The Good Doctor (ABC)
* The Good Doctor has average 10.6 million viewers over the 10 episodes of its debut season.
Best Actress in a Drama [TIE] – Chrissy Metz, Kate Pearson on This Is Us (NBC) [pictured left] and Gina Rodriguez as Jane Villanueva on Jane the Virgin (The CW) [pictured right]
* Both of these ladies are great in their roles, and deserve to share this honor [and especially for Gina, she needs to get more accolades than she does for her performance on the under-appreciated series.]
Best Save of the Season – Timeless (NBC)
* The show was cancelled, but 48 hours later the network executives announced they changed their minds, giving the show a second chance. Two of the cast members even made videos as their characters stating they went back in time to get TPTB at the network to change their minds.
Best Performances in a Now Cancelled Series – Amirah Vann as Ernestive [pictured left] and Aisha Hinds as Harriet Tubman [pictured right] on Underground (WGN America)
* The subject matter of the now defunct period piece drama was, to say the least, disturbing – but also a sad fact of our American history. The performances by both Amirah and Aisha in their respective roles was quite amazing, buzz-worthy and award-worthy. Great job ladies!
Most Upsetting Deaths on TV – Michael Cordero, Jr. [actor Brett Dier] on Jane the Virgin (The CW); Tom Keen [actor Ryan Eggold] on The Blacklist (NBC); William Hill [actor Ron Cephas Jones] on This Is Us (NBC) and Rayna James [actress Connie Britton] on Nashville (CMT)
* It was heartbreaking seeing Michael collapse onto that classroom floor, as well as his wife Jane’s reaction; it was unsettling that TPTB had Tom killed for real; it took about two tissue boxes to get through the final episode with William and just how hard his biological son Randall took his death and fans were not prepared at all for Rayna’s death after she was seriously injured in a car crash nor prepared for the aftermath her death caused her family.
Best New Drama – The Brave (NBC)
* A lot of military shows were introduced this fall, and while SEAL Team may be performing better than any of the others military shows in terms of overall ratings, The Brave has proven – at least to me – to be the better of the bunch because of the writing, the performances and the overall feel of the show. I care about these characters and believe in them more than any of the other characters in any of the other military shows.
Almost the Best Ending to a Fan Favorite Series – Grimm (NBC)
* Fans of the long-running fairy tale themed show were sad to see their favorite show end, but at least it was given a chance to end on their own terms rather than with a rushed and/or half-assed finale.
Best Actor in a Drama – Sam Heughan, Jamie Fraser on Outlander (Starz)
* He’s not just a handsome face with a gorgeous body [but neither of those attributes hurt, I must say], but he gave a magnificent performance this year – between the end result of the Battle of Culloden, surviving life in that Scottish cave, leaving his son behind in England and being reunited with the love of his life after 20 years of separation. He deserves to be getting a lot more attention (award-wise) for her performance this season!
Hunky Newcomer – Noah Mills, who plays Joseph “McG” McGuire on The Brave (NBC)
* This Canadian model turned actor has really turned heads for those who have been watching the new military drama. If you’re not watching The Brave, catch up before the show returns on January 8.
Best Musical Crossover – Supergirl and The Flash (The CW)
* Sure this was the only musical crossover that aired this year, but it sure was a good one, don’t you think? Watching former Glee co-stars Grant Gustin and Melissa Benoist dance and sing – while playing Kara aka Supergirl and Barry Allen aka The Flash – was quite fun and entertaining.
Best Three-Part Storyline – This Is Us (NBC): Episode Titles – “Number One,” “Number Two” and “Number Three”
* This three-part ending of the first half of the show’s second season was quite moving; and gave us quite the insight into the backgrounds of each of the kids and the adults they became.
Great New Cast Addition – Andrea Bordeaux as Special Agent Harley Hidoko on NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS)
* With the show changing direction this season with a new Acting Assistant Director, Agent Harley Hidoko, who is the new Acting AD’s assistant, has been a great addition to the show, working really well with the team.
Most Entertaining New Show – Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (ABC)
* The show is not garnering great ratings and sadly probably won’t make it the whole way through the season [although I have my fingers crossed], but it sure is silly and entertaining when so much of the TV landscape is so dark and heavy.
Hottest TV Couple – Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall Fraser on Outlander (Starz)
* Sure there are a lot of hot couples on TV, but can you take one look at the picture of the couple in bed together [you can see that to the right] and not see that Jamie and Claire are the hottest couple on TV?
The Best, Most Twisty Episode of the Year – “Requiem” The Blacklist (NBC)
* This episode aired in April, and included an amazing performance by Mr. Kaplan, played by recurring guest star Susan Blommaert and her younger counterpart actress Joanna Adler (who is pictured to the left).
The TV Show That Should’ve Ended Already – Once Upon a Time (ABC)
* The other fairytale drama was once a great show that had double digit ratings, but it has quickly declined over the years. It should’ve ended a few seasons ago, but it didn’t. At the very least it should’ve ended when the main characters got their happy endings (as pictured above), but it’s still going but it just isn’t good anymore.
Most Annoying New Addition to a Drama – Ralph Dibny (Hartley Sawyer) on The Flash (The CW)
* No offense to the actor, but this character is annoying as hell [at least to me he is] and just look how horrible that costume is that he has to wear [pictured left] – really? – that was the best they could come up with?!
Very Moving 100th Episode – Switched at Birth (Freeform)
* This episode from the final season of the family-themed show, included a salute to Angelo, the biological dad of Bay Kennish, that was really powerful for the long-time viewers/fans to watch.
Best Online Series – The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
* This series, based on the Margaret Atwood novel, took the entertainment world by storm, garnering lots of buzz and awards aplenty – plus role players had a field day walking around in those long, flowing red dresses.
Thank You For That Promotion – Making RichDotCom (actor Ennis Esmer) a series regular on Blindspot (NBC)
* He may be annoying and over-the-top [and that is SO great], but he sure is a great addition to the show, and so deserves the promotion to series regular.
Prettiest Newcomer – Natalie Alyn Lind, who plays Lauren Strucker on The Gifted (FOX)
* She’s turning heads not just because of her looks, but the powers that her character has – especially in combination with her TV brother Andy – holy smoke!
Most Intense Crossover – Crisis on Earth-X (The CW)
* This was the four-part, two-night crossover between Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow that was even more intense than last year’s crossover between the same shows.
We Hardly Got to Know You – Time After Time (ABC) and Pure Genius (CBS)
* Time After Time only lasted four episodes before being pulled from the schedule by ABC while Pure Genius only lasted five episodes before being pulled from the schedule by CBS.
Best Villains – Patrick Lloyd [Terry Serpico, pictured left] on Designated Survivor (ABC) and Cayden James [Michael Emerson, pictured right] on Arrow (The CW)
* These characters have just been horrible in their own ways on their respective shows. Patrick got exactly what he deserved on Designated Survivor while viewers are still waiting to see what justice is reigned down on Cayden James on Arrow.
Most Anticipated Spin-Off – Wayward Sisters (The CW)
* This is the spin-off from Supernatural that should have happened – not that other failed attempt at a spin-off from the long-running WB/CW show. This spin-off also has the backing of lots of fans because it includes characters that fans/viewers actually like and want to see more of in the future.
What Will This Remake Really Be Like – Heathers (Paramount Network)
* Paramount Network, which used to be SpikeTV, have recreated the classic dark comedy film Heathers into a TV series; and boy does it look like one crazy ride.
Most Intriguing New Drama – Counterpart (Starz)
* What more needs to be said about this show than it stars actor J.K. Simmons in a dual role? Oh yeah, that other face that might look familiar in the trailers? That’s Harry Lloyd, who played none other than Viserys Targaryen in Game of Thrones. Don’t recognize him? Imagine him with long, flowing white-blonde hair like his TV sister Daenerys.
Don’t Miss These Dark, New Streaming Series – Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams (Amazon) [pictured left] and Altered Carbon (Netflix) [pictured right]
* Both of these shows are based on novels, airing on rival streaming services and have a dark, sci-fi look, feel and theme. If you like that sort of thing, you just might enjoy these too.
Thanks for the Memories – Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family-Freeform)
* Say what you will about this crazy ABC Family-Freeform series, but after 7 years of hateful text messages, countless events of torment and unlikely (short-lived) triumphs, the show gave fans/viewers a lot of amazing memories; and what could be called a happy ending for all of the little liars.
Say It Ain’t So – Dark Matter (Syfy) [pictured left] and Underground (WGN America) [pictured right]
* The cancellation announcements for both of these shows by their respective networks were simply the worst announcements to learn about all year. Dark Matter left fans/viewers with major cliffhangers for every single character and Underground didn’t get a chance to conclude the stories for its myriad of characters. Just so wrong!
Why Isn’t This Show Doing Better in the Ratings – Blindspot (NBC)
* This show started out in its debut season with much higher ratings, but has slipped each season despite that it keeps getting better and better (and sure, crazier) each season. If you’re not watching, you should!
Best Casting Announcement – Jodie Whitaker, Doctor Who (BBC America)
* She will become the new Doctor on Christmas Day. TV viewers MIGHT recognize her from her role in the original first season of the British series Broadchurch; she was the distraught mother of the murdered young boy. It’s going to be very interesting to see the very first female Doctor.
The Best New Drama That Just Kept Losing Viewers [Week After Week] – Legion (FX)
* More than likely the reason the ratings kept falling over the course of its debut season was most likley because the show was pretty hard to follow, jumping all around inside David’s mind, as well as all the other topsy turvy “stuff” happening within that world.
Why Aren’t More People Watching This Show – Younger (TV Land)
* I have two words for you: Sutton Foster [the two-time Tony Award winner who starred in the short-lived but cult classic series Bunheads]. That alone should get people to watch this quirky TV Land dramedy. Check it out if you aren’t already watching.
Most Buzzed-About Movie That Aired on Netflix AND the Big Screen – Mudbound (Netflix)
* This Netflix film [that played in limited release at theatres] has been getting a LOT of buzz and will be showing up on award lists very soon, I’m sure.
Most Anticipated New Drama That Has Yet to Premiere – Rise (NBC)
* This show comes from Jason Katims, the man behind Roswell, Friday Night Lights and Parenthood. This series could potential be the 2017-2018 TV season’s This Is Us.
Worst Version of the Marvel Universe – Marvel’s Inhumans (ABC)
* The only good thing about this show was actor Anson Mount (from Hell on Wheels), who portrayed Black Bolt. This show COULD have been so much better and it’s a shame that it wasn’t. Most of the time the show was painful to watch, I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the cast.
Thank You God for Letting This (Finally) Happen – The marriages of Barry and Iris AND Oliver and Felicity (The CW)
* Regardless of how fans/viewers might feel about the four DC shows on The CW lately, these impromptu marriages took place at the very end of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, as part of the four-part, two-night crossover event between the dramas in November, and I am just SO thankful they FINALLY took place.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on what you liked the most and the least on television throughout 2017. Please share.
TOMORROW: Music Moments
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