Year 2020 started with a promise that the entire world would get to see a lot of fascinating television shows. But then COVID-19 happened and the entire entertainment industry went into shutdown. It forced many projects to halt productions or even cancel due to loss of time and budget because of the pandemic.
But, just like what Jeff Goldblum said in “Jurassic Park” -- life finds a way. And the entertainment industry did just that -- it found a way to put a smile on our faces despite the world crumbling down, by still producing some of the best shows in recent years. The list is filled with TV series that have produced intriguing content season after season as well as some remarkable debuts from new creators.
Here's a list of the top 20 TV shows of 2020 that offered quality entertainment during such a tumultuous time.
10. "Schitt's Creek" Season 6 (Netflix) - The final season of “Schitt’s Creek” bid a perfect adieu to the Rose Family and the town that completely changed their lives for good. The greatest strength of the series turned out to be its ability to grow the characters without changing them. The show created history by securing nine trophies at this year’s Primetime Emmys, breaking the record for most wins by a comedy show in a single season. From lovable characters and heartfelt relationships to heart wrecking moments and long-lasting friendships, the show has everything for everyone.SchittsCreek/ TwitterAnya Taylor-Joy stars in Netflix's "The Queen's Gambit."The Queen's Gambit/Netflix2. "Normal People" (BBC Three and HULU) - The Irish drama centers on Marianne (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell’s (played by Paul Mascal) complex relationship and how they grow as a couple through challenging situations. Beautifully written by Sally Rooney, Alice Berch and Mark O’Rowe, the series features a lot of emotional moments that would surely make you realize how hard it is to maintain a relationship, but also how beautiful it is to fall in love. The series was nominated for four Primetime Emmys, including Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special. BBC Three/Hulu3. "Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story" (Sony LIV) - “Scam 1992” follows the life of Harshad Mehta, a stockbroker who took the stock market to greater heights by illegally manipulating the market. At the time, it was reported that Mehta committed “India’s biggest financial fraud” of over Rs. 4,000 crores (over $500 million). The project, directed by Hansal Mehta, revisits the late 80s and early 90s by making use of some brilliant writing and power-packed performances by its lead actor Pratik Gandhi. It is the highest-rated Indian show on IMDb with a score of 9.4.Sony LIV/Applause Entertainment/Studio Next4. "The Boys" Season 2 (Amazon Prime Video) - “The Boys” is not your typical superhero project where the team saves the world by doing heroic things. Instead, it shows a world where superheroes abuse their powers rather than use them for good. The first season was all about violence and heavy themes. Meanwhile, the second installment takes a deep dive into the political structure of new America. The follow-up season is as violent and skull-smashing as it can get. Superb performances from Karl Urban, Antony Starr and Erin Moriarty make the series a compelling watch. The Boys TV/Twitter5. "The Mandalorian" Season 2 (Disney +) - “The Mandalorian” is undoubtedly the series that every Star Wars fan deserves. In season 2, Din Djarin (The Mando) is given a task to return The Child, aka Baby Yoda, to an order of sorcerers called Jedi. The Mando (played by Pedro Pascal) and Baby Yoda continue their journey, fighting evil forces as they make their way through the galaxy after the disintegration of the Galactic Empire. Viewers might say that the second season is not as exhilarating as the first one, but it has all the elements to become an instant classic. It is an incredible TV show, stuffed with some top-notch writing and an incredible twist at the end. The series also marks the live-action debut of Ahsoka Tano (portrayed by Rosario Dawson). Disney6. "Lovecraft Country" (HBO) - A young African-American guy named Atticus Freeman (played by Jonathan Majors) travels across the United States in the 1950s in search of his father. Accompanied by his friend Letitia (played by Jurnee Smollett) and Uncle George (played by Courtney B. Vance), the trip begins to go downhill when the characters struggle to overcome the racism prevailing in “white America” and terrifying flesh-eating monsters. The unique storyline makes the show so good that it’ll force you to binge-watch every episode. JJ Abrams and Jordan Peele serve as executive producers in this series.LovecraftHBO/ Facebook7. "Paatal Lok" (Amazon Prime Video India) - The most critically-acclaimed Indian TV show in recent times, “Paatal Lok” is a gritty portrayal of crime, corruption and caste inequalities. Based on “The Story of My Assassins” by Tarun Tejpal, the series has been praised for its spine-chilling plot and accurate portrayal of religious issues. Boasted by Jaideep Ahlawat’s performance of a lifetime, the series keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats with its gripping sequences. Apart from Ahlawat, the supporting cast, which comprises actors like Neeraj Kabi, Abhishek Banerjee and Swastika Mukherjee, have also done an extraordinary job in playing their respective characters. Amazon Prime Video India/Paatal Lok8. "The Umbrella Academy" Season 2 (Netflix) - Perhaps the biggest show to premiere after the coronavirus pandemic took over the world, “The Umbrella Academy” was the perfect antidote for people who had nothing to do behind the four walls of their houses. Season two sees the dysfunctional Hargreeves siblings reunite to stop the apocalypse and defeat the evil forces. Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, Colm Feore, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Justin H. Min and Aidan Gallagher do a phenomenal job in bringing out amazing new layers from their characters. As a whole, season two is better than the first one in all aspects. The Umbrella Academy/Twitter9. "The Flight Attendant" (HBO Max) - Based on the novel of the same title by Chris Bohjalian, “The Flight Attendant” tells the story of Cassie (played Kaley Cuoco) whose life turns upside-down when she wakes up inside a hotel room beside a dead man with no memory of what happened last night. Cuoco singlehandedly makes the mini-series a compelling watch and proves that the she still has impeccable comic timing. The show premiered in December.The Flight Attendant/ Facebook20. "The Outsider" (HBO) - Based on Stephen King’s best-selling novel of the same name, “The Outsider” has everything needed to enthrall viewers. It's hard to sell a TV show with a slow-paced story about a shocking murder in a small town. So, HBO came out with a series with its own “slow-paced story with a shocking murder in a small town with a supernatural twist.” The series works because of its unusual yet captivating pilot episode, which sets the tone beautifully for the show, and it just gets better and better with each episode. Packed with powerful performances by Jason Bateman, Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo and Bill Camp, the show successfully combines two genres -- supernatural and true-crime -- in one and keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats.
HBO/The Outsider11. "Panchayat" (Amazon Prime India) - When the world was swooning over “Sacred Games” and its complex storyline, Amazon Prime Video (India) decided to come up with a light-hearted series like “Panchayat” which shows a true reflection of rural India. The critically-acclaimed show follows the journey of an engineering graduate Abhishek (played by Jitendra Kumar), who becomes a secretary of a Panchayat office in a remote village in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Packed with humorous situations and well-timed dialogues, “Panchayat” is one of those feel-good shows that are high on humor and heartwarming stories. The show is a perfect example of how a solid script mixed with quirky writing can make any show binge-worthy. Amazon Prime Video India/Panchayat12. "Ozark" Season 3 (Netflix) - “Ozark” is one of those shows that get better with each passing season. The first season was a decent crime-drama with engaging characters while the darker tone of the second installment made the show even more interesting. However, the series finds its true potential with the latest season that is filled with many jaw-dropping moments and mind-boggling plot-twists. Driven by an amazing performance by Jason Bateman and Laura Linney, the show continues to prove why it is one of the best shows on Netflix. Ozark/Facebook13. "The Crown" Season 4 (Netflix) - Probably the most scandalous show on TV right now, “The Crown” beautifully articulates some of the most jaw-dropping moments of Britain’s royal family. The latest season starts with Queen Elizabeth (played by Olivia Colman) welcoming the nation’s first woman Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher (played by Gillian Anderson). It also introduces the character of Princess Diana (Emma Corrin). Anderson’s menacing performance as Thatcher and Corrin’s embodiment of Diana is truly a treat for the eyes. Des Willie/Netflix14. "I May Destroy You" (HBO) - The show follows the journey of a writer named Arabella Esseidu (played by Michaela Coel), who is celebrated as a Millenial icon for writing the novel “Chronicles of a Fed-Up Millennial.” While struggling to meet a deadline for her second book, she spends the night with her friends in London. However, things take a U-turn when Arabelle is sexually assaulted in a nightclub and forced to reassess everything in her life, including her career, relationships and family. Coel is undoubtedly one of the breakout stars of 2020 and is surely going to be a frontrunner at next year’s award ceremonies. The show could not get nominated this year because it falls into next year’s zone of eligibility. The show is funny, sad, uplifting and heartbreaking all at once.AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images15. "Better Call Saul" Season 5 (Netflix) - “Better Call Saul” has been an astounding show since its inception and its latest season is truly the best of the lot. Led by Bob Odernik and Rhea Seehorn’s amazing performances, the fifth season takes the show to a whole new level with its dark, funny and mind-boggling direction. It is a shame that Odernik and the entire team of “Better Call Saul” are overlooked at the award shows for the work they do. It is undoubtedly one of the best series on television right now. Better Call Saul/Twitter16. "Harley Quinn" Season 2 (DC Universe) - Harley Quinn needs no introduction. She is one of the most intriguing characters in the entire comic-book universe. In 2017, it was announced that DC Universe ordered 26 episodes of “Harley Quinn,” an adult animated action-comedy show created by Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker and Dean Lorey. The first season consisted of 13 episodes and went on to become one of the best shows of 2019. The second season premiered in April 2020 and turned out to be even better. The series completely took Joker out of the equation and gave the creators much more space to figure out what makes Harley such a hypnotic character. The chemistry between Harley (voiced by Kaley Cuoco) and Poison Ivy (voiced by Lake Bell) is the highlight of this engrossing show. DC Universe/Warner Bros. TV17. "La Jauria" (HBO Max - U.S.) - “La Jauria” is Amazon Prime Video’s first original production out of Chile, and it has already managed to captivate the minds of viewers with amazing sequences and a thought-provoking storyline. The series tells the story of a student leader who disappears after staging a protest at a Catholic school. A police squad made up of women officers puts everything on the line to find her. The show tackles an important subject about harassment among women, especially by the rich and powerful. Brilliant performances by Daniela Vega, Antonia Zegers and Maria Gracia Omegna make the series a compelling watch.Freemantle/La Jauria18. "Sex Education" Season 2 (Netflix) - The first season of “Sex Education” was so beautifully rendered that adults could have learned so much from it. But season 2 is much more than just educating people about “sex,” it is about self-awareness, compassion and love. The best thing about the second installment is that not a single moment is wasted in meaningless conversations. Every single character is developed and gets equal screen time. This season’s storyline is all about girls who shine the brightest in this endearing Netflix series. Jon Hall/Netflix19. "Quiz" (ITV) - You would have guessed by now that this series is about people with high IQ levels trying to win a quiz show. However, it is much more than that. The three-episode mini-series chronicles the journey of a former British army major named Charles Ingram, who surprises everyone by winning the game show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” Things take a U-turn after he is caught cheating his way to winning the £1 million prize money on the game show. By sticking to the three-hour-long episodes, the program has plenty of surprises for the viewers. It is a smart, entertaining show that will keep you engaged with all its multi-layered characters. This is a perfect watch for those who don’t want to spend days and days on a single series. ITV/Quiz
