Just like last year, I decided to
once again rank the TV shows that I’ve watched midway through this year. This list is exclusively on live-action TV
series, so don’t expect any animated series to be in it. The list is arranged from best to least.
The Flash
From being the number eight in my list for last year’s best shows, its inaugural season’s strong second-half
propelled it to the top of my favorites (as of now). Harrison Wells a.k.a. Eobard Thawne a.k.a.
Reverse Flash has been one of the most complex, multi-layered, fascinating
villains ever in fiction; Gorilla Grodd was miraculously adapted into live
action in a manner that didn’t look cheap; it maintained a strong connection with its
parent show Arrow, and significantly
contributed in expanding the DC TV universe; and, most importantly, I grew to
like all of the characters beyond Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen, Tom Cavanagh’s
Harrison Wells, and Jesse L. Martin’s Detective West (I used to like only these three). This show still succumbs to dumb plot holes,
but these are easily forgiven for being continually fun and exciting.
Daredevil
In my opinion, it was only with
this show that Marvel was able to take their first real step in challenging
DC’s TV dominance. CLICK HERE for more
of my thoughts on Daredevil.
Orphan Black
Orphan Black remains to be an extremely intriguing, fascinating,
and smart series; and Tatiana Maslany continues to delight in portraying the
different LEDA clones. However, I’m a
bit bummed that the CASTOR clones are taking some screentime away from Tatiana
Maslany’s characters. I think I liked
it more when the narrative solely revolves around the lives of the LEDA clones
– again, Tatiana Maslanay’s incredible display of versatility in bringing to
life different characters and giving them distinctive personalities is the
greatest thing about this show in the first place. Ari Mellen isn’t a bad actor, but the CASTOR
clones are just like different shades of the same character – there is no
opportunity for Allen to play characters that are unique from each other (or
he’s incapable of it). Nonetheless, this
is still the same show that I fell in love with last year, and it’s still
pretty much near perfection.
Arrow
Its spin-off, The Flash, has surpassed Arrow already, but I’ll always love this show for being the closest thing to a Batman
live-action TV series we can have right now.
Arrow boasts great fight
scenes, gritty storytelling, and interesting characters – especially the awesome Felicity Smoak.
iZombie
I’m not familiar with the comics
this series is based on, but if the writing is anywhere near the quality of
this series, then it’s probably terrific. This new series has this particular charm, wit, and relatability that gives the show a Veronica Mars-like tone, which is no
wonder since Rob Thomas, creator of Veronica
Mars, developed this show. The small
screen is full of crime procedural/mystery shows already, but I find iZombie’s approach to the genre – along
with its own brand of zombie mythology – fresh and fun. I also appreciate how its scenes start like a
comic panel then transitions into the opening shot of the scene.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
I love this show, but I have these high expectations that hasn’t been met yet. I’m not sure if it’s fair, but I really want my expectation to match the actual. The current S.H.I.E.L.D. comic book series – which was somewhat based on the TV series – has a better premise and tells better stories. At the very least, I hope the TV series can match the appeal of the comic book series. But all that said, it was only somewhere in the second season that I finally get to like Skye, and that has to be a big deal considering how I disliked her during the first season.
Constantine
It’s saddening that this series
is cancelled (its low ratings can’t bring justice to its provided budget). Matt Ryan killed as John Constantine, and
though the story is limited and tame compared to its source material, it was
still very great. I’m going to miss this
show. If only Constantine can make a
deal with or con the First into taking Gotham
instead of Constantine.
The Blacklist
Though season 2 has its good
share of thrills and intrigue, it isn’t as thrilling and intriguing as the first
season. In its first season, there were
a lot of stuff happening every episode, but amidst the fast pace, it felt that
the series has a clear direction on where it’s trying to go, narratively
speaking. But there’s a lack of that in
the second season. However, the drop
in the quality of its storytelling is minimal, and it has still been a rewarding show
to follow.
Castle
This is currently the longest
running ongoing TV series that I’m following and enjoying – and it’s still not
yet over. The finale of season 7
actually felt like a nice wrap up of the series already. That’s why I was surprised that a season 8 is
still coming. So I hope that this new
season will really be able to bring something new and awesome to the series. I would really hate to see this show become
terrible and empty. I would have
preferred for it to end in season 7 – ending in a good position – than
suffering from a purposeless, cash-grab new season. So, keeping my fingers crossed. Please be good, season 8.
Agent Carter
I liked it, but it didn’t make me go crazy for it. It merely felt like an expanded Marvel One-Shot short. CLICK HERE for
more of my thoughts on Agent Carter.
12 Monkeys
I thought that this series is
going to be bad, but I found it surprisingly enjoyable. CLICK HERE for more of my thoughts on 12 Monkeys.
The Big Bang Theory
In my opinion, the previous seasons (which
I marathoned last year) are funnier than the recent season. Nonetheless, getting through a 20-minute
episode of The Big Bang Theory is
never a chore but always a fun time.
Pinocchio
In an attempt to duplicate my experience with I Hear Your Voice, I
picked up Pinocchio late last
year. Though it has the same writer and
lead actor as I Hear Your Voice, Pinocchio isn’t as good. Still, it’s entertaining enough to make me
watch every episode until its finale early this year.
Elementary
This show continues to fall
further down my TV list. It just can’t
match the cleverness of its first season (which made it my favorite TV show back in 2013). Now, it’s just like another generic crime procedural that has characters that only happen to have the same names with the characters from Sherlock Holmes literature. I’m still going to watch the episodes of its
next season, but not as regularly as before.
Supergirl
The pilot leaked. I didn’t like it. Still, I’m going to give this show a chance to prove itself by watching a couple of episodes when it officially starts later this year. CLICK HERE for more of my
thoughts on Supergirl.
Sleepy Hollow
In its first season, this show
used to be ridiculous but in a good, entertaining way. But in season 2, the drop of quality was
great. It became this convoluted, boring
mess. It regained footing in its ending
episodes, but by then, it was too late, I no longer have a fondness for
it. A season 3 is coming, and there’s always the chance that it can get better and be as great as before again. That would be nice, if ever.
So 16 shows in the pool so far,
but new series can be picked up later this year, and some of the shows I’m
following haven’t even run their respective seasons yet this 2015 – Defiance season 3, True Detective season 2 (coming later this month), Doctor Who series 9, and the Sherlock Christmas special (the show I’m
looking forward to the most this year). The
rankings are subject to change, of course, depending on how the second half of the
year will turn out for these shows.
Nonetheless, this can serve as a glimpse on how my picks for top 10 TV
shows of 2015 will eventually look like.
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