With tons of zombie, reality, fairy tale, and vampire television shows saturating the TV market, it's difficult to find "quality" shows. There is so much television out there that no one person can watch it all, which is why sometimes truly great shows fall between the cracks and get prematurely cancelled. I'm here to help change that. Continuing my annual 'Top of the Year' lists, below are my Top 5 TV shows of 2012.
5. Dexter:
After two pretty horrible seasons following season four (which I believe is Dexter's best season), Dexter finally delivered in the latest season. Even without a main "villain" to pit against Dexter (though Isaac had great moments and I'm glad we got to spend at least some time with him), this season delivered on the intense emotional beats and relationship with Deb that has been building for the entire series. Best of all, we got to inevitable situation of what happens when Deb finds about about Dexter's "dark passenger". The climax of the finale was a bit jarring (mostly due to Jennifer Carpenter's brilliant performance), but it was a choice that the writers kind of had to make. I'm very glad Dexter has found it's way again because it's been a long time since I've anticipated a new season.
4. Boardwalk Empire:
Although it didn't have some of the same spunk that the first two seasons had (I blame Margaret's storyline for that), season three of Boardwalk Empire gave us a purely demented Italian villain, a desperate Nucky Thompson, an insane Van Alden (again) and best of all, a legitimate Richard Harrow relationship story! Since the ending of season 2 (I won't spoil what happens) the show felt a little aimless, especially towards the beginning of the season. The slow burn of the season and "ridiculousness" of Gyp Rosetti may have turned some people off, but I ate it up. Though, the main reason why this even made it into my top five this year is solely due to a scene during the finale which I will refer to as "the Richard Harrow scene" (people who have seen this will know exactly what I'm talking about).
3. Louie
If you thought that Louie couldn't top itself after a fantastic sophomore season, you are dead wrong. With the exception of the season premiere (which still wasn't really that bad), every episode of season three was incredible. Guest appearances from Robin Williams, Sarah Silverman, and Jerry Seinfeld as themselves created a nice little network that lets you understand the universe in which Louie resides. From awkward sexual encounters in the car after dinner to a vulnerable scene with his father to...ummm...one of his daughter’s classmate’s digestive accidents in the bathtub, this season of Louie was certainly not short of entertainment. The highlight of the season though was definitely the three episodes where Louie is training to take over for David Letterman on The Tonight Show. David Lynch co-stars as the person who is training Louis and, as you would guess, he delivers an eccentric performance. The moment I knew this season eclipsed its predecessor was when Louie tells Never "If you can keep it cool while I’m on the phone, I’ll give you another bowl of meat.”
2. Sherlock:
I will never forgive myself for not watching Sherlock when it first aired. I was late on the wagon, but I'm sure as hell glad I'm finally on it. A modern day Sherlock Holmes. It doesn't sound that amazing does it? But when you cast the unbelievably outstanding Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and the fantastic Martin Freeman as John Watson, add some impressive editing and unique style, you get something really special. Only 6 episodes in total (each episode spanning about 80 minutes), these are more like movies than a TV series. Watching Sherlock tell you every single thing about a person by quickly looking them over is impressive, even though we know its a show, because he explains everything with such astounding detail. The reason season two of Sherlock shines is due to the addition of Andrew Scott as Jim Moriarty. Rarely do we see such a devious, brilliantly-insane, criminal mastermind handled so well in television. Being that Moriarty is Homles' most skilled adversary, the fact that they executed their cat-and-mouse so well makes this show a true masterpiece. If it makes any difference, it's my favorite 'new' show (meaning I'm new to it this year) and it would undoubtedly be my number one overall if it wasn't for....
1. Breaking Bad
The best show on television, period. What more can I say about Breaking Bad? I'm not even really going to go into detail because i respect this show so much that i wouldn't want to spoil a single thing for people who haven't seen it. Every single season of this show delivers above and beyond what most television shows even dream of. Bryan Cranston is acting on a whole other level. His descent into "Heisenberg" over the course of four and a half seasons is nothing short of extraordinary. Vince Gilligan and the writers of this show should be proud for producing some of the best television ever made. Even though only half of season five has aired, I put it on my list because the half of this season was still better than anything else that came out in 2012. The very first scene of this season showed us just a glimpse of what is to come, but how we get there is going to be the real treat. We are now on the final stretch of this show and I couldn't possibly be more excited. I’ll leave you with this: "Just because you shot Jesse James, don't make you Jesse James."
Written by: Kyle Cicilioni
After two pretty horrible seasons following season four (which I believe is Dexter's best season), Dexter finally delivered in the latest season. Even without a main "villain" to pit against Dexter (though Isaac had great moments and I'm glad we got to spend at least some time with him), this season delivered on the intense emotional beats and relationship with Deb that has been building for the entire series. Best of all, we got to inevitable situation of what happens when Deb finds about about Dexter's "dark passenger". The climax of the finale was a bit jarring (mostly due to Jennifer Carpenter's brilliant performance), but it was a choice that the writers kind of had to make. I'm very glad Dexter has found it's way again because it's been a long time since I've anticipated a new season.
4. Boardwalk Empire:
Although it didn't have some of the same spunk that the first two seasons had (I blame Margaret's storyline for that), season three of Boardwalk Empire gave us a purely demented Italian villain, a desperate Nucky Thompson, an insane Van Alden (again) and best of all, a legitimate Richard Harrow relationship story! Since the ending of season 2 (I won't spoil what happens) the show felt a little aimless, especially towards the beginning of the season. The slow burn of the season and "ridiculousness" of Gyp Rosetti may have turned some people off, but I ate it up. Though, the main reason why this even made it into my top five this year is solely due to a scene during the finale which I will refer to as "the Richard Harrow scene" (people who have seen this will know exactly what I'm talking about).
3. Louie
If you thought that Louie couldn't top itself after a fantastic sophomore season, you are dead wrong. With the exception of the season premiere (which still wasn't really that bad), every episode of season three was incredible. Guest appearances from Robin Williams, Sarah Silverman, and Jerry Seinfeld as themselves created a nice little network that lets you understand the universe in which Louie resides. From awkward sexual encounters in the car after dinner to a vulnerable scene with his father to...ummm...one of his daughter’s classmate’s digestive accidents in the bathtub, this season of Louie was certainly not short of entertainment. The highlight of the season though was definitely the three episodes where Louie is training to take over for David Letterman on The Tonight Show. David Lynch co-stars as the person who is training Louis and, as you would guess, he delivers an eccentric performance. The moment I knew this season eclipsed its predecessor was when Louie tells Never "If you can keep it cool while I’m on the phone, I’ll give you another bowl of meat.”
2. Sherlock:
I will never forgive myself for not watching Sherlock when it first aired. I was late on the wagon, but I'm sure as hell glad I'm finally on it. A modern day Sherlock Holmes. It doesn't sound that amazing does it? But when you cast the unbelievably outstanding Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and the fantastic Martin Freeman as John Watson, add some impressive editing and unique style, you get something really special. Only 6 episodes in total (each episode spanning about 80 minutes), these are more like movies than a TV series. Watching Sherlock tell you every single thing about a person by quickly looking them over is impressive, even though we know its a show, because he explains everything with such astounding detail. The reason season two of Sherlock shines is due to the addition of Andrew Scott as Jim Moriarty. Rarely do we see such a devious, brilliantly-insane, criminal mastermind handled so well in television. Being that Moriarty is Homles' most skilled adversary, the fact that they executed their cat-and-mouse so well makes this show a true masterpiece. If it makes any difference, it's my favorite 'new' show (meaning I'm new to it this year) and it would undoubtedly be my number one overall if it wasn't for....
1. Breaking Bad
The best show on television, period. What more can I say about Breaking Bad? I'm not even really going to go into detail because i respect this show so much that i wouldn't want to spoil a single thing for people who haven't seen it. Every single season of this show delivers above and beyond what most television shows even dream of. Bryan Cranston is acting on a whole other level. His descent into "Heisenberg" over the course of four and a half seasons is nothing short of extraordinary. Vince Gilligan and the writers of this show should be proud for producing some of the best television ever made. Even though only half of season five has aired, I put it on my list because the half of this season was still better than anything else that came out in 2012. The very first scene of this season showed us just a glimpse of what is to come, but how we get there is going to be the real treat. We are now on the final stretch of this show and I couldn't possibly be more excited. I’ll leave you with this: "Just because you shot Jesse James, don't make you Jesse James."
Written by: Kyle Cicilioni
