My list of the best that TV had to offer in 2013 was so hard
to compile. There were so many quality
programs to choose from this year, so narrowing this list down was a tough
task. You will notice that there are
no sitcoms on this list, but unfortunately the crop of comedies on the air
right now just didn’t make the cut. Here
are my choices for the best TV shows of 2013.
10. (tie) Homeland (SHO) – When I started compiling this
list, this show wasn’t on it. But the
final 6 episodes of the season were top notch and propelled Homeland back onto
the list. Claire Danes and Damian Lewis
were excellent as always, but this season belonged to Mandy Patinkin and his
portrayal of CIA Director Saul Berenson.
The truly gut wrenching finale was one of the year’s best episodes.
10 (tie) Mad Men
(AMC) – Mad Men didn’t have its best season, but still better than most
series on the air. Jon Hamm’s Don Draper
continues to be one of TV’s greatest characters. With just 2 short seasons left of this amazing
show, I’ll be savoring every episode.
9. The Blacklist
(NBC) – The only network series on my list, The Blacklist stars James
Spader as one of Americas Most Wanted who now aids the FBI in catching the most
dangerous criminals in existence. Spader
is superb in the lead role.
8. Ray Donovan
(Showtime) – Liev Schreiber stars in the title role of this exciting
series. Ray Donovan is a Boston raised
tough guy, now living in Los Angeles and making his living as a “fixer” for a
powerful law firm. Jon Voight, as Ray’s ex-con
father, gives one of the best performances of his career.
7. Masters Of Sex
(Showtime) – This freshman series about Masters & Johnson, the the pioneers of the science of human sexuality whose
research touched off the sexual revolution, boasts some of the year’s best
acting. Michael Sheen, Lizzy Caplan, and
Beau Bridges are excellent.
6. Boardwalk Empire
(HBO) – Even though this show is lower on my list than it was last year,
that speaks more to the quality of programming on TV today than any decrease in
the quality of this series. On the
contrary, Boardwalk Empire had one of its strongest seasons to date.
5. Southland (TNT)
– TV’s best police show, Southland, ended its 5 year run in April with its
finest season yet. Top notch writing and
acting, especially by Michael Cudlitz, who gave one of the year’s best
performances.
4. House of Cards
(Netflix) – Kevin Spacey’s top notch performance highlighted this political
drama. The series centers on Senator
Frank Underwood who, after getting passed over as Secretary of State, decides
to exact revenge on his political enemies.
3. The Walking Dead
(AMC) - Now in its 4th
season, AMC’s zombie apocalypse drama continued to evolve by adding something
to this year’s episodes that it was previously lacking, a great villain. David
Morrissey’s performance as The Governor stood out in a great ensemble
cast.
2. Orange Is The New
Black (Netflix) – Weeds creator Jenji Kohan created this dramedy that
centers on Piper Chapman, played excellently by Taylor Schilling, a woman in
her thirties who is sentenced to 15 months in prison. This engrossing series that mixes dark humor
and dramatic storylines, top notch acting and writing was TV best new series of
the year.
My pick for the best show of 2013 is…..
1. Breaking Bad (AMC) – There is just way too much to
say about this series in this small space.
Perhaps the finest TV drama ever created, Breaking Bad, came to its
immensely satisfying conclusion this year after 5 seasons and 62 episodes. Vince Gilligan’s epic story of Walter White’s
evolution from mild mannered chemistry teacher to hardened gangster intensified
its brilliance this year. Bryan Cranston
continued his mesmerizing role as Walter White.
“Ozymandias” was one of the best TV episodes of this or any other
series.
Honorable Mentions:
Modern Family, Bates Motel, The Big Bang Theory, The Americans, Veep
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