Every Monday (or Tuesday), TMINE reviews an entire boxset of a TV show – if the weekend’s not been too busy
Monday’s TMINE is normally dedicated to a boxset, usually from Netflix or Amazon, but I’m still playing January catch-up and the Spring 2020 season has now started in the US and Canada – as has the Summer 2020 season in Australia – so let’s instead watch what basically amounts to a boxset worth of TV.
This week, we’re going to be looking at no fewer than eight new shows from around the world:
As usual at this time of year, TMINE is busily packing its bags to get ready for its annual Christmas break. We’re not there yet, though, as everything will continue until Thursday at least, although I have a Christmas party to go to on Friday so who knows what’ll happen then?
However, barring minor miracles, there’ll be no more shows that are both new and excellent for me to review this year, which means I can at last unveil TMINE’s Top N programmes of 2019, where N is a positive integer that you can guess, if you want. You haven’t got long. Just a few paragraphs in fact.
I will say at this point, though, that despite the expansion in streaming services this year, N<14 for 2019. And for about the first half of the year, it looked like it wouldn’t be more than a handful. However, things have perked up since.
That’s all the clues you’re getting, mind.
There are other TV shows
As always, the caveat:
I’ve not watched every TV programme broadcast or acquired in the UK this year and I barely watched any live TV, so there are almost certainly some good shows that that I’ve left off the list. And, of course, there are a few shows that started well but I’ve not finished yet, so aren’t eligible for the list.
So best not to think of this as the definitive “Best new TV shows from all the shows that have aired around the world of 2019”, so much as just the “Top TV shows I would recommend to a friend of the ones I’ve reviewed in 2019”.
Old stuff is good
I should also point out that this is all the new shows that have hit TMINE’s TV-viewing radar this year, and it’s worth remembering that sometimes the best TV can come from people who have already been making great TV.
So honourable mentions for the following ineligible shows that have continued to provide me with considerable viewing pleasure this year:
Le bureau des légendes (The Bureau) (France: Canal+; UK: Sundance TV) – seasons three and four
It’s “What have you been watching?”, your chance to recommend to fellow TMINE readers anything you’ve been watching this week
Fox (US)’s The Moodys
This week’s reviews
Ironically, with Christmas just around the corner, we’re starting to track back on course with the TMINE schedule. Sure, Orange Thursday happened yesterday, but it still happened and it was quality stuff: Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) and The Philadelphia Experiment (2012). The reviews, that is – The Philadelphia Experiment was dreadful.
Otherwise, that’s been it, because I’ve been saving everything up to review today. So after the jump, you can find out what I thought about Fox (US)’s remake of Australia’s The Moodys, Hulu (US)’s David Lynch meets vengeance noir Reprisal and Showtime (US)’s moderately hopeful, gentle, genteel, lesbian/trans rom-com Work in Progress.
And it’s that time again! Yes, The CW’s Arrowverse shows are crossing over this week, with the cast all jumping over to each other’s shows. But with Arrow ending this season, they’ve upped the ante on last year’s Elseworlds crossover exponentially, to give us guest appearances from superhero shows and movies both current and past. And we’re going to talk about the first three of the five episodes after the jump. The other two are next year – I’m not just slacking off.
What’s coming this week
I didn’t manage to get to either Netflix’s V Wars or Apple TV+’s Truth Be Told, but even though I’m away again this weekend (cue Slade: it’s Christmas!), I hope to take in a few episodes of one or the other.
However, that’s about it for new TV shows this week, so I might have to ferret out something from the back catalogue to talk about.
On the other hand, there might not be time as next week will see the return of the yearly end-of-year TMINE tradition: I’ll be unveiling 2019’s TMINE’s Top N TV programmes, where N is a positive integer that you can have hours of fun guessing in advance. What’s in your Top N this year?
And thanks to Orange Thursday, I might even do a Top N films. Don’t hold me to that, though.
After the jump, we’ll also be talking about the latest episodes of the regulars: Evil, For All Mankind, The Mandalorian, Mr Robot, Servant, Silicon Valley, Stumptown and Watchmen, as well as the season and indeed series finale of Silicon Valley.
I’ve just lost patience with one of them. Can you guess which?
