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
Apple TV+’s Servant
This week’s reviews
Yep, despite my best efforts, it’s Thursday again for WHYBW. Next week, though. Next week.
Not much reviews-wise this week, but I did take in the first three episodes of Apple TV+’s Servant.
Netflix’s V Wars
What’s coming this week
It’s going to be another light one this week, since although Netflix released the (probably not that great) V Wars today, I’m away this weekend and Monday, so won’t have time to watch or review a whole boxset.
However, I will review Fox (US)’s remake of Australia’s The Moodys and Showtime (US)’s Work in Progress. I might also get round to watching at least an episode of Hulu (US)’s Reprisal and Apple TV+’s Truth Be Told – and maybe of V Wars, too.
Hulu’s Dollface
The regulars
Evil‘s still on a Thanksgiving holiday, so after the jump, we’ll be talking about the latest episodes of the regulars: The Mandalorian, Mr Robot, Silicon Valley, Stumptown and Watchmen, as well as the season finale of Titans. I also barrelled through the remaining episodes of Dollface.
But it’s worth pointing out that pretty much all of those are on TMINE’s recommended list and thus the crème de la crème of current TV output. Sure, I’ve ragged on some of them of late, but I think this week I’ve learnt the value of patience, thanks particularly due to Mr Robot, but also Watchmen.
Therefore, perhaps I shouldn’t be so curt in this section – because not just one, not just two, but three of those shows have served up some really sublime TV this week, with a fourth serving up a meme and some soup.
It’s “What have you been watching?”, your chance to recommend to fellow TMINE readers anything you’ve been watching this week
Netflix’s Plan cœur
This week’s reviews
Yep, Thursday again. Thought I’d have a proper day off yesterday. Schedule therefore screwed, even if I am now somewhat refreshed.
This week, even though I didn’t manage to Orange Thursday after all, I did at least get around to reviewing season two of Netflix’s Plan cœur (The Hookup Plan) for Boxset Monday. Otherwise, that was it – work was a bit mad, plus it turned out that Amazon’s release of The Feed was US only. Duh.
But fingers crossed, it’ll be easier next week.
Apple TV+’s Servant
What’s coming this week
Barring miracles, there won’t be an Orange Thursday today, but there will be next week, you’ll be happy to hear. I really will be covering The Fear of God, as well as The Philadelphia Experiment (no, not that one). Or maybe something else. But that’s the baseline.
It being Thanksgiving in the US today, and with Christmas just round the corner, it’s going to be a bit quiet TV-wise for the next few days, though, but Apple has just released the first three episodes of Servant, so that’ll be this week’s Boxset Monday. Fingers crossed.
Mr InBetween
The regulars
After the jump, we’ll be talking about the latest episodes of the regulars: Dollface, Evil,The Mandalorian, Mr Robot, Silicon Valley, Stumptown, Titans, Treadstone and Watchmen, as well as the season finale of Mr InBetween and two episodes of For All Mankind, seeing as Apple put a new one out today, a day early.
However, one of those is now just so bad, I can’t be bothered to watch it any more. Can you guess which?
On top of that, we’ll also be discussing the first episode of Spectrum’s revival of Mad About You. The new Will & Grace it is not.
It’s “What have you been watching?”, your chance to recommend to fellow TMINE readers anything you’ve been watching this week
The Laundromat
This week’s reviews
Last week, I reserved the right to relocate WHYBW to Thursday. I was wise. As you can see. Work has been busy.
That didn’t stop me reviewing The Laundromat for Orange Thursday, and The Mandalorian (Disney+), though, but it did mean I’ve not discussed the second season of Netflix’s Plan Cœur (The Hookup Plan) as I’d hoped and I’ll only be discussing the first three episodes of Hulu (US)’s Dollface after the jump, rather than all 10.
The Exorcist
What’s coming this week
Orange Thursday, tomorrow (I know), will take in The Fear of God: 25 Years of the Exorcist (1999) – gods willing – and maybe another movie if I manage to watch one tonight.
Work’s a little busy again Monday and Tuesday, but fingers crossed I’ll be able to talk about Plan Cœur. Or something else: Amazon has The Feed coming, and Netflix has Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, but there’s no way on Earth I’m watching that. Spectrum’s Mad About You revival has six episodes for our delectation, but we’ll maybe see about watching that. It is Spectrum, after all.
Total Control
The regulars
After the jump, as well as Dollface, we’ll be talking about the regulars (pretending for a moment that there was no TV on last night that I could have watched): Evil,For All Mankind, Mr InBetween, Mr Robot, Silicon Valley, Titans and Watchmen. Stumptown took another break last week, you’ll notice.
We also have two season finales to consider – Engrenages (Spiral) and Total Control – and there’s another Star Trek: Short Trek to mull over, too.
