From the new fantasy drama from the creator of “Descent to the shore” to the first TV adaptation of the universe of “Alien” and cultural sensation “Youth” – we analyse the most striking series of the year, which you should definitely watch.
1. “Details.”
Photo by Shane Brown/FX
Sterling Garjo has the rare gift of filling his stories with the facts of real life. And Ethan Hawke knows how to endow each of his characters with intelligence and depth.
This successful combination has given us a new series and its central character Lee Raybon, a vibrant, complex and completely original character played by Hawke.
Raybon’s life is a real chaos: he huddles in a cluttered room above his own second hand shop. But despite his outward disorganisation, he is a passionate and tenacious part-time investigative journalist. His attempt to uncover the truth about the powerful Washburn family draws him into a tangle of corruption, everyday violence and murder.
Jim Thompson, the master of gritty noir, is one of Raybon’s favourite writers, and Garjo masterfully weaves the noir atmosphere into a contemporary plot. There’s a distrust of journalists here, and the story is as old as America itself, about Native peoples being tricked and dispossessed of their land again – a century later.
The dynamic plot trips up Raybon at every turn. And even when he has to hide another bruise behind his dark glasses, he doesn’t lose – either for himself or the viewer – his idealism and caustic wit.
“Kick-Ass” is an ambitious project that only strengthens Garjo’s reputation as a truly original author.
2. “Alien: Earth.”
Photo by Patrick Brown/FX
Interest in TV series based on major franchises, as in the case of “Star Wars,” has waned a bit over time. Therefore, doubts about the new “Alien” series were understandable: will the legendary universe, built on pure horror, withstand the format of many TV series?
However, Noah Hawley – the creator of the excellent series “Fargo” – once again proved that he is able to convey the spirit of cult stories on television and even exceed expectations. His eight-episode “Alien” was one of the most successful attempts to revive the legacy of the legendary franchise.
The series tells two parallel stories: a crash-landing starship that turns out to contain dangerous creatures, and the creation of a new generation of “synthetic” humans.
Hawley managed to retain the classic tense atmosphere of “Alien” and at the same time explore themes that are well explored in the series: the ethics of technology, the power of large corporations and the limits of humanity.
The fifth series deserves special attention – almost as a separate film, returning the viewer to the doomed ship and giving a classic horror in the spirit of the original. This series is already being hailed as one of the best television series of the year.
The season finale ends on a high note, making us eagerly await the sequel. The news of a second season has been a real joy for fans, with the premiere expected in 2027.
3. “Mr Scorsese” (Mr Scorsese).
Author photo, Apple TV+
Few people are as candid and open about their work while remaining self-critical as Martin Scorsese.
Rebecca Miller’s six-part documentary project gives him complete freedom to talk about whatever he thinks is important. Scorsese is insightful, thoughtful and honest as he reflects on religion, his own mistakes, his career and the state of the film industry.
Miller has access to rare archives: photographs and videos of Scorsese’s family and his childhood. She seamlessly inserts this footage into the series, supplementing it with insightful interviews with Scorsese’s close colleagues, including Robert De Niro and ex-wife Isabella Rossellini.
Making a series about the director could be even simpler – gather footage and add commentary. But Miller does it in a rare way: he shows the personality of one of the greatest filmmakers in a deep and subtle way.
The result is so gripping and informative that sometimes you wish the series had gone on even longer.
4. “Long Story Short.”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
No one in modern television animation conveys emotion as deeply as Raphael Bob-Waksberg, the US screenwriter known for his animated series about former showbiz star, anthropomorphic horse BoJack. It wasn’t just a comedy, but a dark and insightful story about fame, the world of celebrity and overcoming trauma.
His new project is lighter, but no less observant and emotionally moving. The series tells the story of one middle-class Jewish family from the 1950s to the present day.
What makes the series special is the way the story is told: jumping between decades, the authors focus on key moments in the life of each family member. The result is a kaleidoscope of events that reads almost like a novel – complex and multi-layered.
Bob-Waksberg’s humour remains accurate and unexpected, from businessman Yoshi’s son starting a mattress company to a trendy “potato ice cream” shop. The little things make you smile and add to the series’ special charm.
5. “The One” (Pluribus).
Photo courtesy of Apple TV+
After the success of “Let’s Go to the Beach” and “Better Call Saul,” Vince Gilligan could have chosen any path. But he chose an unexpected, albeit brilliant path (except for the Albuquerque, New Mexico location): a bold blend of science fiction and social satire with an edgy but likable protagonist.
Ray Seeghorn perfectly embodies Carol, a novelist who finds herself in a world where a virus has made almost everyone else not just happy, but the same, subject to a single “web of reason” devoid of individuality and controlled by an authoritarian government.
After her persistent efforts to prevent the planet from turning into a realm of “human surrogates”, the viewer is immersed in a tense plot with unexpected twists and turns: a dangerous journey through the jungle and the moment when Carol steals a state police car.
Throughout the series, Gilligan changes tone freely without losing his Orwellian warning about the loss of freedom of thought and expression.
“Edina” is the best proof that light science fiction can be serious, relevant and artistically expressive at the same time.
6. “Between the Chairs” (The Chair Company).
Photo by Sarah Schatz/HBO
Tim Robinson is a true master of comedy. In his projects (“Friendship” and “I Think You Should Go With Tim Robinson”), he skilfully combines awkward, funny situations with dark surrealism.
His new work, perhaps his strongest to date, adds another layer – a detective thriller with intricate conspiracies.
The main character is Ron Trosper, outwardly an ordinary corporate manager, but extremely nervous and vulnerable. Everything goes wrong when a chair breaks during an important presentation.
His attempt to complain involves him in a series of strange events where Ron is convinced he is being followed and is trying to silence him.
The show masterfully combines absurdity and suspense, and the strange and unexpected details create an atmosphere of mystery and surrealism.
7. Blue Lights
Photo provided, Two Cities Television
Over the course of three seasons, this BAFTA award-winning drama series set in Belfast has quietly but surely become one of the smartest and brightest programmes on television.
The series masterfully uses the usual techniques of the genre: newcomers learn from experience, veterans fight each other. difficulties, and the viewer sees that criminals do not always lose.
The action takes place in Northern Ireland, where the tension of past conflicts can still be felt and violence reigns.
The gloomy atmosphere is softened by the characters: especially Grace, a former social worker, played masterfully by Shan Brooke. She brings the care and empathy of her past profession to her police work.
All the characters are vividly portrayed: both police officers and criminals. Especially impressive are the criminal masterminds of this season – women played by Abigail McGibbon and Katie Tyson. They convincingly show the cunning and cruelty of their characters.
If “Pitt Hospital” was the best medical drama of the year, “Blue Lights” did the same for the police series, reviving a well-known genre and adding intellectual depth and colourful characters.
8. Girlfriend
Photo by Christopher Raphael/Amazon Prime Video
After the success of Big Little Lies, there have been plenty of thrillers about rich people with dark secrets, but most of them have been pretty boring. The new series on Prime Video stands out with a vivid, slightly dramatised presentation of events.
The screen adaptation of a novel by British writer Michelle Francis tells the story of a gallery owner (Robin Wright), her complicated relationship with her son and her son’s mysterious new partner (Olivia Cooke).
In addition to the luxurious homes and interiors, the series keeps the viewer in suspense thanks to strong acting: Wright creates the image of a confident, determined and tough woman, while Cook adds charisma and mystery, creating a tense confrontation between the heroines.
The plot becomes increasingly unbelievable, but this is easily forgiven because of the vivid conflict and the emotional acting of the main actresses.
9. A Question of Division
Written by Justin Downing/Netflix
A brilliant, slightly annoying detective with a traumatic past may sound like a cliché, but Matthew Goode imbues his character, Karl Mork, with a depth and subtle humour that brings a familiar way of life to life in a new way.
Mork is now working on old cases, but that doesn’t stop him from being a major figure in the series.
Series creators Scott Frank (“The Queen’s Walk”) and Chandni Lakhani know that it’s the characters, not the old cases, that matter. That’s why Mork is surrounded by colleagues with colourful, multi-faceted characters, far from just “losers”. Whether he is on the side of good or evil is an open question, especially given his harsh methods.
The series is at times frightening: the viewer sees a woman captured by criminals before Mork’s team manages to rescue her. But at the same time, the show is smart, intense, and incredibly gripping.
10. Dying for sex
Photo: Sarah Schatz/FX
The eight-episode mini-series, based on the podcast of the same name, tells the unconventional story of Molly Cohen. A woman diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer decides to leave her husband and embark on her own sexual journey to find physical pleasure before it’s too late.
What is most impressive is how natural and understated this story is. It may be too provocative, but directors Liz Meriwether and Kim Rosenstock and the brilliant Michelle Williams in the title role make Molly’s journey sincere and believable.
Molly appreciates the small moments at the end of her life, rather than the grand revelations: her friendship with the chaotic Nicky (a wonderful Jenny Slate) and her unconventional sexual encounters with her neighbour (Rob Delaney), who is willing to do anything to get noticed.
And just when it seems Molly is just starting a new phase of life, comes the surprise finale – one of the most intimate portraits of death ever shown on screen. Yes, there will be tears – and they’re well deserved.
11. “Mr Loverman.”
Photo by the author, BBC
Few TV series can boast such a deep and complex character. Lennie James as Barrington Loverman is a real revelation.
Barry is in his seventies. He is a husband, father, grandfather and has a lifelong secret relationship with Morris (Erion Bakare), whom he met as a teenager.
James masterfully shows the depth of Barry’s feelings, the complexity of his choices and the pressure of social norms on his life.
Equally moving is Sharon D. Clarke as Barry’s wife, Carmel, who discovers her husband’s long-awaited secret and faces 50 years of deception.
There are no classic “bad characters” in the series. The story, based on a novel by Bernardine Evaristo, sincerely shows the compromises of a long relationship and remains humane without judging anyone.
12. “Too Much.”
Photo provided by Netflix
It’s been almost a decade since the end of Lena Dunham’s iconic comedy-drama series “Girls.”
In that time, she’s made films and worked on new projects, but most of them have gone largely unnoticed. So it’s particularly pleasing to see her return, a romantic comedy partly inspired by her own experience of moving to the UK.
Megan Stalter plays Jessica, a woman tired of working in advertising who, after a painful break-up, decides to start a new life in London. Her first mistake was to think that her new home would turn out to be a country house rather than an urban high-rise. Fortunately, this is not dominated by corny “newcomer in a strange city” jokes. The main line of the series is the beginning of Jessica’s relationship with a musician, played by Will Sharp.
The beauty of their romance, subtly written by Dan, is that almost no time is wasted on the eternal dilemma of “will they be together or not” – by the end of the second series, they actually become a couple. The big question now is whether they can keep their relationship alive, given the emotional trauma of both of them.
Stalter at first looks too bright, almost like a sitcom, but gradually gets into the role, and Sharp immediately becomes natural and attractive. The series is embellished by famous actors – Richard E. Grant, Naomi Watts and Andrew Scott – their appearance adds a comic sheen to the story.
Of course, the series is not without flaws: some series are weaker than others. But it is in these imperfections, as experience shows, that their special charm is hidden.
13. “Code of Silence”
Photo courtesy of ITV
This drama proves conclusively that you can’t underestimate a smart and determined young woman, even if she is deaf.
Allison Brooks (brilliantly played by Rose Ayling-Ellis) works in the canteen at the police station, but thanks to her lip-reading skills, she quickly becomes involved in a criminal gang investigation.
Snippets of text appear on screen, helping the viewer without hearing to get a sense of how difficult Allison’s life is. Her deafness becomes an important element of the story, but the narrative does not turn into a moralising exercise.
Allison takes part in dangerous assignments, sometimes risky even for experienced detectives, and gradually gains their trust.
In doing so, she shows sympathy for one of the suspects, showing that her courage and ability to overcome difficulties go far beyond the job.
14. “Rehearsal.”
Photo provided by HBO
Nathan Fielder returns with a new season of his unique show where he “rehearses” real-life situations with actors and constantly complicates reality.
This time, his goal is to sort out misunderstandings between pilots in the cockpit of an aircraft, which he believes often lead to disasters.
To test his theory, Fielder goes beyond the usual format: he recreates a Houston airport terminal, organises an unusual vocal competition and conducts a series of other experiments.
The six episodes are full of absurdity, surrealism and amusing and sometimes unpleasant discoveries. In the finale, Fielder himself takes to the skies, turning the show into an incredible and moving study of human behaviour.
15. “Such Brave Girls.”
Photo courtesy of the BBC
Few TV series show life as boldly as this candid British comedy. At the centre of the story are two adult sisters and their mother: they live together, quarrel, struggle with their neuroses and try to survive amidst financial and life difficulties.
Screenwriter and lead actress Kat Sadler, who plays Josie’s older sister, boldly raises the topics of mental illness, abortion and other social issues, leaving the viewer with no illusions.
The second season came out even more powerfully. It begins with a chaotic wedding scene, with Deb’s mother forcing Josie to marry the boring Seb, even though Josie is a lesbian.
Billy’s younger sister, Billy, who craves male attention, finds herself drawn into an uneasy relationship with a much older and married man.
Meanwhile, Deb desperately hopes that her partner Dev will finally propose so she can settle down and start a quiet life.
In the end, the series is an honest, in places brutal and extremely funny portrait of family neuroses, masterfully brought to life by a trio of actresses: Cat Sadler, her sister Lizzie Davidson and Louise Briley (“Sherlock”).
16. “Film Studio” The Studio
Photo courtesy of Apple TV+
Hollywood is often an easy target for satire, but this comedy is so sharp, clever and at times absurd that it’s safe to call it one of the funniest shows of the year.
Seth Rogen, one of the show’s creators, plays Matt Remick, the new head of Continental Studios. Matt loves arthouse cinema, but his main job is to produce commercially successful projects based on popular franchises.
A number of stars, including Ron Howard, Olivia Wilde and Zoe Kravitz, appear in cameos, willingly mocking their own images. Martin Scorsese is particularly memorable in the first episode.
The cast is impeccably chosen: Ike Barinholtz plays Matt’s deputy Saul Saperstein, Catherine O’Hara is the previous head of the studio, and Kathryn Hahn is the loud and eccentrically dressed head of public relations.
The series shows the behind-the-scenes life of Hollywood awards and marketing meetings, giving the impression that everyone is just “treading water” while the industry is in crisis. crisis. crisis.
The industry may not know where it’s going, but this behind-the-scenes comedy show is a real treat for the viewer.
17. “White Lotus.”
Photo by Fabio Lovino/HBO
While the first two seasons of Mike White’s satire about rich tourists and their luxurious lives were enjoyed by viewers, the show’s third season took the show to a new level and turned into a real cultural phenomenon, garnering record ratings.
This time its dysfunctional characters – a corrupt financier with his family, three conflicted girlfriends and a vengeful husband with a young mistress – go on a health holiday to Thailand.