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In honor of True Detective Season 3 teaser trailer‘s release, we decided to put together a list of the best TV shows currently airing.
Note: This list is made up of shows that are still airing or that have aired within the past year.
Finding good TV shows can be a real pain in the ass. 99% of them are complete dogshit, and 100% of reality TV shows suck.
I would rather drink Gary Busey’s bathwater than watch five minutes of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
Even the History Channel has turned into complete garbage. I remember the days when they used to provide shows that contained actual substance. Nowadays, they seem to follow zero guidelines and will give airtime to any pervert who owns a pawn shop.
And don’t even get me started on TLC: the single worst television network there is.
Much like the internet, television has become a lawless wasteland focused solely on making money.
Luckily for us, there are still a few networks out there doing the Lord’s work and providing us with quality material.
Here’s my list of the best TV shows of 2018 (airing right now.)
Two ships in search of the Northwest Passage become trapped in ice, and a bunch of crazy shit goes down. The Terror features solid acting and a unique take on what those crazy fucks did in the 1800s.
Network: AMC
Streaming options: NA
Seasons: 1
In Power, a nightclub owner in New York also lives the life of one of the country’s most powerful drug kingpins. While the acting can be a bit questionable at times, Power contains tons of twists and turns, and lead actor Omari Hardwick is possibly the most gorgeous man I have ever seen.
Network: STARZ
Streaming options: Season 1 on Amazon
Seasons: 5
Nothing makes me happier to be a Missourian than the image portrayed of the Ozarks like Ozark. The Ozarks is a lake I visit multiple times a year, and I have unfortunately yet to discover a good place to buy meth, but Ozark gives me the hope needed to continue my search.
Overall, Ozark is a pretty decent show. There are a lot of episodes and individual scenes that are unbearably boring, but it ultimately makes for a pleasant experience.
Network: Netflix
Streaming options: Netflix
Seasons: 2
Mr. Mercedes is (I believe) ATT/DirectTV’s first crack at their own TV show. I am always a bit hesitant to watch shows on new or primetime channels (I.e., Fox, ABC, etc.), but I was pleasantly surprised by Mr. Mercedes. Brendan Gleeson plays a retired detective that unofficially removes his retired tag6 to hunt down a man who drives a stolen Mercedes through a group of people.
Network: AT&T/DirectTV
Streaming options: AT&T AUDIENCE Network
Seasons: 2
Billions attracted my attention for two reasons: Paul Giamatti is the greatest actor of all time, and the redhead dude from Band of Brothers was in it. Without Giamatti, I think I would have a difficult time sticking with Billions from season to season, but his portrayal of U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades – a lawyer aiming to bring down a huge fund king – is nothing short of brilliant.
Network: Showtime
Streaming options: Amazon Prime Showtime
Seasons: 4
IMDb rating: 8.4
My consensus – and the nonsense I have gathered from many others – is that Black Mirror episodes are either life-changing or absolute shit. Some individual episodes are great enough to be high caliber standalone films. Others are worse than any shows on TLC.
Network: Netflix
Streaming options: Netflix
Seasons: 4
IMDb rating: 8.9
It seems like just yesterday the final season of Break Bad was airing, but much to the approval of most of its fans, Better Call Saul was conceived. Bob Odenkirk is fantastic in the role of Saul: a cheesy criminal lawyer in New Mexico.
Network: AMC
Streaming options: AMC.com, Netflix
Seasons: 5
IMDb rating: 8.7
Liev Schreiber plays Ray Donovan, a fixer in Hollywood who solves problems for the rich. In other words, he is a complete fucking badass. Schreiber and Voight (Donovan’s dad) together make the show an awesome experience.
Network: Showtime
Streaming options: Amazon Prime Showtime
Seasons: 5 (6th airing later this year)
IMDb rating: 8.3
What I feared would be another corny crime/drama like Quantico, Condor turned out to be a fantastic show. Currently sitting at a measly 7.9 on IMDb, Condor is much closer to the ratings it has received by Rotten Tomatoes (90%) and TV.com (8.8/10). Condor is another experiment by AT&T’s AUDIENCE Network, and in my eyes is passed with flying colors.
Network: AT&T/DirectTV
Streaming options: AT&T AUDIENCE Network
Seasons: 1
IMDB Rating: 7.9
It seems like it has been ten years since Amazon first announced their plans to release a Tom Clancy show. Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan stars fan favorite, John Krasinski, as Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst who is thrown into a whirlwind of shit when he uncovers a terrorist’s plot to be an asshole – so, basically the exact same premise as Condor.
I thought the story was great and presented relatively realistic elements – like an analyst who can’t fight or shoot for shit (even though he was a soldier).
Network: Amazon
Streaming options: Amazon Prime
Seasons: 1
IMDB Rating: 8.4
Westworld has given Game of Thrones a run for its money when it comes to popularity in the television world. I, however, have not completely been sold on it. I do think it is a very good show, but I have yet to bust the proverbial nut over it like many of the Westworld faithful.
Network: HBO
Streaming options: HBO Go, Amazon Prime HBO
Seasons: 2
IMDB Rating: 8.9
Bosch stars Titus Welliver, a man whom not only has the name of an ancient Roman executioner but also plays one hell of a detective. Bosch is an L.A.P.D. homicide detective that works to solve a different case each season.
Network: Amazon
Streaming options: Amazon Prime
Seasons: 4
IMDB Rating: 8.4
Yet to finish its first season at the time of this article, Castle Rock, has already garnished a series following. Castle Rock is an adaptation of some of Stevie King’s novels that intertwine in a city by the same name. This show could move up or down on the list depending on the finale, but so far so good for one of Hulu’s only watchable original series.
Network: Hulu
Streaming options: Hulu
Seasons: 1
IMDB Rating: 8.5
Mr. Robot follows a cyber-security engineer (played phenomenally by Rami Malek) whom, like most in the tech industry, is a highly unstable, incredibly awkward possible serial killer. Elliot joins a “hacktivist” group where things get out of hand.
Network: USA
Streaming options: Amazon Prime
Seasons: 3
IMDB Rating: 8.6 (fourth airing this year)
Billy Bob is typically a name reserved for Klan members or those who are the product of incest, but Mr. Thornton proves it’s not the name that makes a man as he plays Billy McBride in Goliath, a drunk lawyer that faces off against his old firm in a wrongful death lawsuit (first season). In all seriousness, Billy Bob is fucking fantastic in this show. One of the best television performances I have ever seen.
Network: Amazon
Streaming options: Amazon Prime
Seasons: 2
IMDB Rating: 8.3
Created by Aziz Ansari (also the main character), Master of None is not for everyone. It takes a very dry, yet very realistic approach to humor with fantastic storytelling and dialogue. Season 2 Episode 8 = amazing.
Network: Netflix
Streaming options: Netflix
Seasons: 2
IMDB Rating: 8.3
Created by the hilarious Bill Hader, Barry is the story of a hitman who travels to LA for an assignment but ends up staying to pursue an acting career. Except for number ten on this list, Barry is without a doubt the funniest show on this list. It mixes the perfect combination of comedy and melodrama and ends with a true “What the fuck?” climax.
Network: HBO
Streaming options: HBO Go, Amazon Prime HBO
Seasons: 1 (second airing next year)
IMDB Rating: 8.1
Last I heard, another season of Luther was still up in the air, so I felt I had to put it on this list. Luther could easily be in the top five, but due to its uncertain future, I stuck it here. DCI John Luther is played brilliantly by Idris Elba as a flawed yet ridiculously intelligent detective English detective.
Network: BBC
Streaming options: Netflix
Seasons: 4
IMDB Rating: 8.5
American Crime Story is an anthology series featuring America’s most infamous criminal cases. Both seasons were outstanding and shed an ominously bright light on details most knew nothing about. Season one tells the story of the OJ Simpson case while season two portrays the murder of Gianni Versace.
Yellowstone is Paramount Network’s way of going all in on television, and they nailed it. Yellowstone is a modern-day cowboys vs. Indians, and it checks a lot of my grading boxes: fantastic acting, amazing soundtrack, and even a little bit of meth. Yellowstone portrays a ranching family/cult fighting to both remain together and keep their enemies from taking their land.
Network: Paramount Network
Streaming options: Netflix
Seasons: 1 (approved for season 2)
IMDB Rating: 8.4
Sherlock is another BBC series that is both questionable to return and could make the top five on this list. Sherlock is a modern telling of Sherlock Holmes played near perfectly by Bendadiunkin Cunderblunch. From what I have read, there is still a slight possibility of another season, but season four definitely felt like it was the end.
Network: BBC
Streaming options: Netflix
Seasons: 4
IMDB Rating: 9.2
Silicon Valley is quite possibly the most genius written show ever made. Its comedy is executed perfectly by the characters and is fantastic all the way around.
Network: HBO
Streaming options: HBO Go
Seasons: 5 (approved for sixth)
IMDB Rating: 8.6
Narcos tells the true story of the world’s most infamous drug kingpin, Pablos Escobar. In the series, Escobar is played brilliantly by Wagner Moura. While he may have looked like a pudgy gym teacher who watches his female students shower, Escobar was a ruthless killer whose net worth totaled in the billions.
The show follows his life from the time he first started selling cocaine to the time of his death while congruently telling the story of an American DEA agent looking to bring him down.
Network: Netflix
Streaming options: Netflix
Seasons: 3
IMDB Rating: 8.9
19-2 is most likely the most likely the least-known show on this list, but it is de8.2finitely one of my favorites. 19-2 revolves around two partners and their day-to-day lives as police officers in Montreal. 19-2 is made up of fantastic storytelling and filming. I was made aware of it after seeing a clip of an episode with a 15+ minute longshot during a school shooting (which is also one of the best episodes in all of television).
Unfortunately, 19-2’s last season just aired, so you’re stuck with only four seasons.
Network: CTV Television Network
Streaming options: ACORN TV
Seasons: 4
IMDB Rating: 8.2
Atlanta is a show created by one of my favorite stars in the world, Donald Glover. Much like Master of None, Atlanta uses very realistic humor to make the show seem ridiculously relatable. The show’s premise follows Earn (DG) as a super bright, yet unmotivated Atlanta native looking to help his cousin’s rap career grow while he works as his agent.
Network: FX
Streaming options: HULU
Seasons: 2
IMDB Rating: 8.6
The most badass thing you will ever watch. The Punisher is one of Netflix’s adaptations of the super popular Marvel Comics.
After Frank Castle’s family gets murdered, he seeks some innocent revenge by killing everyone he can.
There is not much to say about this show other than it is full of awesome action and a great story.
Network: Netflix
Streaming options: Netflix
Seasons: 1 (second in production)
IMDB Rating: 8.7
Yet another MCU adaptation, Daredevil is the story of Matt Murdoch, a blind lawyer in Hell’s Kitchen who uses his other senses to beat the shit out of people.
If you’ve seen the Ben Affleck version of Daredevil, you know how horribly executed a Daredevil adaptation can be. Luckily for everyone, Netflix absolutely nailed it. An awesome story, incredible fighting sequences (including some awesome longshots/tracking shots), and terrific character building all combine to make a near perfect action hero drama.
Network: Netflix
Streaming options: Netflix
Seasons: 2
IMDB Rating: 8.7
After reading Stranger Thing’s premise, I thought it sounded like the dumbest thing I have ever heard. The day it was released, I threw it on and finished the entire season that day.
It is difficult to put into words how a fantasy-centered plot could be executed so perfectly, but Stranger Things is damn near perfect. I can’t think of any show or film where a group of kids nail their parts like the kids in Stranger Things.
Network: Netflix
Streaming options: Netflix
Seasons: 2 (Third airing in October 2019)
IMDB Rating: 8.9
What may go down as the best TV series of all time, Game of Thrones has created an audience comparable to Star Wars and MCU adaptations. With the exception of number one on this list, no show has ever developed characters the way Game of Thrones has. Unfortunately, GOT has neared its end as the eighth and final season is currently in production.
Network: HBO
Streaming options: HBO Now, HBO Go, Amazon Prime HBO
Seasons: 7 (Eighth airing in 2019)
IMDB Rating: 9.5
1. True Detective (2014)My love for True Detective has been so strong since I finished season one, I don’t think I will ever be able to put anything ahead of it. GOT may be the only show ever to dethrone it, but for now, I just can’t do it.
There will never be a better season of any television show than season one of True Detective. No discussion. The character building is arguably the best ever, and the on-screen duo of Harrelson and McConaughey is hands-down the best of all time.
Season two is also fantastic, and to all of you twats who complained about it, I say this: eat shit. You cunts were the reason season three almost never happened. I’ll admit, they did try way to hard to force memorable lines – and even to the point that they were ridiculously corny – but the acting was great, and the story is fantastic once you are able to piece everything together.
Season three is set to air in January, and I am beyond stoked. Starring the uber-talented and incredibly named Marshalala Ali, TD S03 is also set to take place in my favorite summer spot, the Missouri Ozarks.
Network: HBO
Streaming options: HBO Now, HBO Go, Amazon Prime HBO
Seasons: 2 (Third airing January 2018)
IMDB Rating: 9
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