Top 10 albums of 2015

1 CHURCHES "EVERY OPEN EYE"

Topping this list of the best albums of 2015 (which is WAY overdue) is the sophomore output from the greatest synthpop collaboration of today, Scottish trifecta Chvrches. Like their first album, "Every Open Eye" opens strong and stays that way for the most part, with one catchy, dancetastic euphoria tune after the other, the standout example being the album's centrepiece "Clearest Blue."  

2 JOHN CARPENTER "LOST THEMES"

In the album's liner notes, filmmaking legend and movie composer J. Carpenter asks us to "make up our own movie" in our minds while listening to his moody collection of instrumental music. The thing is, I already do that anyway, with all music. But that is the point of "John Carpenter's Lost Themes," it is a soundtrack to a movie that doesn't exist, and anyone who has paid attention to the music in his films (most famously "Escape from New York" and of course "Halloween," but also in particular "Assault on Precinct 13" and "Prince of Darkness") knows what to expect. Nine ghostly and atmospheric sound escapades, mixing rock guitars with ambient synthesizers and pulsating drum beats.   

3 COIL "BACKWARDS"

Both core members of seminal electroindustrial weirdos Coil, John Balance and Peter Christopherson, have been resting in peace now for twelve and six years respectively, so any new material is impossible. So when this newly mixed collection of previously unreleased tracks, recorded at the same time as their legendary "Love's Secret Domain" in the 1990's was announced, it was a real treat for us fans. More brooding and ambient than their other work, but still containing their classic taste for noisy techno, "Backwards" was recorded in New Orleans, and the environment is very present in the music, particularly in the sometimes almost deafening noise of background crickets.   

4 TAME IMPALA "CURRENTS"

Australian neo-psychedelic project Tame Impala's third effort is an award-winning album with more dance-oriented music than previously, and just simply too cool for school. In particular, the track "The Less I Know the Better," absolutely the best song of the year and one of the greatest songs about unrequited love ever recorded. I only recently realized that, although Tame Impala is a three-piece band when performing live, "Currents," like the previous two records, is the sole work of one man, Kevin Parker, who performs and records and mixes most if it by himself. 

5 GRIMES "ART ANGELS"

Canadian singer-songwriter Claire Boucher, aka Grimes, has always been artsy and kind of an outsider on the pop scene. Grimes' fourth album "Art Angels" has rightly been hailed by music critics as the greatest album of the year, and I certainly agree. In fact, on my first hearing it, I underwent a total reappraisal of her previous work, which I originally found interesting but nowhere near as genial as this, her most listener-friendly output yet. As I said, "Art Angels" is more accessible, with more emphasis on pop and less on art, like on my favorite track "California."  

6 PEACHES "RUB"

Peaches' fifth album kind of goes back to her roots a little, returning to more minimalistic electro-rap that reminds me of her cult debut "The Teaches of Peaches," only more refined in sound and sophisticated in content. At the same time, as rebellious and naughty as ever, and overall, a consistently cool and inventive album. Standout for me was "Pickles."

7 THE PRODIGY "THE DAY IS MY ENEMY"

The Prodigy have been on a steady course since their reunion in 2009 with "Invaders Must Die," this being their first original material since then. "The Day Is My Enemy" will hardly go down in history as a particularly remarkable milestone in electronic dance music, but it certainly delivers if you were requesting a throbbing dance inferno. Standouts include the very Prodigyesque collaboration with Sleaford Mods called "Ibiza" and "Nasty," suitably accompanied by a very cool animated music video.  

8 MEMBRANES "DARK MATTER/DARK ENERGY"

The Membranes is one of the originals, a now legendary punk band formed in 1977. So it was a true pleasure to discover that they were still in excellent form, and still true to their style with their first album in 25 years. "Dark Matter/Dark Energy" is a concept-heavy, noisy and highly praised collection of underground punk tracks revolving around astrophysics and Higgs Boson in particular. So, not just a cracking listening experience, but quite an intellectual one to boot. Also, you gotta love an album that has John Henry Fuseli's classic painting "The Nightmare" on the cover.

9 THIGHPAULSANDRA "THE GOLDEN COMMUNION"

Thighpaulsandra is the pseudonym of Welsh musical experimentalist Tim Lewis, who often collaborates with similarly weird Cyclobe, Wire and Coil. Ten years in the making, "The Golden Communion" is a challenging record that covers a lot of ground, being almost two hours and very complex. If you can sit through fifteen minutes or so of random noise every once in a while, you will find this a rewarding listening experience, but if you're not in the right mindset for it, you're better off skipping this one.

10 PASSION PIT "KINDRED"

One-man band Passion Pit blew me away with his debut "Manners" in 2009. This, Passion Pit's third album, has moved away from the original sound to a much more radio-friendly and slightly blander sound, but it still manages to make me happy with every turn. Michael Angelakos has always been open about his emotional issues and mental health, and it still amazes me that someone that depressed can create something so uplifting. But maybe that's exactly why. 

Top 10 action movie heroines

Ellen Ripley

Although far from the first action heroine of note, Lieutenant Ellen Ripley is one of the strongest action movie characters in all respects. Going from an officer of the space freighter Nostromo in Alien (1979), to a reluctant but almost superhuman alien-killing machine in Aliens (1986), to losing the battle against them in Alien3 (1992), and then being resurrected with the help of their DNA in Alien: Resurrection (1997), Ripley's journey has been incredible, and may not even be over yet. I recently read an article that said Ripley changed the role of women in action movies for ever, but whether that's true or not, I at least am of the opinion that Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley is the reason why the Alien franchise has become such a success, no matter how much I love the monsters and the stories.

Sarah Connor

The reason we all love Sarah Connor from the Terminator franchise is, similar to why we love Ripley from Alien, because of her amazing character arc. In her first appearance in Terminator (1984) she's a damsel in distress with a stupid haircut, basically just a waitress and a victim, who grows into a terrorist, simply put, in her second appearance in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1992), and lastly takes on the role of a savvy and strong young warrior in Terminator Genisys (2015). In between, she's brought down to earth in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, where the focus is more on her as a single parent trying to protect her teenage son, John. You could argue that the character's journey is not a consistent one, that she has been reimagined as alternative versions in all her appearances after Linda Hamilton's embodiment, portrayed by different actresses (Lena Headey and Emilia Clarke), but you would find it hard to convince me that Sarah Connor is not one of the foremost female action characters in pop culture.

Imperator Furiosa

Despite being the only character on this list to have only one film to their name, Charlize Theron's dystopian warrior from Mad Max: Fury Road is already one of the most unforgettable action movie heroines ever realized, what with her mechanical arm and oily sooty war face, as powerful with a gun as she is with a truck. In many ways, she is the main protagonist of the movie, since the film is really about how she helps a group of sex slaves escape the tyranny of Immortan Joe, the warlord in this post-apocalyptic desert, and along the way is aided by another runaway prisoner, who just happens to be Max Rockatansky, the original protagonist of the Mad Max franchise. We can only hope that if we're lucky enough to get more road warrior movies, she'll be a part of them too. Otherwise, she totally deserves a franchise of her own. Either way, she is already, and will be for some time, a cosplay and fan favourite. 

Alice

Most fans of the games were probably surprised to find the (first) film adaptation of Resident Evil, released 2002, to be lacking any of the games' characters, instead being introduced to a superhuman amazon fighter by the name of Alice, a role Milla Jovovich was kinda born to play. I for one was sure surprised. What was a cunning move by the film's producers to avoid any close comparisons with the video games, by inventing an entirely new protagonist of their own, turned out to have a huge impact on the film series' success. By the second film, the original video game characters join the struggle against Umbrella, but by then Alice has already managed to cement her place as an action movie legend.  

Katniss Everdeen

I'm personally not a fan of The Hunger Games franchise, in fact I find it derivative and pretentious, but I agree with the fans of the franchise's heroine, who in Jennifer Lawrence capable hands truly stands out in popular culture as a cool action movie character. Not having ever seen any of the films (apart from the first one) or read the books, there really isn't much more I can say about her, nor do I believe there is any more to be said in general, but in conclusion it is interesting to note that even the original author Suzanne Collins has been quoted as saying that the casting of J-Law is spot on and that she has all the qualities Collins imagined for the character. There have been a lot of attempts to cash in on the success of The Hunger Games by creating even more derivative copies (The Host, Divergent, The Mortal Instruments, The 5th Wave, et al.), but none have really matched it, and that I think is simply because audiences do not respond to young-adult dystopian sci-fi as a genre as much as they respond to Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen.

Lara Croft

If I'm allowed to make a gender comparison here, Lara Croft is kind of a female counterpart to Indiana Jones, in that she is an archaeologist who is good at fighting bad guys. There, the similarities end. That is because she is much more of a badass than he is, which is of course primarily because they represent different eras and different values. It's been particularly interesting to see the maturity of the representation of Lara Croft, from having been more or less simply a teenage male fantasy, to becoming much more of a rounded character in Angelina Jolie's film adaptations, to the more realistic, less sexualized modern video game version, an evolution that is indicative of a decrease in video game sexism. Although the character has been criticized as a role model, all in all, Lara Croft is an iconic character, and easily one of the most recognizable and legendary video game characters after Super Mario. 

Princess Leia

Despite the fact that she doesn't do all that much fighting or shooting, and that Star Wars is not really classified as action movies, I don't think a list of action heroines could be complete without Princess Leia Organa. Carrie Fisher brings a lot of her own sassy personality to the character, and from the first moment of the very first part in the epic Star Wars franchise, she is wielding a gun and already playing a leading role in the rebellion. She later becomes a general, and even when she is a kidnapped princess that needs to be rescued by the young knights Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, she is absolutely not a victim. She even kills her dungeon master Jabba the Hut, brutally, using the chain that she is leashed to him with, in Return of the Jedi (1983). No wonder that she has been hailed as a feminist icon and a model for adventure movie heroines of all kinds. 

Black Widow

Created in the 1960's as a typical Cold War villain, a dangerous Russian spy antagonist who turns good, defects to the US and helps Iron Man and Spider Man, amongst others, Natasha Romanova a.k.a. Black Widow, is perhaps the most iconic female comic book and superhero movie character after Wonder Woman and Catwoman. The great thing about her is that she is able to hold her own with some seriously super powerful characters, even the Hulk, despite not having any supernatural abilities of her own, apart from an enhanced stamina and fighting skills. Even in Scar-Jo's small frame, she comes across as really strong and reliable, thanks to some good filmmaking. The fact that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has not given her at least one movie of her own is a disgrace, there is enough there to explore on its own, particularly when you consider how far back the Winter Soldier program that created her goes. Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but...maybe she's kind of underappreciated by Hollywood.   

Buffy Summers

Buffy is a female cult character worthy of the title, one that confirmed the genius of Joss Whedon, whose iconic franchise Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a classic revered by tens of millions. The most remarkable thing about her, which is so typical of Whedon, is that she's really just a normal high school girl with a remarkable destiny, which is of course the whole point of the story. The fact that she is a kick-ass vampire killer is not the main thing about her, it's the humour and the normality in absurd and supernatural situations which is both the reason for the show's success and the character's likeability. Since her inception, Buffy Summers has appeared on film and television, in video games and comic books. Across the board, in other words. She has consistently been ranked as one of the greatest female characters on TV, and the concept of a cheerleader who is destined to become a hunter is one that predates the vaguely similar hit show Supernatural, which would not exist without Buffy, by at least twenty years. I would just like to add that even though Joss Whedon himself hated it and disowned it, I like the first film version from 1992, despite how different and stupid it is by comparison, it's still quite entertaining. But then again, I'm not a hardcore fan as such, and I can understand how that can be considered offensive by those who are.   

Trinity

In the first part of the Matrix trilogy, Trinity is the one who contacts Neo and introduces him to Morpheus and the truth about the world, and also the first one we see do those legendary stunts and slow motion fights. That is how we meet Trinity, so of course she should be on this list as simply one of the greatest action movie heroines ever made. Portrayed by Carrie-Anne Moss, she brings the "saviour" Neo to life on two different occasions in the first film, first by assisting in the "awakening" of Neo from the Matrix, and then in the end, by actually bringing him back from the brink of death by expressing her love for and strong connection with him. Despite The Matrix's mixed popularity since its release, the name Trinity is said to have increased in popularity among children born after 1999, so there can be little doubt of her impact as an iconic character.

Top 10 zombie films (other than The Walking Dead)

Dawn of the Dead

Of course, we wouldn't have the zombie genre in its present form without George A. Romero's ...of the Dead trilogy. Although the first part, Night of..., usually tops these kinds of lists, I nominate Dawn of... from 1978 as the best because it is simply the first zombie film I ever saw. It scared the shit out of me when I was fourteen, and I was plagued by zombie nightmares for years, but now I can see what a well-written and inspired movie it really is. Even though it doesn't look as effective by today's standards, the atmosphere and powerful apocalyptic feeling still works, and by any standards it is a classic whose influence is undeniable. The struggle to survive in a collapsing world, the scavenging and conflict with other groups (in this case, the bikers that break into the mall where our four heroes have barricaded themselves) and the settling down in a safe haven while more and more zombies gather outside the walls - these are all plot points that became integral to zombie films after this. Zack Snyder's popular remake from 2004 is also a masterpiece, but I prefer the old school, slow and numb zombies.

World War Z

Although I actually really like the (very) loose adaptation from 2013 with Brad Pitt (because when have we ever had a big budget $100 million zombie flick), it is nothing compared to Max Brooks' original book. I have rarely read a book that I wished would never end. As you probably know, it's a collection of eye-witness accounts and interviews that describe the global outbreak and the war against the zombies. You can tell that Mr. Brooks is a military history buff, because it reads exactly like a WWII history book. My personal favorites are the Japanese episodes, the story of the Chinese submarine crew who flee mainland China with their families, and the one with an American soldier who survives a crash landing in a territory overrun by the infected and is guided to safety by the voice of a ghost on the radiocom. The "realism," if you will, is strong, and the author has thought of everything, covered every aspect of the zombie outbreak, every geo-political impact, every social and environmental aspect. Of course that could never translate well to the confines of a 100-minute feature film, but fortunately the book can be read repeatedly because it's so heart-stoppingly entertaining!

Day of the Dead

The third part of Romero's "trilogy of the dead" tends to get overlooked in zombie film rankings, which is a disgrace because it is really good. Here, a group of scientists are working towards finding a cure in the safety of a bunker, while a bunch of soldiers boss them around. Day of... is the earliest example of a zombie film (that I can think of at least) where there is an actual chance of a solution, even a cure, something that we've now had a lot of (just look at the film adaptation of World War Z, Warm Bodies from 2013, the very bad but kinda entertaining series Z Nation, among others), because the scientists are working with a subject that seems to respond to training (the poster's Bubba). The claustrophobic environment of the film's underground world is the complete opposite of the previous Dawn of..., and the tension between the characters builds to the goriest ending of the trilogy. It had a mixed reception back in 1985, but has since become a cult classic, and is now regarded as every bit as influential as its predecessors.

Resident Evil

Instead of having to try to single out one game or movie as the best from the incredible invention that is Resident Evil, I've opted for just including the entire franchise in itself. Shinji Mikami and Tokuro Fujiwara's video games are now staples in the Xbox and Playstation output, and Paul W.S. Anderson's first film adaption led to a whole series of films that are apparently the most successful game adaptations ever made. The first two films are the best, after that it gets a bit silly, and even the games seem to move away from classic zombie horror bit by bit, but nevertheless its place in zombie lore cannot be denied and a list of the most important zombie works in any media is inconclusive without at least some part of the R.E. franchise in some form.

Return of the Living Dead

Zombie comedies are now as popular as their horror counterpart, and sometimes as common. You've probably seen Shaun of the Dead (2004), and there are other very cool examples, like Fido (2006), Peter Jackson's Braindead (1992), Zombieland (2009), the Norweigan Dead Snow (2009) and 2015's Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse. But the best, and perhaps first, is Return of the Living Dead. With a punk rock attitude typical of the early 1980's, it irreverently parodies the genre, and is also interestingly the first zombie flick to feature strong and fast zombies. Also, it is the originator of the popular misconception that zombies eat only brains, which if you think about it would not be very practical for them and is not a traditional part of the genre. As you can see, there are many reasons why this zombie comedy by Dan O'Bannon (the genius behind Alien) has become a cult classic - its originality, its in-your-face humor, its high quotability, its soundtrack, its creative effects. In other words, everything about it.

28 Days Later

Technically speaking, this terrifying apocalypse nightmare does not feature any zombies, but people infected with a rage virus that turns them into berserking marauders. Nevertheless, 28 Days Later hits enough marks to place it in the zombie genre, and it is widely regarded as part of the canon. It was even credited with "reinvigorating" the zombie genre when it came out in 2002. Personally, I think it certainly helped make the genre a little more respected. It takes part, as the title has it, 28 days after the outbreak of the virus, thanks to animal activits (a little inspiration from Twelve Monkeys, perhaps?) when Jim (Cillian Murphy) wakes up in a hospital to find London basically deserted. He then meets a group of soldiers and survivors who have holed up in a mansion, and of course tension and conflicts ensue. So, except for the lack of flesh-eating gore and hungry, shambling corpses, it gives zombie apocalypse-thirsty viewers exactly what they want, with a little thought-provoking writing courtesy of the fantastic Alex Garland (author of The Beach), some great acting and beautiful directing from the master Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) to boot.

REC

You can always rely on Spanish filmmakers to deliver really scary movies, and [REC] from 2007 is one of the most terrifying zombie films ever made. Take a bit of the claustrophobia from the early Resident Evil video games, mix it with the fast-paced and violent monsters from 28 Days Later and the suspense and adrenaline of the Dawn of the Dead 2004 remake, and you've got a pretty good idea of what to expect from Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza's now legendary film. Shot in shaky, handheld "found footage" style, a late night live report on a call-out for a team of firemen in Barcelona turns into a nightmare when they become trapped in a building with zombies. Although its sequels are decent films, [REC] is best enjoyed as a stand-alone feature, and is sufficient on its own. Also, in my opinion, with its surprise ending left totally open, it's a lot scarier.

Planet Terror

On the other hand, you can go the way that Robert Rodriguez did for the Grindhouse project back in 2007 and create a deliberately self-conscious and self-parodying tribute to low budget exploitation horror action films of the 1970's. Planet Terror features Rose McGowan as go-go-dancer (not a stripper, there's a difference) Cherry, who after losing a leg during a zombie virus outbreak caused by stolen chemical military weaponry, gets a machine gun for a leg by her boyfriend El Wray (Freddy Rodriguez) as they try to get out of town before it's overrun. There are so many crazy, hilarious, cool things in Rodriguez's companion piece to Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof (as you'd expect from the man who brought us From Dusk Till Dawn and, later, Machete) that were I to list them that would take up too much space on this page. Suffice it to say, Planet Terror is a f****n' blast!

Zombi 2

Despite its title, Lucio Fulci's Zombi 2 is not a sequel. Zombi was just the name of the Italian-dubbed release of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, and the two films in question have absolutely nothing in common. However, I couldn't very well compile a list of the most important and outstanding works in the zombie genre and completely ignore the huge array of European contributions that were so popular in the era of "video nasties" in the early 1980's. They're all pretty bad by today's standards, and as usual with Italian B-movies, the acting is laughable and the writing is pretty embarrassing. But what it lacks in quality, it makes up for in imaginative gore, atmospheric sound effects and really cool music. Another thing I like about Zombi 2 - wherein an abandoned boat turning up in New York City leads a woman and a reporter to travel to the Caribbean island it came from to look for her missing father - is that the film kind of takes the zombie outbreak back to its voodoo roots. But, if that don't do anything for you, just check it out for the quite well-known scene where a zombie and a shark go head-to-head underwater.

Dead Set

British filmmakers have made a pretty decent impact on the zombie genre as well. Besides the above-mentioned Shaun of the Dead and the already listed 28 Days Later, you've got the really funny Cockneys vs. Zombies from 2012, Seth Grahame-Smith's mashup novel Pride and Prejudice and Zombies from 2009 (and its recent film adaptation), the post-modern zombie drama series In the Flesh from 2013 and The Girl With All the Gifts from 2016. But I would like to highlight the miniseries Dead Set from 2008, by the excellent critic and satirist Charlie Brooker (who also made the intelligent and intriguing sci-fi series Black Mirror, well worth a look). The intense five-episode horror show takes place in the Big Brother house, back when that was still a big deal in the UK, which partly adds to its claustrophobic nature, having the contestants locked up in a TV studio during the zombie apocalypse, but also makes it darkly and absurdly satirical. Since it works both as horror and satire, I think it's both original and at the same time a worthy successor to Romero's original concept of making zombie films with slightly political undertones. 
     

Top 10 TV series of 2015

Fear the Walking Dead

As The Walking Dead just continues to improve with every passing year, it came as no great surprise that its spin-off turned out to be one of the best new things on TV in 2015, since it had such strong ground to lift off from. Contrary to just about everything to do with zombies, FTWD starts off just before the zombie apocalypse hits, in sunny SoCal, and follows three families and their survival together. We're all by now pretty familiar with the zombie apocalypse seen from the other side, when humanity and civilization is but a distant memory, but the novel perspective here, along with the tense and cleverly paced way the season builds up to the actual outbreak, is what qualifies it at the top of this list. Also, having the foremost protagonist, Nick, be a drug addict, a young man already outside of normal society and quite zombie-like himself in some ways, is a stroke of genius. Which should come as no surprise, since the show is co-created by the man behind the original comic book The Walking Dead, Robert Kirkman, and I've always thought that creating a successful comic book requires more creativity and talent than creating a successful film or TV show, because the format is so demanding.  

Sense8

That the Wachowskis made a show for Netflix was all I needed to know. I loved it even before I watched it, and happily it was even better than I expected. This sci-fi drama about eight completely different people in eight different parts of the world, who have never met and suddenly develop a telepathic connection to each other, has that which is so important to good science fiction, and that is good characters. Without characters that you want to get to know and spend time with, sci-fi doesn't work, its often far-fetched concepts tend to become ludicrous if it isn't rooted in good characters. In Sense8, the characters are so sweet and compelling that it's almost impossible not to fall in love with every single one of them. The characters are key to this story, because it's about how they discover each other and take part in each other's lives, helping each other out in their everyday lives while some secret evil organization is out to catch them in order to exploit their gifts. When it's done well, sci-fi really works better as TV series than as self-contained movies, because sometimes more time is needed to explore something to its fullest. And even though by now we've had twelve long episodes so very rich on story, in the end it feels like the Wachowskis have just scratched the surface, and we've only reached the end of the beginning. Sense8 has everything, interesting and likeable characters, great action scenes, it's also funny, sad, lovely and often had me smiling till my face hurt and brought tears to my eyes. Most impressive is the clever way the creators of the show have interwoven the eight characters' separate stories into a single plot, that is best viewed in its entirety.

Daredevil

After the despicable movie adaptation of the superhero comic Daredevil starring Ben Affleck, I was never expecting to become excited by the prospect of seeing the blind vigilante on screen again. Until Netflix's promising version came along and blew me away. In Drew Goddard's hands, the Marvel character was finally realized with the quality it deserves. The show works primarily because of three things: First, a good cast, always important in all aspects of storytelling (topped by imo one of the most underrated acting greats of all time, Vincent D'Onofrio, who adds weight and depth to Daredevil's adversary, Kingpin). Secondly, the writing, which nails it, bringing the superhero down to earth and rooting the action, which is measured out in perfect doses, in good, solid drama (which is so engaging and mature that you sometimes forget you're watching a superhero show and not a well-made court room/crime drama). Lastly, placing the show in film noir territory is a stroke of genius and just what a dark story about a NYC-based crime fighter like DD needed. The excellent fight choreography and stunt work is an added bonus, and at some point in the show I realized I wasn't missing the big budget CGI action extravaganza of the Marvel feature films at all.

Jessica Jones

Like the above, Jessica Jones is a Marvel show that relies more on story, realism and character than the movies tend to do. And fortunately, it retains the film noir style of its brother show. As a superhero unto herself, Jessica Jones is not that remarkable. So it's a good thing the show's about her trying not to be a superhero, instead just trying to get by under the radar as a private detective. Then the last man she ever wanted to meet again comes back from the past to make her life a living nightmare again. All superhero movies or shows are only as good as its supervillains, and Jessica Jones has one of the most fascinating villains of all. In Kilgrave, who can control people with just the sound of his voice, you have an incredibly dangerous villain, who wields a sophisticated and unstoppable power, yet acts and thinks like a spoilt and impetuous little boy. David Tennant in the part is spot on perfect, and the chemistry between him as Kilgrave and Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones is insane, they match each other perfectly in every way. 2015 was the year Netflix overtook HBO in terms of quality productions, and shows like Jessica Jones and the others on this list settled that point for me. 

Fargo

So the reason perpetually wonderful shows like Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Hell on Wheels, American Horror Story and Orphan Black are not on this list, despite the fact that they had some of their best seasons ever in 2015, is because this list is devoted to new series. Having said that, I know this is technically speaking the second season of Fargo, but it is after all an anthology series which (unlike, say, AHS) is so totally different from its first season to be almost an entirely original series. Taking place thirty-something years before the first season, Fargo's second season tells the story of Lou Solverson (father of Molly Solverson from season one) and his involvement in a gang war between the local Gerhardt family and the Kansas City crime family. The black comedy is toned down compared to the first season, and the crime drama is more prominent, which suits the time (1979) and the place better. Apart from its wonderful writing and unforgettable characterization, Fargo's crowning excellence lies in the original and unusual casting. All of the actors are excellent and always enjoyable to watch in their own right; Patrick Wilson, Kirsten Dunst, Nick Offerman and Ted Danson. But all of them together, with Bokeem Woodbine and Bruce Campbell (as Ronald Reagan, one of the oddest and most entertaining casting choices of the show) added to the mix, makes it one of the most unforgettable TV series casts ever.

Bloodline

Another Netflix masterpiece was Bloodline. A show that harkens back to soap operas of yore, in that it's about a dysfunctional dynasty whose family members all have secrets and intrigues between themselves, but done with stratospherically superior skill. The Rayburn family's success it built on lies and one day the prodigal son, Danny, returns to make them confront it. He is the classic black sheep of the family, and, with cheeky smiles and biting passive-aggressiveness, he manages to drag the whole clan down to his calamitous level. Bloodline has everything you could desire in a good drama, terrific acting (particularly from Ben Mendelsohn as Danny), superb writing and stunning cinematography. When you just want a mature, psychological show with believable characters that you care about, take a trip to the Florida Keys, check in at the Rayburns' paradaisical beach-side hotel, and uncover the complex danger and darkness under the gorgeous sunlit, palm-strewn surface. Made for binge-watching, it tells its story in chapters like a novel rather than television episodes, or a thirteen-hour movie seen as a whole, which it should be. 

Ash vs Evil Dead

Fede Alvarez's 2013 remake of The Evil Dead made me so pleased and satisfied vis-a-vis Sam Raimi's legendary horror films that when I heard about Starz's show Ash vs Evil Dead, I felt like Christmas had come early. The series picks up after Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn, with Ash himself, Bruce Campbell, back for more. And since Sam Raimi developed the show, it retains all the qualities that we loved about the movies. It's just as gory and creepy and funny as it ever was, yet somehow still manages to feel quite fresh, which may have something to do with the fact that Ash now has two new, young sidekicks on his mission to rid the world of demons. Like the films, the TV series works largely thanks to Bruce Campbell's excellent comic timing, which is now used to its fullest, because it's really a horror-themed comedy. If you want lessons in how to make something that works in both of those genres, take a look at this (and the old films). That is something which few manage to pull off, almost none in fact. But enough palaver. There is really only one thing to say about it. 'Groovy!'

Better Call Saul

The first big hit of the television year 2015 was this Breaking Bad spin-off. My expectations were virtually non-existent because Saul Goodman didn't really stand out in the original series as a character that had any potential in him for a show of his own. But somewhat surprisingly, Better Call Saul delivered a funny, interesting prequel, at times even moving, that put the character and Breaking Bad in a whole new light. It is similar in style, the same twisted humour, the same look and feel, and the same pathos. But Better Call Saul simultaneously made me realize that there was a lot in Breaking Bad that I could do without. The at times hugely annoying sidekick, the always annoying family and domestic situation, the constant macho posturing. Take away all that, and you've actually got a great piece of fiction, like this, one of the best new series on TV. That's what all spin-offs should do ideally.

River

There have been a lot of awfully vapid British cop shows over the years, but once in a while one comes along that is just fantastic. River is just that, a masterpiece of writing and acting. It's apparent that Abi Morgan wrote the part of John River for Stellan Skarsgård in particular, because it's  simply impossible to imagine the show without him. He heads an overall marvellous cast as the DI who hears voices and sees dead people, most of all his former crime solving partner, whose death he obsesses over and cannot stop investigating. Yes, it is a good detective story, with all the twists and turns you'd expect, but it works on a whole other level as well. It's comparison to Nordic noir has been noted several times, and it does fall into that category, but there is an element of fantasy to it that Nordic noir usually lacks. And I don't mean the genre of fantasy, but a psychological, dream-like aspect to it, which makes it stand out from the average cop shows that tend to all be more or less exactly the same.

The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst

(WARNING: contains spoilers!)

I am not a fan of "true crime" in general, or documentaries for that matter, but The Jinx is an extraordinary show - which is why I include it here even though it's not really a series, more of an event. In six riveting episodes, we follow the story of eccentric millionaire Robert Durst, from one bizarre murder that unravels a whole history of craziness. When you watch The Jinx, you really get the feeling that you're watching something unique, something of a phenomenon. It's made by Andrew Jarecki, who had previously made the film All Good Things in 2010, based on a Durst biography. That Durst himself got in contact with the director with the offer to create this documentary in an attempt to tell his side of things, when it in fact led to Durst's arrest, is almost too weird to be true. The man in question is of course very creepy, not just because he's a murderer who's gotten away with it for so long, but also because he's quite inscrutable. One of the chilliest moments is when, towards the end, he realizes he's been found out and coolly admits it to himself, thinking he's alone in the room. The microphone on his person catches him as he pretty much admits to it all, but seemingly without a single note of concern in his voice. It's a moment that makes you wonder if he's totally devoid of emotion, even fear of being sent to prison? Or is he so removed from reality that he's unaware of the seriousness of his situation? Or is he just confident that he'll be able to buy or work his way out of the situation? Or is he in some way glad to finally let the truth come out and take the punishment?

Top 10 The Walking Dead characters

1 Rick Grimes

Simply put, there would be no TWD without Rick. In many ways, it's not a show about the zombie apocalypse, it's a show about Rick Grimes trying to keep his family and friends safe in the zombie apocalypse. Rick is after all the first person we meet, and hopefully will also be the last to leave. A true hero, but not without his flaws, whose likeability and accessibility as a character is thanks to some great talent from actor Andrew Lincoln.   

2 Daryl Dixon

Daryl is TWD's blackest sheep. As a loner and a true outsider, a man who's basically made to survive in the apocalypse, it's no wonder he's a fan favourite. One of the show's great pleasures upon reviewing it is to witness Daryl's growth and transformation, from an annoying, uncooperative and hopeless fool trying to be like his brother Merle, to the strong hero and equal to Rick that we know today. All while retaining his lone wolf personality.  

3 Carol Peletier

Carol is another character who, like Daryl, has grown in the apocalypse, from a mousy, browbeaten trailer park housewife to an unstoppable survivor and possibly the strongest of them all. One of the few who could make it on her own all the way to the end, without a doubt, both physically and mentally. However, it is the moral challenges that she has undergone that is the most interesting thing about her. She's killed innocent people, even friends and children, for the sake of the group and their own sakes. Things which resulted in an overburdening sense of guilt that threatened to break her completely at the end of the sixth season, which I hope and feel she'll eventually work her way through.

4 Michonne

The show's most iconic character, Michonne is just a bad-ass through and through. How can she be otherwise? Wielding a samurai sword and sporting marvellous dreadlocks, she will always provide TWD with the coolest zombie kills and is ultimately just a joy to watch whenever she's on screen. Of course, like most characters in the show, she's grown and revealed a sensitivity and personality that provides a level of depth and realism which is so rare in action series and so distinctive for the show. 

5 Hershel Greene

Although he took a season to grow into his subsequent role, Hershel was in many ways the heart of the show, acting as both godfather to the group and its spiritual anchor. A farmer who had his fair share of struggles in life long before the apocalypse, dealing with family issues and battling alcoholism, maybe it was simply his experience that made him so wise and reliable. But it was also just that sort of person he was, an embodiment of true Christianity, who was upon reflection simply too good for this world.

 

6 Glenn Rhee

There are multiple reasons why Glenn has become a TWD favourite. First of all, he was the first member of Rick's group, and basically saved his life. He is also the show's first nerd, a pizza delivery boy who had enough smarts and energy to stay alive. At heart, a humble man who has shown again and again to possess true courage and a tenacious and inspirational positivity. His kindness and selflessness is unequaled, and he has become an integral member of the group, essential to the continued popularity of the show.

 

7 Morgan

Morgan was the first man Rick met, and even though he only appeared in the pilot episode, and again in the 12th episode of the third season, when he returned at the tail-end of the fifth season he was such a welcome face that you realize what a huge impression he made upon you despite his brief presence. A lot of that is down to Lennie James, who really brings Morgan alive and turns him into such a compelling character with his deep, brittle voice, his marked tone and dignified gravity. Having lost wife and son, having lost his mind and returned from it as a man of peace with a totally different view of the world to Rick and his group, wherever the show is going from here, Morgan's role in it will be of utmost importance and interest. 

8 Eugene Porter

Eugene is an important character because he mostly provides the show with something it doesn't necessarily have a whole bunch of, namely comic relief. Even a realistic horror survival drama like TWD needs its moments of lightness, and you can always rely on Eugene to supply them. Other than that, he has proven to be a resourceful and valuable member of the group, with skills that are handy when there are other things than killing to be done, and is also quite likeable because he is an avid reader with a rather flowery command of the English language for a Southern redneck. 

9 Shane Walsh

It's a shame that things went the way they did with Shane, because he was the perfect partner to Rick Grimes. He was Rick's best friend, and as his deputy, they could have achieved so much together, if he hadn't gone insane with jealousy for Rick's wife. There is something that Jon Bernthal manages to do with the character, along with the writers and producers, that makes him so utterly likeable even though he's violent and rather dumb.  

10 The Governor

Until the arrival of Negan, the Governor was TWD's main villain and Rick Grimes' archenemy. He was the yin to Rick's yang, a compelling character who underneath a cover of charm and sympathy was basically a fascist dictator, although deep down he may just have been a man who had lost everything and would do anything to retain some sense of control. David Morrissey is such a great actor in the way he portrayed that internal breakdown behind those twitchy and insincere smiles, and in the end it wasn't all too obvious if the Governor truly was a power-mad psychopath, or if circumstances and experience had made him such.