The Mandalorian
If you're a Star Wars fan and are alive in 2019, you're in for a treat. Right around the time a good Star Wars game finally came around, the Xbox One release Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Disney+ launched its streaming service with some of the best Star Wars material we've seen in years. From none other than Jon Favreau of all people. That man is now my hero! Like the titular bounty hunter from Mandalore, the TV series is impressive. It's impressive how purely Star Wars it is, at least in terms of the original trilogy, while at the same time being completely original - finally proof if proof was needed that you don't need the Skywalker saga to tell a great Star Wars story. It's also thrilling how purely Western it is, which you can see in every line of dialogue, every turn of the plot, every character and setting, and not least of all in Ludwig Göransson's wonderful score, which also contains strong hints of samurai movies. We couldn't have asked for a better christmas present from Disney.
Good Omens
This pretty spot on adaptation of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's popular book would originally have appeared on the list for best new limited series, but because this list is as late as it is, and because of recent developments on that front (i.e. a second season in production), Good Omens is now included here instead. 2019 started off great when David Tennant and Michael Sheen graced our screens in a textbook example of thoroughly inspired casting as, respectively, the demon Crowley and the angel Aziraphale, old friends who team up in order to stop the birth of the Antichrist and the coming Armageddon. The result is the kind of fantastical, hilarious and dark mix that you could expect even if you were unfamiliar with the original source material but had an inkling of who the writers are. And it's one of those rare instances when eight or ten episodes would actually have been justified, as the only negative thing you can say about it is that the fun is over much too soon.
The Boys
The superhero genre has now been around long enough for the emergence of a post-superhero subgenre, and as evidenced by the three entries on this list, the hottest new thing is "alternative" superheroes. In the lead right now in that area is Amazon Prime Video's satirical The Boys. I don't know if Amazon considers this their "flagship" series, but they definitely should. The level of quality in the writing, the high production values, the humor and the violence, leaves The Boys unmatched in Amazon's entire catalogue. Plus it's got something interesting to say about celebrity culture and the way big time corporations rule the world today. But perhaps the biggest reason for its huge entertainment value is the excellent chemistry between the five members of the anti-superhero vigilante group, led by Karl Urban, who has finally been bequeathed a part that makes the most of his charisma, wit and dynamic acting abilities.
What We Do in the Shadows
When you think about it, there is no outright funnier comedy on television right now than FX's re-working of What We Do in the Shadows, which originated as a little seen but widely hailed mockumentary by the brilliant Taika Waititi in collaboration with Jemaine Clement way back in 2014. The TV series, of which only Clement is credited as creator, is something as amazing and rare as never not funny, which is down to several things, like the way it retains the style and concept of the original film and the short, concise running length of the episodes. But mainly it's thanks to the three main vampires Nandor, Laszlo and Nadja and the wonderfully witty, charming and creative comedians Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou who play them. And the inclusion of Colin, an energy vampire who feeds on human energy by being unbelievably boring, is such a stroke of genius!
Servant
Though he's only executive producer and director of two episodes, the Apple TV+ thriller Servant has got M. Night Shyamalan written all over it. For instance, in how beautifully shot it is, in Shyamalan's favorite old place Philadelphia, with great performances from a great cast, in its great mix of dark humor and a creepy atmosphere, all in the service of an unforgettably weird plot. Shyamalan has had a bit of a return to form these last years, starting with 2015's The Visitor, though the series is technically speaking created by British writer Tony Basgallop. But maybe that's just what Shyamalan needed to get back on track, a great idea from another weird storyteller to collaborate on. Either way, the end result is deliciously strange, well-made, thoroughly entertaining and full of surprises!
The Witcher
After Game of Thrones came to its lambasted conclusion in the spring of 2019, us fantasy nerds had to put our hope on Netflix's adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski's popular books about Geralt, the white-haired monster hunter with the impossibly deep voice, already a somewhat iconic character thanks to the famous video game series. Opinions may have varied, as they always do when there is a strong established fan base, but personally I was satisfied with the casting of Henry Cavill and found most of the eight episodes cool and interesting. Never having read the books I cannot judge it on that level, but as a lifelong lover of the genre in general I had no complaints. The Witcher delivered just what I want in a fantasy series, an elaborate world that feels lived-in, a good amount of magic and monsters, and an engaging story.
Doom Patrol
Now for the second entry in this list that takes the superhero genre into a truly weird place, Doom Patrol on DC Universe (and HBO Max). I wouldn't fault you for asking yourself if this is truly a show about superheroes, for Jane with the sixty-something different personalities in her head, Rita Farr, the old Hollywood has-been who melts when she gets stressed, Larry Trainor, the former pilot who is possessed by an electrical entity and constantly wrapped in bandages, Cliff Steele, a race car driver whose brain was transplanted into a metal body after an accident, are really more freaks of nature than heroes. But isn't that the whole point of Doom Patrol? I think so. It is surprising how brilliant this series is, coming as it did off an incredibly lacklustre and much more inferior superhero show, but it's also surprising and somewhat unusual to see something that dares to be this weird and silly, while at the same sneakily getting you hooked on its characters and their somewhat moving arcs. That's great TV right there!
His Dark Materials
Finally Philip Pullman's magical and wonderful book series gets the adaptation it deserves. It's nice to be around at a time when television production has the means to visualize a world this fantastical, with all those "daemons" and that steampunk-ish alternative Oxford setting. And Iorek Byrnison, the armored polar bear, of course. Much can be said about the inherent quality and value of Pullman's story, and much probably has been said, especially considering how rare female protagonists are in a genre that has long been woefully underpopulated with role models for young girls. But I would rather focus on the excellent casting of Dafne Keen as Lyra "Silvertongue" Belacqua - the little firecracker who wowed us all in Logan in 2017 feels born to play the part. She's got just the right amount of strength, smarts and charisma to carry it. And with the always excellent Ruth Wilson as her villainous mother and the versatile Lin-Manuel Miranda cast against type as Lee Scoresby, she's got great support indeed.
The Umbrella Academy
And now for the third and final alternative superhero show on this list, The Umbrella Academy on Netflix. Though the first season takes a little time to get interesting, the overall impression leaves me for one wanting more - a lot more! I love the cast and the chemistry between them, in this makeshift family of adopted foster kids brought up to be superheroes, which is in itself such an unusual and fascinating idea! I also love the conceit of a secret government that exists outside of the real world and makes sure that people don't defy the laws of nature. Most of all I really love the idea of number five, "The Boy," with the mind of an old man trapped in the body of a thirteen-year-old boy. I mean, you've got to forgive a new show with such a lot of potential and such high ambitions for being a little uneven in its first attempt, don't you?
Carnival Row
Apparently, Amazon Prime Video's Carnival Row was originally intended to be a feature film, but I think it's a good thing it was expanded into a series, because there's so much to uncover in this kinda gothic, kinda steampunk, urban fantasy world. It's also a great example of how interesting it can be when the fantasy genre is used to tell stories about the real world, to symbolize actual problems and work as both escapism and metaphor, in this case creating a version of Britain where mythical creatures like fairies and fauns have migrated to the human world and thereby created a lot of tension. Admittedly, the symbolism isn't subtle in the least. No, Carnival Row tackles complex modern and classic issues like war, class, migration, integration, racism and sexism in a very overt and head-on way, while simultaneously managing to squeeze in a great political conspiracy plot and a well-written and well-acted love story as well. Bravo!
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