2013 marked the end of one of TV's best dramas but it also saw the debut of several fantastic shows. I feel bad for a show like Game of Thrones which had it's strongest season thus far and in some prior years might have been a top five show for me but because of the crowded field Game of Thrones along with Homeland just missed my list.
10) Brooklyn Nine-Nine
I was very excited for Brooklyn Nine-Nine based on the cast and creative team which was largely responsible for Parks and Recreation. I can confidently say that Brooklyn Nine-Nine has come out of the gate faster than it's predecessors The Office and Parks and Recreation. The ensemble cast has coalesced immediately and I laugh more in the first break of Brooklyn Nine-Nine than I do watching just about any other show.
9) Orange Is the New Black
I vaguely remember someone telling me Orange Is the New Black started slow but finished strong. I'd like to thank the person who gave me that tip because after about five episodes I almost gave up. The first half of the season was by no means bad but it felt like a guilty pleasure with no deep character development. However, the last few episodes were excellent and contained some very powerful and lasting scenes including the final scene of the season which was about as memorable as anything I saw this year.
8) Veep
The sharpest and quickest humor of perhaps any show on television. Veep is the funniest show that you haven't watched yet.
7) Justified
It was another solid season for Justified. It never pretends to be the most serious drama on television but it's well written, well acted and as entertaining as any other drama around. If you can name me a cooler character on television than Raylan Givens, I'd sure like to hear it.
6) Parks and Recreation
It might not have the laughs per minute of the aforementioned Veep but Parks and Recreation has the greatest group of characters for any television comedy since The Simpsons. Not only is it a very funny show but it manages to have more heart than any other comedy of television right now.
5) The Americans
The premise of Russian spies living in the United States with a new neighbor who happens to be an FBI agent sounds like a preposterous premise but creator and former CIA officer Joe Weisberg walks the tightrope of believability with impeccable balance.
4) Boardwalk Empire
Another fantastic twelve episodes from Boardwalk Empire in what was announced to be the penultimate fourth season. It was very difficult to replace character of Gyp Rosetti and the performance by Bobby Cannavale but increased roles from other characters helped pick up the slack. I'm disappointed this year's season will be the last but it good that it will go out while still one of the best shows around.
3) Hannibal
The tone of Hannibal is simultaneously psychologically disturbing and beautiful. It has the most beautiful cinematography of any series in network television history while also showing more blood and gore than any network program ever has. If you were ever frightened by Dexter in the least, then Hannibal will leave you with nightmares.
2) House of Cards
This wasn't the first original series on Netflix but this was the game-changer. Getting big names like Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright and David Fincher showed that they were serious but the stunning visual imagery and quality of the writing are what make this a phenomenally engrossing drama about a subject that is often very dull. House of Cards plays the small moments as well as any program in the medium.
1) Breaking Bad
It was a pretty easy decision when the best show of the last six years ended in spectacular fashion. It's a good sign when the biggest complaint from fans of the show was that the finale tied up all of the storylines too neatly. The writing, acting and cinematography stayed first rate which is what makes Breaking Bad quite possibly the best serialized drama in the history of television.
Honorable Mention:
Arrested Development
Bate's Motel
The Bridge
Comedy Bang Bang
Game of Thrones
Girls
Homeland
Key & Peele
Nathan For You
The Walking Dead
