Top Five TV Shows of the 2019-2020 Year

So it's been a...weird year. With the Emmys hosting their ceremony tonight, it feels appropriate to take some time and celebrate some of the most entertaining and engaging series on the small screen of this last season. COVID-19, the election, and countless other events have dominated the news cycle, so it will be a refreshing change of pace to remember the fond memories of this year on the small screen. 
As always, a disclaimer. I do not watch a lot of television, so there are shows I've most certainly missed. 
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==5. The Mandalorian, Season 1 (Disney+)==
The Mandalorian defined pop culture for the second half of 2019 without a doubt. Although the memes are still hilarious to this day, the show also possessed a surprising amount of heart and somberness. While the action setpieces were always fun and the production was top notch as every adventure in a galaxy far, far away is, what sealed this show and its legacy was the heartwarming characters that occupied it. From the stoic and mysterious Mandalorian to a revolving door of bit actors like Werner Herzog and Gina Carrado, the true star was naturally The Child. The relationship between The Child and the Mandalorian is one of the most interesting and gripping on the small screen in genre fare, providing the much-needed heart to this stellar series.
Best Episode: "Chapter 8: Redemption"
==4. The Good Place, Season 4 (NBC)==
The Good Place always felt like something of an anomaly. It's wholesome appearance and focus on easy and quick hit jokes made it perfect for network television, but its heady premise and often edgy, tiptoeing on the line subject matters made it a much more niche show than it looked. Despite that, the final season of The Good Place saw some of its best and funniest moments. One of the most interesting shows of the last couple years, it's a melancholic but fulfilling conclusion as the show walks off into the proverbial sunset. 
Best Episode: "The Answer"
==3. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Season 6/7 (HBO)==
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver has been, thanks in part to how it is the only show to follow a season calendar like a normal one, the forefront of talk show television for the last decade. It's easy to see why, given its journalistic integrity and humorous, gut-busting style. Despite Oliver's claims that his show isn't journalism, it's a claim that breaks under just how precise and important its subject matter often is. In the COVID-19 pandemic, Oliver's show has continued in stride. It often seems to be doing more to provide information and public awareness than certain governmental agencies, and it's inspiring to see a show that truly cares about what it's saying - including its musical numbers telling a certain coal executive to eat excrement. 
Best Episode: "Coronavirus II"
==2. DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Season 5 (Warner Bros. Television)==
DC's Legends of Tomorrow is one of the best superhero television shows in history. It's humor, its production value (and sometimes lack of), its cast, and its characters all chip in to deliver some fantastically campy and heartfelt stories. While often considered the forgotten child of the DCTVU, Legends is by far its best show. Often self-aware and embracing the inherent goofiness of its premise, the ragtag team of time travelers can always be counted on for a fun adventure.
==Honorable Mentions==
*Crisis on Infinite Earths (Warner Bros. Television)
*Our Cartoon President, Season 3 (Showtime)
*The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Season 3 (Amazon)
*Bad Education (HBO)
*Saturday Night Live (NBC)
==1. Euphoria, Season 1 (HBO)==
Euphoria is a unique and profound time capsule on the American youth here and now. Both the weaknesses and strengths of them are on full display, from their disregard for society's limitations on sex and gender to the dangers of toxic masculinity and social media, Euphoria is as much modern art as it is just the standard coming-of-age television show. That part isn't neglected either, with a roster of characters that are equal parts loveable and disgusting, aiming for empathy above all else. This is all excusing the show's sheer style, from its experimental camera movement to its pitch perfect soundtrack to its constantly changing genre mechanics, Euphoria is a flawless show through and through. 
Best Episode: "Stuntin' Like My Daddy"
Category:Top Five