We’ve been looking back at our favorite movies and video games of 2018 over the past few days, and we even enumerated our biggest disappointments of the year. Now, in the final days of 2018, the Fandomania staff lists our favorite TV shows that aired during the past 12 months. Check it out!
Westworld
“Westworld kept me entertained even when I didn’t really know what was happening, but the really satisfying moments came during the season 2 finale, which brought together about a zillion different threads running back through the whole show so far.” – Celeste Monsour
“Did I always understand what was going on? Oh no. Should Thandie Newton’s performance be considered a national treasure? Oh yes.” – Kendra Beltran
“The metaphor of the maze in the first season of Westworld feels appropriate for the overall series. While contributing to the overall series mystery, each season feels like a puzzle that never quite makes sense until you finish it and see the overall path of where you’ve been.” – Jason Dorough
Daredevil
“This past (and now final) season of Daredevil felt like a perfect wrap-up for the series with the return of Wilson Fisk, the introduction of some new and interesting characters, Karen and Foggy getting their own storylines and, of course, some amazing action sequences. I’m sad it’s over, but feel very satisfied with how things were left.” – Celeste Monsour
“2018 was the year when nearly every Netflix Marvel show was cancelled. If Daredevil had to end, it at least went out on a high note. Genre shows usually are at their best when they have outstanding villains, and that’s where this season of Daredevil really delivered, making it one of the very best seasons of any of the Netflix MCU series.” – Jason Dorough
Doctor Who
“Jodie Whitaker won’t replace David Tennant as ‘my’ Doctor, but she’s a close second for sure. I loved how it didn’t matter what her gender was, she was just The Doctor right from the start, doing and saying all the right Doctor-y things. I have not watched much classic Who, so the ‘crowded TARDIS’ concept is new to me, but I like it. And I found the stories to be pretty good, with just enough references to the past to give a nod to the long-time fans, yet not so much as to turn off new viewers.” – Ann Wells
“Like many, I wasn’t really that happy with the 12th Doctor (mostly due to the writing, not necessarily Capaldi himself). But the first female Doctor has really impressed me. I was worried about having three companions, but they’ve mostly done a nice job of using them well. It feels very much like a return to earlier episodes of the new era.” – Chad Walker
The Cool Kids
“I really don’t watch sitcoms. However, this one has Vicki Lawrence (Mama’s Family), and it’s super funny. And I love Sid!” – Mandi Harris
“Sometimes you want a comedy that brings together well-loved actors, expected themes, and a dose of senior humor. That’s what The Cool Kids gave us in 2018. And I would watch Leslie Jordan strut his stuff wherever and whenever he wants to do it.” – Kimberly Lynn Workman
The Haunting of Hill House
“A haunted house, mental illness, death, and a family legacy that will not let them live in peace. This adaptation of the 1959 Shirley Jackson novel had an engaging story and a great ensemble cast. Plus, any time I get to see Timothy Hutton on television is a good time indeed.” – Kimberly Lynn Workman
The Good Place
“The bad news is that it took me until this year to discover The Good Place. The good news is that I’m all caught up and cannot wait to actually see the legit ‘Good Place!'” – Kendra Beltran
GLOW
“GLOW‘s first season was fun, but in its second it really hit its stride. It’s light enough to leave me feeling good (especially welcome in my fiction these days) while still tackling some serious issues and making me really care (often to my surprise) about its cast of very flawed characters.” – Celeste Monsour
Atlanta
“No thanks to Donald Glover’s involvement in Solo, we had to wait far too long for the second season of his amazing series, Atlanta. In the end, it was well worth the wait. If you’ve yet to see the ‘Teddy Perkins’ episodes, do yourself a favor and seek it out right now. One of the most thrilling yet entertaining pieces of television in 2018.” – Kendra Beltran
The X-Files
“I was fully prepared for the newest (and possibly final?) season of The X-Files to be every bit as awful as the first season in the relaunch was. To my delight and surprise, this one turned out to be great, delivering some truly memorable episodes that can stand among the pantheon of the series’ best and weirdest.” – Jason Dorough
Star Wars Rebels
“Rebels wrapped up satisfyingly this year and proved to be my favorite installment of the Star Wars universe since the Disney buyout and towards the top of my overall ranking. If only Dave Filoni could be running the whole franchise…” – Celeste Monsour
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
“I was dubious of this show, because I loved the original. However, I really enjoy the storyline, and some of the characters are amazing. I love Ambrose and Sabrina!” – Mandi Harris
9-1-1
“I enjoy much of Ryan Murphy’s work, so having a procedural drama that focused on LA fire fighters, paramedics, and police officers was a great avenue to explore. Throw in great acting from Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, and others, you have a winning combination. The characters sometimes get themselves in odd situations, but they always try to save the day.” – Kimberly Lynn Workman
Lodge 49
“It’s hard for me to say too much about this show, because I feel like I’d be giving away too much to do so. I was intrigued by the trailers I saw on AMC, but it’s been the characters and the writing that have kept me watching the show. I’m really looking forward to Season 2.” – Chad Walker
On My Block
“When you spent your entire existence watching teen shows where the characters that look like you are more like colorful add-ons casting sprinkled in at the last minute, a show like On My Block hits you hard. The beautiful cast of black and brown adolescents in somewhere, Los Angeles weren’t just stereotypes placed in a sea of middle-class white kids.” – Kendra Beltran
Supernatural
“Now in its 14th season, Supernatural is still going strong, and the Winchesters are still fighting the good fight. This year brought us the Wayward Sisters, an epic crossover with Scooby Doo, the return and re-loss of favorite archangel Gabriel, and the adorableness of the boys’ adopted son, Jack. I look forward to all the twists and turns the show are sure to lead us on for years to come.” – Kimberly Lynn Workman
The Kids Are Alright
“There isn’t a family comedy on ABC I don’t watch, but this year The Kids Are Alright made me laugh the loudest. A family of Irish Catholics in Los Angeles during the ’70s led by a matriarch who will hopefully join the ranks of Malcolm in the Middle‘s Lois, Peggy Bundy, and Roseanne Conner, yes, please!” – Kendra Beltran
Sharp Objects
“Amy Adams needs an award for this show. It was well acted, well-written, and left me disturbed each night. I watched each insane episode with bated breath.” – Mandi Harris
Star Trek: Discovery
“The second half of Discovery‘s first season paid off a whole lot of setup with some great connections to the overall Star Trek mythos and more than one twist that I didn’t at all see coming.” – Jason Dorough
The Expanse
“The political space opera has continued to be some of the best sci fi on TV, and one of the things I appreciate most about it is its willingness to really explore its often morally ambiguous characters and their motivations in ways that make sense and are far more interesting than following the typical formulas so many shows fall victim to. Though Syfy airlocked it after this past season, we thankfully will get a fourth thanks to Amazon picking it up.” – Celeste Monsour
The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell
“Netflix’s little gem was fun and different. I enjoyed seeing the insane treats Christine created. The puppet drama was also entertaining.” – Mandi Harris
Better Call Saul
“Better Call Saul ends up on my list every year, and it continues to be one of the best shows on TV. At this point it’s straying dangerously close to being every bit as good and gripping as Breaking Bad was.” – Jason Dorough
The Conners
“I enjoyed the reprisal of Roseanne because of its portrayal of the difficulties faced by those of economic disadvantage; finding work, getting adequate medical care, and living life in 2018 were addressed head-on. But, to be honest, the re-imagining of The Conners actually hits my buttons even more. The matriarch may be gone, but the family’s still doing its best to survive.” – Kimberly Lynn Workman
