So Long, 2020
At this point, we all know 2020 has been a bad year for a lot of things. With movie theaters having to close, we've had few major film releases this year. But as a small consolation, 2020 has produced a lot of great TV shows. With folks in quarantine needing to pass the time, we've had everything from a wild reality show about tigers and their owners to a phenomenon that has made chess all the rage again. If this was a longer list, it could contain numerous programs from this year, as many deserve recognition. But for now, here are my top five shows of this past year. I hope you'll have enjoyed some of them as much as I did, and maybe discover a couple of new ones that you can start 2021 off right with.
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous
When I initially heard Netflix planned to release an animated show set in the world of Jurassic Park, I had a healthy dose of skepticism. The long-running franchise around long-rampaging dinosaurs has a lot of strengths, but I wouldn't praise its depictions of children as one of them. Typically, kids either ruin the dark tone of the films, or prove too realistically afraid to make any lasting impression. But Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous strikes a fine balance. The campers stranded on Isla Nublar during the dinosaur break-out of Jurassic World act enough like real kids, scared of their situation, but are resourceful and unique enough to get viewers to care about them individually. The animated nature of the show is the key to this, highlighting the characters' distinct traits and allowing the show to get dark enough without making it too frightening for kids to watch. It also allows for more dinos, which is never a bad thing. It's a great show for any fans of Jurassic Park, and one that opens the park to all ages.
The Boys Season 2
The Boys arrived on Amazon in 2019 with a snarky splash, introducing us to a world of warped superheroes and the equally bizarre vigilantes who stand up to them. With dark humor and riotous action scenes and satirical scenarios, season one set the bar high. While this year's second season may not have topped the ridiculousness of the first, it certainly managed to match it. It also improves upon the first by packing some surprisingly tender moments, as we see Karl Urban's foul-mouthed Billy Butcher starting to grow as a human being, while members of corrupt superhero team The Seven stand up to their corporate overlords in various ways. Season two makes the smart move of laterally exploring the world and character backstories of The Boys, while still containing plenty of the shock humor and twists that made the first season stand out.
Alice in Borderland
Much like the players in the challenges of Alice in Wonderland who win with mere seconds to go, the show managed to squeeze its way into this list at the last moment. Arriving on December 10th on Netflix, Alice in Wonderland proved a surprise hit. The live action adaptation of Haro Aso's manga sees a group of people transported to an alternate version of Tokyo where they have to compete in games to stay alive. While not the brightest fare on offer this year, the show contains many great characters with intriguing stories. Which is important, as the nature of the games means that viewers can't get too attached to just one. Riveting action sequences, ingenious constructions of game theory, and moving performances elevate the show well above standard dystopian young adult fiction.
The Mandalorian Season 2
With the main Star Wars film franchise ending with a whimper last December, the mantle of holding up the Star Wars universe has fallen squarely on the shoulders of the Disney Plus show The Mandalorian. Drawing from the momentum of season one, season two continues the adventures (and misadventures) of Mando and the alien formerly known as The Child, or "Baby Yoda." While the first season focused on standalone adventures, the second seasons has more of a season-wide arc to it, as Mando attempts to bring the foundling back to the Jedi. The production values have gotten even better, as we see multiple massive monsters and escapades across desert, sea, and sky. The introduction of a couple of surprise characters ties the show firmly into the greater Star Wars lore, without drawing attention away from the core story this show tells. The Mandalorian succeeds as a show because it appeals to both longtime Star Wars fans and newcomers, less because of a fine balance and more so because of lovable (and adorable) characters, a simple yet engaging premise, and a space western aesthetic that draws people in.
Check out our review.
The Queen's Gambit
Who doesn't love a great underdog story? In a year of difficulty, we needed a show about somehow who overcomes various challenges to achieve their dreams. And in a way, it's fitting that The Queen's Gambit tells the story of a young woman's rise to the top of the chess world. With everyone stuck inside with little to do, 2020 certainly feels like "The Year of the Board Game." One of the kinder monikers for this year, I know. But chess is no mere board game, and even if you have no interest in becoming a grandmaster yourself, have no fear. The tight and intimate direction, camerawork, and performances of The Queen's Gambit allow viewers to live vicariously through Beth Harmon and her dream to become the best chess player in the world. Anya-Taylor Joy is no stranger to demanding roles, but her recent turn as Beth is a new career highlight. Her performance as Beth dealing with the loss of her parents and struggling with addiction would prove interesting enough, but her single-minded determination to learn and master the strategies of chess prove captivating. The Queen's Gambit takes viewers on a personal and admittedly niche journey, but the themes of perseverance, loss, and getting really, really good at a single hobby couldn't ring truer this year.
