The 2020 Golden Globes have come and gone. There were many surprising wins, a few upsets, and of course, many shocked gasps from the audience as host Ricky Gervais plundered every last depth imaginable.
It was a great year for television, and while shows like The Witcher and Stranger Things proved the most popular, they weren’t the ones being showered with nominations. Regardless, both the comedy and drama sections were littered with fantastic shows (as they should be), and we’re here to tell you which ones you should prioritize.
These are best TV series’ nominees, ranked!
The Politician
To be honest, we don’t really know why The Politician was nominated for a Golden Globe, because it’s really not that good. Yeah, it’s certainly not BAD, but it’s nowhere near Best Comedy material. This is the new project from Glee and American Horror Story showrunners Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan (not an AHS showrunner), sees two high school students vying for the position of student body president. It’s a decent premise, and the cast are certainly game, but the writing isn’t sharp, satiric, or funny enough to really keep our interest. You can skip this one.
The Morning Show
Next up is The Morning Show, another…um…show that has no business being nominated for an award. This one was released on Apple TV+, which makes us think that the Hollywood Foreign Press just wanted to acknowledge Apple and its entry into the streaming race. Unfortunately, if The Morning Show is the best it can do, then it has a long way to go. This show is full of wasted potential, and it reeks of faux wokeness and self-aggrandizing.
The Kominsky Method
The Kominsky Method is far above The Politician in terms of quality, so its place in this list is not indicative of poor quality. It’s just that the rest of the shows are THAT good! The first season of The Kominsky Method did quite well at last year’s Golden Globes, as it took home both the Best Actor and Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy awards. It failed to win a single award this year, but that doesn’t detract from its quality. It’s still well worth viewing, and anyone who enjoyed the first season will find more than enough to enjoy in the second.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Big Little Lies
Big Little Lies was one of the surprise hits of 2017, and 2019 saw the release of its much anticipated second season. It did not disappoint. The series remains just as beautiful and dramatic as ever, and with the addition of the always brilliant Meryl Streep, it’s arguably better than it ever was. Some people may have bemoaned the very existence of a second season, but those that did have nothing to fear. It remains one of HBO’s greatest recent outputs, and it contains perhaps the greatest cast currently on television.
Killing Eve
We were concerned about Killing Eve changing showrunners, as Phoebe Waller-Bridge was replaced with Emerald Fennell. But, to our great surprise, season two was arguably BETTER than season one! The age of the spy thriller has seemingly come to an end, but that isn’t necessarily true - it’s just come to an end on the big screen! It is alive and well on TV, as Killing Eve remains a perfect example of how spy thrillers should be done. Endlessly tense and filled with great character dynamics, Killing Eve is one of TV’s most pulse-pounding and exciting outputs.
The Crown
The Crown is another show that survived a potentially awkward passing of the torch. Claire Foy was replaced by the older Olivia Colman, and we’re sure that alienated a fair share of viewers (particularly of the younger demographic).
But it didn’t take away from the drama. The Crown remains just as gripping and impeccably produced as ever, and Olivia Colman proved to be a fantastic Queen Elizabeth (then again, Olivia Colman is fantastic in everything). Netflix knocked it out of the park yet again.
Barry
We don’t know how Bill Hader does it. Barry is often compared (favorably!) to Breaking Bad, as it contains similar themes, characters, and plot dynamics. And, much like Breaking Bad, it really found its footing and identity in the second season. Those of you who overlooked, or perhaps even dropped, Barry in its first season owe it to yourselves to pick it up (or try again). It’s the best comedy-drama currently on television, and Bill Hader is a revelation. It failed to win the big prize, but we have to imagine that it came close…
Succession
The big prize went to Succession, and we have to say, the Hollywood Foreign Press actually got it right. Succession may not generate the same amount of discussion that Barry does, and it’s certainly not as popular on social media. But that doesn’t make it worse. Let’s be honest, there is still no competing with HBO when it comes to dramas. Networks like FX and Netflix are trying their hardest, but HBO remains the king. And with award-winning shows like Succession and Chernobyl (winner of the Miniseries award), it’s hard to imagine them being dethroned anytime soon.
