When drafting our year-end Best of 2015 lists, we noticed the bigger than usual presence of new television shows. We’re in the middle of the peak TV era, where there is so much to choose from and it all caters to a wide range of people’s tastes.
We took it to a vote and came up with the best 15 new shows that premiered in 2015. From this list, you’ll see that we really love superheroes, sci-fi, unique and compelling stories, and youthful characters. It has undoubtedly been a great year for television, but why don’t we put the brakes on all of the new shows and let us not be distracted with this wealth of new characters we’ve met throughout the year?
First, let’s take a moment to honor some great shows that almost made the list: Ash Vs. The Evil Dead, Younger, Catastrophe, Narcos, Fresh Off The Boat, Togetherness, UnReal, Crazy Ex-Girlfirend and The Last Man on Earth.
Click NEXT to start the countdown.
15. Limitless (CBS)
From our review of the pilot episode: “It certainly seems that the creative team were using one hundred percent of their brains when building Limitless. The pilot establishes that this is very much the same world that made the film so wonderful, while still distinguishing itself enough to become its own animal.”
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14. Galavant (ABC)
From our review of the pilot episode: “With how big Game of Thrones has become, there has been a huge increase in the Fantasy fan base. From literature to film, there has definitely been a huge impact. This “resurrection” also includes the brand new show, Galavant. I’m going to honest: I thought I was going to hate this show. A musical set in the medieval era? Didn’t Into the Woods just come out? But me being a sucker for anything fantasy or medieval, I had to give it a try, and I’m happy to say that it was a very pleasant surprise.”
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13. Supergirl (CBS)
From our review of the pilot: “Benoist is the true breakout here, having had a thankless role in Glee and only scraping some minimal screen-time in last year’s Whiplash. The greatest moments of joy that come from the series opener typically come from her, and more specifically, her moments of unadulterated enthusiasm in the role.”
12. Sense8 (Netflix)
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From our review of the show: “Admittedly, for some viewers, Sense8 might take a few episodes to hit its stride, because it’s hard to place exactly what kind of viewing experience you’re getting yourself into. The first episode is an hour and a half and still barely begins to scratch the surface of the overarching concept, instead spending its time introducing you to the show’s eight main characters. And those characters alone would make for a fantastic drama series. But then you start to experience the sci-fi (or is it fantasy?) elements as well, and this show becomes something really special.”
11. Scream Queens (FOX)
From our review of the pilot: “…we encounter a motley crew of characters, sudden deaths and a whole bunch of ear-piercing screams. The show, described by creator Ryan Murphy as ‘Halloween’ meets ‘Heathers’, lives up to that description…”
10. The Man in the High Castle (Amazon Studios)
From our review of the first season: “There is a wide range of characters featured in this first season, spanning from Nazi’s to Japanese, to the resistance, to those just trying to survive in the world. Particular standouts included Alexa Davalos as Juliana and Luke Kleintank as Joe Blake, who are arguably the shows leads and who you’ll find yourself rooting for almost right away… The rest of the cast holds their own through unendingly complex material, and all too often it was hard to know exactly where each persons loyalties were.”
9. iZombie (The CW)
From our review of the pilot: “At some point, you need to chuck aside your preconceived opinion and get onboard with the wacky ride that is The CW’s new show, iZombie. It’s weird, it’s snarky, and the best part: it’s implausible in all the best ways. While it doesn’t have the real world grittiness of other zombie entertainment that’s been coming out these past few years, iZombie brings an irreverent spark to what may be a tired genre.”
8. Empire (FOX)
From our review of the show: “The show has its own presence in a multitude of diverse communities, including the LGBT+ community and has tackled and brought to light the struggle of mental illnesses. Empire has continued to showcase the magnitude of homophobia, racism, and family struggles in the world today. It’s not just a soap opera, guys.”
7. Better Call Saul (AMC)
From our review of the pilot: “Gilligan and Gould conceive this particular story as a drama with a strong emphasis on comedy rather than an out and out laugh fest, cluing us in that they’re taking the material seriously rather than simply riffing on a lark. In that sense, the show is subtler than those looking for the “Saul Goodman Comedy Hour” will be expecting… Gilligan’s assured pacing allows him to dole out character details while also flexing his visual storytelling muscles, something that six years of the heavily visual Breaking Bad helped to facilitate.”
6. Mr. Robot (USA)
From our review of the show: “What has made the show so intriguing, beyond the narrative, which did seem slow at times in the first few episodes, is how it portrays its lead and the people surrounding him as real people, rather than archetypes. It would have been easy for the series to present Elliot as some suave, genius hacker, an anti-hero type in a similar vein of the Walter Whites or Don Drapers. Instead–enhanced by Malek’s performance–Elliot is erratic, anxiety-ridden, and depressed. He’s small in stature and not immediately imposing, although threatening in his own right. He’s someone who wants to be happy but isn’t ready to actively chase a lifestyle he’s working so hard to disassemble from the inside out.”
5. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
From our review of the first season: “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is bold, bizarre, and magical. Easily the most palatable comedy in the last few years. The comedy writing styles of Robert Carlock and Tina Fey shine just as bright, if not brighter, than they did in 30 Rock. Backed by great writers and a talented supporting cast, Ellie Kemper is set up to shine to the point where she may go supernova at any second.”
4. Marvel’s Agent Carter (ABC)
From our review of the first season finale: “In a show all about female empowerment, this was perhaps the most empowering bit of all, one that reasserts the character’s self-confidence and worth and helps to (slightly) alleviate the finale’s unfortunate shift in focus to the male characters, both living and frozen… Even with the bumps along the way, I’d rather not let go of Agent Carter, which provided a well-deserved spotlight for one of Marvel’s best female characters and the chance to elaborate on previously unexplored territory for the overarching universe.”
3. Master of None (Netflix)
From our review of the first season: “The show is formatted like most comedies with a cold opening before the main title screen, which feels like it comes out of a Woody Allen movie. The show is mature without the words of Descartes or Nietzsche. It does, however, hit some critical social and internal issues. The episode “Ladies & Gentleman” showcases Dev unintentionally paving a better opportunity for his female co-workers, but then becoming oblivious to a sexist act, as his director doesn’t shake the females hand.”
2. Marvel’s Daredevil (Netflix)
From our review of the show: “Marvel has definitely embraced the darker content of the Daredevil series with apparent glee… This isn’t as colorful as The Avengers, and it doesn’t have the Joss Whedon quips that populate the pages of his script. None of this is a hindrance to the show, and as someone who could never quite catch on to Agents of SHIELD, it’s nice to see Marvel succeed in the tone of this series. It’s unquestionably a part of the Marvel universe; it talks about how their current situation is in part due to the consequences of the battle in New York with the Avengers, but it’s its own entity. Importantly to this viewer, while it’s always taking its subject matter seriously and respecting the stories like any good showrunner should, it also doesn’t reek of self-importance. It’s having fun, while being simultaneously thrilling and edgy.”
1. Marvel’s Jessica Jones
From our review of the first season: “With the exception of Daredevil one cameo and some hints about the Avengers, Jessica Jones stands on its own as a compelling work of neo noir television. We’ve been waiting for our superheroine–now not only do we have one, but one who is flawed, interesting, badass, and just every ounce of the female hero we deserve.”
What are your favorite new shows of 2015?
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