As the TV Editor over at The Spool, you know I watched a lot of shows. That makes this list a tough one. I definitely had to leave off shows I loved, like A Man on the Inside or Poker Face, that were good but not great. On the other hand, if those got left off, you know what’s here is well worth your time.

TV Shows

20. Demascus- Like Slip two years ago, this exploration of alternate timelines was unique, compelling, and seen by like four other people besides me. I don’t love it as much as Slip (seriously, go find a way to watch Slip, it is so good). Still, Okieriete Onaodowan (Hercules Mulligan in Hamilton) crushes the central performance as the titular Demascus (not a typo!). Filled with enough compelling strangeness, it’ll make you sad that it is almost certainly not coming back.

19. School Spirits- Supernatural teen shows don’t always hit for me, but when they do? I love ‘em.

18. Your Friends and Neighbors- I’m not sure this show is great, but I devoured it. And I am sure it is the best post-Mad Men use of Jon Hamm. That’s nothing to sneeze at.

17. The Pitt- Everybody loves this one. I quite liked it.

16. The White Lotus- I don’t get the online sentiment that this was a step down. This might be my favorite season since the first. Carrie Coon, y’all!

15. Smoke- Watching Taron Egerton be an absolute weirdo and let his freak (and creep) flag fly is not to be missed.

14. The Chair Company

13. Slow Horses- This was Slow Horses’ worst season yet. It was still excellent.

12. Task

11. The Rehearsal- Nathan Fielder is a genius.

10. Paradise- A bonkers show that was a ton of fun (and not at all what I expected) from the first episode. Episode 7, though? As well done and heartbreaking as any single episode of TV last year.

9. Dying for Sex- Speaking of well done and heartbreaking. I still think Jenny Slate is a little underserved in this one, but wow, it does everything else so well.

8. The Righteous Gemstones

7. The Lowdown- Man, Ethan Hawke had an incredible year, huh?

6. The Residence- Netflix should’ve given this eight more seasons set at famous places to live. They were dumb. But you can still watch this gem of a whodunnit season. It is silly AND anchored by a wonderfully grounded human performance by Giancarlo Esposito.

5. Andor

4. Severance- It isn’t as good as Season 1, but it nearly is. The ending is killer good, but I had no problem with any step of the journey it took this year.

3. The Studio- Man, Seth Rogen had an incredible year, huh?

2. Pluribus- Nearly as perfect as TV gets. So smart, so confident.

1. Adolescence- Honestly, episode 3 alone would probably give this show the top spot. The other three episodes were almost as good, though, so it locked up this one walking. I’m not sure I’ll ever be up for revisiting it, but I’m so glad I took the time to watch it once.

Worst (in no particular order)

All’s Fair- Don’t hate watch it. Not even once.

Zero Day- Such an incredible team in front and behind the camera. Such lousy results.

Most Anticipated in 2026

Rooster- Bill Lawrence might be batting 1000. He certainly is, since Ted Lasso (Ted Lasso, Bad Monkey, and Shrinking). Plus Steve Carell in what might be the kind of post-The Office role he’s needed.

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins- Tina Fey making a show starring Tracy Morgan. That’s all I needed to know.

Spider-Noir- Nic Cage. Spider-Man. Two of my faves in one place.

Widow’s Bay- If you can’t tell from my Best of above, I like quirky mysteries. This one has that plus a whiff of Stephen King. I’m very in.