Pop Culture Principle

It’s that time of year were different television news sites post their lists of the best shows that 2015 had to offer. We here at The PC Principle are no different, but we compiled our list using different criteria.

Most lists look at the total show, acting, writing, ratings and so on. Yes, we took that in to consideration as well, but we decided that the best way to pick our list would be to pick the series that we would recommend someone else watch.

What kind of criteria is that you ask? Well, if you think about it, recommending a television series to your friends has become as important as recommending a hairstylist or a doctor. With that in mind, here is our list of the best series of 2015.

The Leftovers (HBO)

What can we say about the second season of The Leftovers? Even with introducing new characters and a new setting, the series still was able to shock and stun its audience. Add to that, several standout performances by the cast, especially series lead Justin Theroux and you have what we consider, the best series of 2015. It was recently announced that the HBO standout had been renewed for a third and final season, we hope that more people tune in to this fantastic series.

You’re the Worst (FXX)

It could have been easy for series creator Stephen Falk to just play it safe with the second season of You’re the Worst. Although not a huge ratings draw for FXX, the first season of the series ended up on many critics list as one of the best from 2014. This year, to his credit, Falk decided not to follow the same formula and take a darker turn with the show by introducing a depression storyline for Gretchen (Aya Cash). Not only did the storyline work, but it also shined a light on a still misunderstood issue. Aya Cash was the standout this year, although we aren’t taking anything away from great performances from cast members Chris Geere, Kether Donohue and Desmin Borges.

Penny Dreadful (Showtime)

Out of all the series on this list, we feel that Penny Dreadful is the one that is most overlooked. With its magnificent cinematography and moody setting, the second season of Penny Dreadful continued to amaze and thrill us from beginning to end. Having one of the finer casts on a television series didn’t hurt either. Standout performances from Eva Green and Billie Piper added to the richness and layers that the series offered to its small, but faithful fanbase.

UnREAL (Lifetime)

Let’s face it, reality television isn’t what it used to be. So, color us surprised when it was announced that the Lifetime channel of all places would be premiering a drama based on the behind the scenes antics of a Bachelor style reality series. We won’t lie to you and say we had some real concerns about the series. Thankfully, those concerns disappeared after the first episode of the show. With its in your face style of storytelling and amazing performances from Constance Zimmer and Shiri Appleby, UnREAL was hands down the surprise hit of 2015.

HUMANS (AMC)

Based on the Swedish Series Real Humans, AMC’s HUMANS was a standout for the network. The only science fiction series on our list, HUMANS followed a family who had purchased a Synth. These Synths are humanoid robots that are fully programmable to all of your needs. The writing and storytelling are fantastic and what can we say about the subtle, non-performance of Gemma Chan as the Synth Anita. There is a much deeper story here than meets the eye and the series creators and actors handle it with amazing skill.

Mr. Robot (USA)

No one and we mean no one saw Mr. Robot coming. Led by one of the single beste performances of the season, Rami Malek took the audience on a thrill ride into the dark and secret world of corporate greed and cyber activism. This all culminates in one of the best twists we have seen in recent memory on television. We were also happy to see Christian Slater find a series that lasted more than one season!

Catastrophe (Amazon)

Just like You’re the Worst, Catastrophe is another comedy that is in your face. Showrunners and creators Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan have created one of the best comedies on television. After meeting at a bar and a night of no-strings sex, Sharon finds out that she’s pregnant and so begins their adventure of dealing with becoming parents and working out all the issues that come with that responsibility. With strong leads and a solid supporting cast, Catastrophe is definitely a standout.

Black-ish (ABC)

Only ABC’s hit series Black-ish could take issues like gun control, church and using the N-word and make them not only hilarious, but at the same time, have a meaningful and powerful message. The Johnsons are quickly becoming America’s favorite family on television and if they keep heading in the same direction, they’ll own that title in no time.

Justified (FX)

Although it aired its sixth and final season in 2015, Justified showed just why it has been a solid and steady performer for FX. Don’t get us wrong, it’s had it’s not so great moments at times, but the final season focused on the friendship and rivalry between Boyd Crowder and Raylen Givens, giving series stars Walton Goggins and Timothy Olyphant time to shine. The final scene of the series between those two, while simple, summed up what the series was all about.

The Man in the High Castle (Amazon)

Adapted from the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name, Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files, Millennium) was able to seamlessly adapt the novel to the small screen. With an intriguing what if scenario, striking opening credits and fantastic performances across the board, it’s no wonder Amazon has renewed this outstanding series for a second season.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Homeland

Broad City

The Walking Dead

Veep

Inside Amy Schumer

Ray Donovan