While living without streaming television seemed hard before 2020, most of us cannot imagine doing so now, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Now that cinemas, stadiums, bars, and even parks are closed down, there’s only one thing left to do: watch TV! Here are the best shows of 2020…
The Queen’s Gambit
If you had asked people at the start of 2020 what their favorite show would become, few would have said a drama about chess and drug addiction. However, The Queen’s Gambit proved that audiences will watch anything as long as the story and the drama are there! In addition to revealing the world of chess to viewers, the show, based on Walter Tevis’ fictional novel, covers deeper themes, like understanding human passion and desire. Actress Anya Taylor-Joy, previously known as a scream queen thanks to her roles in horror films like The Witch and Glass, broke into the mainstream with her incredible performance as prodigy Beth Harmon. Expect this Netflix original to pick up plenty of Emmy’s come award season!
Taste The Nation
Looking to travel while stuck at home? No problem! Padma Lakshmi, one of the most famous faces in the food world, now hosts the new Hulu show Taste the Nation! This is far more than your average restaurant showcase show, however. In Taste the Nation, Lakshmi strives to understand how our food, and subsequently country, comes together. In each new location, she talks to everyone from chefs and food writers to farmers and truck drivers! Through these conversations, Lakshmi finds a way not only to hold a calm dialogue about food, but America’s current culture-clash issues. Without a doubt, this Hulu original is one we all need in our lives right now!
The Crown
Even those who don’t follow the daily news of the Royal Family seem to adore Netflix’s drama The Crown. This year, the streaming service kicked things into another gear by introducing Princess Diana as a main character. Of course, as always, the Netflix original did not shy away from the true, dark history of Diana’s time as a part of the Royal Family. Sadly, fans of the princess will never truly know how much of the drama seen in The Crown, in which the Royal Family forces Diana to change due to her difference from them, is true. However, many commented on just how eerily similar the story of Diana seemed to the story of Megan Markle and Prince Harry. Thankfully, they have decided to chart their own course!
How To With John Wilson
Looking for something a bit different to start off 2021? Well, How to With John Wilson is not a usual documentary series. Instead, the 25-minute episodes capture the most peculiar sides of New York City shot in an experimental style developed by John Wilson himself. Wilson narrates episodes of everyday life in the world’s most unique city, showcasing the weird, funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting moments he finds in the Big City. For fans of something a bit offbeat and different, comedian Nathan Fielder (Nathan for You) serves as the producer for HBO’s journey to nowhere. If How to With John Wilson sounds up your alley, head over to HBO’s new streaming service, HBO Max.
Of course, there were a ton of runner ups for the best shows of 2020, from The Mandalorian to Normal People. In short: there’s plenty to watch until the vaccine rollout finishes!
Sources: The Atlantic, Rolling Stone