2018 is winding down, which means the List-ening is once again upon us. This week on the podcast, Noel and Kate talk through their top 20 TV series of 2018, looking at the very best TV of the year. From reality and anime to documentary comedy and chilling drama, there was plenty on offer, and the highlights of the year ran the gamut. Tune in for our thoughts on our favorites, then reach out with your picks.
Noel’s 20–16 (7:11)
Cells at Work
Dietland
A Place Further than the Universe
DuckTales
Killing Eve
Kate’s 20–16 (7:54)
Trial & Error: Lady Killer
Ugly Delicious/Queer Eye
Elementary
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Noel’s 15–11 (9:52)
Barry
Jane the Virgin
Steven Universe
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
The Good Fight
Kate’s 15–11 (12:10)
The Terror
Insecure
Sense8
Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas
Nanette
Noel and Kate’s 10–6 (15:12)
We Bare Bears
Steven Universe
Terrace House: Opening New Doors
Barry
Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas
Killing Eve
Pose
Noel and Kate’s 5–1 (33:03)
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
The Good Place
One Day at a Time
Atlanta
Queen Sugar
The Americans
The Terror
Next episode will be our yearly Smorgasborgy, counting down our TV favorites in every category imaginable. Play along and reach out with your picks in the following categories:
Performance Awards: Best Performance, Lead; Best Performance, Supporting; Best Voice Acting; Best Reality Personality; Most Novel Casting; Most Underrated Ensemble; Best Cameo; Best Guest Appearance; 6th Performer Award
Character Awards: Best New Character; Best Villain; Best Parents; Best Kids; Best On-Screen Death; Character We Want More Of; Actor We Want More Of
Production Awards: Notable Direction, Comedy; Notable Direction, Drama; Most Memorable Long-Take; Best Cinematography; Best Costuming; Best Set Design; Best Hair; Best Makeup; Best Editing; Most Inventive Animation
Music Awards: Best/Catchiest New Theme Song; Best Score; Best Soundtrack; Best Original Song; Best Deployment of a Pre-Existing Song; Best Musical Moment
Writing Awards: Writing for a Comedy Series; Writing for a Drama Series; Most Quotable Series; Most Memorable Line; Best Episode Title; Best Crafting of a Season
Sequence Awards: Best Stunts; Best Action Setpiece; Best Standalone Fight Sequence; Best Dream Sequence; Best Dance Sequence; Best (New) Credit Sequence; Best Montage
Season and Series Awards: Most Spectacular Burn-out; Most Spectacular Slow Build; Best Finale Payoff; Most Underappreciated Finale; Best New Comedy (non-Top 20); Best New Drama (non-Top 20); Most Improved Series; Biggest Season-to-Season Drop; Most Underrated Series; Most Overrated Series (The Anne Veal Award); The Ringer Award; Srsly Guys, Why Aren’t You Watching…; Srsly, Why Aren’t We Watching…; Gone but Not Forgotten
Moment Awards: Trippiest Scene; Best WTF Moment; Biggest Gut-punch; Dusty, Dusty, Him Sad Award; Biggest F*ck Yeah Moment; Best Twist/Realization (non-finale); Most Traumatizing Moment; Schadenfreude Award; Most Striking Visual; Best OTT Sex/Nudity; Best Shipping; Most Chemistry; Oxygen Award, Comedy; Oxygen Award, Drama; Most Ridiculous Moment; Best Fan Interaction; The La-la-la Award (No Spoilers!); The Head Canon Award
Miscellaneous Awards: Best Surprise; Worst Disappointment; Best Discovery; Spotlight of Shame; Breakthrough Performance; Breakthrough Series; It Shoulda Worked…; It Shouldn’t’ve Worked.; The It’s Not Me, It’s You Award; Anchor Award; Life Vest Award; Show We Want To See Make the Leap