2019: Top 5 tv shows.

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5. Slasher: Solstice. 

The most brutal of all tv homages to slasher movies returns! Continuing the blood-soaked style that the previous “The executioner” and “Guilty Party” tales established, “Solstice” mixes brutal murders with surprisingly poignant critiques of modern dehumanization. From cyberbullying to radicalization, all with a heavy dose of gore. 

Evidently not for everyone, but quite a treat for devoted genre fans. 

4. She’s Gotta Have It (season 2) / Dear White People (season 3). 

A tie! Which is surely fitting, giving the real-life backstage rivalry between both show runners. 

Yet both are shows studying the modern lives of African-American young adults —through a delightfully meta textual lens. 

“She’s gotta have it” is, like most of show runner Spike Lee’s ouevre, often problematic. Both in ways that are fully intended as provocation… and in completely unintended ways. The result of Lee having simply become too old and grouchy for some of the subjects this show attempts to tackle (and the issues his productions always had). Yet it’s saved by the sheer charisma of the wonderful cast. 

Meanwhile, “Dear White People” continues to challenge expectations, this time changing the format. It also delivers one of the best gay male storylines on tv yet. 

3. The politician. 

Terrific satire with all the ingredients you would expect from a Ryan Murphy production —except that this one has a heart, which makes for all the difference. An hilarious, often puzzling comedy that, while not for everyone, is more than worth a look. 

2. Tales of the city (2019 version).

The latest entry of this long-running series is one of the best queer shows I have seen yet. While the sometimes glacial pace requires patience, the pay-offs are quite worth it. I hope to watch all previous entries soon. 

1. Pose (season 1). 

Another Murphy production, and another terrific Queer show! Set in the 80’s trans scene, and quite gleefully showing everything that nostalgia-fueled shows like ‘Stranger Things’ never would, at it’s heart it’s a show about finding the strength to be yourself. The underground fashion club sequences alone are more than worth checking the whole show out for. 

Next: Comics (and one animation)