Wonderland.

BEST OF 2019: TV SHOWS

Euphoria, Sex Education, Fleabag and more: the best TV shows of 2019.

Euphoria HBO

Photo: HBO/Euphoria

Euphoria HBO
Photo: HBO/Euphoria

The year is almost over and 2019’s contributions to TV has already ingrained itself in our memories forever. From riotous teenagers with impeccable fashion sense to our favourite Netflix docuseries, there’s something for everyone this year and here’s our take on some of the best….

Pose S2

Ryan Murphy’s Pose returned this fall with an equally fun and heart-warming second season that continued to chronicle the highs and lows of New York’s LGBTQ community at the end of the last century. Opening in 1990, the cast embark on another year of navigating identity and community within the walls of the ballroom and outside them.

Euphoria

Anyone who’s watched even an episode of Euphoria could easily spout a list of their favourite character, outfit, makeup-look and scene upon request. Probably one of the year’s most highly anticipated shows, executive produced by Drake, composed by Labrinth and starring a cast of equally as talented Hollywood vets and newcomers, there’s not much to say about Euphoria except, watch it. A perfectly relatable mix of social media “reality”, teenage mental spirals and high school insanity.

Succession

Joining successful shows like Greenleaf and Dynasty to tell a story of family dysfunction and rivalry, Succession’s second season carried on all of the abuse and competition that we hate to love. Picking back up with the Roy siblings, who induce more loathing than anything else, this season is even better than the last and anticipates the shows potential as a cult classic. We can’t wait for season 3.

Sex Education

An inexperienced and socially awkward Asa Butterfield leads us through some of the most uncomfortable moments of our adolescence, which we so desperately tried to forget. Guaranteed to make you cringe. The show is a modern crash course in sex education and the inevitability of messing up. Special mention to Otis’ mom (we all wish we had a Jean).

Fleabag S2

I’m not embarrassed to admit I binge-watched both seasons of Fleabag in one sitting because that’s just how funny it is. The Killing Eve writer takes on a more personal and introspective subject in this comedy based on her one-woman show. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character is equal parts hopeless trainwreck and hilarious best friend and we really have no other choice but to stan.

When They See Us

Ava DuVernay impresses again with this four-part Netflix miniseries on the lives and trial of the Central Park Five, a group of young boys convicted for a crime they did not commit in 1989. The Emmy award-winning drama tackles the dark realities of racial inequality and police brutality through this heart wrenching real life story of injustice and its wider consequences. A constant stream of tissues is necessary to watch DuVernay’s critically acclaimed and poignant drama.

Chernobyl

Chernobyl serves as a gentle reminder of a grave disaster. With an impressive cast including Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård and Emily Watson, the real-life story of Chernobyl is chillingly brought to life. Gripping. Scary. Tragic.

Words
Didi Udofia