Towards the end of every year, I reflect on my favorite books, movies, and television from the past year and share what I’m most anticipating in the new year. Today we’re talking about my most favorite television shows of 2017!
For a full deep dive into each show, check out my Favorite TV Shows Of 2017 video, below:
Stranger Things 2
Will Byers might’ve been rescued from the Upside Down at the end of Stranger Things season one, but the horrors are only just beginning. The second season of the wildly popular show follows Will being connected to the Upside Down in a way that is literally terrifying and his friends and family doing everything they can to stop the impending doom. Someone give Noah Schnapp all the awards for this performance, seriously! The show has an incredible balance of horror, humor, and 80s nostalgia, as well as some heartwarming scenes with everyone’s favorite mom Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery. Season 3 has already been confirmed, although it looks like we may not get it until 2019.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Based on the 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale takes place in the near future where women’s rights have been revoked and they are forced into sexual and child-bearing servitude. Following the real-life political events of 2017, this series is even more chilling and comes at a very important time for women. Elisabeth Moss brings a strong, stony defiance to the role of Offred and her incredible performance has garnered praise and awards following the debut of the series.
13 Reasons Why
Jay Asher’s novel 13 Reasons Why got the Netflix treatment. The series follows a young man named Clay (Dylan Minnette) who receives a box of cassette tapes from a student named Hannah (Katherine Langford) who recently committed suicide. On the tapes, she explains the 13 reasons why she decided to take her own life and that if you’re listening to the tapes you’re one of the reasons. The show tackles extremely tough topics from suicide to sexual assault and rape to bullying. While the first season covers everything in Asher’s novel, 13 Reasons Why has been picked up for a season season so it will be interesting to see where they take the show without the guidance of a book.
A Series Of Unfortunate Events
Dark, whimsical, and full of adventure, Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events is a fantastic book-to-television adaptation for fans of all ages.When their parents mysteriously perish, the Baudelaires are sent to live with Count Olaf who claims to be a distant relative but is really after their vast fortune. The children do their best to evade Olaf while simultaneously digging into the mystery of their parent’s past and the secret society they were a part of. The series stars Neil Patrick Harris as the devious Count Olaf, Patrick Warburton as our narrator Lemony Snicket, and Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, and Presley Smith as our inventive and literary Baudelaire siblings.
For my full review on the first season of Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events, check out my video, below:
East Los High
East Los High follows the lives of teens at an East LA high school and is Hulu’s first and only series featuring an all Latino cast and crew. As a Latina, I really enjoyed seeing a series about young people like myself and would love to see more shows like this one. Similar to a Latino Degrassi, East Los High covers topics that are very important to young people today from safe sex to immigration issues.
Daytime Divas
A satirical dramedy based on former The View co-host Star Jones’ fictional book Satan’s Sister, Daytime Divas follows the on-air and behind-the-scenes struggles of the co-hosts of a daytime talk show called The Lunch Hour. Vanessa Williams plays the talk show’s lead host Maxine and is supported by co-hosts played by Chloe Bridges, Camille Guaty, Fiona Gubelmann, and Tichina Arnold. Full of over the top drama and even bigger egos, Daytime Divas is a ton of fun. I especially love seeing Vanessa Williams return in a Wilhelmina Slater-esque role. Unfortunately the series was cancelled after the first season.
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