The Best TV Shows of the 2020s So Far

This documentary series has a gritty, Western vibe stemming from the marriage between old school rasslin’ footage and the accompanying hypnotic soundtrack. Legends gather around and take turns reliving the glory days, treating every fan-driven near-death experience as a badge of honor, showing how crazy everyone was on both sides of the fence. Between the rustic location they film in and the insanely casual delivery of terrifying stories, it’s easy to be transported to another time period and find it rather relaxing (much more so than sister series Dark Side of the Ring), an era that you almost wish would return, if there was a safer way to have it.

It’s a solid premise for a show, but it is a pretty scary premise that keeps you a little on edge. The interview segments are just realistic enough to put that image in your head, while the meat of the show is a visualization of a young Dwayne Johnson worrying about girls, keeping up appearances, and just getting by, all to make him appear more real and relatable. Presentation-wise, it feels very much like a lighthearted ‘90s comedy with matching fashion, tunes, and warm messages. Meta aspects aside, it’s effectively Rock’s tribute to his family growing up, full of earnest performances once it gets going.

Alexa and Katie greets us with vintage Nickelodeon sitcom acting, which is far from the most inspiring. But the same can’t be said about this show’s premise and execution, which is incredibly heartfelt and commendable. Characters are supportive and mature where it counts, though it’s structured to feel like any other kids’ sitcom—which is to say that the intrinsic heaviness is handled well, and in line with Alexa’s desire that people not treat her any differently. The show is vulnerable and sweet, packaged in a familiar and comforting way for younger audiences learning to be brave with Alexa.

Two things stand out most. First, the animation style, which looks like a cute combination of various multi-textured elements like online avatar profiles, claymation, and origami and construction paper cutouts. Second is the voiceovers, which sound very candid and raw as if the creators had prioritized bullet points, and had visual elements and script polishing come in later. The pseudo-documentary approach and “rough” production feel exciting and fresh, and truly tie all the individual parts together. This could’ve just as well been a silly live action concept, but its serene nature and aesthetic stand out perfectly as an animated series.

An underrated sign of a good TV show (especially a reality show) is if you start imagining yourself in its world, wanting to explore, wanting to feel what its people are feeling. Watching this series is like going on a fun, over-the-top immersive activity with friends. Its participants are pleasant and capable, saving you the headaches and scream-fests with your TV. Sometimes, puzzle-solving leaves them in the dark for quite a while and we just have to ride out the confusion, but frankly this show’s down periods are more interesting and stressful than most other reality shows at their peak.

The series can feel unnecessary, the way jumping out of a plane to feel alive is unnecessary. Add to that the layer of it spotlighting a Hollywood A-lister and the stress he experiences, and you may wonder why the show is as successful and acclaimed as it is. But the more time you spend on it, the more it registers as an ode to stress management, in general.  Ultimately, the fun of it is in seeing and learning from the crazy experiences us normal folk don’t have access to, and the fact that it’s Chris Hemsworth. Episodes can feel a little long and indulgent, but it handled its ambition with enough care to at least be taken seriously.

By now, it’s pretty clear that Apple TV+ follows a less-is-more philosophy when it comes to content. Sure, it doesn’t release a million new titles in a year like Netflix or Prime, but the few originals that it does put out are almost always good (and occasionally great), backed by an astounding budget and ambitious vision. Sunny is the latest addition to that category. The multi-genre show is a deceptively simple robo-buddy comedy that is engaging through and through. Yes, it’s futuristic—and fantastic in that regard—but it’s also funny, heartwarming, thrilling, and tragic. And it juggles all these effortlessly so that the other aspects of the show, such as the artful blend of tradition and tech, can shine through.

There’s something strangely nostalgic about the show. From the bright and timeless youth fashion, to the atmospheric soundtrack (kicked off wonderfully by The Feminine Urge in episode 01), to the charming dialogue that keeps things simple—a lot of this show feels current and young, but inexplicably feels like a distant childhood adventure, as well. Its lead storyline (the current time) is seamlessly interspersed with visions of the cold case, but it still makes that distant timeline feel within reach. In terms of balancing the necessary danger of a crime series and the periodic comfort people crave, this show strikes gold.

Do mysteries get better the more questions you resolve? They often don’t, plus resolutions can also eliminate a need for rewatching. But that’s not the case here with Tales from the Loop, a story that gets tighter and more substantial the more answers you get. It goes for an eerie, atmospheric vibe, allowing viewers to get a feel for the world with a slow burn unveiling of context. There’s a gloom to the way it handles the bridge between reality and its (for lack of a better word) supernatural, but it’s still a comfort to watch. It’s easy on the eyes, dialogue and performances are measured, and if you have the headspace for long episodes, it’s a well-executed show in general that’s worth your time.

You read the premise and you see it executed, and your imagination can instantly be swallowed whole with excitement and surprise. Because it’s a greatly interesting thought for God to have accountabilibuddies, as great as the thought of him being a cat—makes you wonder how much of what he says is the God side or the cat side talking, if it’s even separate. And the visualization of prayer, and keeping records of it and such, speaks to those of us who have had to become creative with our Catholic guilt. Just a fantastic execution of a premise that could’ve ended up an absurd trippy hipster cartoon with no soul.