It’s the end of the year and we have asked The Nerd Daily’s contributors what their favourite television shows are for the year of 2019!
Euphoria
A no-nonsense, yet hilarious and engaging take on the real problems teenagers face today. Euphoria doesn’t shy away from the tough topics – from depression, bullying, and pressure to be virginal and yet not a prude to drug abuse, social media scares, and the struggle to find yourself in a world that is trying hard to tear you down. The series manages to turn every episode into a can’t stop-won’t stop watching experience, not to mention the soundtrack that will take over your playlists. Zendaya shines as the series’ protagonist but the broader cast is as diverse and fantastic as they come. Definitely recommend binging this in one go! – Mimi Koehler
The Dragon Prince
Created by some of the people behind Avatar the Last Airbender, this show has some of the greatest storytelling and animation currently airing. The Dragon Prince showcases an incredibly diverse cast of characters as they try to journey through a fantasy land to take home a baby Dragon to its mother and prevent a war. I’m in love with this show – Julia Fleur
The Umbrella Academy
Based on the graphic novel by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, Netflix has produced a series which is fantastic. Following 7 adoptive siblings with unique powers, The Umbrella Academy follows its own rules, while not taking itself too seriously. Trained by their adoptive father to become a superhero group who fights crime, they must face their social and mental issues as adults, after their father’s death. I guess I have watched this extraordinary family at least four times alone in the first half of 2019. It is amazing on every level possible and the cast is great, which leaves you greatly entertained. – Isabella Stocka
Dark, witty, and action-packed, The Umbrella Academy has everything! Gerard Way’s original family of superheroes came to life thanks to Netflix and did not disappoint. With memorably poignant scenes and an outstanding soundtrack, I couldn’t be more excited for the second season. Good luck choosing you favourite character (although Klaus will most definitely win your heart first)! – Ankara
The Politician
The humour of Glee meets the teenage darkness of 13 Reasons Why. In this witty dramedy about a high school student election, we follow Payton Hobart in his ambition to one day become the president of the United States. It is incredibly entertaining to see these teenagers take a high school student government election so seriously. There’s a lot of hijinks and scheming that makes for a lot of fun, but behind its light façade reveals the kind of pressure to be great that teens are under today. It’s hilarious and entertaining with shockingly real moments. The entire first season of The Politician can be found on Netflix. – Gabby Gamez
Carnival Row
I’ve been missing a good fantasy series! Carnival Row is set in a Victorian-inspired world with some intriguing characters and creatures, all the while touching on topics that are relevant to today’s world. While I was a little disappointed with some parts of the plot being somewhat obvious, the series features a very talented cast and I’m even more intrigued to see where the series goes in season 2. – Elise Dumpleton
Workin Moms
Season 3 of this show dropped earlier this year and I have been bingeing the whole thing on Netflix recently. It follows people just trying to balance work and a family after having a child. Whilst it’s not always laughs, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and I think all of the actors are great. I am not even a parent but this show gives me a good giggle with all the silly bits and it’s a great pick me up. Catherine Reitman writes, produces, and stars in the show and she is wonderful. – Sarah C
Pennyworth
If you always wanted to know more about Batman’s butler, this is the show you have to watch. Alfred is a young man who has returned from war and plans to run a security service. When his path crosses Thomas Wayne’s, he found himself intertwined in a different profession. Pennyworth shows the audience an original story of everyone’s favourite butler. – Isabella Stocka
Good Omens
The long-awaited television adaptation (as it has been successfully adapted previously for radio by the BBC) of Neil Gaiman and Sir Terry Pratchett’s much-loved novel. Written and adapted by Gaiman himself, it manages to be brilliantly faithful to the source material while adding some new characters and elements that enhance and add to the story. The production design and effects are wonderfully idiosyncratic, the score is great (particularly the opening theme and its “left in the car and turned into a rock anthem” counterpart for the ending theme) and so is the cast, no matter how small or incidental the part. But the beating heart is the duo of Michael Sheen and David Tennant as Aziraphale and Crowley. The whole series plays like a love letter to the book and to the late Sir Terry Pratchett (to whom there are also a couple of nice Easter Eggs that pay homage). – Carolyn Percy
Chernobyl
Produced by HBO, this historical drama miniseries tells the heart-breaking and devastating story of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. This five-part series is led by Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgard, and Emily Watson. Chernobyl tells the story of how the disaster occurred, the people involved in the disaster, and the lesser known stories of the people that responded to the disaster; the firefighters, the physicists, the volunteers, and the teams of miners who were tasked with digging a tunnel under the destroyed reactor. It is largely based on the book “Voices of Chernobyl” which was written by the Belarusian Nobel Laureate Svetlana Alexievich, who was at the time of the disaster a journalist living in Minsk, the capital of the then Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.
This miniseries, while a clear dramatisation, is hard hitting and presents the devastating result of not only the reactor explosion but the destructive secrecy and corruption of the reactor management and the Government in the aftermath. The series depicts the simplified truth, ensuring the viewer does not require a degree in nuclear physics to understand the implications of the explosion and the actions of the people involved. Chernobyl is dedicated to all who sacrificed and suffered and is hard hitting, gritty and leaves you with an understanding of the question: “What is the cost of lies?” – Ellie King
The Good Place
If you haven’t started this show yet, what the fork are you doing, man? The fourth and final season premiered back in September and though many fans are incredibly sad to say goodbye, it is proving to be a fantastic end so far. The show makes you root for every character and believe they can be better people while also making you laugh out loud at every turn. The show really pushes boundaries and makes you reconsider what a sitcom can be, and it absolutely excels. – Gabby Gamez
Jane the Virgin
Family drama slots together with high-octane capers in this gloriously diverse show about a young woman who is accidentally artificially inseminated during a routine check-up. The first four seasons follow Jane’s life through the trials of coping as a pregnant virgin and then eventually as a mother. Season 5 is an incredible conclusion to the heartwarming (and often heart-wrenching series, successfully wrapping up each storyline in its usual chaos and humour. From Jane’s dream of being an author to her final romantic decision, the show celebrates love in all its forms; it’s about chasing dreams and being kind, motherhood and family. – Tom Hitchen
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
I could watch this show on repeat and never get sick of it. What more could you want from a show than catchy tunes about procrastination, textmergencies, wanting to go to the zoo, and mental illness? Following Rebecca Bunch’s journey to West Covena to rekindle an old flame ends in weird antics and absurd songs. There are points where you question everyone’s sanity but the phenomenal cast makes it effortless to still love every individual despite their odd flaws . A perfect balance of humour, heart and relatabilty makes this my favourite show ever. – Emma Knight
