Year in review lists/recaps each day. TV is too vast a topic for one list but here's a list of personal favorites from Spencer Coile
2017 was a messy year. While we may be entrenched in cultural, political, and social turmoil, one area that keeps getting better is television. From the return of David Lynch's Twin Peaks and NBC's Will & Grace (proving that some revivals do work), to the rise of Hulu series, through the continuation of prestige dramas from HBO, the golden age of TV continues. Because there's such a vast array of shows out there we all have our blindspots so please know that this is but a personal list and you should definitely share yours. To make room for all of the excellent work put out this year, here are favorite individual and duo performances but let's kick things off with a tribute to the ladies via Ensembles...
Ensemble Work
The Ladies of Big Little Lies
;)
It'd be impossible (and insane) not to include one of the most iconic pieces of media from this last year. Let's hope that the upcoming second season of Big Little Lies is equally as compelling as the first with the irresistible cast of Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and Zoe Kravitz returning.
The Ladies of GLOW
;)
GLOW initially seemed likely to get lost in the shuffle of so-much-programming but its fanbase is growing. It tells the story of a group of women who come together to film the first all-female wrestling TV show the "Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling". Not only is the show a fantastic piece of 80's nostalgia, but its' also a brilliant showcase for its ensemble, especially focal points Alison Brie and Betty Gilpin. Thank heavens this fine cast was recognized at SAG.
The Ladies of The Handmaid’s Tale
;)
You could easily single out one or two performances from The Handmaid's Tale's first season as the best of the year, but which one or two? Elisabeth Moss, Ann Dowd, Samira Wiley, Yvonne Strahovski, Alexis Bledel, etc. That confusion alone is more than reason enough to honor the ensemble as a whole.
Duo Work
Matthew Rhys & Keri Russell as “Phillip & Elizabeth Jennings” on The Americans
;)
In The American's penultimate season, Elizabeth and Phillip grapple with parenthood and their allegiance to the KGB -- with superb and subtle results. This is a series that never seems focused on the big picture, but rather, the tiny details that will inevitably bubble up to disturb the surface. Fortunately, Rhys and Russell sell each of these smaller moments which will hopefully cascade into a stunning final chapter of a wildly underseen show.
Billy Eichner & Julie Klausner as “Billy & Julie” on Difficult People
;)
May these two despicable characters rest in peace. Although Difficult People was recently cancelled, let's never forget the delicious chemistry Eichner and Klausner had on-screen. It was biting, vicious, and sometimes mean-spirited, but always hilarious.
Individual Work
Pamela Adlon as “Sam Fox” on Better Things
;)
A performance that somehow manages to get richer each episode, Adlon's semi-autobiographical series depicts motherhood as complicated and messy, but always meaningful. And Adlon is truly a pro, imbuing Sam with enough grit and heart to make any of us envious that she is not our mother.
Aziz Ansari as “Dev Shah” on Master of None
;)
After years of playing the broad comedic sidekick on Parks and Recreation, who would've predicted that Ansari would be putting out such layered astonishing work in 2017? Dev Shah was always a funny and awkwardly earnest creation but the second season deepened Ansari's work by focusing onDev's endless fixation on love -- what is he looking for and why? Those questions are not completely answered, but it's encouraging to know that Ansari is willing to be this vulnerable and deeply personal.
Rachel Brosnahan as “Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel” on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
;)
So much can be said for the way Brosnahan plays with the dialogue from Amy Sherman-Palladino's latest series. Playing a housewife turned comedienne, Brosnahan is so assured as Midge Maisel that she makes it look so effortless. She is quick-witted, laugh-out-loud funny, and carries herself with enough grace and dignity to make any of us jealous that we cannot be her. Though she is not a newcomer, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel feels like Brosnahan's arrival into the club of TV's finest working actors.
Carrie Coon as “Nora Durst” on The Leftovers
;)
Honestly, just watch the series finale of The Leftovers (called "The Book of Nora") and try to disagree.
Issa Rae as “Issa Dee” on Insecure
;)
The second season of Insecure topped its first season, and this is due in large part to Rae's charismatic performance. Her portrayal of Issa explores different facets of her racial and sexual identity in the modern-age of Internet dating. It is a tricky role to play, so how she manages to fill this character with empathy and humor is a marvel to watch.
Who's on your list?