Best & Worst TV of 2012

Louie

Evolution is an important part of TV. We'll always like to see the familiar laugh tracks and dramatic beats, but nothing blows our minds like something completely new and unexpected. Even three years in, Louie offers this on a week-by-week basis. Some of the half-hour entries of this comedy/drama stand alone like very short films. Then Louie rewards his viewers by including surprise continuity. Louie's darkest moments maybe keep it an acquired taste as far as comedies go, but its best moments are transcendent. Capping the season with an arc where Louie pursued a job as David Letterman's successor, creator/writer/director/star Louis C.K. raised the bar to an incredible new height. Season four, scheduled for early 2014, can't come soon enough.





Archer

Does the secret to a good season lie in a certain number of episodes? Or particular magic in the writers room? Or a network, or an excellent team of animators and voice actors? Whatever the key is, Archer has it, delivering its strongest season yet. Archer went everywhere I wanted it to go this season (and more). Keeping with its theme of ambiguously retro cool, Archer went to a pirate island, the top of a train, a talking car, and a space station. As far as nurturing creative, original freedom goes, FX is outshining everyone else in the game.





Community

For a show that was barely on in 2012, this little comedy certainly made it count, with outgoing producer Dan Harmon pulling out all the stops for a would-be finale. The final stretch of the third (and not final) season included an 8-bit videogame adventure, a law & order spoof, a clip show of unseen events, and plenty more surprises. While it's not the most perfect or even most hilarious comedy on TV, Community reaches for everything, and when it succeeds it's excellent.





It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

There's not much else to say about Always Sunny season eight other than it was really good. An unusually short ten episodes, all of them ranging from good to great. The season started with self-awareness of its re-using earlier stories, and somehow had room for a zombie-esque episode and an mmorpg adventure. True to the principles of the sitcom, old characters and storylines made appearances, but Always Sunny is definitely bucking the trend of later season decline.





Also good: Parks and Recreation, Breaking Bad, New Girl, Battleground, Awake








The New Normal

To its credit, I actually made it through the entire pilot. There was no show that turned me away so quickly this year, whether it was the racist-old-lady jokes ("when they opened that Chipotle here, I was the first of my friends to go") or the shrill gay stereotypes. There are some talented people somewhere amidst this enterprise, but none of it is showing through in the show.





Revolution

I really wanted this one to succeed because the concept of all power going out is such an intriguing premise. It's turned into more of family-based drama (with one really bad teen actress) and not enough weekly traction on the mythology to hold my interest. Ratings are strong and it's taken a long hiatus, so it may yet grow into its shoes, though at this point much of my faith is dead.








Best at Self-Reinvention: Tie - The Walking Dead/Dexter

Last year, both of these shows were on my worst list with seasons that spun wheels and drove me fuming away from the screen. I checked in for both of their premieres this fall, and was surprised to see what appeared to be a creative turnaround. The Walking Dead was finally the show we knew it could always be, the grimness of the prison setting cutting through a lot of the bullshit that took place on the farm last year. New characters and the introduction of the show's main antagonist worked heavily in its favor, making for eight episodes that were grisly, dark, and exciting, even despite Lori and Andrea. Dexter's path was different. The premiere started with what looked like a mad escape dash to the airport, and ended with a reveal that put the endgame in place. While the whole season drew out the central character's gradual fall more than I would have liked, it included some of the best guest actors ever on the show in Ray Stevenson's compelling mobster Isaak and Yvonne Strahovski's deadly love interest Hannah.





Worst at Being Inoffensive/Neutral: Girls

Chances are if you don't have a strong opinion on this, you know three people who do. Girls was hated/loved by TV critics, fans, feminists, ladies, dudes and your parents. The show centers around four women in their young 20s in New York, with a comedy/drama feel distinctly like supporting producer Judd Apatow's other credits. HBO announced that it's the most watched program on subscriber streaming service HBO GO to date, and is sure to make just as many waves with season two.




The didn't-get-around-to list: Justified, Boardwalk Empire, Modern Family

---

Same as last year, except different sort of. Have at it, folks.

I've been meaning for awhile to watch Community. I hear nothing but good things about it.

Best:

• Sherlock (the third episode is probably the greatest episode of anything ever)
• Community
• Breaking Bad
• The Walking Dead
• The second half of How I Met Your Mother's season

Worst:

• Doctor Who
• The first half of How I Met Your Mother's season