A Year in Review: The 10 Best TV Shows of 2016

Having watched more than 50 TV shows that aired in 2016, I can report just a very small handful (less than 10) were actively awful - "The X-Files" reboot and the second season of "Fear the Walking Dead" come to mind.

Not only is there more TV than ever before (Peak TV!!!) but the quality of these shows are impressive. Whether or not a season is fully successful varies. But even if a show doesn't work on every level, there are often a number of things it does well.

Starz's "The Girl Friend Experience," for example, burned too slow even in a binge watch but Riley Keough's icy performance was undeniable. The little-watched sci-fi-political-satire "BrainDead" had an impeccable tone and just came short from being on this list. "American Horror Story" was a chaotic thrill ride, bouncing back from a string of dreadful seasons with its sixth installment "Roanoke." Even Woody Allen's foray into streaming wasn't a total failure. "Crisis in Six Scenes" had a great performance from Miley Cyrus and the set pieces alone made the miniseries worth the 3-hour watch.

Putting together a list of the very 10 best shows from 2016 is not easy. Like I mentioned my 10 best episodes list, this feels like an omission more than a compilation. Even though I was fortunate to watch a large chunk of the TV landscape this year, there are still critically lauded programs that escaped me: "Game of Thrones," "The Americans," "Rectify," "You're the Worst," "BoJack Horseman," and "Halt and Catch Fire" just to name a few. But there are some series highlighted here that you may have missed and should seek out.

Below are the top 10 TV shows of the year, as well as 10 more honorable mentions.

10. "Vice Principals" Season 1 (HBO)

The first season of HBO's Danny McBride series "Vice Principals" wasn't the most loved comedy of the year, nor the most loved McBride project. But it's his performance, along with costars Walton Goggins and Kimberly Herbert Gregory, (all of whom have killer chemistry with one another) that make this sometimes uneven show into something special. Watching the trio hurl vitriol and get into physical hijinks harkens back to some of the best dopey comedies of the '80s (something like the Rodney Dangerfiled film "Back to School" comes to mind). McBride's frequent collaborator Jody Hill, who co-created the show, only boosts "Vice Principals" with his stellar sense of directing comedy, helming eight out of nine fantastic episodes.

Where to watch: HBO NOW, HBO GO
Best episode: Episode 2, "A Trusty Steed"

09. "Black Mirror" Season 3 (Netflix)

Longer, bigger and more terrifying: The long awaited third season of the sci-fi-tech-horror series "Black Mirror" on Netflix did not disappoint. Boosted by a bigger budget only improved the technological nightmares from creator and writer Charlie Brooker: "Nosedive," starring the excellent Bryce Dallas Howard, is an unnerving satire on social media that looks like it was directed by Spike Jonze. The anthology's finale, "Hate in the Nation," is basically a feature film and just about everything in between is a twisted techno tale (except that one special episode!).

Where to watch: Netflix
Best episode (that's not "San Junipero"): Episode 1, "Nosedive"

08. "Stranger Things," Season 1 (Netflix)

"Stranger Things" was catapulted into the zeitgeist seemingly out of nowhere (The Upside-Down, perhaps?) this summer and quickly become one of the most beloved, talked about and entertaining shows of the year. Sparking countless memes (#RIPBARB), "Stranger Things" was able to tap into our 80s nostalgia without pandering to its audience. It's small, honed in first season, which played like an eight-hour movie, was one of the most pleasurable TV experiences of 2016.
Where to watch: Netflix
Best episode: Episode 8, "Chapter Eight: The Upside Down"

07. "Better Things," Season 1 (FX)

One of the benefits of Peak TV is that it gives voices to artists who may have not had the chance to tell stories just five years ago. Enter Pamela Adlon, whose "Better Things" is a touching and warm portrayal of a single mother doing the best she can. Like "Atlanta," "Better Things" is more concerned about character than plot. Each episode could have been about anything and gone anywhere. And Adlon wasn't afraid to go to places the network version of "Better Things" wouldn't dare, fully deeply exploring the special relationships between mothers and daughters.

Where to watch: FX Now
Best episode (that's not "Woman Is The Something Of The Something"): Episode 10, "Only Women Bleed"

06. "The Night Of," Season 1 (HBO)

"The Night Of" felt like a return to the Golden Age of TV; an era of TV when HBO dominated. The mini series, which examines how the flawed criminal justice system can transform a na�ve kid into a hardened criminal, echoed the vibes of HBO classics like "The Sopranos" and "The Wire." With stellar performances from Riz Ahmed, John Turturro, Jeannie Berlin and Michael K. Williams, "The Night Of" was a tense and cinematic roller-coaster ride.

Where to watch: HBO NOW, HBO GO
Best episode (that's not "The Beach): Episode 5, "The Season of the Witch"

05. "Insecure," Season 1 (HBO)

As "Girls" comes to a close, Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore's "Insecure" starts with a bang. It's the most modern show currently on TV and it features complicated, well-written characters looking to figure themselves out while living in L.A. It's a diverse show that takes on issues similar programs can't, including racism, code-switching and expectations black men and women face in the workforce and relationships. "Insecure," which was directed mostly by women (like music video director Melina Matsoukas), can tackle tough situations while remaining extremely funny and never losing its footing - a mark of excellent TV.

Where to watch: HBO NOW, HBO GO
Best episode: Episode 1, "Insecure as Fuck"

04. "Girls," Season 5 (HBO)

In its fifth season, "Girls" has never been better. Making daring moves (a bottle episode about Marnie reuniting with Charlie), Lena Dunham's seminal millennial comedy feels fresher and more exciting just as it's about to end. Watching the core group we've seen drift apart and come together over the last few years had its payoff in Season 5: Jessa (Jemima Kirke) and Adam (Adam Driver) explore a romantic relationship behind Hannah's (Dunham) back, Marnie (Allison Williams) gets married and divorced, and Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet) navigates her career through Japan and back to Brooklyn.

Where to watch: HBO NOW, HBO GO
Best episode (that wasn't "The Panic in Central Park"): Episode 7, "Hello Kitty"

03. "Mr. Robot," Season 2 (USA)

The second season of the hacker thriller "Mr. Robot" didn't take off like its first. Many critics and viewers found the first half of the season to be drawn out and also figured out some of the show's major reveals (something creator Sam Esmail says he's not trying to hide). But "Mr. Robot" was just as enjoyable and exciting as ever (with Esmail directing all 12 episodes and writing most) that took daring chances with plot and storytelling (ALF!). The show had incredible performances from not only its leads Rami Malek and Christian Slater, but "Mr. Robot" also showcased its talented cast of women, including Carly Chaikin, Portia Doubleday, Stephanie Corneliussen, Grace Gummer and Suntia Mani, who became the series' MVPs.

Where to watch: USA Network, Amazon Prime
Best episode (that's not "eps2.9_pyth0n-pt1.p7z"): Episode 8, "eps2.8_h1dden-pr0cess.axx"

02. "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story," Season 1 (FX)

Ryan Murphy has proven to be a maven of the anthology format and a genius at casting. And "The People v. O.J. Simpson," the first installment of his "American Crime Story," is his magnum opus. Taking a step back in the writing department (one of Murphy's weakest talents), the showrunner handed the reins over to screenwriting team Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. As a result, "The People v. O.J. Simpson" became one of the most poignant, smartest and affective TV shows of 2016. Telling the story of a 20-year-old trail - one that changed pop culture and news forever - in fresh way resonated with audiences thanks to its hugely talented cast, stellar direction and dynamic writing.

Where to watch: FX, Netflix in 2017
Best episode (that's not "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia"): Episode 8, "A Jury in Jail"

01. "Horace and Pete," Season 1 (LouisCK.net)

Louis C.K.'s passion project "Horace and Pete" challenged the way in which we interact with TV. The comedian came as close as one can in the TV world to "pulling a Beyonce" - a high-profile artist releasing new content without any notice. On a cold Saturday morning in January, C.K. put the first "Horace and Pete" episode on his website without warning. Every Saturday, for the next nine weeks, C.K. dropped a new episode, which was filmed in the days prior to its release.

Harkening back to the early days of TV, where multi-cam sitcoms ruled, "Horace and Pete" played out like a classic American stage play (think "The Iceman Cometh" and "Death of a Salesman" for 2016), featuring today's most talented actors, including Steve Buscemi, Edie Falco, Alan Alda, Jessica Lange and a number of special guest appearances (C.K., who also starred, was even able to court New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio).

C.K. not only altered the definition of what TV can be and what it can do, the actor, along with playwright Annie Baker, also created one of the most empathetic and gut-wrenching programs in some time. Taking on modern politics, mental illness, gender identity, sexuality, race and so much more, "Horace and Pete" is the definition of a modern classic.

Where to watch: LouisCK.net, Hulu
Best episode (that's not "Episode 3" or "Episode 10"): Episode 1, "Episode 1"

Honorable mentions: "Penny Dreadful" Season 3, "BrainDead" Season 1, "High Maintenance" Season 1, "Atlanta" Season 1, "Channel Zero: Candle Cove" Season 1, "Red Oaks" Season 2, "Transparent" Season 3, "UnREAL" Season 2, "London Spy" Season 1, "American Crime" Season 2