A Year in Review: The Best 10 TV Shows of 2015

It's undoubtedly been a brilliant year for TV, in both quantity and quality. Not only were there more than 400 programs airing in 2015 (a new record) but a good portion of those TV shows were genuinely good. Therefore, making a top 10 list becomes increasingly difficult when the there's a bounty of remarkable programming from which to choose.

Below are just about 2.5 percent of the possible scripted TV shows you could have watched this year. Creating this list wasn't an easy task, as I was forced to leave off a number of well-deserved shows. Since I'm just one person, I have some blind spots; shows I desperately wanted to watch, but could not make the time ("The Americans," "Rectify," "You're the Worst," "Mad Men," "Hannibal"). Nevertheless, the 10 shows listed are all excellent and worth your time, should you have missed them during their original broadcast.

10. "UnREAL" (Lifetime)

Fandom for ABC's "The Bachelor" franchise reached a fever pitch in 2015, so it was the perfect time for Lifetime's "UnREAL" to premiere. The unexpected hit is perhaps the highest quality show the network has ever produced. It's a meta takedown of the dating reality show, which centers around the drama between the showrunners and producers of a fake "The Bachelor" show called "Everlasting."

"UnREAL" takes an unrestrained look at women at work, mental illness, amoral behavior and how people exchange their personal beliefs to get ahead. It stars the fabulous Shiri Appleby as producer Rachel and equally talented Constance Zimmer as exec producer Quinn, whose relationship is hands down the crux of "UnREAL." Portraying complicated women with extreme depth and a fascinating relationship, Appleby and Zimmer elevate the dramedy into something truly special.

Best episode: "Truth"

9. "Fargo" (FX)

The best part of FX's "Fargo" is showrunner Noah Hawley's uncanny extraction of the Coen brother's '90s hit film of the same name. You'd expect Hawley to pluck characters from the film, or create new characters related to the movie's stars. But he doesn't. Instead, Hawley takes away themes, mood and tone the Coen brothers expertly crafted in "Fargo."

In its second season Hawley reaches further into the Coen brothers' universe, cherry-picking ideas from the directors' iconic films, like "The Big Lebowski," "No Country for Old Men" and "The Man Who Wasn't There." The winks to the siblings' past work were a cheerful tinge in the darkness of "Fargo" season two, which was easily one of the best-looking programs of 2015. Its use of split screens and stellar deep-cut soundtracks made the season feel like it was really filmed in the '70s, the decade the season took place. The anthology series contained an all-star lineup of actors, including Patrick Wilson, Ted Danson, Kirsten Dunst and Jean Smart, who were always brilliant at delivering their complex arcs while Hawley told the bloody tale of two Midwest gangs.

Best episode: "Waiting for Dutch"

8. "Getting On" (HBO)

One of the reasons why HBO continues to be a leader in "prestige" TV is because it believes in its programs, no matter how big (think "Game of Thrones") or small. "Getting On," which follows the lives of three women working at a rundown geriatric hospital ward in California, is a testament to that. The show wouldn't survive on any other network, but it's been able to thrive for three immaculate seasons on HBO.

Centering on the self-absorbed Dr. Jenna James (the wonderful Laurie Metcalf), the attention-starved director of medicine Dawn Forchette (Alex Borstein) and the impenetrable head nurse Didi Ortley (Niecy Nash), "Getting On" is a brilliant comedy that effortlessly blends the saddest realities of life with some of the most touching. In its final six-episode season, "Getting On" shines bright, thanks to its three spectacular leads, who warmly tie up the series' loose ends and send the show off to the next life.

Best episode: "Reduced to Eating Boiled Magazines and Book Paste"

7. "Deutschland 83" (SundanceTV)

"Deutschland 83," the first German TV show to ever air in America, was a standout summer series. Martin Rauch (Jonas Navy) is 24-year-old East German soldier who is essentially forced to infiltrate West Germany in 1983 as a mole. The eight-episode Season 1 follows Martin as he adjusts to life in West Germany while unnervingly tries to gain intel for the Stassi. "Deutschland" explores more than Martin and his experiences as a na�ve soldier; the series goes macro, tackling major issues that made headlines in 1983, including the AIDS crisis, the tensions between America, Russia and Germany, and the rise of computers. And of course, the show highlights what may be the best decade for music: new wave.

Though "Deutschland" didn't have the biggest budget, you'd never know -- each episode has incredible cinematography, thanks to Philipp Haberlandt and Frank K�pper, which is perfectly soundtracked by some of the best 80s dance music (New Order, David Bowie, Eurythmics). "Deutschland" is an impressive and solid debut season of TV that kept me on the edge of my seat. It rarely took itself too seriously, and was one of the most entertaining shows of the year.

Best episode: "Brave Guy"

6. "Catastrophe" (Channel 4/Amazon)

Created and starring Boston comedian Rob Delaney and Irish actress and producer Sharon Horgan, "Catastrophe" is a stellar U.K. comedy series that features some of the best writing and performances of 2015. After a brief affair, characters Sharron and Rob, decide to be in a relationship after learning Sharron is pregnant. The show's first season explores the dilemmas and biggest fears some couples in their 30s face when having a child.

Horgan and Delaney easily have the best chemistry of any two actors currently on TV: They actually seem like they're in love (alas, the real life stars are not an item), dissing each other with hilarious jokes that feel so natural and ad-libbed. "Catastrophe" is a beautiful and unrestrained show that has a rare quality many programs lack: True heart.

Best episode: "Episode 4," Season 1

5. "Transparent" (Amazon)

There's no wonder why "Transparent" racks up the awards: It's a beautifully made show, with fantastic writing that's superbly well acted. It's also the most vital show of 2015, existing in a time when transgender rights are at the forefront of social issues.

In its second season, "Transparent" becomes more about the Pfefferman family adjusting to new lives rather than them reacting and coming to terms to Mora (Jeffrey Tambor) coming out as a trans woman. This time around, the Pfeffermans have accepted Mora, and the show focuses on the fluidness of sexuality, being queer and the complex (and damaged) relationships between family members. The most interesting of the latter is the connection between Mora and ex-wife Shelly (Judith Light), which ebbs and flows from touching to heartbreaking.

Creator Jill Soloway digs deeper into the Pfefferman family, rather than tread Season 1's explored ground. Tambor is wonderful as usual, as he brings the nuances of the struggles many trans women face in daily life. Light and star Gabby Hoffman, who plays daughter Ali, steal the show as the two women face unusual obstacles in their relationships and family dynamics, making "Transparent" a well-rounded and beautiful narrative.

Best episode: "Kina Hora"

4. "Louie" (FX)

The best part about the evolution of the dark comedy "Louie" is how it's moved away from the "Seinfeld"-inspired sitcom to an art house series. In 2015, much of TV's cultural conversation centered around "The Auteur," with shows like "True Detective" and "Fargo" dominating discussions. But very few critics brought up "Louie," whose creator comedian Louis C.K. has directed every single episode of every single season as well as written 52 of the show's 61 episodes.

The latest season of "Louie," Season 5, which contained just eight episodes, is a tightly focused look at getting older, accepting death, expired friendships and loving someone with whom you can't be in a relationship. For a half-hour "comedy," "Louie" continues to look amazing, as Louis C.K. has grown over the years as a director. The latest installment may have been a short burst of brilliance, it still back a hilariously emotional punch to the heart.

Best episode: "Cop Story"

3. "The Knick" (Cinemax)

"The Knick" is easily the best-looking show on TV. Each episode is carefully and meticulously directed by big screen legend Steven Soderbergh. His unique eye for direction is felt throughout the 1900s medical drama, as his camera expertly swings around its subjects, shooting from interesting angles or gives us stunning wide-shots of the ocean and olde timey New York.

"The Knick" is also fortunate to not only have one of the best directors around, but some of the best actors, including leading man, Clive Owen, who plays drug addict Dr. John Thackery, the chief surgeon at the Knickerbocker Hospital. Owen is a master, giving subtle nuances to his role that transforms Thacker from a basic TV character to someone who is three-dimensional and full of depth. But Owen isn't alone as his fellow cast members are just as talented as him, including Andre Holland, Eve Hewson, Michael Angarano, Chris Sullivan and Cara Seymour. Though the writing on "The Knick" can get a little soap opera-y, its look and its cast are so superb, its an easy overlook.

Best episode: "Not Well At All"

2. "Mr. Robot" (USA)

"Mr. Robot" came out of nowhere this summer. Debuting on the innocuous cable network whose claim-to-fame was "White Collar," "Mr. Robot" far exceeded all expectations of a USA show. It wasn't a hacker procedural, as many initially assumed, but followed a detailed and cleverly crafted story arc over 10 episodes that was developed by showrunner Sam Esmail, who initially wrote the show as a feature film.

Starring the wonderfully weird Rami Malek as the gaunt, bugged-eyed hacker Elliot, who is most likely suffering from mental illness, "Mr. Robot" offered a unique perspective through the eyes of a socially inept, amoral (anti-)hero, who sought out justice from Corporate America. Christian Slater, as the titular character, is also phenomenal as Elliot's sidekick, guiding him along his path to take down "Evil Corp."

Adding to the show's hefty weight is its dark and sleek look. The directors of "Mr. Robot" utilize negative space, focusing on actors who stand in the far left screen of the shot, resulting in a beautiful but unnerving frame. Its artistic direction only propels the series' thrilling experience, making "Mr. Robot" the most daring and unexpected program of 2015.

Best episode: "eps1.3_da3m0ns.mp4"

1. "The Leftovers" (HBO)

I rarely felt like I was watching a TV show when viewing the second season of "The Leftovers." It was operating on another level, somewhere between a David Lynch nightmare and Hell. In most cases, these 10 new episodes felt like a new medium of storytelling.

Coming off its immaculate first season, HBO's "The Leftover" rebooted on its second run. Relocating from the fictional upstate New York town of Mapleton to the fictional Texas town of Jarden, "The Leftovers" pulls off feats most dramas can't come close to.

Showrunner Damon Lindelof raised the bar and the stakes on the show's sophomore season, heightening the emotional latitude of its characters by centering "The Leftovers" in a town that did not experience the Sudden Departure, where two percent of the world's population suddenly vanished on October 14.

Its incredible second-life quieted critics who initially took issue with the show's first season by accomplishing nonlinear storytelling in a focused, pr�cis and methodical way. Lindelof and his team executed impressive story arcs that seemed effortless. They developed characters deeper and fuller. On top of that, "The Leftovers" looked amazing, like a big-budget 10-hour epic.

But none of Lindelof's broad ideas about death and loss would have worked if it weren't for the show's stellar cast. Justin Theroux's wide-eyed Kevin Garvey was the Job of "The Leftovers" and transformed into some sort of shaman. Though we saw less of her this time around, we felt for Carrie Coon's Nora Durst was just as much as Season 1. Regina King, who played neighbor Erika Murphy, was phenomenal as a concerned mother and fed up wife, Ann Dowd as poltergeist Patti Levin brought a sense of comic relief to the heavy "The Leftovers." And of course Christopher Eccleston continued to slay as Matt Jamison, the determined and focused reverend.

"The Leftovers" had the perfect ratio of fantastic writing, mind-blowing narratives, stellar acting and beautiful direction that blended supernatural mystery with real life drama, never holding out too much on its audience, and revealing just enough for them wanting more.

Best episode: "International Assassin"

Honorable mentions: "Jessica Jones," "Red Oaks," "Empire," "Rick and Morty," "Penny Dreadful," "Master of None," "Girls," "True Detective," "Broad City," "Inside Amy Schumer," "Looking," "The Last Man on Earth," "Nathan For You"