When I need an escape, I usually turn to my TV for comfort, and 2020 was no better time to do so. There have been quite a few interesting finds, but because of COVID, there were also a lot of delayed releases and several highly anticipated shows and movies could not be finished properly, or saw their production halted. Hopefully, we’ll get to enjoy them in 2021! I’m especially really looking forward to finding out what happens in the third season of Succession.
I must admit, although I tried to look for new things to watch, this year has been more about making myself feel good and get a laugh. There’s been a lot of Golden Girls, Friends, Community, Archer playing on repeat. There were also a lot of highly talked about shows I chose not to watch, like Tiger King, because they did not resonate with me or intrigued me as much as they did everyone else.
But I digress. Here’s a list of my favorite shows and movies of 2020, in no particular order.
Television
Better Call Saul (season 5)
The fourth season was a disappointment and I even went as far a wondering if I’ll watch season 5. I’m thankful I did because they got right on track with what turned out to be the best season since season 2. The tense story line between Nacho and Lalo, who, by the way, turned out to be a formidable villain, kept me on the edge of my seat, and I’m glad something is finally happening with Kim.
Best episode of the season : Bagman (episode 8)
Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet (season 1)
Mythic Quest was one of those shows that looked so silly in their trailer that I held off for a while. As huge a fan as I am of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, I was pretty much disappointed in all the creators’ and actors’ side projects (The Cool Kids, A.P. Bio, The Mick, etc), which made me a bit reluctant to give Mythic Quest a chance. Silicon Valley had just ended and I felt like Rob McElhenney’s new project was a bit too similar a show. How wrong was I! Mythic Quest ended up being one of the highlights of the year.
Best episode : Quarantine (special episode filmed during, you guessed it, quarantine)
What We Do In The Shadows (season 2)
That show was a revelation. Season 1 aired in 2019 but I didn’t start watching it until this year, mid season 2. From that episode on, I was hooked. I saw the movie the series is based on a few years ago and it was OK. There were some very funny bits but as a whole, the film was just alright. So when they announced a TV adaptation, I was nonplussed. Turning movies into TV series usually dilutes the story, but I have to say, in this case, it’s false. The series was created and written by the same people as the movie, Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, and it appears that they saved their best ideas for TV. Following a different set of vampires, the TV version is more diverse, wittier and way funnier! The idea of Colin Robinson, an energy vampire is pure genius!
Best episode : Colin’s Promotion (episode 5)
Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun (season 1)
This American-Australian sketch comedy show is silly, weird, chaotic, absurd and it’s exactly what we all need right now. Their comedy reminds me of Monty Python, and I dare you to watch their show without cracking a smile!
Best sketch : The Mr Gentlemen's Barber
Truth Seekers (season 1)
Every time Simon Pegg and Nick Frost team up, they hit comedy gold. This time they co-created a paranormal comedy TV series for Amazon about two engineers working for an Internet provider who, in their spare time (and during work hours) also investigate paranormal activities. The series is at times funny, spooky and endearing, and is, as a whole, pretty entertaining.
Best episode : The Haunting of Connelly’s Nook (episode 1)
Also noteworthy:
The Queen’s Gambit : Loved the outfits, liked the story as a whole but hated the finale.
C’est comme ça que je t’aime : there were some inconsistencies along the line but as a whole, I pretty much enjoyed this show about 2 bored couples getting into organized crimes and killing sprees.
Schitt’s Creek and The Good Place : the final season was nowhere near as good as the first ones, but it’s the last season of one of the best and funniest feel good series we’ve had in a while, so they deserve a mention.
Stand up specials
Only four specials stood out, in my opinion, and were memorable enough to be mentioned below.
Jim Jefferies : Intolerant
I haven’t seen a Jim Jefferies special I haven’t enjoyed and his latest is no exception. This time, he tackles his newly diagnosed lactose intolerance and as someone who suffers from the same ailment and who chooses to ignore it, I feel seen! His own special spin to a very straight forward story is what makes him stand among the elite.
Jerry Seinfeld : 23 hours to kill
Speaking of elite, Jerry Seinfeld dropped his first special in 22 years, called 23 Hours to Kill. Was it predictable? Yes. Did he take any risks in his content? No. But the risk comes from his reemergence after such a long time and doing a special when the expectations are so high. What 23 Hours to Kill provided was classic Jerry Seinfeld wit, self-assurance and timeless humor. He doesn’t need to take any risks and we don’t expect him to. As Brian Tallerico, from rogerebert.com so well puts it, “If anything, “23 Hours to Kill” is like catching up with an old friend, something all of us wish we could do in person in 2020 more than we can.”
Bert Kreischer : Hey Big Boy
Bert Kreischer’s jolliness is infectious. His specials are usually about his life as a dad and husband, and so far, I’m not tired of hearing about it, because he’s one hell of a good storyteller.
Dave Chappelle : 8:46
This is not so much of a comedy show but an important one nonetheless, where he addresses all the violence and police brutality taking place in the US.
movies
Horse Girl
Co-written by and starring Alison Brie, Horse Girl is by far one of the weirdest films of the year. This psychological drama about a shy young woman slowly dripping into madness (or is she?) is superbly well acted.
Invisible Man
This is another remake of the story we all know too well, but with a surprisingly interesting twist, making the film worth a watch. Elizabeth Moss plays the traumatized and abused girlfriend of a deceased tech giant, who is convinced her boyfriend is not only still alive, but that he’s harassing her by being able to become invisible.
Save yourselves!
We were looking for new movies to watch on Halloween and stumbled on a few comedic horror, including Save Yourselves! This film about a couple deciding to reconnect with themselves by retreating to a cabin and unplugging their phones and computers, only to find out they’re in the midst of an alien invasion is original and pretty funny. They have no survival skills whatsoever and must fend for themselves against an army of murderous, furry pouf-like aliens.
Extra Ordinary
Save Yourselves! was good, but Extra Ordinary was better. This is a movie about a shy driving instructor who reluctantly uses her supernatural talents to help a widow save his daughter’s soul from a has-been rock star who practices black magic to regain fame. A bit of over acting from Will Forte, but the highlight of the film is Maeve Higgins as Rose Dooley, the psychic driving instructor, and the chemistry she has with Barry Ward, who plays the distraught father.
The King of Staten Island
Even though his movies are all about 30 minutes too long, I am a huge fan of Judd Apatow and his body of work. Starring Pete Davidson and loosely based on his life, The King of Staten Island is nowhere near Judd Apatow’s best film but an average Judd Apatow movie is still a pretty good one. The highlight of the film, though, are all the supporting cast, which includes Bill Burr and Marisa Tormei, as well as all the amazing actors portraying Scott Carlin’s (Pete Davidson) friends.
Palm Springs
Yes, it’s Groundhog Day but with 2 (actually 3) people instead of one, but we can forgive this little detail since the film is actually very well written and acted, as well as being very funny. I was actually reluctant to watch this film, the reason being what I mentioned in the previous sentence, and I never really liked any of Andy Samberg’s work (Digital Shorts being the exception). But I must say, he and Cristin Milioti are fabulous as the the two main characters stuck in a time loop, and though his role is small, J.K. Simmons is amazing, as usual. All things considered, Palm Springs may be the best comedy I’ve seen this year.
documentaries and docuseries
The Go-Go’s
I knew the songs but I knew nothing of the band behind them. This documentary revisits the meteoric rise (and eventual break up) of one of the most successful all female bands of all time. The testimonies from the band members are candid, heartfelt and at times, humorous, while the film makes us remember how good the Go-Go’s songs are.
Beastie Boys Story
Instead of a straight forward documentary with an off-camera narrator, the Beastie Boys Story, which was written, directed and produced by Spike Jonze, takes the form of a live stage performance by the surviving members of the band who, in front of an audience, tell the intimate story of their careers and friendship.
The Comedy Store
This is the series to watch for any fan of stand-up comedy. This docuseries recounts, through the testimony of countless comedians, the history of one of the most legendary comedy clubs in the US, The Comedy Store.
The Bee Gees : How to Mend a Broken Heart
I was never a fan of the Bee Gees but this documentary made me one. I had no idea they had such an incredible career and how talented they were!
David Foster : Off the Record
This is another documentary that made me discover the depths of an artist’s career. I vaguely knew who David Foster is and was superficially aware of his body of work, but this film allows its viewers to witness his work process and his evolution through time. Quite an interesting watch.
American Utopia
Not a documentary, but I’ll put it here nonetheless. This has got to be one of the best shows ever. Directed and produced by Spike Lee, from a screenplay by David Byrne, the film is a live recording of a Broadway performance of a modified version of the album American Utopia. An absolute must.
Also noteworthy
I’ll be gone in the dark : the fascinating story behind writer Michelle McNamara’s obsession with figuring out who the Golden State Killer is. Her book was published a few years after her sudden death, but her indispensable work has allowed the police to finally catch the criminal. The docuseries’ topic is captivating, but it’s a few episodes too long, dwelling a bit too much on unnecessary details.
Spaceship Earth : the topic alone makes the film worth a watch. The story is so unbelievable that it’s hard to believe such an experiment actually took place!
Alright, I think that’s it for 2020! Give these series and movies a try if you haven’t seen them already, and here’s to hoping for more new amazing things to watch in 2021!
Enjoy and have fun!
