TV year in review 2018: What was — and wasn’t — worth a binge

The story this year in TV was the continued boom in production (nearly 500 shows!) — which also meant more to choose from when it came to the best and worst shows of the year. Here, without further ado, are our picks for what worked — and what stunk up the joint — in 2018. The best: “Killing Eve” (BBC America) The year’s best most compulsively watchable show was a cat-and-mouse game played by a dogged MI5 agent (Sandra Oh) and a chic assassin (Jodie Comer) in several European capitals. We can’t wait for Season 2. “A Very English Scandal” (Amazon) Ben Whishaw (left) and Hugh Grant brought the drama in the true-crime hit “A Very English Scandal.”AP The attempted murder of stableboy Norman Josiffe (Ben Whishaw) by his former lover, a closeted liberal Member of Parliament Jeremy Thorpe (Hugh Grant), was a real-life scandal that rocked Britain in the mid-to-late 1970s. In Russell T. Davies’ miraculously economical adaptation of John Preston’s book, the already nasty true-crime plot was made more powerful by the story’s undercurrents of class conflict. “The Haunting of Hill House” (Netflix) This re-imagining of the classic Shirley Jackson novel works on multiple levels: A sweeping saga of a dysfunctional family, it’s also got plenty of jump scares for classic horror aficionados. A lot of watercooler buzz accomplished without any A-list stars. “The Good Place” (NBC) [embedded content] Three seasons in — and already renewed for a fourth — Michael Schur’s (“Parks and Recreation”) after-life comedy still shows lots of life. With Kristen Bell and Ted Danson starring, the sitcom continues to stay fresh, mixing philosophy with wacky humor in an alchemy that makes for one of TV’s most unique shows. “Homecoming” (Amazon) This Julia Roberts vehicle features taut 30-minute episodes and a storyline with all the fat trimmed off. The result is a thrilling — and sometimes dizzyingly shot —  conspiracy story from Sam Esmail (“Mr. Robot”). “The Terror” (AMC) Mixed history with fantasy to chronicle a real-life doomed polar exploration in the 1840s. Top-notch cast headed by Jared Harris (“The Crown”) and Tobias Menzies (“Outlander”). Gritty and riveting. “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” (FX) [embedded content] This Ryan Murphy true-crime story explored themes of homophobia in American culture and law enforcement in telling the story of serial killer Andrew Cunanan (Emmy winner Darren Criss) as he stalked and then killed Gianni Versace (Edgar Ramirez). Terrific acting, casting and pacing made this edge-of-your-seat thriller truly outstanding (even though we knew the outcome). The worst: “Westworld” (HBO) Season 1 of Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy’s robot Western was an intriguing puzzle box, but Season 2 was just puzzling — and not in a good way, mistaking incoherence for intelligence. Its season finale was so convoluted that watching it felt like a chore. “Single Parents” (ABC) The thing about calling a show a “sitcom” is that it implies comedy — and there’s absolutely none here. A mishmash of weak writing, cardboard-cutout characters and a dumb plotline (single parents of varying ages intersect and bond with each other). Why ABC ordered more episodes of this series is anyone’s guess. “13 Reasons Why” (Netflix) This is a show that should have ended with its first season, which told the tragic story of a young girl’s (Katherine Langford) suicide. There’s not much story beyond her death, and Season 2 spun its wheels. Not only tasteless, but it no longer makes any sense. “The Romanoffs” (Amazon) Despite the buzz, “The Romanoffs” — with Marthe Keller (from left), Ines Melab and Aaron Eckhart — was a bore.Chris Raphael/Amazon Viewers who loved “Mad Men” were baffled and perplexed by this vanity project from Matthew Weiner, which was (very loosely) about descendants of the Russian royal family. Boring stuff. Despite the A-list cast and expensive locations, the series never took off and will be remembered as a misbegotten venture and, probably, a future “Jeopardy!” question. “Here and Now” (HBO) Identity politics casting at its worst: two old Portland hippies (Holly Hunter and Tim Robbins) whose entitled, adopted children (one Latin and gay, one black, one Asian) grapple with a sense of alienation. It played as if HBO held a focus group and asked a roomful of strangers what kinds of issues they would like to see on TV and gave a box of the answers to creator Alan Ball. The list of concerns addressed — race, politics, gender, sexuality — checked all the right diversity boxes, but was dull beyond belief. Its subsequent cancellation came as no surprise. “Instinct” (CBS) Alan Cumming in “Instinct.”CBS We never thought we’d live long enough to see the gay “Murder She Wrote,” but CBS saved it for us as a special gift. Alan Cumming plays a former CIA operative who helps a tough female cop (Bojana Novakovic) solve crimes. Compared to the lurid, forensic detail of “The Assassination of Gianni Versace,” the crime scenes on “Instinct” seem positively quaint, even art-directed. Although Cumming’s sense of humor serves as a camouflage to the utterly routine writing, “Instinct” is an unfortunate throwback to the kind of TV best forgotten. Share this: https://nypost.com/2018/12/27/tv-year-in-review-2018-what-was-and-wasnt-worth-a-binge/ The post TV year in review 2018: What was — and wasn’t — worth a binge appeared first on My style by Kartia.