When I went back through my blog posts for 2020, I was surprised at how many TV series I had watched, particularly since March. I have listed only a selection, but these are the ones I thought were the best or enjoyed the most. In several cases, the categories are in order of preference rather than alphabetically. Happy viewing!
TV MINISERIES
DETECTIVES, CRIMES & SPIES
Acceptable Risk (Acorn)
An Irish series set in Dublin and Montreal, this pharmaceutical puzzler involves the murder of a high-level drug company executive and the investigation that follows, initiated by his wife, a lawyer for the corporation. One of the best series we viewed this year!
DCI Banks (Amazon Prime)
Complex series set in Yorkshire with fully developed characters based on the novels of Peter Robinson.
The Night Manager (Amazon Prime)
A suspenseful series based on the novel by John le Carre. Hotel manager Jonathan Pine is recruited to spy on wealthy businessman Richard Roper who is suspected of illegal arms deals. Hugh Laurie is perfect as Roper.
The Sommerdahl Murders (Acorn)
Danish detective Dan Sommerdahl works with his crime technician wife Marianne and his best friend, who’s very friendly with Marianne. A lively series from Scandinavia.
Inspector Vivaldi Mysteries (Amazon Prime)
Wonderful Italian detective series set in Trieste. Frederico Vivaldi is the lead detective and his son Stefano is also a police officer. Their relationship is strained while Stefano’s mother, Laura, tries to ease the tension.
Flesh and Blood (PBS Masterpiece)
Her three grown children are distraught when their widowed mother, played by Francesca Annis, takes up with a retired doctor. A fascinating thriller with a twist!
Mystery Road (Amazon Prime)
Detective Jay Swan is sent to help find two missing boys in Australia’s outback. Great portrayal of the mistrust and suspicion between the indigenous people and whites.
DOCUMENTARIES
Lenox Hill (Netflix)
Dedicated NYC hospital neurosurgeons and their patients in an emotionally charged and incredibly candid series. The lead doctors are graduates of Penn’s medical school.
Soldier Father Son (New York Times)
Single father, a soldier, raising his two sons, one of whom follows in his footsteps.
HISTORICAL DRAMAS
Belgravia (Epix)
London, 1840, striving middle class family vs. upper class toffs in a tangled story of love, marriage and ambition. Based on Julian Fellowes’ novel of the same name.
The English Game (Netflix)
A most absorbing series about the game of soccer and the rivalry between the mill workers’ teams and those of the arrogant rich. This is Julian Fellowes at his best!
DIVERSITY AND DIFFERENCE
Self-Made (Netflix)
Madam CJ Walker was a Black cosmetics entrepreneur, a success story in an earlier and more difficult time for women and minorities.
A Secret Love (Netflix)
A documentary about a lesbian couple who lived together in Canada for six decades. Most of that time they were closeted and presented themselves as simply close friends.
FAMILY DYNAMICS
The Restaurant (Our Time is Now) (Amazon Prime, Sundance)
This Swedish series follows restaurant owners Helga and her adult children, Gustaf, Peter, and Nina, from 1945 to the early 1970’s. A social history of the era midst the trials and tribulations of love, marriage, and career. Excellent!
Unorthodox (Netflix)
This semi-autobiographical series follows Esther Shapiro, a Hasidic Jew, through marriage and flight from her home in Brooklyn to refuge in Berlin.
From Father to Daughter (Amazon Prime)
The coming of age of the daughters in an Italian winemaking family. Documents these females’ evolving role in the family and the business over several decades.
LONG-RUNNING SERIES
Endeavour (PBS)
This year was Season 7 of the adventures of Morse and Inspector Thursday, and it was as good as ever!
Grantchester (PBS Masterpiece)
Season 5 was the second season with Will Davenport as the new vicar replacing Sydney. While it took some adjustment for us, Will has settled in. These episodes with his sidekick Geordie were both deeper and darker in character.
NOTEWORTHY FILMS
Since we haven’t been in a movie theater since Covid-19, we’ve seen relatively few films. Nonetheless, these several stood out and are in order of preference.
1917
A grim, painful, and gripping focus on one particular battle during WWI.
On the Basis of Sex
We viewed this after Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death. It’s a marvelous testament to how she advanced equal rights early on in her career.
Radioactive (Amazon Prime)
This is a biographical film based on the graphic novel of the same name by Lauren Redniss. Some interesting special effects and a sometimes strange juxtaposition of modern-day events with those of Marie Curie’s life. Still worth watching.
The Return (Acorn)
After serving ten years in prison for the killing of her doctor husband, Lizzie returns to her small hometown in Ireland. Poignant and moving with Julie Walters in the lead role.
Note: Header image of young woman watching TV from vectorstock.com
