Ryan & Ryan’s 101 Favorite TV Series of the Last Five Years: Part Three (of Four)
Ryan & Ryan’s 101 Favorite TV Series of the Last Five Years: Part Three (of Four)
Keep it Fabulous!
Editor’s Note: As mentioned on Monday, we are on vacation in Rome this week! So for the next week (including next Monday 10/17), instead of a Monday article or conversation, a Wednesday libation and a Friday podcast, on each those days you will instead be getting a new installment of our four-part article: Ryan & Ryan’s 101 Favorite TV Series of the Last Five Years! [Click here for part one and here for part two.]
On Wednesday, October 19th we will return to our regularly scheduled programming with a Mid-Week Libation, followed by an Aesthetic Arrest podcast that Friday! Enjoy!
[Click here for part one and here for part two.]
Part Three (of Four): Keep it Fabulous!
The Man Who Fell to Earth (2022-Present)
The TV sequel to the classic 1976 film of the same name. This version, set in the present, has Bill Nighy playing the iconic alien originally brought to life by David Bowie. Meanwhile, the dynamic between stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Naomie Harris and Clarke Peters is absolutely riveting to watch. It also turns out that jazz is the key to saving the planet! “Humanity is quantum. Humanity is jazz. And life – it's beautiful.”
Medici (2016-2019)
We love binge-watching convoluted historical soap operas, from The Tudors and The Borgias to I, Claudius and the criminally-underrated Rome. Medici was no exception, and during lockdown we watched so many episodes in a row that we still get the theme song (with soaring vocals by Skin) constantly stuck in our heads. “Let me show you one last time . . .”
Merlí (2015-2018) & Merlí: Sapere Aude (2019-2021)
We discovered the reboot of this Catalan series (Merlí: Sapere Aude) this year and went through two seasons on Netflix in a matter of a week! They had us immediately with the combination of philosophy and very sexy Spanish college guys embroiled in all manner of sexual escapades. <*fanning ourselves*> And if the slashtastic tension between BruPol (rhymes with RuPaul - main characters Bruno Bergeron and Pol Rubio) isn’t enough, their misanthropic, alcoholic philosophy professor María Bolaño (played brilliantly by actress María Pujalte Vidal) makes this show completely compelling.
The Migrant Kitchen (2016-Present)
A PBS docuseries about chefs and restaurateurs from a wide variety of immigrant backgrounds. The first three seasons were focused on food scenes in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The current season starts with Taiwanese food in L.A., but then branches out to include episodes on Korean food in Brooklyn, Russian food in Portland, food sovereignty in Puerto Rico, and African-American foodways in Houston. Every episode is a 26 minute feast of the senses.
Minx (2022-Present)
We can imagine hearing the elevator pitch: “1970s L.A. A young feminist theorist joins forces with a sleazy pornographer to create the first erotic magazine aimed at women. Female empowerment plus full-frontal male nudity!” This premise easily could’ve been a cringe-worthy disaster. But it’s actually quite clever and it works!
Moonhaven (2022-Present)
Futuristic utopian hippie moon colony governed by an AI created to save Earth from itself. What could go wrong?
Nashville (2012-2018)
Both of us are a little less country and a lot more rock n’ roll. (Exceptions: Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline.) That being said, we totally fell for this soapy country trainwreck. Technically it’s even a musical. But we loved it and couldn’t turn away. Connie Britton’s Rayna James and Hayden Panettiere’s Juliette Barnes are honorary gay icons now. Also, Rhiannon Giddens is in this show!
Never Mind the Buzzcocks (2021-Present, original series 1996-2015)
Host Greg Davies said it best: “If you vaguely like music in the broadest possible sense, and you like your quizzing to be entirely inconsequential, then boy is this the show for you!” As discussed in last week’s podcast, Never Mind the Buzzcocks is finally back! The utterly irreverent Gen X music quiz show has returned with the snarky, scathing witticisms of comedian Greg Davies as host. Nothing can be more pleasing to our cynical Gen X sensibilities than watching Davies and regular cast members Noel Fielding, Daisy May Cooper and Jamali Maddix throwing shade and reading pop stars for filth.
The OA (2016-2019)
How to describe this one? A long-lost mute woman transforms the lives of a ragtag group of misfits (and possibly saves the world) through the sheer power of interpretive dance. There are also parallel universes, an intelligent giant octopus and a talking tree. Just watch it.
The Old Man (2022-Present)
When “The Dude” (Jeff Bridges) turns into The Old Man - an extremely deadly, highly-trained, tough-as-nails (old muscle) rogue CIA agent living so far off the grid he can’t even see his own daughter . . . and his ruthless former boss is played by none other than John Lithgow . . . you know this show is going to be good. Also, iconic star of stage and screen - Joel Grey (age 90!) - is in this show!
Pachinko (2022-Present)
Based on the bestselling novel by Min Jin Lee, this show features three generations of a Zainichi Korean family, documenting their experiences from 1915 (during the Japanese occupation of Korea) until 1989. One of the primary characters in each generation is Sunja, masterfully played at different ages by amazing actresses Yu-na (one of the best child actors we’ve ever seen), Kim Min-ha (whose heart-wrenching performance should win all of the awards), and Youn Yuh-jung (the Oscar-winning star of Minari, who likewise deserves all of the awards).
Pose (2018-2021)
Please. Watch. This. Revolutionary television! Nothing remotely like it has ever been on screen before. This is simply one of the most groundbreaking series that has ever aired on American television. There aren’t enough words of praise, so we’ll just say the names of this incredible ensemble cast: Dominique Jackson, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Indya Moore, Hailie Sahar, Angelica Ross, Billy Porter, Angel Bismark Curiel, Dyllón Burnside, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Sandra Bernhard, Jason A. Rodriguez, Charlayne Woodard, Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek . . . and that’s just the main cast! With a peerless team of writers including Janet Mock, Our Lady J, Steven Canals, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. This is everything television should be.
Pretend It's a City (2021)
We are officially obsessed with Fran Lebowitz, walking around New York City and complaining about everything with her signature wit. Some quotes from the docuseries: “It's an amazing thing because there are millions of people [in New York], and the only person looking where they are going is me.” “No one in the subway system has any spirit left. They've beaten it out of us. It would take one subway ride for the Dalai Lama to turn into a lunatic.”
Pride (2021)
There have been a lot of LGBTQ+ history documentaries and docuseries over the years. We’ve probably watched most of them, and Pride is by far one of the best. This is the miniseries we encourage/recommend to anyone who wants to learn something about the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in America.
Queen [Polish Series] (2022)
Legend of the theater in France, Poland and Germany, Andrzej Seweryn delivers a performance that is Oscar-worthy (if the Oscars were actually worthwhile). This is a master class of acting, watching this cinematic titan portray an aging, gay, renowned Parisian tailor (who also happens to be a drag queen) return to his provincial hometown in Poland to reconnect with his ailing daughter and admiring granddaughter. This miniseries, with its perfect balance of drama and comedy, is the equivalent of a world-class film, just split up into four exquisite segments.
Queen Sugar (2016-Present)
Why aren’t more people watching this show? Why hasn’t Queen Sugar won (or even been nominated for) every single award? Created by Ava DuVernay, Queen Sugar has by far been the best drama on television for an epic seven seasons. If we had to pick just one show from this giant list to recommend to absolutely everyone, we would both immediately pick Queen Sugar without blinking. Watch it! We demand it!
Queer As Folk (2022, original series 1999-2000 [U.K] & 2000-2005 [U.S.])
When this show first aired over 22 years ago, it changed our queer lives forever to finally see ourselves and our community portrayed on TV, not as asexual Ken dolls but as fully-formed, multidimensional, complex human beings negotiating life in a heteronormative world. The reboot, with an even more inclusive mission than the original, does not disappoint, featuring a whole new cast representing many new and much-needed points of view. Bravo!
Queer Eye (2018-Present, original series 2003-2007)
All things just keep getting better! A delightful and heartwarming reboot of the original series, showcasing the always-charming Karamo, Antoni, Tan, Bobby and Jonathan as they transform lives across America. We cry every… single… episode. This should be required viewing for every human being. (Don’t miss the fabulous new spin-offs in Japan, Germany and Brazil!)
Raised by Wolves (2020-2022)
Necromancer?… I hardly know her! Ridley Scott is a genius. This show proves it. Not only is the premise and the script flawless, it is possibly the most visually stunning journey you’ll ever take outside of his films. And it’s so damn edgy! Amanda Collin as the android Mother/Lamia/Necromancer, sent to colonize planet Kepler-22b to establish an atheist colony, is one of the most riveting performances ever captured on television.
RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009-Present)
Hey squirrel-friends! This is obviously our favorite show on television. Some people watch sports every week. We watch Drag Race. And we’ve enjoyed the Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent of countless queens from the moment that first episode aired so many years ago (anyone remember that season one filter?). We have literally watched every single episode and every single spin-off from every single country in this fabulous franchise. Thailand, U.K., Canada, Holland, Spain, Italy, France, the Philippines, Down Under and even Chile (aka The Switch). Plus Untucked, All Stars, Drag U, Secret Celebrity Drag Race, UK vs the World, Queen of the Universe . . . RuPaul’s short-lived game show, RuPaul’s talk show, AJ and the Queen . . . even the holiday specials. And probably more Ru-lated content we’re forgetting. We’re obsessed. RuPaul is our only Queen. Long may she reign!
Sex Education (2019-Present)
Adorable British comedy starring the adorable Asa Butterfield. Being a teenager is already difficult, but try being a teenager with a boundary-crossing sex therapist for a mother (Gillian Anderson, in a perfect bit of casting)! The entire cast of troubled teens is totally endearing.
Sense8 (2015-2018)
One of our favorite sci-fi series of all time. What a beautiful and dynamic cast! What a premise! (Eight very different people from around the world who are mysteriously connected.) What an amazing pair of creators (Lana and Lilly Wachowski.) From the writing to the acting to the cinematography, everything about this show was perfection. This show should never have been cancelled.
Special (2019-2021)
Ryan O’Connell (no relation!) has created a joyous, charming and hilarious show about his life as a gay man with cerebral palsy. Lovelorn Ryan Hayes (Ryan O’Connell), his overprotective mother (Jessica Hecht), and hilarious sidekick Kim (Punam Patel) create comedy gold with a distinct point of view.
StarTalk (2015-2019)
Everyone’s favorite astrophysicist (and Pluto-slayer), Neil DeGrasse Tyson, shined on this refreshingly intellectual, short-lived talk show, which fortunately still survives as a popular podcast.
Check back Monday for part four (the last one)! And tell us in the comments what we left out! What did we miss? What did we forget? What recent TV shows do you recommend?